Darwin Gross was an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 spiritual teacher who succeeded to the leadership of Eckankar

Eckankar

Eckankar is a new religious movement founded in the United States in 1965, though practiced around the world long before with a solid following in China. It focuses on spiritual exercises enabling practitioners to experience what its followers call "the Light and Sound of God." The personal...

 in 1971 at the death of its founder Paul Twitchell

Paul Twitchell

Paul Twitchell was an American spiritual writer, author and founder of the group known as Eckankar. He is accepted by the members of that group as the Mahanta, or Living ECK Master of his time. He directed the development of the group through to the time of his death...

. Gross officially took up the position of "Living ECK Master" on October 22, 1971 and appointed his successor Harold Klemp

Harold Klemp

Harold Klemp is the spiritual leader of Eckankar, Religion of the Light and Sound of God. He holds the titles of Mahanta and Living ECK Master. Eckists believe he is the 973rd Living Eck Master in an unbroken line of Masters...

 as Living Eck Master on October 22, 1981. Darwin continued afterwards as a spiritual teacher and musician.
Darwin Gross was born in 1928 in Denhoff, North Dakota

Denhoff, North Dakota

Denhoff is a census-designated place in central Sheridan County, North Dakota, United States. An unincorporated community, it was designated as part of the U.S. Census Bureau's Participant Statistical Areas Program on March 31, 2010...

. As a child, Darwin was brought up in the Mennonite faith.