Paul Twitchell (1908/1909-1971) was an American author and spiritual leader best known as the creator of Eckankar, a new religious movement. Throughout his life, Twitchell explored various spiritual traditions and wrote extensively on mystical and esoteric subjects. He adopted the title "The Mahanta, the Living ECK Master" and used the spiritual name Peddar Zaskq in his writings.

Twitchell's early life and birth details are subject to conflicting accounts. After pursuing some college education, he served in the U.S. Naval Reserve during World War II and later worked as a journalist. His spiritual journey involved investigating diverse movements, including Self-Revelation Church of Absolute Monism and Sant Mat, where he was initiated by Kirpal Singh. He also had associations with L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology.

In the mid-1960s, Twitchell, with his second wife Gail, established Eckankar, presenting it as an ancient spiritual teaching. He authored numerous books and discourses, lectured widely, and developed concepts like "Soul Travel." The historical authenticity of figures he referenced, such as Rebazar Tarzs, has been questioned, with some suggesting they were conceptual constructs. Twitchell's writings and teachings form the foundation of Eckankar.

Paul Twitchell established Eckankar in the mid-1960s, presenting it as an ancient spiritual science. He and his second wife, Gail, founded the Eckankar Corporation and Illuminated Way Press. Twitchell claimed his teachings were an ancient wisdom predating other major religions, a departure from earlier notions of his "Cliff-Hanger" philosophy which offered an "outsider's" perspective on modern society. His book, "Eckankar: The Key to Secret Worlds," outlined these teachings and referenced his spiritual teacher, "ECK master Rebazar Tarzs." The existence of Tarzs, like other figures in Theosophical and ECK traditions, is unverified, leading to speculation that this persona was created to represent an intellectual teacher or to distance Twitchell from his prior associations.

Twitchell delved into numerous spiritual traditions throughout his life. He was a member of Swami Premananda Giri's Self-Revelation Church of Absolute Monism and later initiated into Surat Shabd Yoga by Kirpal Singh of Ruhani Satsang. His association with Kirpal Singh eventually led to a rift when Twitchell began teaching a program similar to Sant Mat. Twitchell also had connections with L. Ron Hubbard and was involved with Scientology for a period. These diverse influences shaped his understanding and eventual formulation of Eckankar's core teachings.

As a writer, Twitchell produced a significant body of work, including books, personal study discourses, and numerous articles. He also wrote thousands of letters to his students. His early career involved writing for pulp magazines and public relations for the Navy. He is described as a "master compiler" who gathered scattered spiritual teachings from various sources, synthesizing them into the Eckankar system. His writings explored consciousness and different philosophies, aiming to make profound spiritual insights accessible.

“He was an avid letter-writer, and he always kept a carbon copy ... At one time Paul made his living by writing for pulp magazines. He also wrote public-relations copy for the Navy... He sincerely cared about spiritual unfoldment and growth. He went through volumes of books on consciousness, a subject which was not in vogue in those days... he thrived on the study of different philosophies.”

“The high teachings of ECK had been scattered to the four corners of the world. The different masters each had parts and pieces of it, but they attached little requirements ... You must be a vegetarian, or you have to meditate so many hours a day ... Paul gathered up the whole teaching and took the best. Though it may be strange to say, in this sense I see him as a master compiler. He gathered the golden teachings that were scattered around the world and made them readily available to us.”