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Brahma Kumaris

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Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya or Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University is considered a 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.

History

The BKWSU was founded in 1937 by Lekhraj Kripalani, 1876-1969, a wealthy Sindhi merchant following visions of 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 a chosen few. Kirpalani believed that he was entered by another soul and that this spirit was God who started to talk through him. Understandably disoriented by these visions and experiences, Lekhraj decided to sell his business to his partner in order to retire and established an informal congregation of followers called the Om Mandali, or "gathering of souls". Following social and legal opposition, the movement led by Lekhraj moved from Hyderabad to Karachi and then to their current location in Mount Abu.

From the beginning of the organization Kirpalani gave special encouragement to women to develop their spiritual lives and take leadership positions handing over the responsibilities of administering the organisation to a Trust of nine women. He also rejected the Hindu practice of restricting the elevated status of celibate seeker to men. Anyone, regardless of sex, who was prepared to adopt chastity and follow purity rules concerning diet and alcohol was eligible to join Kirpalani and become a member of the organization. A high proportion of early members were women and their children. In the 1950s when teaching centers elsewhere in India were opened, young women were chosen to spread the teachings and the leadership of the BK movement in India remains heavily female.

Beliefs and Practices

BKWSU beliefs include. BK Raja yogis are expected to be teetotal, follow a sattvic lacto-vegetarian diet excluding onions and garlic and food not cooked by non-followers, keeping good company, morning meditation at 4 am, regular spiritual study at 6 am, recurrent moments of meditation during the day and the practice of celibacy.

Concept of God

The Brahma Kumaris concept differs from Hinduism in that God Shiva 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 unique understanding of God’s roles as creator, preserver and destroyer. Traditionally, Hinduism speaks of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. In Brahma Kumaris however, Shiva stands above the Trimurti and the third aspect of destroyer is termed Shankar. Shiva creates by entering the world through a corporeal medium, Lekhraj Kirpalani, 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 eliminates evil and negativity through the practice of the Brahma Kumari lifestyle (destroyer aspect)

Concept of human beings

Each eternal human soul originally lived with God in the Soul World, a world of infinite light, peace and silence known as Nirvana. Souls take birth in a body in order to experience life and give expression to their original qualities having three components: mind, intellect and sanskars. The intellect receives and digests knowledge, reasons, discerns and exhibits will and understanding guiding the thoughts that the conscious mind creates. The conscious mind produces thoughts and ideas; emotions, feelings and experiences that can be influenced by either the sanskars (subconscious mind) or by the guidance of the intellect. The unconscious mind contains impressions that form personality as a consequence of action mind,karma]].

Concept of cyclic time

Brahma Kumaris teachings are different from classical Hinduism in that they teach 5 world ages: a Golden Age, Silver Age, Copper Age and Iron Age or Kali Yuga and a fifth "Diamond" or "Confluence Age" called Sangam Yuga. The most striking departure from Hinduism is that for Brahma Kumaris the whole of time lasts only 5,000 years, each Cycle identical and eternally repetitive without final release for human souls. The BKWSU believe that we currently are near the end of Kali Yuga, after which the world will be completely destroyed and then transformed a new Golden Age paradise. This Confluence was original taught to be 40 years and end in 1976, however it is current said to 100 years thought to have started in 1936.

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 their God Shiva. Meditation is practiced with open eyes and can be done in silence, with music or meditation commentaries initially under the supervision of a meditation guide. The meditation practice, of verbalised reflection with one’s eyes open, is supported by a disciplined way of life.


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)

Murlis

Brahma Kumaris teachings and spiritual study are based on the messages they believe to be imparted by the Supreme Soul entering a human medium, initially that of Dada Lekraj and currently that of Hirday Mohini, an elderly 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.

Channelling and mediumship

The BKWSU use to deliver channelled messages from the spirit it beleives to be God or "the Supreme Soul" to its followers..

7 Day Course

After the start of "World service" in 1952, the BKSU offered seven lesson courses in the group's teachings and practice to outsiders. The practice continues.

An overview of the seven-lesson course can be found here: and here:

Membership and activities

Brahma Kumaris are said to have a variety of membership patterns; 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.)


Achievements

Non-governmental organisation in general consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and UNICEF, and affiliated to the UN Department of Public Information. The Brahma Kumaris were the recipients of seven UN Peace Messenger awards for its first international campaign "The Million Minutes for Peace" project.

Outreach Activities

Active in interfaith' projects Organizers of conferences promoting its beliefs and service programmes targeting various social and professional groups such as academics or prisoners and international issues based campaigns such as "Global Cooperation for a Better World", "Living Values". Administrators of two Hospitals in India.

Splinter group

A number of splinter groups exists, the most notable of which is known as the Prajapita Brahma Kumaris  or Advance Party.

External links

BKWSU websites

Non-BKWSU websites

References

  1. Reflexive Traditions: New Religious Movements and the 'Negotiation' of Identity.-John Walliss, Ph.D University of Warwick, UK.
  2. Professor Reender Kranenborgh from Free University of Amsterdam. All citations originate from this web article unless noted differently.
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. Reender Kranenborg, Free University of Amsterdam. "Brahma Kumaris: A New Religion?", 1999
  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. Dr. Julia D. Howell. Changing Meanings of Religious Pluralism, 2003
  8. 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
  9. Reflective Traditions: New Religious Movements and the 'Negotiation' of Identity. Walliss, John; University of Warwick, UK.
  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

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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