“Listen To Everyone And Learn From Everyone, Because, Nobody Knows Everything, But Everyone Knows Something”
Om Shanti
There are many organisations in our country and abroad. But only few of them are established as a foundation to recreate the new heavenly world. One such organisation, which is popularly known as Godly Spiritual University and is established by the incorporeal God father SHIV (supreme soul) is BRAHMA KUMARIS (literally means daughters of Brahma). Moreover, I would rather say, it’s not just an organisation, but a spiritual movement. This organisation is affiliated with the United Nations and it is known for the prominent role that women play in the movement. The main purpose of this organisation is Educational, Philanthropic, Spiritual Studies, Spirituality and Meditation.
“YOUR BRAIN IS LIKE A BLANK PAPER, STUFF IT VERY CAREFULLY”
It is believed that God has come in this time when unrighteousness and ignorance is prevailing as clouds hiding the sun of knowledge. As we all know that the present time is called SANGAM YUG/ Confluence Age, an age or time period between Iron Age (KALIYUG) and the Golden Age (SATYUG). This organisation is different in many aspects. It teaches a form of meditation that focuses on identity as a soul and not a body. They believe that each and every soul in this universe is good and that God is the source of goodness. It aspires to establish ‘ soul consciousness’. This is thus God fatherly University for world transformation. God is a conscious sun of knowledge.
HOW IT IS FORMED?
There is the very inspiring and interesting STORY behind the establishment of this organisation. There is a group called ‘OM MANDALI’ -(it is so called because members chant “OM” together) of a few tens of children, mothers, young and old men, in the very beginning (late 1936, formation year of Brahma Kumaris) who devoted their life in the direction towards God after some or other divine experiences they received while attending a SATSANG (Spiritual Retreat) at DADA LEKHRAJ’S KRIPLANI (founder of Brahma Kumaris) house. At that time, people attending Satsang were not able to realised that it was God who was working through the medium of Dada KRIPLANI. But as they received such experiences, they continued on the path. The original courses were closely connected to the Bhagavad Geeta. At that time many social evils Activities which were going on in pre-partition India, these people came together, initially in Hyderabad and a year later they moved to Karachi. In May, 1950 (two years after Partition), the group moved to its present location of Mount Abu, Rajasthan, India. Approximately 400 individuals lived as a self-sufficient and satisfaction big family, devoting and spending their time to spiritual study, meditation, and self-transformation. Now those souls who came in the very beginning are referred to as DADI or DADA (with respect). Soon it became clear that this MANDLI was giving very special importance to the role of women.
“EVERY HOME, EVERY HEART, EVERY FEELING OF HAPPINESS IS INCOMPLETE WITHOUT A WOMAN… ONLY SHE CAN COMPLETE THE WHOLE WORLD”
But as we all know that there are some people in our society who are there only to oppose the good and noble happenings. And so, this faces the same. An ‘ANTI OM MANDLI’ committee was formed. They tolerate harsh words. Women were verbally abused for attending the Satsang, there was an attempt to burn the premises. Many women and girls faced domestic violence in their homes. There were a times when these against committee hired someone to kill Om Baba, but the attempt was unsuccessful. Nevertheless, OM MANDLI continued to hold their SATSANG.
“ATTITUDE + I CAN DO IT = SUCCESS”
AIM and BELIEFS of BK
This organisation is started with an aim to transform the whole world with Godly Knowledge, no matter, how much problems and criticism they faced. Problems are the reason for the birth of Solutions. NOW is the strongest time. Now is the time of such a transformation, which only once occurs in the whole KALPA (cycle of 5000 years).
(SELF) The BK teach that souls enter bodies to take birth and experience life.
“ACCEPTANCE OF SELF IS THE BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENTS”
(KARMA) Every action performed by a soul will create a return accordingly. And that too the Destiny of the soul’s next body depends upon his actions and behaviour in life. BK believed that people can purify their KARMIC ACCOUNTS with Meditation and doing good deeds.
(SUPREME SOUL) BK uses this term to refer to GOD. They regard him as a point of living light, like human souls but not like a physical body. God’s purpose is to be the spiritual re-awakening of humanity.
“LOVE FOR A HUMAN BEING BECOMES OUR WEAKNESS. WHEREAS LOVE FOR GOD BECOMES OUR STRENGTH”
PRACTICE and TASKS at BK
1. MEDITATION, particularly RAJYOGA meditation. The aim of the BK Meditation is to hold meditative state while being engaged in meditative life.
2. GOOD WISHES and PURE FEELINGS. BK believe that everyone is spiritual being, is the practice of pure feelings and good wishes. The slogan for the BK has been ‘ WHEN WE CHANGE, THE WORLD CHANGES’.
3. STUDY MURLI. Students at BK study murli (spoken words). It is a study which is done orally, early morning. It’s a message orated by the supreme soul. This murli is derived from SPIRIT POSSESSION. Through MURLI we transform our old sanskars and adopt divine virtues of purity.
4. LIFESTYLE.
a. Complete Celibacy
b. Vegetarianism. a strict lacto-vegetarian diet. Self-cooked or other members of BK
c. Avoiding the consumption of alcohol and tobacco
d. Daily early morning meditation at 4:00 to 4:45 am called AMRIT VELA.
e. Early morning class at approximately 6:30 am.
f. BK can be identified by their adoption of wearing white clothes, which symbolises PURITY.
This organisation offers courses in POSITIVE thinking, management leadership and living values. This divine and beneficial task of God is the only mission of this organisation. Founded in India in 1937, by the year 2018, more than 8800 centres of Brahma Kumaris Spiritual University have opened in around 140 countries. As compared to other NGOs or any spiritual movement in history it has the largest growth.
“MAN OR WOMAN IS THE COSTUME WE WEAR. WE MAKE OUR COSTUME OUR IDENTITY. AND WE FORGET WHO WE ARE. I AM A SOUL….PURE AND POWERFUL. HUMILITY, COMPASSION AND ACCEPTANCE IS MY SANSKAR. IT IS MY POWER. USING MY POWER IN EVERY KARMA. IS SOUL EMPOWERMENT”.
-BK SHIVANI DIDI
By VISHAL KUMAR SINGH, Uttar Pradesh
