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Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya or Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University is considered a new religious movementaccording to John Walliss, Ph.D who refers to it as "a millenarian NRM (New Religious Movement) of Indian origin." It is a socio-spiritual group of which a member of any religion can belong to. The Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (BKWSU) teaches a form of meditation denominated Raja Yoga. According to Kranenborg: “The entire way of the Brahma Kumaris can be characterized as raja yoga. One should not think here in the first place of classical yoga, as described by Patanjali. Central to raja yoga is that one becomes connected with the Highest Soul and with the highest in oneself. It is a way to the true self, which is to be expressed in everyday life."

Origins

The movement was founded in 1936 in Karachi by Lekh Raj Kripalani who was born in 1876. "When he wanted to withdraw from this life in 1936 so that he could devote himself to the spiritual life, he had a radical religious experience. He had the feeling that he had come into contact with the Supreme Soul or God; at the same time he experienced himself in this encounter as an eternal soul and the connectedness of that soul with the Supreme Soul.'”

History

The story of the Brahma Kumaris begins with its founder Dada Lekhraj, a retired diamond merchant, who had frequent visions "most importantly the destruction of the world and its population through war, strife and natural calamities and the emergence of a post-apocalyptic paradise to be populated by the chosen few. Understandably disoriented by these visions Lekhraj decided to sell his business to his partner and retire." The movement led by Lekhraj moved from Hyderabad to Karachi and then to their current location in Mt.Abu.

"it is unquestionably that from the very beginning of the life of the organization its male founder, Dada Lekhraj, gave special encouragement to women to develop their spiritual lives and take leadership positions. Not only did he devolve his fortune and the responsibilities of administering it upon a trust of nine women as the very act of foundation of the Brahma Kumaris, but when, some few years after his life transforming visions, he came to believe that celibacy was necessary to achieve salvation, he rejected the Hindu practice of restricting the elevated status of celibate seeker to men. Indeed much was made in the early life of the organization of the failure of so many Hindu men to live up to their traditional roles as "gurus" to their wives; correspondingly women enjoyed much appreciation as the ones who so often demonstrated their capacity for virtue as required by traditional family life (Chander 1981: 23). Anyone, regardless of sex, who was prepared to adopt chastity and follow purity rules concerning diet and alcohol was eligible to join Lekhraj and be a full member (a brahmin) of the organization. As it happened, a high proportion of early members were women and their children.

In the 1950s when Dada Lekhraj (or "Brahma Baba") judged the time right to send people out from the home community (by then in Mt. Abu, India) to open teaching centers elsewhere in India, it was young women he chose to spread the Brahma Kumaris teachings (cf. Chander 1981: 156). Today the leadership of the BK movement in India remains heavily female."''

Global Expansion

Brahma Kumaris World Outreach As expressed by researchers Nesbitt and Henderson: "Whaling (1995) and Walliss (1999, 2002) summarise the historical development and content of BK outreach at a local and national level in terms of the development of meditation, stress reduction and self-esteem classes, and associated work in prisons, homes for the elderly, drug clinics and hospitals; and they show the Brahma Kumaris increasing internationalisation and links with the United Nations and UNICEF, through their central role in such international projects as ‘The Million Minutes for Peace’, ‘Global Co-Operation for a better World’ and ‘Living Values: An Educational Initiative’ (Walliss,1999). The meditation practice, of verbalised reflection with one’s eyes open, is supported by a disciplined way of life (Howell, 1997, p. 151) and in the West this practice is linked with opportunities for empowerment and success in life." (Skultans,1993, p. 58; Walliss, 1999.")

Beliefs and Practices

It is important to recogize that Brahma Kumaris as a Spiritual University has a variety of membership patterns thus, there is a different type of "identity negotiation" (term coined by Walliss) beliefs and practices engaged in by individuals in relationship with the University. Walliss in his article "Reflexive Traditions New Religious Movements and the 'Negotiation' of Identity" recognizes four different types of members in Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University:
1) Instrumental users: Individuals drawn to the University through what they perceive as tangible benefits through their life in the "here and now" usually emotionally or physically related issues.

2) Eclectic users:individuals looking for "self development" or "self-spirituality", there is a spiritual quest behind their association.

3) Spiritual searchers: Individuals who feel belong to the spiritual path, however; their involvement with the University grew out of sense of disillusionment with conventional religiosity.

4) Interpretative drifters: Individuals originally involved due to instrumental reasons, however; "gradually discovered that the ideas are true." (Luhrmann, 1994:124 as quoted by Walliss.)

For this topic, the outline given by Professor Kranenborg will be closely followed: In his article "Brahma Kumaris: A new Religion?,"1999 (reproduced with author's permission) Kranenborg points out 6 different areas:

1) Concept of God: The Brahma Kumaris concept differs from Hinduism in that God is an eternal and conscient being of light, the ‘all-highest soul’, ever-pure and good. Although having all knowledge and in that sense being omniscient, he is not omnipresent. Matter and human souls are also eternal—neither are they created by God nor do they emerge from God. Brahma Kumaris teachings provide specific understanding of God’s roles as creator, preserver and destroyer. Kranenborg notes "Traditionally, Hinduism speaks of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, and these three are seen as a unity. In Brahma Kumaris, however, Shiva stands above the trimurti and the third aspect is termed Shankar." Shiva creates by entering the world through a corporeal medium, awakening humanity and restoring human souls to their original state of harmony (creator aspect). He develops and sustains this balanced and complete human personality through the power of raja yoga and the knowledge he imparts to humanity (preserver aspect). He gets evil and negativity eliminated through the practice and lifestyle of raja yoga (destroyer aspect).

2) Concept of human beings: Each eternal human soul originally lived with God in the Soul World, a world of infinite light, peace and silence (otherwise known as nirvana). Souls take birth in a body in order to experience life and give expression to their original positive qualities. Souls have three components: intellect, conscious mind, and unconscious mind. The intellect receives and digests wisdom or Truth; reasons and discerns; and exhibits will and understanding. Depending on the intellect’s strength, it guides the thoughts that the conscious mind creates. The conscious mind produces thoughts and ideas; emotions, feelings and experiences and can be influenced by either the subconscious mind or by the guidance of the intellect. The unconscious mind contains impressions (sanskaras) that form personality as a consequence of action (karma). The more the intellect is strengthened through the understanding of Truth as taught by God and through meditation practice, the more the soul is able to create thoughts and actions (karmas) that transform negative habits (sanskaras) into more divine and beneficial sanskaras. Then the soul leads a happier and more meaningful life.

3) Concept of cyclic time: Brahma Kumaris teachings accord with classical Hinduism with respect to four world ages: the golden age (sat yuga), the silver age (treta yuga), the copper age (dwapar yuga) and the iron age (kali yuga). Within this last age, however, there is a fifth diamond age or confluence age (sangam yuga). The most striking departure from Hinduism is that for Brahma Kumaris the whole cycle lasts 5000 years. They believe that we currently are near the end of kali yuga, after which the world will be completely transformed into a new golden age.

4) Raja Yoga meditation: The practice involves initial development of the awareness and experience of the inner being, or the soul in its true and peaceful form. Once that awareness exists, thought is turned towards union with God. The experience in this union is one of deep peace, bliss and the eternity of the soul. Meditation is practiced with open eyes and can be done in silence, with music or meditation commentaries, but preferably under the supervision of a meditation guide. Raja yogis also adopt a ‘spiritual lifestyle’ that entails a lacto-vegetarian diet, keeping good company, regular spiritual study, recurrent moments of meditation during the day and the practice of celibacy. The meditation makes a person internally stronger and leads to the formation of good character and service of others.

5) Methods of service: As a teaching and service-oriented institution, the Brahma Kumaris offer courses related to raja yoga such as ‘Positive Thinking, ‘Stress-free Living’, ‘Self-Managing Leadership’, and ‘Secrets of Self-Esteem’. At the global level, the Brahma Kumaris have supported human rights, equality and good education for all through involvement in the activities of UNO, UNESCO and UNICEF. (see achievements section)

6) Murlis: Brahma Kumaris teachings and spiritual study are based on the messages imparted when the Supreme Soul takes the corporeal medium (initially that of Dada Lekraj and currently that of Dadi Gulzar, an elder sister) and speaks the ‘Murli’. Murlis are understood to be the words of God and clearly indicate that Shiva is to be understood as the ‘Supreme Soul’ and not one of many Hindu gods. The Brahma Kumaris understand God to be the Father of all souls, even though the knowledge (gyan) imparted through the Murlis is unlike that of other religious scriptures. This knowledge is considered ‘spiritual’ rather than ‘religious,’ and the movement as a whole is cast as a spiritual ‘university.’ Formally, the movement does not have a ‘holy book’ or scripture. Murlis are not available for sale and one must complete the Brahma Kumaris foundation course in order to begin listening to them, because a certain spiritual level has to be attained before they can be fully understood. Murli class is held in the early morning every day at all BK centres around the world.

As Dr. Howell points out to underline the uniqueness of the University: "Through the channelled messages it became clear that Shiva was not to be understood as one of many Hindu gods, but in monotheistic terms as ‘The Supreme Soul.’ Its knowledge, gyan, the true knowledge, was thus identified as ‘spiritual’ rather than ‘religious,’ and the movement as a whole was cast as a ‘university.’

7 Day Course

Walliss when referring to "world service" which was started in 1952, states:"Lekhraj had from the very beginning published numerous pamphlets and written a huge amount of letters to important national and international figures in which he interpreted contemporary events with reference to his revealed knowledge. Rather, this marked an intensification of the process, with seven-lesson courses in the group's teachings being offered to outsiders." An overview of the seven-lesson course can be found here: under "Foundation Course in Raja Yoga Meditation." Also, here: under "Foundation Courses in Meditation."

These seven lessons are:

  • The Soul
  • The Supreme Soul
  • The Law of Karma
  • The Cycle
  • The Tree of Religions
  • The Founder Brahma Baba
  • Brahma Kumaris' Lifestyle and Principles

The Soul Brahma Kumaris teach dualism. That is human beings are a soul or spirit living inside the physical body which is not the individual but a "costume". The soul's form is a point of light and it is situated in the forehead of the body. The soul is described as having 3 functions: Mind, Intellect and Sanskars. The sanskars, or record of experiences, are transmitted from birth to birth. Brahma Kumaris believe in human reincarnation but unlike classical Hinduism and Buddhism, they do not believe in transmigration, or re-incarnation between different species. Brahma Kumaris teach that there are only 5.5 billion human souls.

The Supreme Soul Brahma Kumaris believe that their "God" is a soul or spirit identical to the human soul, also in the form of a point of light but that this soul cannot take birth in a human form. Their "God" remains disincarnate, eternally unchanged and so therefore is the only individual that can purify impure incarnated human being souls through its knowledge and by their mentally connecting to him through the practise of their Raja Yoga. This entity then is able to channel his psychic energy through the Raja Yoga practitioners to other human beings and into the World. The practice of this form of Raja Yoga and the allowing of their god Shiva to channeling his energy through them is said to be an intense spiritual fire burning away the practitioner's previous personality and eradicating their sins.

The Law of Karma Similar to many Eastern religions, the Brahma Kumaris believe that Karma is a law controlling actions and reactions ; that every action creates a reaction and that individuals experience the effects of those reactions either as happiness or suffering. These reactions can be experienced in the current or a following lifetime. Thoughts being the origin of actions.

The Cycle Using the symbolism of classical Hinduism, Brahma Kumaris believe that time is cyclical and follows a pattern of a cycle which lasts for 5000 years. This is referred to as "The Cycle" of 4 or 5 Ages or Yugas ; Satya, Thretha, Dwapara and Kali in Hindi. Each cycle is identical to the one that came before it and to the one that will come after it. They call this the 'Eternal Drama'. God, souls and the 'Eternal Drama' have no beginning or end (Anadi and Avinaashi ). The souls keep on entering the physical body (birth) and leave (death) them as per the rules of the 'Eternal Drama'.

It starts with a paradise or "Golden Age" of 900,000 human beings, all followers of their religion. This then declines to a slightly less paradisiacal "Silver Age" in which humans are also naturally spiritual minded. Then after 2,500 years, the Earth declines further to enter into a "Copper Age" where humanity experience the duality of spirit and matter. Suffering is experienced for the first time, the search for God and religions are created for the first time. 1,250 years later, a totally impure "|Iron Age" of suffering, injustice and irreligiousness begins. Brahma Kumaris believe this "|Iron Age" is our current age and that it is "Hell". The opposite of their "Golden Age" 5,000 years before - or a few years into the future. They teach that at the end of the Iron Age, the World must be completely destroyed by a nuclear war between Russia and America, natural disasters and a blood bath of civil war in India.

At the end of Kaliyuga, BKWSU teach that the moral status of humanity deteriorates to such an extent that negative tendencies dominate human relationships and their god Shiva adopts the body of Lekhraj Kripalani to teaches souls how to remove these negative tendencies and instill divine qualities in their place. Those who follow the BKs will contribute to the creation of a "heaven on earth" and will naturally end up in Golden Age or Silver Age of the next cycle. All others, and non-BKs will start taking birth from Copper Age and Iron Age.

Between the lowest entropy of the "|Iron Age" and the high spiritual state of their "Golden Age", there is a brief period of 100 years when the work to establish the Paradise must takes place. This period of time is known as the "Confluence Age" and was originally taught to be 40 years. When the World did not end, it became 100 years; 50 years for destruction of the World through "the jaws of death, the wail of horror, the rivers of blood and pus, the panic and the desperation, and then, the final death", followed by another 50 years for the creation of Heaven on Earth.

However, "Destruction", as it is known, did not happen according to their timetables :

  • first in 1976, one hundred years after the death of Dada Lehkraj,
  • then some time between 1985 and 1996, 50 to 60 years after the alleged incarnation of Shiva Baba
  • Year 2000

Every soul will return to its Nirvana, also known as Shantidham or the Land of Peace.

The Tree of Religions The Brahma Kumaris use the symbolism of "The Tree" to represent the evolution, or rather decline, of the human family of souls. The root of the tree is made up by Brahma Kumaris followers currently practicing their Raja Yoga only. These individuals alone are to become the residents of "Heaven on Earth", symbolised by the trunk of the tree, where humanity is one and experiences Golden Age and Silver Age.

"The Tree" is then illustration to split in 5 major branches. Humanity, they teach, forgets its original nature and each branch represents one of the 5 major religious traditions or seeking for god and divinity ; Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and renunciate tradition of India called "Sanyasism" and manifestation of this newly impure world.

The outer branches of "The Tree" are said to symbolise the "|Iron Age" of a fractured humanity where even major religions are split into many small branches, representing scientific beliefs, religious cults and political movements. Jesus Christ, Muhammad, Buddha, Shankaracharya and all other religious founders are said to incarnate at the beginning of their religion and then continue to reincarnate through out the history of their religion until coming to the "end of the world" at this time and seeking out the Brahma Kumaris for re-education in spirituality. It is specifically taught that none of the other religious founder have a direct connection with God nor are they able to escape human reincarnation many times over as is believed by Sanyasin, Buddhists, Muslims or Christians.

"The Tree" of humanity must be destroyed each "Cycle" in order that a new "Tree" repeats the pattern exactly. The "seed" for this new tree is their "God" Shiva Baba alone and they are the only true source of this knowledge.

The Founder Under the inspiration of their god, businessman Lekhraj Kirpalani became known as "Brahma Baba" and was said to have had 84 human births. Believed to be the maximum number of births for any human soul. The Brahma Kumaris believe that Lekhraj Kirpalani was the first pure being in the world known as "Adam" or "Krishna".

Since they believe that their god needs a human body through which to communicate, and Lekraj Kirpalani was considered to be the most experienced of all human beings, their god took possession of his mental faculties and body in order to communicate with body conscious, impure humanity. Lekhraj Kirpalani is considered by the Brahma Kumaris to be number one soul, higher in divinity than Jesus Christ, Mohamed, Buddha and all other religious founders who must come to him, or his followers, for re-education in spirituality. Lekhraj Kirpalani by his actions in a previous incarnation 2,500 years ago is also taught to be the individual that led humanity to "The Fall", that is out of divinity and heaven on earth and into dualistic suffering.

Followers believe that this Supreme Soul, known to them as Shiva or "God", and Lekhraj Kirpalani continue to be channelled on a regular basis by a senior BK sister called Gulzar at their headquarters in India. Also that Lekhraj Kirpalani's soul will reincarnate as Hindu god Krishna in his next birth.

BK Principles The final lesson traditionally taught by the Brahma Kumaris relates to the lifestyle and disciplines they follow, called Maryadas, as regards to religious practices, food, sex and relationships.

Achievements

Professor Kranenborg also mentions some of the Brahma Kumaris activities throughout the years. "courses are given which are connected to raja yoga. One should mention here the course ‘Positive Thinking'. Related to this is the course, ‘Stress-free Living' which is also concerned with developing a proper way of thinking and a proper tuning in to one's most profound nature. Courses such as ‘Self-Managing Leadership', ‘Secrets of Self-Esteem', ‘Self-Management for Quality of Life' have a similar orientation: the emphasis continually falls on understanding who the human being is, how the human being is connected with the All-Highest and how rest, power and balance can be brought into life."
Within this framework there are a number of programs that the Brahma Kumaris spearheaded, such as the United Nations project called ‘The Million Minutes for Peace' (in which the intention is that for a few minutes every day several people think positively of world peace). They were the recipient of seven UN Peace Messenger awards from this project. They also spearheaded the projects, ‘Global Cooperation for a Better World', ‘Sharing our Values for a Better World'. The latter project inspired the creation of Living Values' which is now an independent charitable organization based in Switzerland, ALIVE, where both BK and non-BK educators participate in the development of a values-based education program. The Brahma Kumaris are also very active in ‘interfaith' projects that encourage the unity and common tie of all religions. Finally, effort is made to contribute to different sectors of social life and culture. Thus, there are programs dealing with art, academic conferences (which is appropriate since the Brahma Kumaris organization is called a Spiritual University), medical research and practice and programs for working with prisoners, etc. They are also the administrators of a fully operating Global Hospital and Research Center near their headquarters in Mt. Abu, India, which serves the village communities in the area.

The Advance Party

Walliss mentions the advent of a movement which may be seen as an internal response to "the University's world ambivalence;" Walliss refers to them as the Advance Party.

External links

BK

Critical

Christian

Islamic


References

  1. According to wikipedia policies
  2. Reflexive Traditions: New Religious Movements and the 'Negotiation' of Identity.-John Walliss, Ph.D University of Warwick, UK.
  3. Professor Reender Kranenborgh from Free University of Amsterdam. All citations originate from this web article unless noted differently.
  4. 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
  5. Gender Role Experimentation in New Religious Movements: Clarification of the Brahma Kumari Case, Howell, Julia. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion; Sep98, Vol. 37 Issue 3, p453-461, 9p. Julia Day Howell is Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Asian and International Studies, Griffith Universtiy, Australia
  6. 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 Univeristy of Warwick, UK.
  7. Reflective Traditions: New Religious Movements and the 'Negotiation' of Identity. Walliss, John; University of Warwick, UK.
  8. Reender Kranenborg, Free University of Amsterdam. "Brahma Kumaris: A New Religion?", 1999
  9. Dr. Julia D. Howell. Changing Meanings of Religious Pluralism, 2003
  10. 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
  11. 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

Bibliography

  • 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 Insititue, Australia March 1989

See also

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