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Let us beginning. The BK version reads far too much like an advert and is littered with problems that have been raised but ignored by them.
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|language = [[Hindi (language)|Hindi]], English
|language = [[Hindi (language)|Hindi]], English
|leader_title = Founder
|leader_title = Founder
|leader_name = [[Lekhraj Kripalani]] (1876–1969), known as "Brahma Baba"
|leader_name = [[Lekhraj Kripalani]] (1884–1969), known as "Brahma Baba"
|key_people = Janki Kripalani, Hirdaya Mohini
|key_people = Janki Kripalani, Hirdaya Mohini
|num_staff =
|num_staff =
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}}</ref> Kripalani later took the name Brahma Baba.<ref name="World 2010">''Religions of the World. A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices''. J Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann. ABC-CLEO, LLC 2010, ISBN 978-1-57884-203-6</ref>
}}</ref> Kripalani later took the name Brahma Baba.<ref name="World 2010">''Religions of the World. A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices''. J Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann. ABC-CLEO, LLC 2010, ISBN 978-1-57884-203-6</ref>


It teaches a form of meditation they call Raja Yoga, but is not the traditional ancient [[Raja Yoga]] of [[Patanjali]].<ref>''Religions of the World. A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices''. J Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann. Facts on File Inc, 2007, ISBN 0-8160-5458-4</ref> In 2008, the movement claimed to have more than 825,000 followers in over 100 countries.<ref name="World 2010"/>
It teaches a form of meditation they call Raja Yoga.<ref>''Religions of the World. A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices''. J Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann. Facts on File Inc, 2007, ISBN 0-8160-5458-4</ref> In 2008, the movement claimed to have more than 825,000 followers in over 100 countries.<ref name="World 2010"/>


== Early history ==
== Early history ==


===Om Mandali===
The Brahma Kumaris, originally called ''Om Mandali'', started in [[Hyderabad, Sindh]] in north-west [[India]].<ref name="Matt Tomlinson, Wendy Smith, Lenore Manderson 2012 51">{{cite book
The Brahma Kumaris was originally called Om Mandali. The group started in Hyderabad, Sindh in north-west India.<ref name="Matt Tomlinson, Wendy Smith, Lenore Manderson 2012 51">{{cite book
|chapter=4. Brahma Kumaris: Purity and the Globalization of Faith
|chapter=4. Brahma Kumaris: Purity and the Globalization of Faith
|author2=Matt Tomlinson
|author2=Matt Tomlinson
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|page= 51
|page= 51
|year=2012
|year=2012
|isbn=978-94-007-2931-5}}</ref> It received this name because members would chant "Om" together, before having discourse on spiritual matters in the traditional [[satsang]] style. The original discourses were closely connected to the [[Bhagavad Gita]].<ref name="Matt Tomlinson, Wendy Smith, Lenore Manderson 2012 51">{{cite book
|isbn=978-94-007-2931-5}}</ref> It received this name because they would chant "Om" together. The original discourses were closely connected to the [[Bhagavad Gita]]<ref name="Matt Tomlinson, Wendy Smith, Lenore Manderson 2012 51">{{cite book
|chapter=4. Brahma Kumaris: Purity and the Globalization of Faith
|chapter=4. Brahma Kumaris: Purity and the Globalization of Faith
|author2=Matt Tomlinson
|author2=Matt Tomlinson
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|page= 51
|page= 51
|year=2012
|year=2012
|isbn=978-94-007-2931-5}}</ref> The founder, Dada Lekhraj Khubchand Kripilani (who became known in the group as "Om Baba") was a wealthy jeweller, respected in the community.<ref>{{cite book
|isbn=978-94-007-2931-5}}</ref> The founder, Lekhraj Khubchand Kripilani (1884 – 1969) was a wealthy jeweler <ref>{{cite book
|chapter=4. Brahma Kumaris: Purity and the Globalization of Faith
|chapter=4. Brahma Kumaris: Purity and the Globalization of Faith
|author2=Matt Tomlinson
|author2=Matt Tomlinson
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|page= 52
|page= 52
|year=2012
|year=2012
|isbn=978-94-007-2931-5}}</ref> He reported a series of visions and other transcendental experiences that commenced around 1935 and became the basis for the discourses. He believed there was a greater power working through him and that many of those who attended these gatherings were themselves having spiritual experiences.<ref name="Matt Tomlinson, Wendy Smith, Lenore Manderson 2012 51"/> The majority of those who came were women and children from the Bhaibund caste<ref>{{cite journal
|isbn=978-94-007-2931-5}}</ref> who had a series of visions and other transcendental experiences as did many of those who attended the gatherings.<ref name="Matt Tomlinson, Wendy Smith, Lenore Manderson 2012 51"/> The majority of those who came were women and children from the [[Bhaiband]] and Amil [[jati]]s, <ref>{{cite journal
|last=Babb
|last=Babb
|first=Lawrence
|first=Lawrence
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|pages=399–416
|pages=399–416
|year=1984
|year=1984
|doi=10.1086/494068}}</ref> - a caste of wealthy merchants and business people whose husbands and fathers were often overseas on business.<ref name="Liz_Hodgkinson_Peace">{{cite book
|doi=10.1086/494068}}</ref> a wealthy merchants and their adminstrators, whose menfolk spent considerable periods of time overseas for business.<ref name="Liz_Hodgkinson_Peace">{{cite book
| last = Hodgkinson
| last = Hodgkinson
| first = Liz
| first = Liz
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}}</ref>
}}</ref>


After about three years of meetings it became clear that ''Om Mandali'' was giving very special importance to the role of women, and was not adhering to the rigid caste system. The group had named a 22 year old woman, Radhe Pokardas Rajwani (then known as "Om Radhe") as its president, and her management committee was made up of eight other women.<ref name="Om Radhe">{{cite book
In response to legal actions from a number of husbands, 22 year old Radhe Pokardas Rajwani was named as its President and a management committee was made up of 8 other women was establish to protect the founder's assets <ref name="Om Radhe">{{cite book
| last1 = Pokardas
| last1 = Pokardas
| first1 = Om Radhe
| first1 = Om Radhe
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| page=
| page=
| quote =
| quote =
| url = http://books.google.com.au/books?id=47qgtgAACAAJ&dq=Is+this+justice+by+Om+Radhe&hl=en&sa=X&ei=eMVxUrvjA4GglAXPzIHAAQ&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA}}</ref> People from any caste were allowed to attend meetings.<ref name="BK_Jagdish_Chander_Adi_Dev">{{cite book
| url = http://books.google.com.au/books?id=47qgtgAACAAJ&dq=Is+this+justice+by+Om+Radhe&hl=en&sa=X&ei=eMVxUrvjA4GglAXPzIHAAQ&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA}}</ref> and they allowed people from any caste to attend satsang.<ref name="BK_Jagdish_Chander_Adi_Dev">{{cite book
| last = Chander
| last = Chander
| first = B. K Jagdish
| first = B. K Jagdish
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| year = 1981
| year = 1981
| publisher = B.K. Raja Yoga Center for the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University.
| publisher = B.K. Raja Yoga Center for the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University.
}}</ref> Its founder was accused of dividing families, breaching the peace, impropriety with the women and insulting local leaders. In addition, he withdrew his daughter from her husband's family and encourage women to refuse conjugal rights to their husbands. <ref name="Panchayat">{{cite book |last=Anti Om Mandli Committee |year=1940 |title=Om Mandli : a true authenticated story about its activities being a reply to "Is This Justice" |publisher=Anti Om Mandli Committee |location=Hyderabad, Sind |url=http://brahmakumaris.info/download/An_Reply_to_Is_This_Justice_by_Om_Radhe-latest.pdf |format=pdf |quote=transcription published by www.brahmakumaris.info}}</ref> <ref name="Liz_Hodgkinson_Peace">{{cite book
}}</ref> The group also advocated that young women had the right to elect not to marry and that married women had the right to choose a celibate life. In tradition-bound patriarchal India, these personal life decisions were the exclusive right of men.<ref name="Liz_Hodgkinson_Peace">{{cite book
| last = Hodgkinson
| last = Hodgkinson
| first = Liz
| first = Liz
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| page = 19
| page = 19
}}</ref>
}}</ref>
[[File:Anti-Om Mandali Committee Picketing Hyderabad Sind India.tif|thumb|right|Anti-Om Mandali Committee Picketing, preventing children from entering Om Mandali - Hyderabad Sind India 1938]]
[[File:Anti-Om Mandali Committee Picketing Hyderabad Sind India.tif|thumb|right|Anti-Om Mandali Committee picketing satsan - Hyderabad Sind India 1938]]
On 21 June 1938 a committee headed by a number of important male members of the Bhaibund community formed in opposition to Om Mandali. This caused considerable upheaval in the community and prevented Om Mandali from operating. Women attending were verbally abused and there was an attempt to burn the premises down. Many women and girls were later victims of domestic violence in their homes.<ref name="Liz_Hodgkinson_Peace">{{cite book
On 21 June 1938 a committee headed by a number of highly regarded male members of the Bhaibund community that had been forming in opposition to Om Mandali.<ref name="Liz_Hodgkinson_Peace">{{cite book
| last = Hodgkinson
| last = Hodgkinson
| first = Liz
| first = Liz
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| isbn = 1-55874-962-4
| isbn = 1-55874-962-4
| page = 30
| page = 30
}}</ref> The picketing resulted in criminal proceedings being taken against both groups, and on 16 August 1938 the local District Magistrate ordered that Om Mandali be prevented from meeting. This ban was reversed on 21 November 1938 after an appeal to the Court of the Judicial Commissioner of Sind.<ref name="Om Radhe">{{cite book
}}</ref> The picketing resulted in criminal proceedings being taken against both groups and on 16 August 1938 the local District Magistrate ordered that Om Mandali be restrained from meeting.<ref name="Om Radhe">{{cite book
| last1 = Pokardas
| last1 = Pokardas
| first1 = Om Radhe
| first1 = Om Radhe
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| pages= 126–135 (original numbering)
| pages= 126–135 (original numbering)
| quote =
| quote =
| url = http://books.google.com.au/books?id=47qgtgAACAAJ&dq=Is+this+justice+by+Om+Radhe&hl=en&sa=X&ei=eMVxUrvjA4GglAXPzIHAAQ&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA}}</ref> In an unusual move the judges directly criticized the District Magistrate for trying to punish the victims for the disturbance caused by the perpetrators and for trying to apply the law according to his own personal bias.<ref name="Om Radhe">{{cite book
| url = http://books.google.com.au/books?id=47qgtgAACAAJ&dq=Is+this+justice+by+Om+Radhe&hl=en&sa=X&ei=eMVxUrvjA4GglAXPzIHAAQ&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA}}</ref> Om Mandali relocated from Hyderabad to Karachi in the latter half of 1938, approximately 300 members moving with it. On application to the Court of the Judicial Commissioner of Sind orders were made on 21 November 1938 that vindicated Om Mandali, removing the ban and removing them from the criminal proceedings.<ref name="Om Radhe">{{cite book
| last1 = Pokardas
| first1 = Om Radhe
| title = Is this Justice? Being an account of the founding of Om Mandali and Om Nivas and their suppression under the Criminal Laws Amendment Act 1908
| year = 1939
| publisher=Om Mandali, Pharmacy Printing Press, Bunder Road Karachi
| page= 130 (original numbering)
| quote = "the section (of the Criminal Procedure code) is being turned to a purpose for which it was not intended, and that is to say, to prevent, not acts which are wrongful in the eyes of the Law, but acts which are wrongful in the eyes of the District Magistrate"
| url = http://books.google.com.au/books?id=47qgtgAACAAJ&dq=Is+this+justice+by+Om+Radhe&hl=en&sa=X&ei=eMVxUrvjA4GglAXPzIHAAQ&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA}}</ref> Nevertheless, in an increasingly sour atmosphere, ''Om Mandali'' had decided to leave Hyderabad and gradually relocated its activities to Karachi in the latter half of 1938. Approximately 300 members moved.<ref name="Om Radhe">{{cite book
| last1 = Pokardas
| last1 = Pokardas
| first1 = Om Radhe
| first1 = Om Radhe
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[[File:Om Mandali group on an outing at Clifton beach Karachi.tif|thumb|left|Om Mandali group on an outing at Clifton beach Karachi Approximately 1940]]
[[File:Om Mandali group on an outing at Clifton beach Karachi.tif|thumb|left|Om Mandali group on an outing at Clifton beach Karachi Approximately 1940]]
On 31 March 1939 the government appointed a tribunal to inquire into the activities of ''Om Mandali''. When the Tribunal made its findings, Om Radhe responded by compiling a book titled ''Is this Justice?'' criticizing the tribunal, which did not have a constitutional basis and made its findings without taking evidence from ''Om Mandali''.<ref name="Om Radhe">{{cite book
On 31 March 1939 the government appointed a Tribunal to inquire into the activities of Om Mandali. The Tribunal had no constitutional basis and was [[ex parte]]<ref name="Om Radhe">{{cite book
| last1 = Pokardas
| last1 = Pokardas
| first1 = Om Radhe
| first1 = Om Radhe
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| page=
| page=
| quote =
| quote =
| url = http://books.google.com.au/books?id=47qgtgAACAAJ&dq=Is+this+justice+by+Om+Radhe&hl=en&sa=X&ei=eMVxUrvjA4GglAXPzIHAAQ&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA}}</ref> In May 1839 the government used the tribunal's findings to effectively reinstate the ban, declaring ''Om Mandali'' an "unlawful association" under section 16 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1908.<ref name="Om Radhe">{{cite book
| url = http://books.google.com.au/books?id=47qgtgAACAAJ&dq=Is+this+justice+by+Om+Radhe&hl=en&sa=X&ei=eMVxUrvjA4GglAXPzIHAAQ&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA}}</ref> Om Mandali continued to hold their Satsangs in spite of the ban.<ref name="Liz_Hodgkinson_Peace">{{cite book
| last1 = Pokardas
| first1 = Om Radhe
| title = Is this Justice? Being an account of the founding of Om Mandali and Om Nivas and their suppression under the Criminal Laws Amendment Act 1908
| year = 1939
| publisher=Om Mandali, Pharmacy Printing Press, Bunder Road Karachi
| page=
| quote =
| url = http://books.google.com.au/books?id=47qgtgAACAAJ&dq=Is+this+justice+by+Om+Radhe&hl=en&sa=X&ei=eMVxUrvjA4GglAXPzIHAAQ&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA}}</ref> Nevertheless ''Om Mandali'' continued to hold their Satsangs, and the government did not enforce it. Possibly because of this the committee then hired someone to kill Om Baba, but the attempt was unsuccessful.<ref name="Liz_Hodgkinson_Peace">{{cite book
| last = Hodgkinson
| last = Hodgkinson
| first = Liz
| first = Liz
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| publisher = B.K. Raja Yoga Center for the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University.
| publisher = B.K. Raja Yoga Center for the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University.
}}</ref>
}}</ref>
:
:


==Expansion==
==Expansion==
[[File:Train to Mt Abu May 1950.tif|thumb|right|A photo of the Brahma Kumaris during their relocation from Karachi to Mount Abu Rajasthan in May 1950]]
[[File:Train to Mt Abu May 1950.tif|thumb|right|A photo of the Brahma Kumaris during their relocation from Karachi to Mount Abu Rajasthan in May 1950]]
In May 1950 Om Mandali moved to [[Mount Abu]] in [[Rajastan]] India. From the beginning, the organization's focus had been on education, not worship, and for this reason it renamed itself as Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University.
In May 1950 Om Mandli moved to [[Mount Abu]] in [[Rajastan]] India. In 1952, after a 14-year period of retreat, a more structured form of teaching began to be offered to the public by way of a seven lesson course.<ref name="John_Walliss_reflexive">{{cite book
In 1952, after a 14-year period of retreat, a more structured form of teaching began to be offered to the public by way of a seven lesson course.<ref name="John_Walliss_reflexive">{{cite book
| last = Walliss
| last = Walliss
| first = John
| first = John
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}}</ref>
}}</ref>


After an unpromising beginning when it almost ran out of funds,<ref name="Reader" /> from the mid 1950s the Brahma Kumaris began an international expansion program.<ref name="Howell_Nelson_1998">Howell (1998) {{page needed|date=October 2013}}</ref> Since the 1970s it spread to first [[London]] and then to the West.<ref name="Reader">''A Reader in New Religious Movements: Readings in the Study of New Religious Movements''. George D. Chryssides, Margaret Wilkins, Margaret Z. Wilkins. Continuum, 2006. ISBN 0-8264-6168-9</ref><ref name="World">''Religion & globalization: world religions in historical perspective''. Esposito, John L. Fasching, Darrell J. Lewis, Todd Thornton. Oxford University Press, 2002 - P. 340</ref> The most visible manifestations of the religion are its "Spiritual Museums" located in most major Indian cities.<ref name="Reader" />
After an unpromising beginning when it almost ran out of funds,<ref name="Reader" /> from the mid 1950s the Brahma Kumaris began an international expansion program.<ref name="Howell_Nelson_1998">Howell (1998) {{page needed|date=October 2013}}</ref> Since the 1970s, it spread to first [[London]] and then the West.<ref name="Reader">''A Reader in New Religious Movements: Readings in the Study of New Religious Movements''. George D. Chryssides, Margaret Wilkins, Margaret Z. Wilkins. Continuum, 2006. ISBN 0-8264-6168-9</ref><ref name="World">''Religion & globalization: world religions in historical perspective''. Esposito, John L. Fasching, Darrell J. Lewis, Todd Thornton. Oxford University Press, 2002 - P. 340</ref> The most visible manifestation of the religion are its "Spiritual Museums" sited in most major India cities where its teachings are conveyed vividly.<ref name="Reader" />

In 1980 the Brahma Kumaris became affiliated to the United Nations Department of Public Relations as a Non-Governmental Organisation. In 1983 when the Brahma Kumaris achieved consultative status with the Economic and Social Council at the United Nations. The BKWSU now has a permanent office space in New York for their work with the United Nations.<ref name="Whaling_Frank_Understanding_BK">{{cite book
| last = Whaling
| first = Frank
| title = Understanding the Brahma Kumaris
| year = 2012
| publisher = Dunedin Academic Press Ltd
| isbn = 978-1-903765-51-7
| pages = 65
}}</ref>

The leadership and membership of the BK movement remains primarily female, for example, in the UK only one-third of the 42 centres are run by males <ref name="Julia_Howell_Gender_Role">Howell (1998) {{page needed|date=October 2013}} <!-- overlong quote for article "Today the leadership of the BK movement in India remains heavily female. Sisters, or kumaris (daughters), are still "put in front", that is favoured for the position of "center-in-charge" (head of a local center). As of December 1995 all Indian centres were run by "sisters." However, "brothers" also reside in many of the centres run by "sisters". Brothers are expected to work to earn an outside income, which provides a substantial share of the support of the centres, and do the domestic work other than cooking. This frees the sisters to engage full-time in service to the organisation as teachers, leaders of meditation sessions and spiritual directors. Indian migrants made up half the number of Brahmins in the UK." --></ref> and 80% of the membership are women.<ref name="Why_women">'Why are Women More Religious Than Men?' Trzebiatowska, Marta. Bruce, Steve. Oxford University Press, 2012. ISBN 0-19-960810-5,</ref> According to the BKWSU website, there are currently over 4,500 centres in 100 countries, mostly in followers' own homes with a tendency toward middle or upper class membership. Estimates for its worldwide membership ranges from 35,000 in 1993 to 400,000 in 1998<ref name="Adherents_stats">{{cite web
The leadership and membership of the BK movement remains primarily female, for example, in the UK only one-third of the 42 centres are run by males <ref name="Julia_Howell_Gender_Role">Howell (1998) {{page needed|date=October 2013}} <!-- overlong quote for article "Today the leadership of the BK movement in India remains heavily female. Sisters, or kumaris (daughters), are still "put in front", that is favoured for the position of "center-in-charge" (head of a local center). As of December 1995 all Indian centres were run by "sisters." However, "brothers" also reside in many of the centres run by "sisters". Brothers are expected to work to earn an outside income, which provides a substantial share of the support of the centres, and do the domestic work other than cooking. This frees the sisters to engage full-time in service to the organisation as teachers, leaders of meditation sessions and spiritual directors. Indian migrants made up half the number of Brahmins in the UK." --></ref> and 80% of the membership are women.<ref name="Why_women">'Why are Women More Religious Than Men?' Trzebiatowska, Marta. Bruce, Steve. Oxford University Press, 2012. ISBN 0-19-960810-5,</ref> According to the BKWSU website, there are currently over 4,500 centres in 100 countries, mostly in followers' own homes with a tendency toward middle or upper class membership. Estimates for its worldwide membership ranges from 35,000 in 1993 to 400,000 in 1998<ref name="Adherents_stats">{{cite web
| url = http://www.adherents.com/Na/Na_83.html#584
| url = http://www.adherents.com/Na/Na_83.html#584
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== Beliefs ==
== Beliefs ==
The movement has distinguished itself from its [[Hindu]] roots and sees itself as a vehicle for spiritual teaching rather than as a religion.<ref name="Kranenborg">{{cite web
The movement has distinguished itself from its [[Hindu]] roots.<ref name="Kranenborg">{{cite web
| url = http://www.cesnur.org/testi/bryn/br_kranenborg.htm
| url = http://www.cesnur.org/testi/bryn/br_kranenborg.htm
| title = Brahma Kumaris: A New Religion?
| title = Brahma Kumaris: A New Religion?
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| accessdate = 2007-07-27
| accessdate = 2007-07-27
|quote=A preliminary version of a paper presented at CESNUR 99
|quote=A preliminary version of a paper presented at CESNUR 99
}}</ref><ref name="howell06" /><ref name="howquote">Howell (2006) p71<!-- states that "The "Brahma Kumaris" are a world-wide spiritual movement... Drawing on Hindu religious culture of its founder, the movement has nonetheless distinguished itself from Hinduism and projects itself as a vehicle for spiritual teaching rather than a religion" (p. 71). --></ref>
}}</ref><ref name="howell06" /><ref name="howquote">Howell (2006) p71<!-- states that "The "Brahma Kumaris" are a world-wide spiritual movement... Drawing on Hindu religious culture of its founder, the movement has nonetheless distinguished itself from Hinduism and projects itself as a vehicle for spiritual teaching rather than a religion" (p. 71). --></ref> It's goal is not [[enlightenment]] but perfection but perfection.<ref>Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements. Peter Clarke. Routledge, 2006, ISBN 0-203-59897-0 (Adobe e-reader format)</ref> It claims to believe that all souls are intrinsically good <ref>''Religions of the World. A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices''. J Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann. Facts on File Inc, 2007, ISBN 0-8160-5458-4</ref> and aspires to establish a heaven on earth for 900,000 BK followers in which life spans will increase to 150 years and sexual reproduction will transpire through yogic power and not sexual union <ref>Satyug is as Sure as Death [http://lifepositive.com/satyug-is-as-sure-as-death/]</ref> based on what they call "soul-consciousness".<ref name="World 2010"/>


===Self===
===Self===


The Brahma Kumaris see [[human]]s as being made up of two parts; an external body (including extensions such as status and possessions) and an internal [[Soul (spirit)#Brahma Kumaris|soul]] whose [[character structure]] is revealed through a person's external activity - whether actions are done with love, peacefully, with happiness or humility is an aspect of one's soul.<ref name="Ramsay_Possession">{{cite journal
According to Brahma Kumari belief, [[human]] beings are made up two parts; body and soul.<ref name="Ramsay_Possession">{{cite journal
| last = Ramsay
| last = Ramsay
| first = Tamasin
| first = Tamasin
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| issue =
| issue =
| pages = 105
| pages = 105
}}</ref> The group teaches that the soul is an infinitesimal point of spiritual light residing in the forehead of the body it occupies,<ref name="Ramsay_Possession">{{cite journal
}}</ref> The body is the vehicle that the [[Soul (spirit)#Brahma Kumaris|soul]] acts through. The group teachers that the soul is an infinitesimal point of spiritual light residing in the forehead of the body it occupies <ref name="Ramsay_Possession">{{cite journal
| last = Ramsay
| last = Ramsay
| first = Tamasin
| first = Tamasin
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| issue =
| issue =
| pages = 105
| pages = 105
}}</ref> and that all souls originally existed with God in a "Soul World", a world of infinite light, peace and silence remembered as [[Nirvana]] in [[Buddhism]] or as Paramdham in [[Hinduism]].{{Disputed-inline|Content Focus|date=September 2014}} Here the Brahma Kumaris believe souls were in a state of complete rest and beyond experience.
}}</ref> and that all souls originally existed with their God in a "Soul World", a world of infinite light, peace and silence they call Paramdham. Here, they claim souls are in a state of complete rest and beyond experience before entering bodies to take birth in order to experience life and give expression to their personality. Unlike other Eastern traditions, the human soul is not thought to transmigrate into other species.<ref name="Ramsay_Possession">{{cite journal

The Brahma Kumaris teach that Souls enter bodies to take birth in order to experience life and give expression to their personality. Unlike other Eastern traditions, the Brahma Kumaris do not believe that the human soul can transmigrate into other species.<ref name="Ramsay_Possession">{{cite journal
| last = Ramsay
| last = Ramsay
| first = Tamasin
| first = Tamasin
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}}</ref>
}}</ref>


===Supreme Soul===
===God===
[[File:Das_Bild_der_Höchsten_Seele_als_Lichtpunkt_TR.jpg|thumb|Brahma Kumaris believe God to be an incorporeal point of light]]
[[File:Das_Bild_der_Höchsten_Seele_als_Lichtpunkt_TR.jpg|thumb|Brahma Kumaris believe God to be an incorporeal point of light]]

The Brahma Kumaris use the term "Supreme Soul" to refer to God. They see God as incorporeal and eternal, and regard him as a point of living light like human souls, but without a physical body, as he does not enter the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. God is seen as the perfect and constant embodiment of all virtues, powers and values and that He is the unconditionally loving Father of all souls, irrespective of their religion, gender, or culture.<ref name="Ramsay_Possession">{{cite journal
Brahma Kumaris follower use the words 'Supreme Soul' to refer to their God. This God, they claim, is incorporeal and eternal, a point of living light like human souls, but without a physical body as he does not enter the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. According to adherents, the difference between human souls and their God is that He is seen as the perfect and constant embodiment of all virtues, powers and values; the unconditionally loving Father of all souls, irrespective of their religion, gender, or culture. <ref name="Ramsay_Possession">{{cite journal
| last = Ramsay
| last = Ramsay
| first = Tamasin
| first = Tamasin
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| issue =
| issue =
| pages = 107–108
| pages = 107–108
}}</ref> The Brahma Kumaris believe their God's purpose to be the spiritually re-awakening of humanity and the removal of all sorrow, evil and negativity. They do regard him as the creator of matter as they consider it to be eternal.<ref name="Ramsay_Possession">{{cite journal
}}</ref>

The Brahma Kumaris believe God's purpose to be the spiritual re-awakening of humanity and the removal of all sorrow, evil and negativity. They do not regard him as the creator of matter, as they consider matter to be eternal.<ref name="Ramsay_Possession">{{cite journal
| last = Ramsay
| last = Ramsay
| first = Tamasin
| first = Tamasin
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}}</ref>
}}</ref>


Until 1955, the religion considered their founder to be God.<ref>"The world philanthropist God Brahma, devoted all his wealth to finance this institution which was significantly named as 'Rajasva Asvamedh Avinashi Gyan Yagya'.
===Karma===


Author World Religion Congress, Shimizu City, Japan
The Brahma Kumaris believe that every action performed by a soul will create a return accordingly, and that the destiny of the soul’s next body depends on how it acts and behaves in this life. Through meditation, by transforming thinking patterns and eventually actions, the Brahma Kumaris believe that people can purify their "karmic account" and lead a better life in the present and next birth. {{citation needed|date=October 2013}}
Contributor Ananai-Kyo
Published 1954
Original from the University of Michigan
Digitized 29 March 2006</ref> They now claim their founder was only the medium for a separate spiritual being who possessed him and called it Shiva Baba <ref>Peace & Purity: the Story of the Brahma Kumaris, Liz Hodgkinson. Page 58</ref> after the [[Hindu]] god [[Shiva]].


===Cycle of time===
===Cycle of time===


In contrast to linear theories of human history that hypothesize an ancient point of origin for the universe and a final destruction, the BKs do not posit a start, end or age for the universe, believing such concepts to be an erroneous application of the human life cycle to the universe. BKs believe the universe to follow an eternal, naturally occurring 5,000 year [[wheel of time|cycle]], composed of four ages (''[[yugas]]''): the Golden Age (''[[Sat Yuga]]''), the Silver Age (''[[Treta Yuga]]''), the Copper Age (''[[Dvapara Yuga|Dwapar Yuga]]''), the Iron Age (''[[Kali Yuga]]'') and each represents 1250 years of the cycle.<ref name="New_Believers">{{cite book
The BKs believe time to be an identically repeating 5,000 year [[wheel of time|cycle]], composed of four ages (''[[yugas]]''): the Golden Age (''[[Sat Yuga]]''), the Silver Age (''[[Treta Yuga]]''), the Copper Age (''[[Dvapara Yuga|Dwapar Yuga]]''), the Iron Age (''[[Kali Yuga]]'') and each represents 1250 years of the cycle.<ref name="New_Believers">{{cite book
| last = Barrett
| last = Barrett
| first = David V
| first = David V
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| page = 265
| page = 265
| quote = Time is cyclical with each 5,000-year cycle consisting of a perfect Golden Age, a slightly degraded Silver age, a decadent Copper Age, and an Iron Age which is characterised by violence, greed, and lust. Each of these lasts for exactly 1,250 years. Our current Iron Age will shortly come to an end, after which the cycle will begin again.
| quote = Time is cyclical with each 5,000-year cycle consisting of a perfect Golden Age, a slightly degraded Silver age, a decadent Copper Age, and an Iron Age which is characterised by violence, greed, and lust. Each of these lasts for exactly 1,250 years. Our current Iron Age will shortly come to an end, after which the cycle will begin again.
}}</ref> The present period{{when?|date=September 2014}} of this cycle is sometimes described as a fifth age or "Confluence age" as it is considered to be the confluence (the junction or meeting) between the Iron Age and the Golden age.
}}</ref> The present era {{when?|date=September 2014}}is sometimes described as a fifth age or "Confluence age" as it's considered to be the junction between the Iron and Golden ages.
<ref name="New_Believers">{{cite book
<ref name="New_Believers">{{cite book
| last = Barrett
| last = Barrett
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}}</ref>
}}</ref>


The first half of the cycle (the Golden and Silver ages) is considered to be the age of "soul conscious living". The Brahma Kumaris see this as a time of "heaven on earth" or as a version of the [[Garden of Eden]] when human beings are fully virtuous, complete, self-realised beings who lived in complete harmony with the natural environment. The primary enlightenment was the innate understanding of the self as a soul.
The first half of the cycle (the Golden and Silver ages) is considered to be heaven on earthy, their version of the [[Garden of Eden]] when human beings are fully virtuous, complete, self-realised beings who lived in complete harmony with the natural environment. The second half to be hell, a period of increasing impurity and ignorance until it reaches it lowest point in the 1930s following which it will be destroyed by civil and global conflicts, natural calamities and ultimately a Nuclear war which will kill off the rest of humanity. It is believed there will always be a human population on Earth and the cataclysmic events the BKs call "Destruction" form part of a natural and cathartic cyclic process.<ref>{{cite web

The present time{{when?|date=September 2014}} is believed to bring great global transformation as the world is transitioning from the present Iron Age to begin a new Golden age. The Brahma Kumaris believe that modern civilization is unsustainable and that economic and environmental pressures will ultimately boil over into civil and global conflict, coupled with natural calamities. They believe that there will always be a human population on Earth and that cataclysmic events form part of a natural and cathartic cyclic process.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/1995/5/1995-5-02.shtml
| url = http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/1995/5/1995-5-02.shtml
| title = Brahma Kumaris: Conquering A Callous World with Purity
| title = Brahma Kumaris: Conquering A Callous World with Purity
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| accessdate = 2007-07-18
| accessdate = 2007-07-18
}}</ref>
}}</ref>

==Karma==
The Brahma Kumaris believe that every action performed by a soul will create a return accordingly, and that the destiny of the soul’s next body depends on how it acts and behaves in this life. Through meditation, by transforming thinking patterns and eventually actions, the Brahma Kumaris believe that people can purify their "karmic account" and lead a better life in the present and next birth. {{citation needed|date=October 2013}}


== Practices ==
== Practices ==
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===Meditation===
===Meditation===


The Brahma Kumaris teaches a form of meditation<ref name="Tessa_Bartholomeusz_Bo_Tree">{{cite book
The Brahma Kumaris teaches a form of open eyed meditation they call Raja Yoga <ref name="Ramsay_Possession">{{cite journal
| last = Ramsay
| first = Tamasin
|date=Sep 2010
| title = Custodians of Purity An Ethnography of the Brahma Kumaris
| journal = Monash University
| issue =
| pages = 108–110
}}</ref><ref name="Tessa_Bartholomeusz_Bo_Tree">{{cite book
| last1 = Bartholomeusz
| last1 = Bartholomeusz
| first1 = Tessa J.
| first1 = Tessa J.
Line 357: Line 342:
| publisher = Cambridge University Press
| publisher = Cambridge University Press
| isbn = 978-0-521-46129-0
| isbn = 978-0-521-46129-0
}}</ref> but which differs from the ancient [[Raja Yoga]] described by [[Patanjali]],<ref name="Kranenborg">{{cite web
}}</ref> through which students are encouraged to purify their minds. This may be done by sitting tranquilly, then making affirmations regarding the eternal nature of the soul, the original purity of one's nature, and the nature of God.<ref name="Chryssides_Historical">{{cite book
| url = http://www.cesnur.org/testi/bryn/br_kranenborg.htm
| title = Brahma Kumaris: A New Religion?
| last=Reender Kranenborg
|year=1999
|publisher=Center for Studies on New Religions
| accessdate = 2007-07-27
|quote=A preliminary version of a paper presented at CESNUR 99
}}</ref> sitting in front of a picture of Lehkraj Kirpalani. They believe it purifies them and brings them success in business. <ref name="Chryssides_Historical">{{cite book
| last = Chryssides
| last = Chryssides
| first = George
| first = George
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| publisher = Scarecrow Press
| publisher = Scarecrow Press
| isbn = 0-8108-7967-0
| isbn = 0-8108-7967-0
}}</ref>
}}</ref> The aim of the BK meditation is also to learn to hold meditative states while being engaged in every day life.
<ref name="Ramsay_Possession">{{cite journal
| last = Ramsay
| first = Tamasin
|date=Sep 2010
| title = Custodians of Purity An Ethnography of the Brahma Kumaris
| journal = Monash University
| issue =
| pages = 108–110
}}</ref> For this reason meditation is usually taught and practiced with open eyes.<ref name="Ramsay_Possession">{{cite journal
| last = Ramsay
| first = Tamasin
|date=Sep 2010
| title = Custodians of Purity An Ethnography of the Brahma Kumaris
| journal = Monash University
| issue =
| pages = 108–110
}}</ref>


===Beliefs===
===Good Wishes and Pure Feelings===
[[File:Dadi Gulzar Sept 2014.jpg|thumb|Dadi Gulzar - the leading Brahma Kumari medium who they God speak through.]]

Brahma Kumaris' scripture, based on channeled messages they believe are from god, is called the "murli" after the Hindi word the flute played by god [[Krishna]]. It is read to the members each morning in most BK centres on the world.
Flowing on from the BK belief that everyone is a spiritual being, is the practice of ''Shubhawna'' (good wishes) and ''Shubkamna'' (pure feelings).<ref name="Matt Tomlinson, Wendy Smith, Lenore Manderson 2012">{{cite book
|chapter=4. Brahma Kumaris: Purity and the Globalization of Faith
|author2=Matt Tomlinson
|author3=Wendy Smith
|author4=Lenore Manderson
|title=Flows of Faith: Religious Reach and Community in Asia and Pacific
|publisher= Springer Science + Business Media
|page=57
|quote="Another tenet of the Brahma Kumaris is that, when soul consciousness is properly practiced, it becomes a tool to have genuine shubhawna (good wishes) and shubkamna (pure feelings) for all souls, regardless of the behavior, character, feelings, or attitudes of the other, including their political, social, religious, or finan- cial dispositions."
|year=2012
|isbn=978-94-007-2931-5}}</ref> For BKs, all prejudices and ill-feelings are seen as arising from identifying the self and others based on external labels like race, religion, gender, nationality, beauty (or lack of), etc. However when there is the practice of finding the intrinsic goodness in each one, the prejudice based on those labels is replaced by the vision of one Spiritual Parent, one Human family, and universal spiritual values such as respect, love, peace and happiness.<ref name="Hinduism. 2010">''Encyclopedia of Hinduism.'' Constance A. Jones and James D. Ryan. ABC-CLEO, LLC 2010, ISBN 978-1-57884-203-6</ref> A flagship slogan for the BKs has been ''When we change, the world changes''. It is for this reason that BKs consider bringing about this kind of change within the self as an important form or "world service".<ref name="Matt Tomlinson, Wendy Smith, Lenore Manderson 2012">{{cite book
|chapter=4. Brahma Kumaris: Purity and the Globalization of Faith
|author2=Matt Tomlinson
|author3=Wendy Smith
|author4=Lenore Manderson
|title=Flows of Faith: Religious Reach and Community in Asia and Pacific
|publisher= Springer Science + Business Media
|page=57
|quote="This is emphasized in recent teachings as a core discipline and considered an important service for the world."
|year=2012
|isbn=978-94-007-2931-5}}</ref>

===Study (''Murli'')===

[[File:Dadi Gulzar Sept 2014.jpg|thumb|Dadi Gulzar, a member of the Brahma Kumaris since its inception in the 1930s]]
Brahma Kumaris' students study the murli. The Hindi word ''murli'' literally translates to "flute". It is an oral study, read to the class early each morning in most BK centres on the world. The murli's are derived from [[mediumship]] and [[spirit possession]].<ref name="possession">{{cite thesis
| last = Musselwhite
| first = Richard
|type=Ph.D.
| year = 2009
| month = Sep
| title = Possessing knowledge: organizational boundaries among the Brahma Kumaris
| publisher = University of North Carolina
| quote = "The most recognizable religious feature of the Brahma Kumaris institution is spirit-possession. Ever since God possessed the body of Dada Lekhraj for the first time in 1935, God has continued to descend and possess the body of a Brahma Kumaris host in order to speak to them." "Far from seeking to undermine or protest the world’s hegemonic orders, the Brahma Kumaris practise of spirit-possession seeks to quicken it in preparation for the end of days. One could argue that the Brahma Kumaris’ ultimate aims are subversive (because they anticipate the end of the world), but the Brahma Kumaris never seek to undermine global order."
| issue =
| pages = 51–52
| doi =
|type = pdf
| jstor = }}</ref><ref name="Ramsay_Possession">{{cite thesis
| last = Ramsay
| first = Tamasin
|type=PhD
| year = 2010
| month = Sep
| title = Custodians of Purity An Ethnography of the Brahma Kumaris
|chapter=8: Spirit Possession and Purity in Orissa
| publisher = Monash University
|url=http://www.academia.edu/1113749/Custodians_of_Purity_An_Ethnography_of_the_Brahma_Kumaris
| quote = However Brahma Kumaris women become core members by being fully 'surrendered,’ and their prominence derives from their mediumistic capacities, channelling ''murlis'' (sermons) from their dead founder. As a result, their power is veiled...through the device of possession... Hence, the importance of spirit possession, where women are the instruments or mouthpieces of a male spirit. (p277-278, citing Puttick 2003) <br> Possession in the Brahma Kumaris is supported by solid cultural logic that sits in a receptacle of history and tradition. (p281)
| issue =
| pages = 277–278, 281
}}</ref><ref>Ramsay, Tamasin. Spirit possession and purity: A case study of a Brahma Kumaris ascetic. Paper presented at the conference on Medical Anthropology at the Intersections: Celebrating 50 Years of Interdisciplinarity, Yale University, New Haven, USA, September 24‐27 2009.</ref>Students often take notes on points that seem poignant to them and will reflect on them throughout their day.


There are two types of murli:<ref name="Whaling_Frank_Understanding_BK">{{cite book
There are two types of murli:<ref name="Whaling_Frank_Understanding_BK">{{cite book
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| page = 61
| page = 61
}}</ref>
}}</ref>
# ''Sakar'' Murlis refer to the original orations that BKs believe to be the Supreme Soul speaking through Brahma Baba.
# Sakar Murlis refer to the original orations that BKs believe to be the Supreme Soul speaking through Lekhraj Kirpalani.
# ''Avyakt'' Murlis are spoken by BapDada. BKs believe BapDada is God and the soul of their deceased founder. BapDada is believed to speak to the BKs through a senior BK medium, Dadi Gulzar.<ref>{{cite web
# Avyakt Murlis, are spoken by "BapDada" who BKs believe is the combined form of their God and the soul of their deceased founder. BapDada comes and speaks to the BKs through a senior BK medium called Dadi Gulzar.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.brahmakumaris.org.in/Landmarks.htm
| url = http://www.brahmakumaris.org.in/Landmarks.htm
| title = Brahma Kumaris: Landmarks in History
| title = Brahma Kumaris: Landmarks in History
| publisher = BKWSU
| publisher = BKWSU
| accessdate = 2007-07-18
| accessdate = 2007-07-18
}}</ref>
}}</ref> The Brahma Kumaris believe that the soul of Brahma Baba has become perfect and now has the role of an angel. The Murlis are what the Brahma Kumaris use to direct their personal spiritual effort and service activities.


Avyakt murlis are still being spoken at the BKs headquarters in India. Students must complete the Brahma Kumaris foundation course and start by attending morning Murli class before visiting the headquarters.<ref name="Howell and Nelson">{{cite journal
Avyakt murlis are still being spoken at the BKs headquarters in India. Students must complete the Brahma Kumaris foundation course and start by attending morning Murli class before visiting the headquarters.<ref name="Howell and Nelson">{{cite journal
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|location=New York
|location=New York
| isbn = 0-8239-3179-X
| isbn = 0-8239-3179-X
}}</ref> in order achieve greater control over physical senses. This includes;
}}</ref> in order achieve greater control over physical senses. However many participate in a casual way electing to adopt whichever beliefs and lifestyle disciplines in the following list they wish:<ref name="New Religious Movements 2006">''Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements''. Peter Clarke. Routledge, 2006, ISBN 0-203-59897-0 (Adobe e-reader format)</ref>


* Complete celibacy.<ref name="Lawrence_Babb_Redemptive">{{cite book
* Complete celibacy <ref name="Lawrence_Babb_Redemptive">{{cite book
| last = Babb
| last = Babb
| first = Lawrence A.
| first = Lawrence A.
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| isbn = 978-0-19-508489-4
| isbn = 978-0-19-508489-4
}}</ref>
}}</ref>
* ''[[sattva|Sattvic]]'' vegetarianism, a strict [[lacto vegetarianism|lacto-vegetarian]] diet<ref name="Bo_Tree">{{cite book
* [[sattva|Sattvic]] vegetarianism, a strict [[lacto vegetarianism|lacto-vegetarian]] diet<ref name="Bo_Tree">{{cite book
| last = Bartholomeusz
| last = Bartholomeusz
| first = Tessa J.
| first = Tessa J.
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}}</ref><ref>Liz Hodgkinson, ''Peace & Purity: the story of the Brahma Kumaris'', 2002, p. 96.</ref>
}}</ref><ref>Liz Hodgkinson, ''Peace & Purity: the story of the Brahma Kumaris'', 2002, p. 96.</ref>
* Men and women traditionally sit on separate sides of the room at the centres during classes.<ref name="Lawrence_Babb_Redemptive"/>
* Men and women traditionally sit on separate sides of the room at the centres during classes.<ref name="Lawrence_Babb_Redemptive"/>
* Brahma Kumaris can be identified by their frequent adoption of wearing white clothes, to symbolise purity.<ref name="Hinnells">{{cite book
* Wearing white clothes to symbolise purity.<ref name="Hinnells">{{cite book
| last = Hinnells
| last = Hinnells
| first = John
| first = John
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| pages = 909–10
| pages = 909–10
}}</ref>
}}</ref>
* Students often prefer to keep the company of ''yogis'' (soul conscious individuals) as opposed to ''bhogis'' (those given over to worldly pleasures).<ref name="Lawrence_Babb_Redemptive"/>
* Keeping the company of other BK followers as opposed to "bhogis" (non-BKs given over to worldly pleasures).<ref name="Lawrence_Babb_Redemptive"/>


==Activities==
==Activities==
[[Image:Awakening with Brahmakumaris program in Bangkok.jpg|right|thumb|BK Sister [[Shivani Verma]] presenting an Awakening with Brahmakumaris program in Bangkok.]]

The Brahma Kumaris teach an induction course consisting of seven one-hour-long sessions. These sessions include introductions to their open-eyed meditation technique and philosophy. The organisation also offers courses in [[positive thinking]], leadership, and values.<ref name="Values_Education">{{cite journal
| last = Nesbitt
| first = Eleanor
|author2=A. Henderson
|date=April 2003
| title = Religious Organisations in the UK and Values Education Programmes for Schools
| journal = Journal of Beliefs and Values,
| volume = 24
| issue = 1
| pages = 75–88
| doi = 10.1080/1361767032000053015
}}</ref> They also have a number of voluntary outreach programs in prisons <ref name="Bedi">{{cite book
| last = Bedi
| first = Kiran
| title = It's Always Possible : One Woman's Transformation of India's Prison System
| year = 2007
| publisher = Himalayan Institute Press
| isbn = 978-0-89389-258-6
}}</ref> and operate retreat centres.<ref>Housden, Roger (1995). Retreat. Thorsons. pp. 62–63. ISBN 1-85538-490-6.</ref>
===The United Nations===
===The United Nations===
The [[Brahma Kumaris at the United Nations]] is an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) in general consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.<ref name="UN">{{cite web
The BKWSU is an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) in general consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations<ref name="UN">{{cite web
| url = http://www.un.org/documents/ecosoc/docs/1998/e1998-8.htm
| url = http://www.un.org/documents/ecosoc/docs/1998/e1998-8.htm
| title = ECOSOC
| title = ECOSOC
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| accessdate = 2007-08-20
| accessdate = 2007-08-20
| quote = NGO in consultative status with ECOSOC; associated with DPI
| quote = NGO in consultative status with ECOSOC; associated with DPI
}}</ref>
}}</ref> It was granted International Peace Messenger Initiative status by the U.N. for the Global Co-operation for a Better World campaign<ref>{{cite web

It was granted International Peace Messenger Initiative status by the U.N. for the Global Co-operation for a Better World campaign,<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/1995/5/1995-5-02.shtml
| url = http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/1995/5/1995-5-02.shtml
| title = Brahma Kumaris: Conquering A Callous World with Purity
| title = Brahma Kumaris: Conquering A Callous World with Purity
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|date=May 1995
|date=May 1995
| accessdate = 2007-07-22
| accessdate = 2007-07-22
}}</ref> and has permanent office space in New York for their work at the United Nations.<ref name="Whaling_Frank_Understanding_BK">{{cite book
}}</ref> and rents a small office space in New York for their work at the United Nations.<ref name="Whaling_Frank_Understanding_BK">{{cite book
| last = Whaling
| last = Whaling
| first = Frank
| first = Frank
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| isbn = 978-1-903765-51-7
| isbn = 978-1-903765-51-7
| pages = 65
| pages = 65
}}</ref>
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/1995/5/1995-5-02.shtml

| title = Brahma Kumaris: Conquering A Callous World with Purity
Brahma Kumaris is one of over 1600 accredited observer organizations to the [[UN Framework Convention on Climate Change]],<ref>[http://maindb.unfccc.int/public/ngo.pl]</ref> and the group has attended events including World Summits on the Information Society, a Global Forum on Reinventing Government and [[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change|Framework Conventions on Climate Change]].
| publisher = Hinduism Today

|date=May 1995
===Education===
| accessdate = 2007-07-22
[[Image:Awakening with Brahmakumaris program in Bangkok.jpg|right|thumb|BK Sister [[Shivani Verma]] presenting an Awakening with Brahmakumaris program in Bangkok.]]
}}</ref>
Traditionally the Brahma Kumaris have conducted an ''introduction to meditation'' consisting of seven one-hour-long sessions. The sessions include their open-eyed meditation technique and philosophy. The organisation also offers courses in "[[positive thinking]]", "self management leadership", and "living values."<ref name="Values_Education">{{cite journal
===Environmental===
| last = Nesbitt
| first = Eleanor
|author2=A. Henderson
|date=April 2003
| title = Religious Organisations in the UK and Values Education Programmes for Schools
| journal = Journal of Beliefs and Values,
| volume = 24
| issue = 1
| pages = 75–88
| doi = 10.1080/1361767032000053015
}}</ref> They also have a number of voluntary outreach programs in prisons.<ref name="Bedi">{{cite book
| last = Bedi
| first = Kiran
| title = It's Always Possible : One Woman's Transformation of India's Prison System
| year = 2007
| publisher = Himalayan Institute Press
| isbn = 978-0-89389-258-6
}}</ref>

In India the Brahma Kumaris often use Hindu terminologies such as [[Raja Yoga]], [[karma]] and [[Bhagavad Gita]]. However the way they are taught brings out new meanings and non-traditional interpretations.<ref name="Kranenborg" /> A popular [http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD02B6F8DAD1CA551 lecture series] has been created, dedicated to this.

The Brahma Kumaris have starting building coalitions and leading conglomerated networks of co-operation. One such example, with the support of [[Vicente Fox]], was carried out under the auspices of a commercial enterprise introducing Brahma Kumari meditation practice and philosophy to the [[Government of Mexico]] through the "[[Oxford Leadership Academy|Self Management Leadership]]" (SML). The SML course is closely related to the Brahma Kumaris philosophy and is the backbone of Brahma Kumaris management philosophy. 90 trained facilitators ran programs through which 25,000 people at the top level of government have passed.<ref name="Vicente Fox">Musselwhite (2009), pp. 141, 163–164, 174. "The problem was that up until that time, my relationship with him had been through the Brahma Kumaris; but now he was President, and he wanted to use...not only Self Management Leadership, but the whole strategic focusing thing, and his party was the centre-right, Catholic party. They're sufficiently fundamentalist for them to have a fit about Brahma Kumaris" "So we went there, but it had to be done within the context of a commercial enterprise. So, we set up a branch of a consulting company there. But the fact of the matter is, most of his senior people have...been to Oxford for the Brahma Kumaris program. Many have been here to Madhuban.... So the Brahma Kumaris have had a huge influence in the reform process there [in Mexico].... We have trained 90 facilitators from the government who are running these programs, 25,000 people, all the top level of government throughout the entire country have been through the course.", " a management training program called Self Management Leadership, which has become the backbone of Brahma Kumaris management philosophy"</ref>

[[Image:Solar Power Plant.jpg|200px|left|thumb|A large solar generator at the Brahma Kumaris HQ]]
[[Image:Solar Power Plant.jpg|200px|left|thumb|A large solar generator at the Brahma Kumaris HQ]]


In 2000, the BKs were funded by the German and Indian governments <ref>EU Sustainable Energy Week, 2014[http://www.eusew.eu/upload/events/773_6862_dr%20joachim%20pilz.doc]</ref> to develop the then [[Solar thermal energy#Cooking|world's largest solar cooker]].<ref>{{cite news
===Environmental===
[[Image:India One Solar Thermal Power Plant - India - Brahma Kumaris 10.jpg|300px|right|thumb|India One Solar Thermal Power Plant - India - Brahma Kumaris. April 2014]]
The Brahma Kumaris have launched several environment initiatives. Their work in solar energy and sustainable energy has included the 2007 development of the world's largest [[Solar thermal energy#Cooking|solar cooker]],<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/606951.stm
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/606951.stm
| title = Harnessing the sun's power
| title = Harnessing the sun's power
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| date=17 January 2000
| date=17 January 2000
|last=Mike Wooldridge
|last=Mike Wooldridge
}}</ref> A few followers do organic farming.<ref name="Systems approach to Agriculture">{{cite journal
}}</ref> and a solar thermal power plant in Talheti at the base of Mount Abu, where the International Headquarters is located. The 25-acre site is projected to produce 22000 kwh of electricity daily.<ref>{{cite book
|chapter=4. Brahma Kumaris: Purity and the Globalization of Faith
|author2=Matt Tomlinson
|author3=Wendy Smith
|author4=Lenore Manderson
|title=Flows of Faith: Religious Reach and Community in Asia and Pacific
|publisher= Springer Science + Business Media
|page= 65
|year=2012
|isbn=978-94-007-2931-5}}</ref> The project was made financially possible with the support of the Indian and German governments[http://www.india-one.net/].

The group advocates Sustainable Yogic Agriculture (SYA), a program it started in Northern India in 2009. One basic premise of the BK environmental initiative is that thoughts and consciousness can affect the natural environment.<ref name="Systems approach to Agriculture">{{cite journal
| last = Ramsay
| last = Ramsay
| first = Tamasin
| first = Tamasin
Line 686: Line 597:
| issue = 4
| issue = 4
| pages = 29–30
| pages = 29–30
}}</ref><ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/Shashwat-yogic-farming/articleshow/7443126.cms?]</ref>
}}</ref> In 2012, experiments were being conducted in partnership with leading agricultural universities in India<ref name="Systems approach to Agriculture">{{cite journal
| last = Ramsay
| first = Tamasin
|date=December 2012
| title = Systems Approach to Agriculture
| journal = Magazine on low external input agriculture (LEIA),
| volume = 14
| issue = 4
| pages = 29–30
}}</ref> to establish if the practice of Brahma Kumaris meditation in conjunction with implementing more traditional organic farming methods could be shown to have a measurable and positive affect on crop development.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/Shashwat-yogic-farming/articleshow/7443126.cms?]</ref>


===Healthcare===
===Healthcare===
In more recent years the Brahma Kumaris have started to manage hospitals funded by third party charities for their own and local use, e.g. the Global Hospital and Research Centre (1991), funded by the J. Wattammull Memorial Trust, and the G.V. Mody Rural Health Care Centre & Eye Hospital (2004), located at the base of Mount Abu.<ref>{{cite web
The Brahma Kumaris expansion in size has led to a greater participation in more mainstream community services.
*[http://www.ghrc-abu.com/ Global Hospital and Research Centre] (GHRC) was started Rajastan India in 1991, funded by the J. Wattammull Memorial Trust. GHRC provides free healthcare to one of the most impoverished areas in India.<ref name="Whaling_Frank_Understanding_BK">{{cite book
| last = Whaling
| first = Frank
| title = Understanding the Brahma Kumaris
| year = 2012
| publisher = Dunedin Academic Press Ltd
| isbn = 978-1-903765-51-7
| page = 70
}}</ref>
*In the 1990s the Janki Foundation was formed. {{Citation needed|date=October 2013}}
*BKWSU runs a charitable Village Outreach Programme in Mount Abu and administers the Global Hospital and Research Centre (GHRC).
*In 2004, the Brahma Kumaris established the G.V. Mody Rural Health Care Centre & Eye Hospital, located at the base of Mount Abu.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.ghrc-abu.com
| url = http://www.ghrc-abu.com
| title = Brahma Kumaris: Global Hospital
| title = Brahma Kumaris: Global Hospital
Line 716: Line 606:
| accessdate = 2007-07-23
| accessdate = 2007-07-23
}}</ref>
}}</ref>

===Meditation retreats===
Meditation retreats have become an increasingly popular form of community service for the Brahma Kumaris, with over 15 different residential complexes around the world. Retreats are normally run over weekends. The Brahma Kumaris aim to teach people through their own direct experience about the benefits of meditation and its application in their daily life.<ref name="Roger_Housden_Retreat">{{cite book
| last = Housden
| first = Roger
| title = Retreat
| year = 1995
| publisher = Thorsons
| isbn = 1-85538-490-6
| pages = 62–63
}}</ref>


==Achievements and recognition==
==Achievements and recognition==


The Brahma Kumaris are known for charitable activities, especially on [[Mount Abu]], where they have provided healthcare and education.<ref>{{cite web
The Brahma Kumaris was awarded 7 UN Peace Messenger Awards 1987 for its co-ordination of the "Million Minutes of Peace" project.<ref name="Walliss_Prophesy_p5">{{cite book
| url = http://theinterfaithobserver.org/journal-articles/2011/12/5/a-timeless-woman-with-a-timely-message.html
| title = A Timeless Woman with a Timely Message
| work = theinterfaithobserver.org
| accessdate = 2011-12-05
}}</ref> The group has undertaken international projects such as "The Million Minutes for Peace" in 1986 (for which they received seven Peace Messenger Awards)<ref name="Walliss_Prophesy_p5">{{cite book
| last = Walliss | first = John
| last = Walliss | first = John
| title = When Prophecy Fails: The Brahma Kumaris and the Pursuit of the Millennium(s)
| title = When Prophecy Fails: The Brahma Kumaris and the Pursuit of the Millennium(s)
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| page = 5
| page = 5
| quote = ...The Million Minutes of Peace which raised over one billion 'minutes of peace' people in 88 countries participating in prayer, meditation and positive thoughts. For this the University was awarded one International and six UN National 'Peace Messenger' Awards.
| quote = ...The Million Minutes of Peace which raised over one billion 'minutes of peace' people in 88 countries participating in prayer, meditation and positive thoughts. For this the University was awarded one International and six UN National 'Peace Messenger' Awards.
}}</ref> The group were praised for its promotion of UNESCO's [[International Year for the Culture of Peace]] in 2000.<ref>{{cite news
}}</ref> and "Global Cooperation for a Better World" in 1988. Dadi Prakashmani, co-administrative head of the organisation from 1969 to 1983, was awarded a [[Peace Medal]] by the United Nations in 1981 for the "Million Minutes" project.<ref name="SundayExpressIndia">{{citation
| url = http://www.indianexpress.com/sunday/story/31939.html
| title = Niche Faiths
|work=The Sunday
| publisher = Indian Express
|date=26 May 2007
| accessdate = 2007-08-21
| quote = Current head is Dadi Prakashmani. Recipient of UN Peace Medal for her efforts to spread across the message of peace and goodwill.
}}</ref>

The group received [[UNESCO]] special award after collecting 35 million signatures worldwide in support and promotion of UNESCO's [[International Year for the Culture of Peace]] in 2000.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.hindu.com/2000/11/30/stories/0230000t.htm
| url = http://www.hindu.com/2000/11/30/stories/0230000t.htm
| title = Youngsters sign up for peace culture
| title = Youngsters sign up for peace culture
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| last=Joshua
| last=Joshua
| date=30 November 2000
| date=30 November 2000
}}</ref> In 2011 the Governor of the Indian state of [[Uttarakhand]], [[Margaret Alva]], commended the Brahma Kumaris for their "influence on changing cultural opinions of women" and for bringing about "a significant change in the status of women and the regard that men hold for women."<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.newkerala.com/news/2011/worldnews-15661.html
| title = Alva hails Brahmakumaris for working for women's betterment
| publisher = New Kerala
| accessdate = 2011-06-26
}} {{dead link|date=November 2013}}</ref>

Dadi Janki Kripalani, administrative head of the group, is a [[Grand Cordon]] of [[Jordan]] under the [[Order of Independence]], for her work promoting peace and inter-religious harmony.<ref>[http://www.pakistanpressfoundation.org/media-events/14555/]</ref> In 2010 Dadi was awarded "Spiritual Personality of the Year" by the [[Indo-European Business Forum]], [[Incredible India]] and [[Demystifying India]].<ref>http://issuu.com/abpl/docs/av_28aug10</ref> Dadi received an [[honorary degree|honorary doctorate]] from the [[Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.baynews.in/index.php/news/vizag-economy/gitam-honorary-doctorates-to-eminent-personalities
| title = GITAM Honorary Doctorates to eminent personalities
| publisher = baynews.in
| accessdate = 2011-08-20
}}</ref>
}}</ref>

The Brahma Kumaris Youth Wing was awarded a place in the Guinness World Records for the largest sand painting in the world on 26 November 2010.<ref>[http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/2000/largest-sand-painting Largest sand painting]. Guinnessworldrecords.com (2010-11-26). Retrieved on 2013-07-28.</ref>


==Controversies and criticism==
==Controversies and criticism==
* For most of its history, the organisation placed emphasis on the annihilation of modern civilization and a forthcoming genocide of the rest of humanity by nuclear war which they called Destruction based on Kirpalani's cataclysmic visions.<ref name="Whaling_Frank_Understanding_BK">{{cite book

===Contemporary===
* When the organisation began, emphasis was placed on the physical destruction of the world as seen in the cataclysmic visions of Dada Lekhraj.<ref name="Whaling_Frank_Understanding_BK">{{cite book
| last = Whaling
| last = Whaling
| first = Frank
| first = Frank
Line 788: Line 636:
| quote = "In the Bodleian booklet (Om Radhe, 1943) there are some uncompromising apocalyptic passages that are in striking contrast to the more mellow nature of recent Brahma Kumari thought".
| quote = "In the Bodleian booklet (Om Radhe, 1943) there are some uncompromising apocalyptic passages that are in striking contrast to the more mellow nature of recent Brahma Kumari thought".
| pages = 42
| pages = 42
}}</ref> As the organisation developed, it witnessed [[World War II]], the [[atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki]] and the [[Cold War]], and the destructive aspects of its teachings were reframed as a process transformation.<ref>[http://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=3415 Brahma Kumaris: Conquering A Callous World with Purity], Hinduism Today, May 1995.</ref> The group had also made many failed predictions of the violent destruction of the world, between 1987 and 2008,<ref name="John_Walliss_reflexive" /><ref name="Guido">{{cite book
}}</ref> Latterly, members refer to Destruction as "Transformation".<ref>[http://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=3415 Brahma Kumaris: Conquering A Callous World with Purity], Hinduism Today, May 1995.</ref> The group had also made many failed predictions of the violent destruction of the world.<ref name="John_Walliss_reflexive" /><ref name="Guido">{{cite book
| last = Jain
| last = Jain
| first = Chandra Mohan
| first = Chandra Mohan
Line 798: Line 646:
| pages = 98–99
| pages = 98–99
| quote = The other is these Brahma Kumaris, they have not reached the whole world, they have remained confined to India. They talk utter nonsense, and they talk with authority. And they go on saying everything. This date that you mention that in 1987 this world will end... This date has changed many times in thirty years, and it will change again..
| quote = The other is these Brahma Kumaris, they have not reached the whole world, they have remained confined to India. They talk utter nonsense, and they talk with authority. And they go on saying everything. This date that you mention that in 1987 this world will end... This date has changed many times in thirty years, and it will change again..
}}</ref> aspects which are now downplayed.<ref name="Miller-3">{{cite book
}}</ref> Ideas relating to Destruction tends to be hidden from the general public.<ref name="Miller-3">{{cite book
| last1 = Miller
| last1 = Miller
| first1 = Sam
| first1 = Sam
Line 805: Line 653:
| publisher = Penguin India
| publisher = Penguin India
| isbn = 0-09-952674-3
| isbn = 0-09-952674-3
| quote = The movement's very strong millenarian belief are underplayed }}</ref> The Brahma Kumaris have been criticised for hiding or down playing the significance of destruction from non-members,<ref name="Psycho">{{cite journal
| quote = The movement's very strong millenarian belief are underplayed }}</ref> The Brahma Kumaris have been criticised for hiding or down playing the significance of Destruction from non-members,<ref name="Psycho">{{cite journal
| last = Beit-Hallahmi
| last = Beit-Hallahmi
| first = Benjaminin
| first = Benjaminin
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|doi=10.1521/prev.90.4.403.23912
|doi=10.1521/prev.90.4.403.23912
| quote = A case study of Brahma Kumaris, a contemporary group characterised by an apocalyptic vision.
| quote = A case study of Brahma Kumaris, a contemporary group characterised by an apocalyptic vision.
}}</ref> particularly as BKs still believe it will happen "soon". However the BKs maintain their primary purpose is to teach meditation and peace of mind, not to push their views about the different challenges the world is facing on non-members who have usually just come to about learn meditation or values based living.<ref name="Hinduism. 2010"/>
}}</ref> particularly as BKs still believe it will happen "soon". However the BKs maintain their primary purpose is to teach meditation and peace of mind, not to push their views about the different challenges the world is facing on non-members who have usually just come to about learn meditation or values based living.<ref name="Hinduism. 2010">''Encyclopedia of Hinduism.'' Constance A. Jones and James D. Ryan. ABC-CLEO, LLC 2010, ISBN 978-1-57884-203-6</ref>
* Lekhraj Kirpalani was accused of forming a cult and controlling his community through the art of [[hypnotism]].<ref name="Om_Radhe">{{cite book
| last = Radhe
| first = Brahma-Kumari
| title = 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
| year = 1939
| publisher = Pharmacy Printing Press
| pages = 35–36
}}</ref>
* [[Pratibha Patil]], the [[United Progressive Alliance|UPA]]-Left candidate and former president of India said on camera during the [[Indian presidential election, 2007]], that she spoke to "Baba" (a term the BKs use for God)<ref name="ibnlive_ghost">{{cite web
* [[Pratibha Patil]], the [[United Progressive Alliance|UPA]]-Left candidate and former president of India said on camera during the [[Indian presidential election, 2007]], that she spoke to "Baba" (a term the BKs use for God)<ref name="ibnlive_ghost">{{cite web
| url = http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/43632/pratibha-patil-speaks-to-a-ghost.html
| url = http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/43632/pratibha-patil-speaks-to-a-ghost.html
Line 850: Line 706:
}}</ref><ref>[http://pbks.info/index.html Adhyatmik Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya [God Fatherly Spiritual University&#93;]. Pbks.info. Retrieved on 2013-07-28.</ref>
}}</ref><ref>[http://pbks.info/index.html Adhyatmik Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya [God Fatherly Spiritual University&#93;]. Pbks.info. Retrieved on 2013-07-28.</ref>
* The Brahma Kumaris have been accused of breaking up marriages.<ref name="smith_marriages">{{cite journal |last=Smith |first=Dr Wendy A. |date=Autumn 2007 |title=Asian New Religious Movements as global cultural systems |journal=International Institute for Asian Studies |volume=45 |pages=16–17 |quote=Conversion involves members changing their daily lifestyles and even leaving long term relationships...Married converts have often had to forgo their marriage partnerships.
* The Brahma Kumaris have been accused of breaking up marriages.<ref name="smith_marriages">{{cite journal |last=Smith |first=Dr Wendy A. |date=Autumn 2007 |title=Asian New Religious Movements as global cultural systems |journal=International Institute for Asian Studies |volume=45 |pages=16–17 |quote=Conversion involves members changing their daily lifestyles and even leaving long term relationships...Married converts have often had to forgo their marriage partnerships.
}}</ref><ref name="Kościańska">{{cite journal |last=Kościańska |first=Agnieszka Z |date= 15–17 May 2003 |title=On celibate marriages: the Polish Catholics' encounter with Hindu spirituality |journal=On the Margins of Religion, Institute of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology, Warsaw University <!-- |quote=Conversion to so-called new religions often causes a conflict within converts' families. He/she changes his/her beliefs, but also lifestyle: He converts prays differently and eats differently. The Brahma Kumaris members spend most of their time on 'spiritual development'. To be successful on this path one must fulfil very strict requirements, which totally reorganise everyday life of both members and their families. Families of converts become arenas of conflict between spirituality rooted in Hindu tradition and the very Polish 'popular Catholicism', on two indissoluble levels. First, on the level of religious practises and second, on the level of daily live. Sexual relations within marriage are considered to be 'sacred' by Catholics in Poland. The Brahma Kumaris believe that relations between husband and wife should be based on 'a marriage of souls' e.g. they should meditate together, communicate via telepathy etc. -->
}}</ref><ref name="Kościańska">{{cite journal |last=Kościańska |first=Agnieszka Z |date= 15–17 May 2003 |month=Autumn |title=On celibate marriages: the Polish Catholics' encounter with Hindu spirituality |journal=On the Margins of Religion, Institute of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology, Warsaw University <!-- |quote=Conversion to so-called new religions often causes a conflict within converts' families. He/she changes his/her beliefs, but also lifestyle: He converts prays differently and eats differently. The Brahma Kumaris members spend most of their time on 'spiritual development'. To be successful on this path one must fulfil very strict requirements, which totally reorganise everyday life of both members and their families. Families of converts become arenas of conflict between spirituality rooted in Hindu tradition and the very Polish 'popular Catholicism', on two indissoluble levels. First, on the level of religious practises and second, on the level of daily live. Sexual relations within marriage are considered to be 'sacred' by Catholics in Poland. The Brahma Kumaris believe that relations between husband and wife should be based on 'a marriage of souls' e.g. they should meditate together, communicate via telepathy etc. -->
}}</ref>

===Historical===
* When the organisation started commentators{{who|date=November 2013}} have stated that empowering women to assert their right to remain celibate, particularly in marriage, was a prime factor in the controversy that arose in 1930's Sind as it directly challenged the dominance men held over women in patriarchal India .<ref name="New Religious Movements 2006"/> Overlooking the organisation's predominantly female leadership and that this practice was adopted by both men and women equally, one modern commentator has even criticised the practice of celibacy within the organisation as being a form of patriarchal control<ref name="Prem">{{cite journal
| last = Chowdry
| first = Prem
| year = 1996
| title = Marriage, Sexuality and the Female Ascetic-Understanding a Hindu Sect
| journal = Economic and Political Weekly
| volume = 31
| issue = 34
| pages =
| quote = "An analysis of the Brahma Kumari sect in its initial years enables us to unravel certain hidden aspects of Sindh society which account for an unprecedented but successful patriarchal attempt to regulate and rest rain female sexuality or stimulate its self- restraint under the all-encompassing claims of reforming society. In the later years, with the coming of the partition and subsequent migration to India, this sect, confronting a greatly changed social milieu, assumed a somewhat different focus and identity. Despite this shifting of emphasis and consequent contradictions, the core doctrine of celibacy has remained and its advocacy of female sexual control continues to find receptive echoes."
| doi =
| jstor =
}}</ref>
}}</ref>
* The Brahma Kumaris used a commercial enterprise to introduce Brahma Kumari meditation practice and philosophy to the [[Government of Mexico]] through the "[[Oxford Leadership Academy|Self Management Leadership]]" (SML). Its influence reach a high level of government.<ref name="Vicente Fox">Musselwhite (2009), pp. 141, 163–164, 174. "The problem was that up until that time, my relationship with him had been through the Brahma Kumaris; but now he was President, and he wanted to use...not only Self Management Leadership, but the whole strategic focusing thing, and his party was the centre-right, Catholic party. They're sufficiently fundamentalist for them to have a fit about Brahma Kumaris" "So we went there, but it had to be done within the context of a commercial enterprise. So, we set up a branch of a consulting company there. But the fact of the matter is, most of his senior people have...been to Oxford for the Brahma Kumaris program. Many have been here to Madhuban.... So the Brahma Kumaris have had a huge influence in the reform process there [in Mexico].... We have trained 90 facilitators from the government who are running these programs, 25,000 people, all the top level of government throughout the entire country have been through the course.", " a management training program called Self Management Leadership, which has become the backbone of Brahma Kumaris management philosophy"</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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* [[Meditation]]
* [[Meditation]]
* [[Millenarianism]]
* [[Millenarianism]]
* [[Mediumship]]


;General
;General
* [[United Nations]]
* [[Hindu reform movements]]
* [[Hindu reform movements]]
* [[New religious movement]]
* [[New religious movement]]
Line 1,027: Line 869:
| pages =
| pages =
| isbn = 2-8257-0877-1 }}
| isbn = 2-8257-0877-1 }}
*{{citation |title=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 |last=Om Radhe |year=1939 |url=http://brahmakumaris.info/download/Is%20This%20Justice%20-%20view.pdf |format=pdf}}
*{{citation |title=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 |last=Om Radhe |year=1939 |url=http://brahmakumaris.info/download/Is%20This%20Justice%20-%20view.pdf |format = pdf}}
* {{cite book
* {{cite book
| last = Shaw
| last = Shaw
Line 1,064: Line 906:


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.bkwsu.org/ Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University] —official site
* [http://www.bkwsu.org/ Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University] — official site
* http://www.aboutbrahmakumaris.org
* http://www.awakeningwithbrahmakumaris.org
{{New Religious Movements}}
{{New Religious Movements}}


Revision as of 22:11, 5 October 2014

Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University
Formation1930s
TypeSpiritual Organisation
HeadquartersMount Abu, Rajasthan, India
Official language
Hindi, English
Founder
Lekhraj Kripalani (1884–1969), known as "Brahma Baba"
Key people
Janki Kripalani, Hirdaya Mohini
WebsiteInternational, India

The Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya) is a millenarian new religious movement linked to the Hindu tradition [1] whose teachings have been derived from mediumship and spirit possession.[2][3][4]

The Brahma Kumari movement (Hindi: ब्रह्माकुमारी, abbreviated BK) was founded by Lekhraj Kripalani in the Sind in the 1930s.[5] It is noted for its female leadership.[5][6] Kripalani later took the name Brahma Baba.[5]

It teaches a form of meditation they call Raja Yoga.[7] In 2008, the movement claimed to have more than 825,000 followers in over 100 countries.[5]

Early history

Om Mandali

The Brahma Kumaris was originally called Om Mandali. The group started in Hyderabad, Sindh in north-west India.[8] It received this name because they would chant "Om" together. The original discourses were closely connected to the Bhagavad Gita[8] The founder, Lekhraj Khubchand Kripilani (1884 – 1969) was a wealthy jeweler [9] who had a series of visions and other transcendental experiences as did many of those who attended the gatherings.[8] The majority of those who came were women and children from the Bhaiband and Amil jatis, [10] a wealthy merchants and their adminstrators, whose menfolk spent considerable periods of time overseas for business.[11]

In response to legal actions from a number of husbands, 22 year old Radhe Pokardas Rajwani was named as its President and a management committee was made up of 8 other women was establish to protect the founder's assets [12] and they allowed people from any caste to attend satsang.[13] Its founder was accused of dividing families, breaching the peace, impropriety with the women and insulting local leaders. In addition, he withdrew his daughter from her husband's family and encourage women to refuse conjugal rights to their husbands. [14] [11]

Anti-Om Mandali Committee picketing satsan - Hyderabad Sind India 1938

On 21 June 1938 a committee headed by a number of highly regarded male members of the Bhaibund community that had been forming in opposition to Om Mandali.[11] The picketing resulted in criminal proceedings being taken against both groups and on 16 August 1938 the local District Magistrate ordered that Om Mandali be restrained from meeting.[12] Om Mandali relocated from Hyderabad to Karachi in the latter half of 1938, approximately 300 members moving with it. On application to the Court of the Judicial Commissioner of Sind orders were made on 21 November 1938 that vindicated Om Mandali, removing the ban and removing them from the criminal proceedings.[12]

Om Mandali group on an outing at Clifton beach Karachi Approximately 1940

On 31 March 1939 the government appointed a Tribunal to inquire into the activities of Om Mandali. The Tribunal had no constitutional basis and was ex parte[12] Om Mandali continued to hold their Satsangs in spite of the ban.[11][13]

Expansion

A photo of the Brahma Kumaris during their relocation from Karachi to Mount Abu Rajasthan in May 1950

In May 1950 Om Mandli moved to Mount Abu in Rajastan India. In 1952, after a 14-year period of retreat, a more structured form of teaching began to be offered to the public by way of a seven lesson course.[15]

After an unpromising beginning when it almost ran out of funds,[16] from the mid 1950s the Brahma Kumaris began an international expansion program.[17] Since the 1970s, it spread to first London and then the West.[16][18] The most visible manifestation of the religion are its "Spiritual Museums" sited in most major India cities where its teachings are conveyed vividly.[16] The leadership and membership of the BK movement remains primarily female, for example, in the UK only one-third of the 42 centres are run by males [19] and 80% of the membership are women.[20] According to the BKWSU website, there are currently over 4,500 centres in 100 countries, mostly in followers' own homes with a tendency toward middle or upper class membership. Estimates for its worldwide membership ranges from 35,000 in 1993 to 400,000 in 1998[21] to 450,000 in 2000,[22] however, it is reported that many were probably not completely committed to the group's worldview.[23]

Beliefs

The movement has distinguished itself from its Hindu roots.[6][22][24] It's goal is not enlightenment but perfection but perfection.[25] It claims to believe that all souls are intrinsically good [26] and aspires to establish a heaven on earth for 900,000 BK followers in which life spans will increase to 150 years and sexual reproduction will transpire through yogic power and not sexual union [27] based on what they call "soul-consciousness".[5]

Self

According to Brahma Kumari belief, human beings are made up two parts; body and soul.[3] The body is the vehicle that the soul acts through. The group teachers that the soul is an infinitesimal point of spiritual light residing in the forehead of the body it occupies [3] and that all souls originally existed with their God in a "Soul World", a world of infinite light, peace and silence they call Paramdham. Here, they claim souls are in a state of complete rest and beyond experience before entering bodies to take birth in order to experience life and give expression to their personality. Unlike other Eastern traditions, the human soul is not thought to transmigrate into other species.[3]

God

Brahma Kumaris believe God to be an incorporeal point of light

Brahma Kumaris follower use the words 'Supreme Soul' to refer to their God. This God, they claim, is incorporeal and eternal, a point of living light like human souls, but without a physical body as he does not enter the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. According to adherents, the difference between human souls and their God is that He is seen as the perfect and constant embodiment of all virtues, powers and values; the unconditionally loving Father of all souls, irrespective of their religion, gender, or culture. [3] The Brahma Kumaris believe their God's purpose to be the spiritually re-awakening of humanity and the removal of all sorrow, evil and negativity. They do regard him as the creator of matter as they consider it to be eternal.[3]

Until 1955, the religion considered their founder to be God.[28] They now claim their founder was only the medium for a separate spiritual being who possessed him and called it Shiva Baba [29] after the Hindu god Shiva.

Cycle of time

The BKs believe time to be an identically repeating 5,000 year cycle, composed of four ages (yugas): the Golden Age (Sat Yuga), the Silver Age (Treta Yuga), the Copper Age (Dwapar Yuga), the Iron Age (Kali Yuga) and each represents 1250 years of the cycle.[30] The present era [when?]is sometimes described as a fifth age or "Confluence age" as it's considered to be the junction between the Iron and Golden ages. [30]

The first half of the cycle (the Golden and Silver ages) is considered to be heaven on earthy, their version of the Garden of Eden when human beings are fully virtuous, complete, self-realised beings who lived in complete harmony with the natural environment. The second half to be hell, a period of increasing impurity and ignorance until it reaches it lowest point in the 1930s following which it will be destroyed by civil and global conflicts, natural calamities and ultimately a Nuclear war which will kill off the rest of humanity. It is believed there will always be a human population on Earth and the cataclysmic events the BKs call "Destruction" form part of a natural and cathartic cyclic process.[31]

Karma

The Brahma Kumaris believe that every action performed by a soul will create a return accordingly, and that the destiny of the soul’s next body depends on how it acts and behaves in this life. Through meditation, by transforming thinking patterns and eventually actions, the Brahma Kumaris believe that people can purify their "karmic account" and lead a better life in the present and next birth. [citation needed]

Practices

Meditation

The Brahma Kumaris teaches a form of open eyed meditation they call Raja Yoga [3][32] but which differs from the ancient Raja Yoga described by Patanjali,[6] sitting in front of a picture of Lehkraj Kirpalani. They believe it purifies them and brings them success in business. [33]

Beliefs

Dadi Gulzar - the leading Brahma Kumari medium who they God speak through.

Brahma Kumaris' scripture, based on channeled messages they believe are from god, is called the "murli" after the Hindi word the flute played by god Krishna. It is read to the members each morning in most BK centres on the world.

There are two types of murli:[34]

  1. Sakar Murlis refer to the original orations that BKs believe to be the Supreme Soul speaking through Lekhraj Kirpalani.
  2. Avyakt Murlis, are spoken by "BapDada" who BKs believe is the combined form of their God and the soul of their deceased founder. BapDada comes and speaks to the BKs through a senior BK medium called Dadi Gulzar.[35]

Avyakt murlis are still being spoken at the BKs headquarters in India. Students must complete the Brahma Kumaris foundation course and start by attending morning Murli class before visiting the headquarters.[36]

Lifestyle

Brahma Kumaris recommend a specific lifestyle[11][37] in order achieve greater control over physical senses. This includes;

  • Complete celibacy [38][39] in or out of marriage[39][40]
  • Sattvic vegetarianism, a strict lacto-vegetarian diet[41] (excluding eggs, onions, garlic and/or spicy food) cooked only by the self or other members of the BKWSU.[38][42]
  • Abstaining from alcohol, tobacco and non-prescription drugs.[38][41]
  • Daily early morning meditation at 4:00[38] to 4:45 am, called 'Amrit Vela'.
  • Daily morning class at approximately 6:30 am.[43][44]
  • Men and women traditionally sit on separate sides of the room at the centres during classes.[38]
  • Wearing white clothes to symbolise purity.[45][46][47]
  • Keeping the company of other BK followers as opposed to "bhogis" (non-BKs given over to worldly pleasures).[38]

Activities

BK Sister Shivani Verma presenting an Awakening with Brahmakumaris program in Bangkok.

The Brahma Kumaris teach an induction course consisting of seven one-hour-long sessions. These sessions include introductions to their open-eyed meditation technique and philosophy. The organisation also offers courses in positive thinking, leadership, and values.[48] They also have a number of voluntary outreach programs in prisons [49] and operate retreat centres.[50]

The United Nations

The BKWSU is an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) in general consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations[51] and UNICEF.[52] It is associated with the UN Department of Public Information.[53]

It was granted International Peace Messenger Initiative status by the U.N. for the Global Co-operation for a Better World campaign,[54] and rents a small office space in New York for their work at the United Nations.[34][55]

Environmental

A large solar generator at the Brahma Kumaris HQ

In 2000, the BKs were funded by the German and Indian governments [56] to develop the then world's largest solar cooker.[57] A few followers do organic farming.[58][59]

Healthcare

In more recent years the Brahma Kumaris have started to manage hospitals funded by third party charities for their own and local use, e.g. the Global Hospital and Research Centre (1991), funded by the J. Wattammull Memorial Trust, and the G.V. Mody Rural Health Care Centre & Eye Hospital (2004), located at the base of Mount Abu.[60]

Achievements and recognition

The Brahma Kumaris was awarded 7 UN Peace Messenger Awards 1987 for its co-ordination of the "Million Minutes of Peace" project.[61] The group were praised for its promotion of UNESCO's International Year for the Culture of Peace in 2000.[62]

Controversies and criticism

  • For most of its history, the organisation placed emphasis on the annihilation of modern civilization and a forthcoming genocide of the rest of humanity by nuclear war which they called Destruction based on Kirpalani's cataclysmic visions.[34] Latterly, members refer to Destruction as "Transformation".[63] The group had also made many failed predictions of the violent destruction of the world.[15][64] Ideas relating to Destruction tends to be hidden from the general public.[65] The Brahma Kumaris have been criticised for hiding or down playing the significance of Destruction from non-members,[66] particularly as BKs still believe it will happen "soon". However the BKs maintain their primary purpose is to teach meditation and peace of mind, not to push their views about the different challenges the world is facing on non-members who have usually just come to about learn meditation or values based living.[67]
  • Lekhraj Kirpalani was accused of forming a cult and controlling his community through the art of hypnotism.[68]
  • Pratibha Patil, the UPA-Left candidate and former president of India said on camera during the Indian presidential election, 2007, that she spoke to "Baba" (a term the BKs use for God)[69] of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University at their headquarters in Mount Abu, Rajasthan.[70] Patil stated that when she meet Baba He had indicated great responsibility was coming her way.[69][71][72] She had gone to seek the blessings of Hirday Mohini, also known as Dadi Gulzar or Dadiji.[73]
  • In the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Howell reported the Brahma Kumaris protected itself from the practice of families 'dumping' their daughters with the organisation by requiring a payment from the families of those wishing to dedicate their daughters to the work and services of the organisation. The payment was to cover the living expenses incurred during the trial period.[74]
  • Dr. John Wallis wrote a book examining the status of tradition in the contemporary world which used the religion as a case-study,[75] focusing on recruitment methods, the issue of celibacy, reinterpretation of religious history. He reports about the re-writing of the revelatory messages (Murlis) by the BKWSU leaders and anger and aggression towards the Adhyatmik Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya. (The Adhyatmik Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya or Advance Party).[76][77]
  • The Brahma Kumaris have been accused of breaking up marriages.[78][79]
  • The Brahma Kumaris used a commercial enterprise to introduce Brahma Kumari meditation practice and philosophy to the Government of Mexico through the "Self Management Leadership" (SML). Its influence reach a high level of government.[80]

See also

Associated concepts
General

References

Citations
  1. ^ Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements. Peter Clarke. Routledge, 2006, ISBN 0-203-59897-0 (Adobe e-reader format)
  2. ^ Musselwhite, Richard (September 2009). Possessing knowledge: organizational boundaries among the Brahma Kumaris (pdf). University of North Carolina. pp. 51–52. The most recognizable religious feature of the Brahma Kumaris institution is spirit-possession. Ever since God possessed the body of Dada Lekhraj for the first time in 1935, God has continued to descend and possess the body of a Brahma Kumaris host in order to speak to them." "Far from seeking to undermine or protest the world's hegemonic orders, the Brahma Kumaris practise of spirit-possession seeks to quicken it in preparation for the end of days. One could argue that the Brahma Kumaris' ultimate aims are subversive (because they anticipate the end of the world), but the Brahma Kumaris never seek to undermine global order.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Ramsay, Tamasin (September 2010). "8: Spirit Possession and Purity in Orissa". Custodians of Purity An Ethnography of the Brahma Kumaris (PhD). Monash University. pp. 277–278, 281. However Brahma Kumaris women become core members by being fully 'surrendered,' and their prominence derives from their mediumistic capacities, channelling murlis (sermons) from their dead founder. As a result, their power is veiled...through the device of possession... Hence, the importance of spirit possession, where women are the instruments or mouthpieces of a male spirit. (p277-278, citing Puttick 2003)
    Possession in the Brahma Kumaris is supported by solid cultural logic that sits in a receptacle of history and tradition. (p281)     Cite error: The named reference "Ramsay_Possession" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  4. ^ Ramsay, Tamasin. Spirit possession and purity: A case study of a Brahma Kumaris ascetic. Paper presented at the conference on Medical Anthropology at the Intersections: Celebrating 50 Years of Interdisciplinarity, Yale University, New Haven, USA, September 24‐27 2009.
  5. ^ a b c d e Religions of the World. A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices. J Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann. ABC-CLEO, LLC 2010, ISBN 978-1-57884-203-6
  6. ^ a b c Reender Kranenborg (1999). "Brahma Kumaris: A New Religion?". Center for Studies on New Religions. Retrieved 27 July 2007. A preliminary version of a paper presented at CESNUR 99
  7. ^ Religions of the World. A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices. J Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann. Facts on File Inc, 2007, ISBN 0-8160-5458-4
  8. ^ a b c Matt Tomlinson; Wendy Smith; Lenore Manderson (2012). "4. Brahma Kumaris: Purity and the Globalization of Faith". Flows of Faith: Religious Reach and Community in Asia and Pacific. Springer Science + Business Media. p. 51. ISBN 978-94-007-2931-5. {{cite book}}: Missing |author1= (help)
  9. ^ Matt Tomlinson; Wendy Smith; Lenore Manderson (2012). "4. Brahma Kumaris: Purity and the Globalization of Faith". Flows of Faith: Religious Reach and Community in Asia and Pacific. Springer Science + Business Media. p. 52. ISBN 978-94-007-2931-5. {{cite book}}: Missing |author1= (help)
  10. ^ Babb, Lawrence (1984). "Indigenous feminism in a modern Hindu sect, Signs:". Journal of Women in Culture and Society. 9 (3): 399–416. doi:10.1086/494068.
  11. ^ a b c d e Hodgkinson, Liz (2002). Peace and Purity: The Story of the Brahma Kumaris a Spiritual Revolution. HCI. p. 19. ISBN 1-55874-962-4. Cite error: The named reference "Liz_Hodgkinson_Peace" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  12. ^ a b c d Pokardas, Om Radhe (1939). Is this Justice? Being an account of the founding of Om Mandali and Om Nivas and their suppression under the Criminal Laws Amendment Act 1908. Om Mandali, Pharmacy Printing Press, Bunder Road Karachi. Cite error: The named reference "Om Radhe" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  13. ^ a b Chander, B. K Jagdish (1981). Adi Dev: The first man. B.K. Raja Yoga Center for the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University. Cite error: The named reference "BK_Jagdish_Chander_Adi_Dev" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  14. ^ Anti Om Mandli Committee (1940). Om Mandli : a true authenticated story about its activities being a reply to "Is This Justice" (pdf). Hyderabad, Sind: Anti Om Mandli Committee. transcription published by www.brahmakumaris.info
  15. ^ a b Walliss, John (2002). From World-Rejection to Ambivalence. Ashgate Publishing. p. 33. ISBN 978-0-7546-0951-3. Lekhraj was born in Sindh in 1876 into the Kriplani family who were devotees of the Valabhacharya sect.
  16. ^ a b c A Reader in New Religious Movements: Readings in the Study of New Religious Movements. George D. Chryssides, Margaret Wilkins, Margaret Z. Wilkins. Continuum, 2006. ISBN 0-8264-6168-9
  17. ^ Howell (1998) [page needed]
  18. ^ Religion & globalization: world religions in historical perspective. Esposito, John L. Fasching, Darrell J. Lewis, Todd Thornton. Oxford University Press, 2002 - P. 340
  19. ^ Howell (1998) [page needed]
  20. ^ 'Why are Women More Religious Than Men?' Trzebiatowska, Marta. Bruce, Steve. Oxford University Press, 2012. ISBN 0-19-960810-5,
  21. ^ "Adherent Statistic Citations". Adherents.com. Retrieved 20 August 2007. Worldwide, this path has 4000 centres and approximately 400,000 members.
  22. ^ a b Julia Day Howell (2006), "Brahma Kumaris (Daughters of Brahma)" (pp. 71–72). In: Clarke, Peter B. (2006). Encyclopedia of new religious movements. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-203-48433-3. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  23. ^ Howell (2006) p72" Since the [Brahma Kumaris] University spread to Western societies it has increasingly accommodated people with little interest in its theodicy but attracted to the practical applications of BK spiritual practises. The community service programmes of the 1980s and 1990s stimulated creative renderings of BK meditation as a tool for psychological healing and eclectic spiritual exploration. The casual participants whom the BKs have attracted in this way probably made up the vast majority of the 450,000 people on the University's records at the turn of the 20th to 21st century".
  24. ^ Howell (2006) p71
  25. ^ Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements. Peter Clarke. Routledge, 2006, ISBN 0-203-59897-0 (Adobe e-reader format)
  26. ^ Religions of the World. A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices. J Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann. Facts on File Inc, 2007, ISBN 0-8160-5458-4
  27. ^ Satyug is as Sure as Death [1]
  28. ^ "The world philanthropist God Brahma, devoted all his wealth to finance this institution which was significantly named as 'Rajasva Asvamedh Avinashi Gyan Yagya'. Author World Religion Congress, Shimizu City, Japan Contributor Ananai-Kyo Published 1954 Original from the University of Michigan Digitized 29 March 2006
  29. ^ Peace & Purity: the Story of the Brahma Kumaris, Liz Hodgkinson. Page 58
  30. ^ a b Barrett, David V (2001). The New Believers. Cassell & Co. p. 265. ISBN 0-304-35592-5. Time is cyclical with each 5,000-year cycle consisting of a perfect Golden Age, a slightly degraded Silver age, a decadent Copper Age, and an Iron Age which is characterised by violence, greed, and lust. Each of these lasts for exactly 1,250 years. Our current Iron Age will shortly come to an end, after which the cycle will begin again.
  31. ^ "Brahma Kumaris: Conquering A Callous World with Purity". Hinduism Today. Retrieved 18 July 2007.
  32. ^ Bartholomeusz, Tessa J.; Clayton, John; Collins; de Lange, Nicholas (1994). Women under the Bo Tree: Buddhist nuns in Sri Lanka. Cambridge Studies in Religious Traditions. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-46129-0. {{cite book}}: |first4= missing |last4= (help)
  33. ^ Chryssides, George (2011). Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-7967-0. Members are encouraged to purify their minds by the practise of Raja Yoga. This can entail sitting tranquilly, in front of a screen which Dada Lehkraj's picture projected, then making a number of "affirmations", regarding the eternal nature of the soul (atma), the original purity of one's nature, and the nature of God (paramatmā Shiva). The Brahma Kumaris believe that practise of Raja Yoga enables spiritual progress as well as having pragmatic benefits, for example, business success. Brahma Kumaris frequently organise seminars on business management and on developing personal life skills
  34. ^ a b c Whaling, Frank (2012). Understanding the Brahma Kumaris. Dunedin Academic Press Ltd. p. 61. ISBN 978-1-903765-51-7. Cite error: The named reference "Whaling_Frank_Understanding_BK" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  35. ^ "Brahma Kumaris: Landmarks in History". BKWSU. Retrieved 18 July 2007.
  36. ^ Howell; Nelson (1998). "On celibate marriages: the Polish Catholics' encounter with Hindu spirituality". Glancing: Visual Interaction in Hinduism", Journal of Anthropological Research. in order to progress to the next stage of membership – the visit to the University's headquarters in Rajasthan during the period where its deceased founder communicates via trance-medium – they have to not only demonstrate their commitment by following the recommended lifestyle but also, more importantly, be seen to be doing so by the university. this is instrinsicly linked with the second technique, the utilisation and negotiation of different metaphors or readings of the university's theodicy at the different events and in different types of literature in relation to its intended (core or periphery) audience" ... "amongst committed, core members "...the tradition is lived [and expressed] without apology, translation or dilution". {{cite journal}}: Missing |author1= (help)
  37. ^ Lochtefeld, PhD, James G. (2002). "Brahma Kumaris". The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Vol. I. New York: Rosen. ISBN 0-8239-3179-X.
  38. ^ a b c d e f Babb, Lawrence A. (1987). Redemptive Encounters: Three Modern Styles in the Hindu Tradition. Comparative Studies in Religion and Society. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-7069-2563-7.
  39. ^ a b Wilson, Bryan; Eileen Barker; James Beckford; Anthony Bradney; Colin Campbell; George Chryssies; Peter Clarke; Paul Heelas; Massimo Introvigne; Lawrence Lilliston; Gordon Melton; Elizabeth Puttick; Gary Sherpherd; Colin Slee; Frank Usarski (1999). Wilson, Bryan (ed.). New Religious Movements: Challenge and Response. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-20049-3.
  40. ^ Milner, Murray (1994). Status and sacredness: a general theory of status relations and an analysis of Indian culture. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-508489-4.
  41. ^ a b Bartholomeusz, Tessa J. (1994). Women Under the Bo Tree: Buddhist Nuns in Sri Lanka. Cambridge Studies in Religious Traditions. New York: Rosen. ISBN 0-521-46129-4. series edited by John Clayton (University of Lancaster), Steven Collins (University of Chicago) and Nicholas de Lange (University of Cambridge)
  42. ^ "Brahma Kumaris: Conquering A Callous World with Purity". Hinduism Today. Retrieved 28 July 2007. The most strict will not eat food which is not prepared by a Brahma Kumaris. While traveling they abstain from public fare and carry their own utensils for cooking.
  43. ^ Whaling, Prof Frank (2004). Partridge, Christopher; Melton, Gorden (eds.). Encyclopedia of New Religions; New Religious Movements, Sects and Alternative Spiritualities. New York: Rosen. ISBN 0-7459-5073-6.
  44. ^ Liz Hodgkinson, Peace & Purity: the story of the Brahma Kumaris, 2002, p. 96.
  45. ^ Hinnells, John (1997). The Penguin Dictionary of Religions. Extract by Eileen Barker. Rosen, New York. ISBN 0-14-051261-6.
  46. ^ Barker, Eileen (1989). New Religious Movement: A Practical Introduction. London: HMSO. pp. 168–70. ISBN 0-14-051261-6.
  47. ^ Melton, J. Gordon (1993). The Encyclopedia of American Religions (4th ed.). Detroit: Gale. pp. 909–10.
  48. ^ Nesbitt, Eleanor; A. Henderson (April 2003). "Religious Organisations in the UK and Values Education Programmes for Schools". Journal of Beliefs and Values,. 24 (1): 75–88. doi:10.1080/1361767032000053015.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  49. ^ Bedi, Kiran (2007). It's Always Possible : One Woman's Transformation of India's Prison System. Himalayan Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-89389-258-6.
  50. ^ Housden, Roger (1995). Retreat. Thorsons. pp. 62–63. ISBN 1-85538-490-6.
  51. ^ "ECOSOC". UNO. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  52. ^ "List of UN NGO and respective status within UNICEF" (PDF). UNO. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  53. ^ "DPI/NGO Directory". United Nations Department of Public Information. Retrieved 20 August 2007. NGO in consultative status with ECOSOC; associated with DPI
  54. ^ "Brahma Kumaris: Conquering A Callous World with Purity". Hinduism Today. May 1995. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  55. ^ "Brahma Kumaris: Conquering A Callous World with Purity". Hinduism Today. May 1995. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  56. ^ EU Sustainable Energy Week, 2014[2]
  57. ^ Mike Wooldridge (17 January 2000). "Harnessing the sun's power". BBC. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  58. ^ Ramsay, Tamasin (December 2012). "Systems Approach to Agriculture". Magazine on low external input agriculture (LEIA),. 14 (4): 29–30.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  59. ^ [3]
  60. ^ "Brahma Kumaris: Global Hospital". BKWSU. Retrieved 23 July 2007.
  61. ^ Walliss, John (September 1999). When Prophecy Fails: The Brahma Kumaris and the Pursuit of the Millennium(s). p. 5. ...The Million Minutes of Peace which raised over one billion 'minutes of peace' people in 88 countries participating in prayer, meditation and positive thoughts. For this the University was awarded one International and six UN National 'Peace Messenger' Awards.
  62. ^ Joshua, Anita (30 November 2000). "Youngsters sign up for peace culture". Chennai, India: The Hindu. Retrieved 2000-11-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  63. ^ Brahma Kumaris: Conquering A Callous World with Purity, Hinduism Today, May 1995.
  64. ^ Jain, Chandra Mohan (1983). Guida Spirituale. Rajneesh Foundation International. pp. 98–99. ISBN 0-88050-575-3. The other is these Brahma Kumaris, they have not reached the whole world, they have remained confined to India. They talk utter nonsense, and they talk with authority. And they go on saying everything. This date that you mention that in 1987 this world will end... This date has changed many times in thirty years, and it will change again..
  65. ^ Miller, Sam (2010). Delhi: Adventures in a Megacity. Penguin India. ISBN 0-09-952674-3. The movement's very strong millenarian belief are underplayed
  66. ^ Beit-Hallahmi, Benjaminin (August 2003). "Apocalyptic Dreams and Religious Ideologies: Losing and Saving Self and World". The Psychoanalytical Review. 90 (4): 403–439. doi:10.1521/prev.90.4.403.23912. ISBN 0-304-35592-5. A case study of Brahma Kumaris, a contemporary group characterised by an apocalyptic vision.
  67. ^ Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Constance A. Jones and James D. Ryan. ABC-CLEO, LLC 2010, ISBN 978-1-57884-203-6
  68. ^ Radhe, Brahma-Kumari (1939). 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. Pharmacy Printing Press. pp. 35–36.
  69. ^ a b "Race for Raisina: Shekhawat vs Patil". IBN. Retrieved 22 July 2007. Dadiji ke shareer mein Baba aye ... Maine unse baat ki ("Baba entered Dadi's body and he communicated to me through her")
  70. ^ Archived from the original on February 11, 2014.
  71. ^ Archived from the original on February 11, 2014.
  72. ^ "Pratibha believes in spirits?". Times of India. 27 June 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  73. ^ "Dadi Hirdaya Mohini- Joint Administrative Head". BKWSU. Retrieved 28 July 2007.
  74. ^ Howell (1998) [page needed]
  75. ^ Walliss, John (2002). The Brahma Kumaris As a Reflexive Tradition: Responding to Late Modernity.
  76. ^ Walliss, John (September 1999). "When Prophecy Fails: The Brahma Kumaris and the Pursuit of the Millennium(s)". British Association for the Advancement of Science, Sheffield. In addition, they accuse the University hierarchy of actively censoring or altering murlis that could potentially undermine their privileged position or which 'don't suit their philosophy'. The 'Special instruments' (senior members are, they allege 'constantly revising Murlis" to the extent that, for example, a passage from a 1969 murli referring to Shiva being unable to 'mount a virgin' was altered in the 1990 revised edition before being removed completely in the 1993 revision..." Dr. Walliss also 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." Finally, Dr. Wallis disputes BKWSU's belief that Raja Yoga is the precursor to all world religions, including those that historically predate it. Specifically, "This is part of a lengthy answer to the question of how the University could claim that Raja Yoga is the precursor to and influence of world religions that historically predate it often by a few thousand years. Again, 'Baba' is cited as the source of ultimate authority."
  77. ^ Adhyatmik Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya [God Fatherly Spiritual University]. Pbks.info. Retrieved on 2013-07-28.
  78. ^ Smith, Dr Wendy A. (Autumn 2007). "Asian New Religious Movements as global cultural systems". International Institute for Asian Studies. 45: 16–17. Conversion involves members changing their daily lifestyles and even leaving long term relationships...Married converts have often had to forgo their marriage partnerships.
  79. ^ Kościańska, Agnieszka Z (15–17 May 2003). "On celibate marriages: the Polish Catholics' encounter with Hindu spirituality". On the Margins of Religion, Institute of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology, Warsaw University. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  80. ^ Musselwhite (2009), pp. 141, 163–164, 174. "The problem was that up until that time, my relationship with him had been through the Brahma Kumaris; but now he was President, and he wanted to use...not only Self Management Leadership, but the whole strategic focusing thing, and his party was the centre-right, Catholic party. They're sufficiently fundamentalist for them to have a fit about Brahma Kumaris" "So we went there, but it had to be done within the context of a commercial enterprise. So, we set up a branch of a consulting company there. But the fact of the matter is, most of his senior people have...been to Oxford for the Brahma Kumaris program. Many have been here to Madhuban.... So the Brahma Kumaris have had a huge influence in the reform process there [in Mexico].... We have trained 90 facilitators from the government who are running these programs, 25,000 people, all the top level of government throughout the entire country have been through the course.", " a management training program called Self Management Leadership, which has become the backbone of Brahma Kumaris management philosophy"
Bibliography

Further reading

External links

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