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Revision as of 19:48, 2 March 2007

Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University
File:Bkwsulogo.jpg
Formation1936
Typemillenarianist New Religious Movement
HeadquartersRajasthan, India
Official language Hindi, English
Founder"Shiva Baba" through the medium of Lekhraj Kripalani, known as "Brahma Baba"(1876-1969)
BudgetUSD$
WebsiteOfficial international site

Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya or Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University is a monastic, renunciants or semi-monastic Millenarian New Religious Movement (NRM) of Indian origin." It teaches a form of meditation called Raja Yoga, although not classical Raja Yoga as described by Patanjali , involving spirit possessionmediumistic channelling The prominence of surrendered Kumaris who through their mediumship channel the murlis and thus their importance as the instrument or mouthpieces of a male spirit.

Early history

The group was formally established during October 1937 in Hyderabad, Sindh in North-West India by an elderly man called Lekhraj "Dada" Kripalani (1876-1969), a wealthy but religious Sindhi businessman, follower of the Vaishnavite Vallabhacharya Sect who had 12 gurus . In 1936, Kirpalani was said to have had visions of the destruction of the world through civil war, natural disaster and finally Nuclear Holocaust, one of Earth in a paradiscal state, and another of himself as the Hindu god Vishnu. It is claimed that Lekhraj then had the experience of a spirit being entering him and speaking through his body. Believing this being to be God, is was recalled in a BKWSU publication that his eyes glowed red and all the room around him

After these life-altering experiences, Kirpalani made the decision to sell his jewellery business and started to hold informal religious gathering to which individuals within the local Amil and Bhaiband business community, primarily women and children, had similar experiences and were also inspired to adopt a spiritual life. In their early years, the gathering was known as the ‘Om Mandali’ and during this time that Kirpalani became known as "Brahma Baba". After a short period of time, Kirpalani handed over both the finances and the responsibilities of administering the organisation to a trust of nine women. The nature of the group resulted in both controversy and legal opposition in the local community, which was one in which women were not permitted to be spiritual leaders, involving the Indian Congress party and the Arya Samaj which denounced Om Mandali. Following this opposition, which curtailed their activities, the gathering moved from Karachi to their current location in Mount Abu, Rajasthan a Hindu pilgrimage.

For more on their history, visit the Indian and official International websites.

Expansion

In the early 1950s, the BK began outreach, establishing centers across India with female teachers. The leadership of the BK movement remains primarily female. From approximately 300 individuals from a single community, the organisation has, according to their website, expanded to more than 8,500 Raja Yoga centres in 90 countries and over 800,000 students . The main ashram or headquarters of the BKWSU is known as 'Madhuban', translated from Hindi it means 'Forest of Honey' on Mount Abu, Rajasthan.

Activities

The Brahma Kumaris continue conducting their traditional seven one-hour-long courses in their philosophy and open-eyed meditation, other regular programmes include courses in 'positive thinking' and 'Self Management Leadership', as well as initiatives such as 'Living Values'. The Brahma Kumaris have also instigated a number of voluntary outreach programmes in prisons, homes for the elderly, drug clinics and hospitals promoting their practises.

Lifestyle

The movement teaches that the world is approaching a time of great change that will be heralded by war, natural calamities and suffering. As a form of developing inner spiritual resilience the Brahma Kumaris adopt a disciplined lifestyle , that involves:

  • Complete (extreme and uncompromising)celibacy including no sex within marriage. So long as chastity is followed marriage and family life will be allowed.
  • Sattvic vegetarianism, a strict lacto-vegetarian diet (excluding eggs, onions and garlic) cooked only by the self or other BKs
  • Keeping a "Daily Chart" or journal as a means of spiritual self-progress.
  • Abstaining from alcohol, tobacco and non-prescription drugs.
  • A high degree of physical cleanliness.
  • Regular early morning meditation at 4:00 a.m. which called 'Amrit Vela'.
  • 'Traffic Control', being moments of meditation interspersed throughout the day.
  • Regular morning class at approximately 6:00 a.m.
  • Men and women traditionally sit on separate sides of the room at the centres during classes.
  • BK's can be identified by their frequent adoption of wearing white clothes.

Beliefs

In 1952, after a 14 year period of retreat during which Kirpalani published numerous pamphlets, newspaper articles and wrote letters to important national and international figures, a more structured form of teaching began to be offered to the public by way of a seven lesson course . An overview of the seven-lesson course can be found here: under "Foundation Course in Raja Yoga Meditation." According to Kranenborg and O'Donnell beliefs include:

God

According to the BKs, God, or the ‘Supreme Soul’, possessed or entered Kirpalani in 1936 and started to teach humanity verbally. The Hindu God Shiva, He claims to be an eternal and benevolent point of conscious energy, the embodiment of love, knowledge and truth and beyond gender. BKs do not subscribe to God being omnipresence. Matter and human souls are also eternal and neither are created by God nor do they emerge from God. BKs also provide understanding of God’s roles as creator, preserver and destroyer, through the symbol of the Trimurti. The name they use for God is ‘Shiva’ meaning The Benevolent One or, as a term of endearment, "Shiv Baba".

The Self

BKs believe that human and even animal souls are also an infinitesimal point of spiritual light residing in the forehead of the body it occupies. They say that souls originally exist with God in a "Soul World", a world of infinite light, peace and silence otherwise known as Nirvana. Here the soul is in a state of rest and are beyond experience. Souls enter bodies to take birth in order to experience life and give expression to their personality. Unlike other Eastern Religions, the BKWSU teaches that the soul does not transmigrate into other species and does not evolve but rather birth after birth. Within this "point of light" all aspects of the personality are contained and it enters the human body is the 4th to 5th month of pregnancy

Cycle of Time

Brahma Kumaris teach that history is only 5,000 years long, an indentically repeating cycle comprising of five ages (yugas): the Golden Age (Sat Yuga), the Silver Age (Treta Yuga), the Copper Age (Dwapar Yuga), the Iron Age (Kali Yuga) and the Confluence Age (Sangam Yuga). The Confluence Age between the Iron Age and Golden Age is said to be 100 years long, starting from 1936 when God incarnates into Lekhraj Kirpalani. During this age, all of present day civilisation is to be completely destroyed by natural disasters, civil and nuclear war with the death of 6 Billion . The Brahma Kumaris believe that all of life will die and return to Nirvana, then take birth in the forthcoming cycle at their predestined time and place.

BK Raja Yoga Meditation

BK Raja Yoga meditation involves firstly moving self-awareness away from the physical body to that of being a soul - a tiny point of eternal light energy, situated within the centre of the forehead. The next step is to connect to the "supreme soul", or God (also known by the BKs as "Shiva Baba"), through turning the focus of the mind towards the original home of the soul, known as the "Soul World". The Soul World is similar in concept to the Buddhist concept of Nirvana.

Murlis

There are two types of mediumistic messages known by BKs as "murlis"; ‘sakar’ and ‘avyakt’.

Sakar Murlis refer to the original classes spoken by "God" through the medium of Lekhraj Kirpalani in the 1960’s, before Lekhraj Kirpalani left his body in 1969. These include teachings by Shiva and also the life of personal spiritual endeavour ofLekhraj Kirpalani.

Avyakt Murlis are the teachings of Shiva and Lekhraj Kirpalani given after the death of Lekhraj Kirpalani through a medium named Hirday Mohini, or "Dadi Gulzar". The BKs believe that the soul of Lekhraj Kirpalani has become perfect and now has the role of an angel. These messages are understood by members of the BKWSU to be the words of God. The murli's are the 'scripture' of the Brahma Kumaris and what they use to direct their personal spiritual effort and institutional service. The Murlis are no longer available for sale or to the general public and one must complete the Brahma Kumaris foundation course in order to attend morning murli class. Murli class is held at around 6:00am every morning at all BK centres around the world.

Central beliefs

Central to its faith are the beliefs that:

  • The human being is an eternal soul living within a physical body and is not the physical body which is dualistic "I am a soul, my body is a garment".
  • Reincarnation happens from one human body to another only.
  • Time is not linear but rather cyclical and the physical world manifests as an eternally repeating and identical 5,000 year cycle at which the end of it is destroyed and then re-created every time.
  • Each repeating cycle is exactly the same as the previous one.
  • Humanity is currently reaching the end of the current cycle and thus the world will be destroyed, a time their scriptures call "Destruction".
  • God incarnates personally onto the Earth and speaks only through their founder Lekhraj Kripalani which was the same individual that was historically or mythically known as Krishna and Adam but is now known as "Brahma".
  • India Subcontinent will be the site of the future Golden Aged paradise and that Hindi is the original language of humanity. Followers are taught that if they make spiritual efforts, they and will live in the coming Golden Age paradise.

Achievements

In India, the BKWSU is particularly noted for its charitable Village Outreach Programme administered by the J.Wattammull Memorial Global Hospital and Research Centre (GHRC),established in 1991, also located in Mount Abu. In 2004, the Brahma Kumaris established the G.V. Mody Rural Health Care Centre & Eye Hospital, located at the base of Mount Abu.

The Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University is an international non–governmental organization (NGO) in general consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and UNICEF. It is also affiliated to the UN Department of Public Information.

The Brahma Kumaris have undertaken two major international projects; ‘The Million Minutes for Peace’ in 1986 for which they received 7 Peace Messenger Awards and ‘Global Cooperation for a Better World’ in 1988.

The organization now has 100s of branches internationally and ;

  • most level management and the majority of local management and teaching is done by women
  • administrators of two hospitals
  • organizes interfaith meetings that have brought together previously opposing groups
  • active within female emancipation in India
  • 7 UN Peace Messenger Awards 1987 for the co-ordination of the ‘Million Minutes of Peace’ project
  • Pioneering work in solar energy and sustainable energy, including developing the world's largest solar cooker
  • Chief administrator Prakashmani awarded Peace Medal of the United Nations for the year 1981
  • granted International Peace Messenger Initiative status by the U.N.for the Global Co-operation for a Better World campaign
  • does not charge but accepts donations and government grants to support its services

Splinter movements

Walliss mentions the advent of a breakaway movement referring to one of them as the Advance Party, elsewhere they are referred to the Prajapita Brahma Kumaris or PBKs . He goes on to state that as Lekhraj Kirpalani's original message of separation, spiritual introversion and violent destruction becomes repackaged as the emergence of a New Age through self-understanding and self-development, this direction has caused discontent within certain segments of the Brahma Kumari movement. The most vocal of these being the "Advance Party" who offer a radicalise rendition of the original millenarian message.

The Advance Party are seen as a sectarian response to what they see as the increasingly worldly, and therefore corrupt, nature of the BKWSU manifest particularly through their UN and New Age orientation. They assert that the BKWSU has fallen from its original purity in the age of Kirpalani's influence to a state where the adulteration of the knowledge and subtle corruption is rampant and students are being exploited by the senior members. Walliss goes on to state that the PBKs claim that Shiva is now manifesting Himself through a different medium to correctly interpret the original teachings .

Controversies

Dr Walliss notes that while the BKWSU was, "originally a reclusive, world-rejecting organization, over the last 30 years the Brahma Kumaris have begun a campaign of active proselytizing and international growth. Thus, whilst still retaining its original millenarianism, currently within the West the organization promotes itself as part of the New Age movement and emphasizes ideas around the issues of self-development, empowerment and personal success". The Brahma Kumaris have issued a number of failed predictions of the end of the world whilst encouraging their followers to make efforts and donations on the basis of its proximity

  • Misandry- It is claimed by Brian Wilson, Emeritus Fellow of All Souls College, that women control men in a complete role reversal. Women hold the highest spiritual positions while men serve in subordinate positions and that women are primarily in the leadership and administrative roles of the organization, a key reversal of traditional cultural structure of India.

In one case, Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga meditation was made compulsory for factory workers by their employers.

It is reported by the Mail on Sunday that the BKWSU has allegedly "used 'pernicious' methods to control its followers", the organisation being "notable for its sex ban". "Former members and the families of members have told me that (BKWSU) has driven a wedge between husband and wife," said Graham Baldwin a cult expert. "There have also been complaints that it encourages single women and widows to donate property and savings".

Ian Howarth, of the Cult Information Centre also said, : "I have the same concerns about this group that I have about the Moonies. People have come to us complaining that some loved ones who have got involved with it have undergone personality changes and have become alienated from their families." Answering allegations that Brahma Kumaris has wrecked marriages because of its sex ban, a BK spokeswoman is quoted as saying: "This is very much a minority thing. In any organisation there are people who gain a huge amount and that is what you need to focus on." The paper said she declined to comment on allegations that it encourages followers to donate property and savings."

Use of Mediumship

Established by "Shiva Baba" through the medium of Lekhraj Kirpalani, from the very beginning, the BKWSU has used a number mediums and trance-messengers to receive messages from disincarnate beings or deceased members and name followers. Followers, including children, have been known to go into trances for as long as 7 days . At first a number of, mediumistic female followers known as "Sandeshputris", or trance messengers, helped add to their spiritual knowledge through psychic visions and allegedly direct contact with God. This has extended to deceased leaders. The deceased human founder Lekhraj Kirpalani continues to be channelled through a senior sister as the organizations Rajasthan headquarters until this day and is known as BapDada by BKs. He, and the disincarnate being the BKWSU claim is God continues to direct the organization via this trance medium .

People associated with the BKWSU

  • Dadi Prakash Mani "Kumarka" - Dadi Prakashmani, Chief Administrative Head of the Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya
  • Dadi Hirdaya Mohini “Gulzar” - Medium/Joint Administrative Head
  • Dadi Janki Kripalani - Additional Administrative Head
  • Jagdish Chander - Official author, deceased
  • Jayanti Kirpalani - European Director, Representative to the United Nations, Geneva. , Representative to the United Nations, Geneva.
  • Mohini Panjabi - President Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organization, Americas & Caribbean, Main Representative to the United Nations
  • BK Nirwair - Secretary General of Brahma Kumaris, managing trustee of Global Hospital and Research Centre
  • BK Karuna (Karunakara) Shetty - Chief of Global PR and Multimedia for the BKWSU
  • Ken O’Donnell - author and lecturer, Co-coordinator of Brahma Kumaris Centres in South America, Fellow of Oxford Leadership Academy
  • Charlie Hogg - Director of the Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Centres in Australia.
  • Brian Bacon - senior faculty member of the Brahma Kumaris Spiritual University , Founder and President of the Oxford Leadership Academy
  • Robin Ramsay - actor
  • Lee James - actor
  • Mike George - best selling author , motivational speaker, spiritual teacher, international management consultant, and stress management coach , , Fellow of Oxford Leadership Academy
  • Julia Häusermann, MBE Fellow of Oxford Leadership Academy, Founder and President of Rights and Humanity,
  • Robert Shubow, J.D.,PhD - Author, playwrite and psychologist, past

Brahma Kumaris Publications

Author
  • The Licentious Comedy of the Restoration Age by B. K Jagdish Chander 1972
  • Easy Raja Yoga: Taught by God Shiva by B. K Jagdish Chander 1977
  • New Beginnings, Ken O'Donnell, 1987, ISBN 0-9637396-4-6
  • Adi Dev: The First Man, Written by Jagdish Chander, Translation by Shanta Trivedi PhD, Edited by Robert Shubow1981, ASIN: B0006XWNQ0
  • Brahma Baba, the Corporeal Medium of Shiva Baba by B. K Jagdish Chander 1983
  • Observance of Brahmacharya and Conquest of Sex-Lust by B. K Jagdish Chander 1977
  • Moral Values, Attitudes and Moods: a book on ethics for a new world order by B.K. Jagdish Chander 1978.
  • Human values, Moral values, and Spiritual values: A book on divine values for the coming golden age by B. K Jagdish Chander 1980
  • Inner Beauty, Brahma Kumaris (Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya), 1996, ISIN: B000JVYGT6
  • Practical Meditation, Brahma Kumaris (Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya , 1995, ISBN 09637396-0-3 ASIN: B000JKVU32
  • Blessings, Brahma Kumaris, 2000, ISBN 15587483-8-5
  • Just a Moment, Brahma Kumaris (Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya) , 1996, ASIN: B000JMA3OW
  • Power and Effect of Thoughts, Brahma Kumaris , 1995, ASIN: B000JI7MJK
  • Kaleidoscopic View of Issues, Ideas, Events, Intentions, Attitudes, Individuals, and Institutions ,Prajapita Brahma Kumaris , 2000, ASIN: B000FVUAGI
  • Is this justice?:Being an account of the founding of the Om Mandli & the Om Nivas and their suppression, by application of the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1908, Brahma Kumaris Radhe, 1939,ASIN:B00089UWHE
  • The Arts of Life, Brahma Kumaris , 1998, ISBN 09637396-2-X
  • Future of mankind, Brahma Kumaris , 1975, ASIN: B0007CBK0U
  • Raj Yoga Illustrated (Raja Yoga, The Science for Attaining Purity, Peace, and Bliss),Jagdish Chander:Brahma Kumaris, 1975, ASIN: B000M3EGEQ
  • Pearls of Wisdom, by Dadi Janki, 1999, ISBN 15587472-3-0
  • Perlas de Sabiduria Spanish, by Dadi Janki, 2000, ISBN 15587479-1-5
  • Wings of Soul, by Dadi Janki, 199 ISBN 15587467-2-2
  • Las Alas del Espiritu,Spanish, by Dadi Janki, 200,ISBN 15587478-2-6
  • InsideOut a better way of living, learning, and loving, by Dadi Janki, 2003, ASIN: B000H7LIPM

See also

References

  1. "Women Under the Bo Tree,:Cambridge Studies in Religious Traditions" Tessa J. Bartholomeusz, Department of Religion, Florida University, Edited by John Clayton (University of Lancaster), Steven Collins (University of Chicago) and Nicholas de Lange (University of Cambridge) 1994, ISBN 0-521-46129-4
  2. http://www.abo.fi/comprel/temenos/temeno32/rothsten.htm
  3. "Millennium, Messiahs, and Mayhem: contemporary Apocalyptic Movements" By Thomas Robbins (Sociologist of religion) and Susan Pamer (Dawson College and Concordia University specializing in new religious movements., 1997, ISBN 0-415-91648-8
  4. Reflexive Traditions: New Religious Movements and the 'Negotiation' of Identity.-John Walliss, Ph.D University of Warwick, UK.
  5. "Women Under the Bo Tree,:Cambridge Studies in Religious Traditions" Tessa J. Bartholomeusz, Department of Religion, Florida University, Edited by John Clayton (University of Lancaster), Steven Collins (University of Chicago) and Nicholas de Lange (University of Cambridge) 1994, ISBN 0-521-46129-4
  6. Professor Reender Kranenborgh from Free University of Amsterdam. All citations originate from this web article unless noted differently.
  7. "New Religious Movements: challenge and response" Edited by Bryan Wilson (Emeritus Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford) and Jamie Creswell (Director of the Institute of Oriental Philosophy European Centre), Contributors Eileen Barker, James Beckford, Anthony Bradney, Colin Campbell, George Chryssies, Peter Clarke, Paul Heelas, Massimo Introvigne, Lawrence Lilliston, Godeon Melton, Elizabeth Puttick, Gary Sherpherd, Colin Slee, Frank Usarski and Bryan Wilson. 1999, ISBN 0-415-20049-0
  8. Channeling:Investigations on Receiving Information from Paranormal Sources pg 100, Foreword by Charles T. Tart Professor of Psychology UC Davis 1996, by Jon Klimo Senior Faculty member at the Rosebridge Graduate School of Intergative Psychology, 1998 ISBN 1-55643-248-8
  9. "New Religious Movements: challenge and response" Edited by Bryan Wilson (Emeritus Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford) and Jamie Creswell (Director of the Institute of Oriental Philosophy European Centre), Contributors Eileen Barker, James Beckford, Anthony Bradney, Colin Campbell, George Chryssies, Peter Clarke, Paul Heelas, Massimo Introvigne, Lawrence Lilliston, Godeon Melton, Elizabeth Puttick, Gary Sherpherd, Colin Slee, Frank Usarski and Bryan Wilson. 1999, ISBN 0-415-20049-0
  10. "New Religious Movements: challenge and response" Edited by Bryan Wilson (Emeritus Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford) and Jamie Creswell (Director of the Institute of Oriental Philosophy European Centre), Contributors Eileen Barker, James Beckford, Anthony Bradney, Colin Campbell, George Chryssies, Peter Clarke, Paul Heelas, Massimo Introvigne, Lawrence Lilliston, Godeon Melton, Elizabeth Puttick, Gary Sherpherd, Colin Slee, Frank Usarski and Bryan Wilson. 1999, ISBN 0-415-20049-0
  11. Geographically Sindh is now part of Pakistan and has been so since the time of partition between India and Pakistan in 1947
  12. http://www.bkwsu.org/whoweare/brahmababa.htm
  13. The Brahma Kumaris as a ‘reflexive Tradition’: Responding to late modernity by Dr John Walliss, 2002,ISBN 0754609510
  14. Adi Dev, by Jagdish Chander Hassij, Third Edition, Brahma Kumaris Information Services, 2003.
  15. "Dada saw very powerful bombs with guided missiles that created havoc on earth. Gigantic fireballs, cities in flames, war and suffering were raging everywhere. When he received these visions, America had not dropped the first atomic bombs. What did this all mean? Dada also saw civil wars mainly in India, culminating in an awesome wave of natural catastrophes: floods and tidal waves, earthquakes and volcanoes, nature was out of balance. Dada began to tremble uncontrollably witnessing the scenes of this great world wide transformation. But there was no escape. Then the silent aftermath. Dada, who had never shed a tear, was weeping now. “Oh, God, please stop this, please stop this!” he cried. "Vishnu appeared again. This time he spoke, "I am the four-armed, and so are you." What did this mean? Was he like God? Dada was confused. His first thought went to his guru, "Who else would grant me this blessing?" But the guru denied giving anything. So, Dada thought, this blessing was granted by God Himself."
  16. From World Rejection to Ambivalence: The Development of Millenarianism in the Brahma Kumaris. Walliss, John; Journal of Contemporary Religion; Oct99, Vol. 14 Issue 3, p375, 11p
  17. http://www.brahmakumaris.com/aboutus/descentofgod.htm
  18. The eyes of Dada had become completely red, as if a red light was glowing inside him. His whole face had become red, and even the room was now illumined, with reddish, otherworldly glow. And something began to happen inside me too! I felt bodiless! How can I describe it? I was there and yet I wasn’t. I was simply light. My mind felt clearer than it ever had been. I heard a sound from above. It was as if through the mouth of Dada, Someone else was speaking! That voice was so very quiet at first, then it grew louder and louder. It was stunning, not frightening, but simply awe-inspiring. The voice spoke thus: Nijanand Rupam Shivoham Shivoham Gyan Swarupam Shivoham Shivoham Prakash Swarupam Shivoham Shivoham Nijanand Swarup, Gyan Swarup, Prakash Swarup. Translation: I am the Blissful Self, I am Shiva; I am Shiva ... I am the Knowledgeful Self, I am Shiva; I am Shiva .. I am the Luminous Self, I am Shiva; I am Shiva .. I am the Form of Self, the Form of Knowledge, the Form of Light. To this day, I cannot forget that voice, nor that scene. The atmosphere was electric, more than realm and my condition of feeling as if without a body is still alive in my memory. As soon as Dada opened his eyes, he started looking around with great wonder. Whatever he had seen had jolted to the core of his being.
  19. The Sindh Story, by K. R. Malkani. Karachi, Allied Publishers Private Limited, 1984.
  20. http://yangtze.cs.uiuc.edu/~jamali/sindh/story/
  21. 'Peace and Purity: The Story of the Brahma Kumaris: A Spiritual Revolution', Hodgkinson, L. (1999)ISBN 0-7126-7033-5
  22. Brahma-Kumari Radhe, Om Mandli & the Om Nivas and their suppression, by application of the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1908” 1939, Pharmacy Printing Press, ISBN: B00089UWHE
  23. Adi Dev: The first man by Jagdish Chander, Edited by Robert Shubow, J.D. 1983 ASIN B000JXGFWK
  24. http://www.brahmakumaris.com/aboutus/history.htm
  25. http://www.bkwsu.org
  26. Gender Role Experimentation in New Religious Movements: Clarification of the Brahma Kumari Case, Howell, Julia. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion; Sep 98, Vol. 37 Issue 3, p453-461, 9p. Julia Day Howell is Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Asian and International Studies, Griffith University, Australia
  27. http://www.bkwsu.org
  28. Journal of Beliefs and Values, Vol.24, No.1, 2003 Religious Organisations in the UK and Values Education Programmes for Schools by Eleanor Nesbitt, Senior lecturer in Religions and Education, University of Warwick, UK and Ann Henderson, Research Fellow from The University of Warwick, UK.
  29. It’s Always Possible:One Woman’s Transformation of India’s Prison System, Kiran Bedi, Ph.D., Foreward by H.H. the Dalai Lama,page 151-153, 2006. (1999) ISBN 13: 978-0-89389-258-6
  30. "Peace and Purity: The Story of the Brahma Kumaris, A Spiritual Revolution" by Hodgkinson, Liz, 2002, ISBN 1-55874-962-4
  31. Lochtefeld, James G. Ph.D. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism Vol. I ISBN 0-8239-3179-X, entry "Brahma Kumaris" New York Rosen 2002
  32. "New Religious Movements" by Bryan Wilson, Reader Emeritus in Sociology at the University of Oxford and Emeritus Fellow of All Souls College, Jamie Cresswell, Director of the Institute of Oriental Philosophy, 199, ISBN 0415200490
  33. "New Religious Movements: challenge and response" Edited by Bryan Wilson (Emeritus Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford) and Jamie Creswell (Director of the Institute of Oriental Philosophy European Centre), Contributors Eileen Barker, James Beckford, Anthony Bradney, Colin Campbell, George Chryssies, Peter Clarke, Paul Heelas, Massimo Introvigne, Lawrence Lilliston, Godeon Melton, Elizabeth Puttick, Gary Sherpherd, Colin Slee, Frank Usarski and Bryan Wilson. 1999, ISBN 0-415-20049-0
  34. "New Religious Movements: challenge and response" Edited by Bryan Wilson (Emeritus Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford) and Jamie Creswell (Director of the Institute of Oriental Philosophy European Centre), Contributors Eileen Barker, James Beckford, Anthony Bradney, Colin Campbell, George Chryssies, Peter Clarke, Paul Heelas, Massimo Introvigne, Lawrence Lilliston, Godeon Melton, Elizabeth Puttick, Gary Sherpherd, Colin Slee, Frank Usarski and Bryan Wilson. 1999, ISBN 0-415-20049-0
  35. "New Religious Movements: challenge and response" Edited by Bryan Wilson (Emeritus Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford) and Jamie Creswell (Director of the Institute of Oriental Philosophy European Centre), Contributors Eileen Barker, James Beckford, Anthony Bradney, Colin Campbell, George Chryssies, Peter Clarke, Paul Heelas, Massimo Introvigne, Lawrence Lilliston, Godeon Melton, Elizabeth Puttick, Gary Sherpherd, Colin Slee, Frank Usarski and Bryan Wilson. 1999, ISBN 0-415-20049-0
  36. "Women Under the Bo Tree,:Cambridge Studies in Religious Traditions" Tessa J. Bartholomeusz, Department of Religion, Florida University, Edited by John Clayton (University of Lancaster), Steven Collins (University of Chicago) and Nicholas de Lange (University of Cambridge) 1994, ISBN 0-521-46129-4
  37. Hinduism Today;
    "The most strict will not eat food which is not prepared by a BK. While traveling they abstain from public fard and carry their own utensils for cooking.".
  38. "Women Under the Bo Tree,:Cambridge Studies in Religious Traditions" Tessa J. Bartholomeusz, Department of Religion, Florida University, Edited by John Clayton (University of Lancaster), Steven Collins (University of Chicago) and Nicholas de Lange (University of Cambridge) 1994, ISBN 0-521-46129-4
  39. Barker, Eileen in Hinnells, John (Editor), The Penguin Dictionary of Religions (1997), ISBN 0-14-051261-6 page 79
    "Brahma Kumaris The Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (BKWSU) refers to itself as non-political, non-religious and non-sectarian. It was founded in 1937 in Karachi by Dada Lekh Raj (1877-1969) after ‘Shiva, God the Supreme Soul, entered body ... to begin the task of creation of a new world order’. Over 200,000 (sic) people are now said to practice the meditation, which does not involve a mantra, special posture, breathing techniques or the worship of a guru. Fully committed members are celibate; they usually wear white and are strictly vegetarian. Nearly all of those in a position of spiritual authority are women "
    Sources used for this entry
    Barker, E., New Religious Movement: A Practical Introduction London, HMSO, 1989, pages 168-70
    Melton, J.G. The Encyclopedia of American Religions 4th edition Detroit, Gale 1993 pages 909-10
  40. From World Rejection to Ambivalence:The development in Millenarianism in the Brahma Kumaris." by John Walliss. Journal of Contemporary Religion, Vol.14,N 3, 1999
  41. Reender Kranenborg, Free University of Amsterdam. "Brahma Kumaris: A New Religion?", 1999
  43. http://www.brahmakumaris.com/aboutus/descentofgod.htm
  44. http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/1985/09/1985-09-07.shtml "The Brahma Kumaris view the body as a physical vehicle for the immortal soul, and therefore the issue is not "pro-life" or "anti-life" but a choice between the amount of suffering caused to the souls of the parents and child in either course, abortion or motherhood. They view existing legislation in America as fair and reasonable, with the proviso that abortion after the 4th month should be avoided except in medical emergencies, since in their view the soul enters the fetus in the 4th to 5th month."
  45. http://www.brahmakumaris.org.in/Landmarks.htm
  46. "New Religious Movements: challenge and response" Edited by Bryan Wilson (Emeritus Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford) and Jamie Creswell (Director of the Institute of Oriental Philosophy European Centre), Contributors Eileen Barker, James Beckford, Anthony Bradney, Colin Campbell, George Chryssies, Peter Clarke, Paul Heelas, Massimo Introvigne, Lawrence Lilliston, Godeon Melton, Elizabeth Puttick, Gary Sherpherd, Colin Slee, Frank Usarski and Bryan Wilson. 1999, ISBN 0-415-20049-0
  47. http://www.un.org/documents/ecosoc/docs/1998/e1998-8.htm
  48. List of UN NGO and respective status within UNICEF.
  49. http://www.shivbaba.org.pl/
  50. From World Rejection to Ambivalence:The development in Millenarianism in the Brahma Kumaris." by John Walliss. Journal of Contemporary Religion, Vol.14,N 3, 1999
  51. John Walliss, 'When prophecy fails: The Brahma Kumaris and the pursuit of the millennium/s'
  52. "New Religious Movements: challenge and response" Edited by Bryan Wilson (Emeritus Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford) and Jamie Creswell (Director of the Institute of Oriental Philosophy European Centre), Contributors Eileen Barker, James Beckford, Anthony Bradney, Colin Campbell, George Chryssies, Peter Clarke, Paul Heelas, Massimo Introvigne, Lawrence Lilliston, Godeon Melton, Elizabeth Puttick, Gary Sherpherd, Colin Slee, Frank Usarski and Bryan Wilson. 1999, ISBN 0-415-20049-0
  53. "New Religious Movements" by Bryan Wilson, Reader Emeritus in Sociology at the University of Oxford and Emeritus Fellow of All Souls College, Jamie Cresswell, Director of the Institute of Oriental Philosophy, 199, ISBN 0415200490
  54. "New Religious Movements: challenge and response" Edited by Bryan Wilson (Emeritus Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford) and Jamie Creswell (Director of the Institute of Oriental Philosophy European Centre), Contributors Eileen Barker, James Beckford, Anthony Bradney, Colin Campbell, George Chryssies, Peter Clarke, Paul Heelas, Massimo Introvigne, Lawrence Lilliston, Godeon Melton, Elizabeth Puttick, Gary Sherpherd, Colin Slee, Frank Usarski and Bryan Wilson. 1999, ISBN 0-415-20049-0
  55. What exactly is this organisation doing in Godrej? How did you get acquainted with this Company? I knew that there were some courses conducted by Mr. Brian Bacon, Management Consultant from Australia and his partner, Mr. Marc Fourcade from France, both followers of Brahma Kumaris. Influenced by the Brahma Kumaris, Fourcade conceptualised the Self Management and Leadership (SML) programme. We were also aware of another programme conducted at our Centre in London called Living Life Stress-Free. Brahma Kumaris soon realised that the style in which knowledge was imparted did not fit into the present scenario of professional companies. We had to target different groups in a different way. We had to teach in the executive language to the management guy. It is like old wine in a new bottle. At that time E.J. Kalwachia had visited our headquarters at Mount Abu and was quite impressed with the courses we had. He was aware of the case of Nagarjuna Fertilizers, whose Chairman, Mr. Raju, managed to turn the loss-making Company round by the SML programme. Raju brought the Brahma Kumari culture to Nagarjuna Fertilizers. He made a meditation center within the Company premises and made it compulsory for all workers to first meditate and then operate the machine. Sisters would come from Mt. Abu to give these SML lectures.
  56. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=426903&in_page_id=1770
  57. http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1073280
  58. http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23380710-details/PM's+wife+swops+best+friend+for+a+bisexual+Druid+priestess/article.do The PM's wife, the Druid priestess and the no-sex guru
  59. "Sister Denise, Director of the San Francisco Center, flew right away to Mt. Abu, and shared this very intimate account of the traditional 13-day period of sacred ritual and vigil which honored Didi: "Large piles of red rose petals covered her - offered by nearly 1,500 devotees who managed the difficult ascent up Mt. Abu, braving the driving rains. After two days, we put her on a wooden litter and carried her through the city of Mt. Abu, pinnacled high above the flat plains of Rajasthan far below. Ghee, sandalwood and other substances were applied to her body. She was placed on the wood pyre and cremated. Soon afterward, messages began to come from Didi through one of previous month, while apparently in a coma state, had been in trance, in total God-consciousness, enjoying the fulfillment of all her deep spiritual sadhanas. Didi shared detailed accounts of everything that was transpiring in the so-called "transition experience.' One message said that the sincere and deep meditations performed by so many of the Brahma Kumaris worldwide during this time had purified the womb that Didi would enter for her next birth on the 13th day. On that 13th day, rather than just deliver a massage through the medium, she came fully into the body. I was there and saw this."
  60. http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/1983/10/1983-10-03.shtml
  61. "Prajapita Brahma gave up his physical frame on January 18, 1969. This day is celebrated as the day of his spiritual ascension. It is believed that he continues to aid the organization from inner worlds, but the ultimate guidance and authority still comes directly from God Siva, who has since chosen another to be His "trance messenger." Currently Sister Raday Mohini serves as the instrument to give voice to Siva's messages, but this is viewed as a temporary assignment given by God. Every year, around February/March, a gathering occurs in Mt. Abu where Siva speaks, guides and gives blessings. This sets the patterns for the coming year as the guidance is distributed to the centers around the world, including through their intra-organizational e-mail"

Bibliography

  • Hassaji, Jagdish Chander (2003 (orig.1981)). Adi Dev. Translated from Hindi by Shanta Trivedi PhD (Third Edition ed.). London: . {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help); Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  • Hodgkinson, Liz (1999). Peace and Purity: The Story of the Brahma Kumaris: A Spiritual Revolution. London: Rider.
  • Howell, Julia (1998). "Gender Role Experimentation in New Religious Movements". Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. 37 (3): 453–461. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  • Wallis, John (1999). "From World Rejection to Ambivalence: The Development of Millenarianism in the Brahma Kumaris". Journal of Contemporary Religion. 14 (3): 375–386. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

Further reading

  • Dr Julia D. Howell, Asian and International Studies, Griffith University, Australia & Dr Peter L. Nelson, Nelson Center for Humanities and Human Sciences, Southern Cross University, Australia. "Surviving Transplantation: The Brahma Kumaris in the Western World".
  • Dr. Julia D. Howel. Changing Meanings of Religious Pluralism, , 2003.
  • John Walliss, Ashgate New Critical Thinking in Religion, Theology and Biblical Studies, Aldershot. "The Brahma Kumaris as a ‘reflexive Tradition’: Responding to late modernity ", 2002 ISBN 0-7546-0951-0
  • Reender Kranenborg, Free University of Amsterdam. "Brahma Kumaris: A New Religion? ", 1999.
  • Peter Clarke, "Dada Lekhraj" & "Brahma Kumaris." Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements. Routledge 2005.
  • William Shaw , "Spying in Guruland: Inside Britain’s Cults", Fourth Estate, London, England 1994.
  • Lawrence A. Babb, "Amnesia and Remembrance in a Hindu Theory of History", Asian Folklore Studies, Vol. 41, No. 1 (1982), pp. 49-66.
  • Lawrence A. Babb "Indigenous Feminism in a Modern Hindu Sect", Signs, Vol. 9, No. 3 (Spring, 1984), pp. 399-416.
  • Mayer, Jean-François et Reender Kranenborg, Geneve, Suisse. "La Naissance des Nouvelles Religions". 2004 ISBN 2-8257-0877-1
  • Frank Whaling, Emeritus Professor of the Study of Religion, University of Edinburgh. "Understanding the Brahma Kumaris", 2006. ISBN 1-903765-51-X.
  • Suma Varughese. "Satyug is as Sure as Death". 1998
  • BK Jayanti. "Valuing the Future : Education for Spiritual Development", 1999
  • Interreligious Insight. "Brahma Kumaris, World Spiritual University",
  • Ken O'Donnell. "Raja Yoga for beginners", 1987.
  • Jagdish Chander, Translated from original Hinu by Shanta Trivedi, PhD , Edited by Robert Shubow, J.D. "Adi Dev: The First Man", 1981.
  • Dadi Janki, "Companion of God", 2003 ISBN 0-340-82915-X
  • BKWSU. "World Drama", unknown date.
  • BKWSU. "Easy RajYoga", unknown date.
  • BKWSU. "The Seven Day Course" Pamphlet series, unknown date.
  • Near-Death Experience/Heide Fittkau-Garthe, 1998.
  • A Critique of the BK Philosophy as presented in the 7 Day Course,By Andy Harangozo
  • Report on Child Abuse,Beliefs and Lifestyle
  • Pamphlets Take a Closer Look,The Successful Subtle Soft-sell of Raja Yoga By CCG Training Institute, Australia March 1989

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