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Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya or Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, a millenarianist New Religious Movement of Indian origin."”The Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (BKWSU) teaches a form of meditation called Raja Yoga but according to Kranenborg: "One should not think here in the first place of classical yoga as described by Patanjali."

Origins

According to the organization, the movement was founded in 1936 in Karachi by Lekhraj Kripalani who was born in 1876 when during a religious meeting, he was seen to leave the room, start to "glow red" and "speak in a different voice". "Pulled into a state of intense meditation, he felt someone entering him ... Taking over his physical senses, the Being started to speak ... Incorporeal God Siva had given His introduction through Dada Lekh Raj"., . Lekhraj believed that God has decended into him, he was the incarnation of Krishna, the Bhagavad Gita had become distorted. He told followers that the world was going to be destroyed in the immediate future but that although all life on Earth was to die a lucky few would join him, under kingship as Emperor Narayan in paradise on Earth by following Shiva's mediumistic teachings.

Following Lekhraj's death in 1969, a new female medium within the organization called Gulzar continued channelling both the soul called Shiva, whom the BKs believe is God or the Supreme Soul and the deceased Kirpalani allowing them to lead the organization "from beyond the grave" through channelled messages called Murlis. Central to these teachings is that the current impure world has to be destroyed in order for the new age of spiritual purity to come about. The current world is ending and the Brahma Kumaris believe that they must prepare for life in the glorious new age rather than attempting the impossible of halting the inevitable, indeed desirable destruction of the world by unpeaceful means..

History

The story of the Brahma Kumaris begins with its founder Dada Lekhraj, a wealthy 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." Originally called "Om Mandali" or "Rajswa Ashvamegh Avinashi Geeta Gyan Yagya," in the early days Lekhraj Kripalani attracted mostly women and their children belonging to the exogamous Bhaiband business caste of Hyderabad and along with them created much controversy until the Indian Congress party and the Arya Samaj denounced the Om Mandali community. Dada Lekhraj, known then as "Om Baba", in turn denounced the Congress as "Kansa" or wicked and under pressure of Hindu public opinion, the Sindh government reluctantly banned the Om Mandali, which went to court and had the ban order quashed. Due to this opposition, often from family of his followers and including court cases, the movement led by Lekhraj moved from Hyderabad to Karachi and then to their current location in Mt. Abu.

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 give over his fortune and the responsibilities of administering it to a trust of nine women. Some years after his life transforming visions, he came to believe that celibacy was necessary to achieve salvation rejecting the Hindu practice of restricting the elevated status of celibate seeker to men. (Chander 1981: 23). Anyone, regardless of sex, who was prepared to adopt chastity and follow strict rules concerning diet and alcohol was eligible to join Lekhraj and be a full member of the organization. A high proportion of early members were women and their children.

In the 1950s when Kirpalani judged the time right to send people out from the headquarters 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."'

• The Indian version of the religion's history can be found at http://www.brahmakumaris.com/aboutus/history.htm
• The international version can be found at http://www.bkwsu.org/whoweare/history.htm

Global Expansion

Brahma Kumaris World Outreach. From the 1970s onwards, the BKWSU has attempted to recruit members and arguably increase its international profile through offering seemingly world-affirming skills such as self-development, positive thinking and stress management whilst antagonistically awaiting the end of the world millenium .

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

The Brahma Kumaris as a Spiritual University has a variety of membership according to Wallis and Luhrmann.; 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, individuals looking for "self development" or "self-spirituality", individuals who feel belong to the spiritual path, however; their involvement with the University grew out of sense of disillusionment with conventional religiosity, and individuals originally involved due to instrumental reasons, however gradually coming to beleive that the ideas the BKWSU present are true.

Professor Kranenborg points out that the BKWSU's ideas concerning God "deviate considerably from what we encounter within Hinduism as a whole". God, and matter are eternal, the latter not created by God as is the human souls. They do not emerge from God and are not created by him. God is seen as one of the souls, even though he is the ‘supreme soul' or the ‘all-highest soul' and is not omnipresent.

Central to BKWSU practise and belief are channelled messages received via the medium Lekh Raj Kirpallani called the Murlis. Kranenborg points out that since ince the death of the death of Kirpalani, the messages continue to be received from the other world another medium, sister Gulzar and that the Brahma Kumaris do not discuss these phenomena and texts right away in their introductory courses as the BKWSU believe that until a certain spiritual level has to be attained before one can work with it. BKWSU adherents engage in study of this text for a long time from six o'clock in the morning each day.

As Dr. Howell points out to underline the uniqueness of the University: "Through the channelled messages it became clear that the BKs' "Shiva" was not to be understood as one of many Hindu gods, but in monotheistic terms as ‘The Supreme Soul.’ In this and other respects the movement distinguished itself from Hinduism, and indeed from all religions.’. It is this spiritual being channelled by Kirpalani and Gulzar that the BKs consider to be God and surrender their lives to .

7 Day Course

Wallis 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 followed by a marked intensification of the process, a 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."

According to the BKWSU published "One week course" by B. K. Jagdish Chander 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 5,000 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.

• The Brahma Kumaris promote celibacy.

Achievements

The organization now has 100s of branches internationally and ;

• most level management and the majority of local management and teaching is done by women,
• supports public healthcare provision in its sponsored hospital.
• 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
• granted International Peace Messenger Initiative status by the U.N.for the Global Co-operation for a Better World campaign
• promoting the use of renewable energy in India.
• does not charge for its services.
• funded by donations.

Controversy

Listed as an apocalyptic cult by the French Government "MISSION INTERMINISTÉRIELLE DE VIGILANCE ET DE LUTTE CONTRE LES DÉRIVES SECTAIRES', and sharing many attributes of cult-like behavior, the BKWSU claims that all the major religions were inspired by their teachings 5,000 years ago while maintaining that the organization itself is not religious. However, other scholars refer to this movement as a religion or as stated by Professor R. Kranenborg “Brahma Kumaris is in fact a new religion, originating within Hinduism but going its own way. Based in India, and incorporating lifestyle principles also found in the orthodox Hindu practices, the group claims that they are both not Hindu and that Hinduism is actually the impure aftermath of their way of life. Likewise that the devotional practices relating to religious icons in Hinduism are actually memorials, or "Yaadgaars" in Hindi, to themsevles. This has caused severe rifts with the wider Hindu community at times, especially with those of the Hindu reform movement Arya Samaj, but many do not feel comfortable with this.

The Brahma Kumaris only eat food cooked by those within their organization and themselves and sometimes not even by less experienced BKs. This practice offends some outsiders. The BKs claim that the Hindu spiritual scripture, Bhagavad Gita, is actually the teachings of Shiva and that it is mis-interpreted by Hindus.

• Documented incidents of child abuse within the organisation brushed aside by leaders as due to the bad karma of the children suffering sex abuse and outside of their responsibility, the perpetrators avoid punishment or reporting to police.]
• Social and psychological problems faced by ex-followers including two suicides within one family.
• Rape and physical violence from families and partners of Brahma Kumaris.
• Questionable advertisement of relationship with United Nations Organisation.
• Name changing from University to Organisation.
• Discreet historical revision and re-writing of their "God's" spoken word to avoid controversy, to accommodate increased world population, to change speculation over the timing of destruction of the world and other matters.
• Self-proclaimed "University" status not recognized by any external authority.
• From a theological point of view, B.K.s claim that the Hindu spiritual scripture Bhagavad Gita is actually the teachings of Shiva and that it is misinterpreted by other Hindus and that the current version of the Bhagavad Gita has been modified and enlarged by human beings.
• Beliefs that they are the only true and direct representatives of God.
• Beliefs that they, and only they, are angels, or are training in order to become angels, and that their senior practitioners are already well developed as angels so as to appear in visions or traveling around the world in their angelic forms; that they are the inspiration of the form of angels throughout all of history and art.

Destruction

Similar to the belief in Armageddon, core to the BKWSU teaching is that the current impure world is going to be imminently destroyed. Within their community, this is referred to as "Destruction" the timing of which is the topic of much speculation. As above, it is taught that this destruction will take place through civil war, natural disasters and, ultimately, nuclear holocaust between Russia and America.

Although the planet Earth will not be destroyed, all other continents except for Indian sub-continent, and life as it is known, will disappear below the oceans. Modern civilisation with them. Within a period of less than 30 years though, India will be rebuilt as a paradise and a Golden Age for faithful B.K.W.S.U. followers begin. Initially, it was thought that Destruction would take place 100 years after the birth of Dada and in 1976 there was a false alarm that encouraged many followers to leave. Then it was taught that this period of destruction and re-creation would take 50 years and 50 years respectively ending in the mid to late 1980s. However, the organisation is now celebrating its 70th year. Despite taking part in many peace, and even anti-nuclear campaigns, they believe that "Destruction" is unavoidable.

Quote from B.K.W.S.U. teaching poster called, "Truth about The Creator and His Creation by Most Beloved World God Father Shiva Kalpa (5,000 years) Ago."; "... the Iron Aged irreligious world destroyed through Shankar by goading Yadvas ". See; .

Virgin Birth belief

Contrary to orthodox Hinduism, of which they see themselves the originators of, the BKWSU also teach the immanent birth of Sri Krishna through non-sexual procreation in order that he can be crowned Emperor Narayan at the start of the Golden Age, in approximately 30 or 35 years time, and that non-sexual procreation through the mouth and power of Raja Yoga will be the norm for the next 2,500 years.

Use of Violence

The sight of heavy stick wielding BK “brothers” is a common sight at large BK events. Police reports exist of said BKs kidnapping PBKs in cars, removing them to a distant location and “beating them black and blue”. In one incident, PBKs were beaten so “mercilessly” that they had to be admitted in hospital. In others even elderly women were manhandled. As similar events have taken place across India from Karnatak to Haryana. Police complaints were been filled, the BKs in one incident plea-bargaining in response.

Names or Front Organizations

A list of BKWSU front organizations and business that are run and staffed by BKs involved in promoting BKWSU beliefs. At events promoted by any one of these entities, one might find other BKs present under the mantle of "representing" one of the other organizations rather than the BKWSU in a self-reciprocating manner.

• the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organisation
• the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organization
• Inner Space
• Visions of a Better World Foundation
• Brahma Kumaris Spiritual Study Foundation
• Brahma Kumaris Educational Society
• Global Retreat Centre
• BK Publications
• World Renewal Trust
• Janki Foundation

Splinter groups

PBK

Believing himself to be a reincarnation of Lekhraj Kirpalani's business partner Sevak Ram, Virendra Dev Dikşit split away from main body of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organisation to form the Adhyatmik Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya or "P.B.K. movement" after being disappointed by the philosophical shortcomings of BKWSU teachers and was consequently barred from B.K. Raja Yoga centres. He continues to teach, or channel, and is considered to be the true medium of the guiding spirit or "God" they and the BKWSU call Shiva Baba. Followers of Virendra Dev Dikşit call themselves "PBKs".

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

PBKs believe that the BKWSU is instrumental in delivering a first level or basic knowledge. The second level or "Advance Knowledge", as it is known, is then taught by the PBKs. PBKs believe both levels of knowledge are taught by the one Spiritual Father, are complimentary, and that both they and the BKs are two halves of one Godly family. A sentiment that is not returned by the BKWSU. In general, the PBKs study the spiritual knowledge taught by their god at a deeper, more metaphorical level and apply it specifically to the Brahmin Family in the Confluence Age. The BKs tend to accept it unquestioningly, in a literal and simplistic form, externalizing it on to the world around them.

• Individuals within the Prajapita Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, only recognise that Shiva speaks through the medium of Dada Lekhraj (Brahma Baba). They refer to themselves as Brahma Kumars or Kumaris (BKs), which means "Princes and Princesses of Brahma".
• Individuals with the Adhyatmik Ishwariya Vishva Vidyalaya, recognize Shiva's role both channelled through the body of Dada Lekhraj and channelled through the body of Virendra Dev Dixit. They refer to themselves as "Prajapita Brahma Kumars/Kumaris", or PBKs.

Referred to disparagingly as "The Shankar Party" by the BKWSU, the PBKs are the target of considerable discrimination by the BKWSU, to the point of physical violence, and are the cause of much disconcertion for senior BK members. Although barred from BKWSU centres and events, PBKs claim to be part of the same spiritual lineage, relating back to the beginning of Om Mandali, when Dada Lekhraj experienced a series of divine visions that encouraged him to start the task of world transformation.

The AIVV headquarters are situated in Kampil. PBK followers believe that the possessing spirit Shiva was first channelled through the body of Lekhraj Kirpalani's business partner Sevak Ram in 1936-37 explaining the reasons for the divine visions to Lekhraj Kirpalani via Sevak Ram and two female followers; Geeta Mata and BK Radha. These three later left the Om Mandali due to some differences of opinion with Lekhraj Kirpalani and died between 1942 and 47 but are said to have reincarnated as per the BK credo. PBKs believe that the same spiritual entity Shiva now continues the teachings after Lekhraj Kirpalani's death in 1969. Both Sevak Ram and the above mentioned females have been entirely written out of BKWSU history.

• The BKWSU believed and taught that the Destruction of the Earth and creation of Heaven was going to happen in 1976. The PBKs interpreted this to have been the start of the destruction of the old order within the BKWSU, and the revelation of the Advance Knowledge.
• The BKWSU teach that Lekhraj Kirpalani reached perfect enlightenment, "equal to God", and both he and "God" continue to possess and teach through the body of a BK senior sister called Gulzar at the headquarters in Abu together. Quoting their shared scriptures, the PBKs believe that it is only the soul of Kirpalani that is now channelled through and that he has yet to reach perfection. They claim that "Shiva Baba" is now channelled through Virendra Dev Dixit alone.

Heidi Fittkau-Garthe

German psychologist, and a previously high-profile German Brahma Kumari and psychotherapist, Heidi Fittkau-Garthe was charged in the Canary Islands with a plot of murder-suicide in January 1998 in which 31 cult followers, including five children, were to ingest poison. After the suicides, they were told they would be picked up by a spaceship and taken to an unspecified destination.Police said the sect, called the Isis Holistic Centre, was an offshoot of the Brahma Kumari sect which has countless followers in India and up to 800,000 in the United States.

The Vishnu Party

Other smaller splinter groups from both the BKWSU and PBKs such as "The Vishnu Party", under the leadership of Dashrath Patel, have formed mostly in South India and mostly dying out or changing allegiances. These have created a degree of rivalry, confusion and controversy over their relative claims of authenticity, at times leading to outright hostilities and unproven criminal allegations.

External links

BK

• http://www.bkwsu.org/ Official International website.
• http://www.brahmakumaris.com Official Indian based website
• http://www.rajyoga.in/ e-learning site by B.K.W.S.U.
• http://www.peacevillage.com/ B.K. sponsored Peace Village Retreat Center, USA.
• http://www.globalretreatcentre.com/index.htm Global Retreat Centre, UK.
• http://www.geocities.com/bro_khem/ Articles written by BK author including scriptural quotations.
• http://www.brahmakumaris.org.in/Landmarks.htm Detailed historic timeline.
• http://www.bkun.org/bkfocus.html B.K.W.S.U. and the United Nations
• http://www.jankifoundation.org/home/index.php The Janki Foundation for Global Health Care
• http://www.ghrc-abu.com/ Global Hospital & Research Centre
• http://www.livingvalues.net/ Living Values Education Program, BKWSU front.
• http://brahmakumaris.com.au/php/forum/index.php BK Discussion Forum
• http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=Brahma+Kumaris Google Video BKWSU clips including Descent of God and Destruction / Creation

B.K. teaching posters

• The World Drama Cycle and Trimurti (Text)
• Lakshimi and Narayan (Text)
• The Human World Tree (Text)
• The Ladder of 84 Births

ex-B.K.

• http://www.bkwsu-critique.com/ Balanced critique of the B.K.W.S.U. to counter the mostly negative critiques currently available on the internet
• http://www.brahmakumaris.info/ Independent website on the B.K.W.S.U. with no affiliation to the B.K.W.S.U.
• http://xbkinfo.infogami.com/ A guide to life after leaving the Brahma Kumaris
• http://www.abia29.hemscott.net/Inner_Dialogues.htm Time and Eternity "Inner Dialogues" by Paul Brocklehurst 2003

P.B.K.

• http://www.shivbaba.org.pl/ P.B.K. websites.
• http://www.shivbaba.ca/
• http://www.creator-creation.com/

Vishnu Party

• http://www.discoveryofnewworld.com/

Critical

• http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~eromain/childprotection.htm Report on Child abuse within BKWSU and response by Senior Administrators.
• http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=206345
• http://www.cesnur.org/testi/bryn/br_kranenborg.htm
• http://www.virusmyth.net/aids/books/nhbrevobser.htm Neville Hodgkinson, 'AIDS; The Failure of Contemporary Science, UK 1996
• http://ips.org/geneva/2906/meditate.htm TerraViva IPS, Meditating on Politics, Geneva 2000, the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (Copenhagen+5).

Christian

• http://www.reachouttrust.org/articles/othergrp/brahma.htm Reachout Trust report .

Islamic

• http://www.islamicvoice.com/august.99/dialogue.htm view from "Islamic Voice" Islamic

References

1. Reflexive Traditions: New Religious Movements and the 'Negotiation' of Identity.-John Wallis, Ph.D University of Warwick, UK.
2. From World Rejection to Ambivalence: The Development of Millenarianism in the Brahma Kumaris. Wallis, John; Journal of Contemporary Religion; Oct99, Vol. 14 Issue 3, p375, 11p
3. 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
4. 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.
5. Reflective Traditions: New Religious Movements and the 'Negotiation' of Identity. Wallis, John; University of Warwick, UK.
6. Reender Kranenborg, Free University of Amsterdam. "Brahma Kumaris: A New Religion?", 1999
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 Wallis. Journal of Contemporary Religion, Vol.14,N 3, 1999
9. As suggested by Professor Richard Barz, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Asian Studies. The Australian National University.
10. From World Rejection to Ambivalence:The development in Millenarianism in the Brahma Kumaris." by John Wallis. 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

• New religious movement
• Millenarianism
• End times
• Channeling
• Channeling (mediumistic)
• Hinduism
• Yoga
• Patanjali and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
• Meditation
• Raja Yoga
• Prajapita Brahma Kumaris

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