Ancient Teaching of the Masters (ATOM) was an American religious group founded by Darwin Gross in 1983.
Darwin Gross was an American Army veteran, vibraphone musician, and religious leader.
For ten years, he was idolised as the spiritual and corporate head of the “ECKANKAR” religion founded in 1965 by Paul Twitchell.
Gross became “the 972nd Living ECK Master” in 1971 when Twitchell’s widow Gail handed him a blue carnation at an ECKANKAR corporate meeting.
His followers believe that the court transcript exonerates Gross from misappropriation of funds, that he never stole $400,000 as rumored among Eckists, and that frivolous lawsuits nearly destroyed his wealth.