The Brahma Kumaris and their World Spiritual University

What is BK style Raja Yoga?

The Brahma Kumaris own practise is experiential based on hypnotic contemplation and visualization of themselves and God as tiny points of light.
Other religions

What do the Brahma Kumaris and their God think about other religions?

In the original teachings, other religions are called, "impure, devilish, the 'path of ignorance'" and soon. According to the Brahma Kumaris and its spirit guide, all other religions bring about degradation of humanity. Specifically, it believes that other religions are all incomplete reflections of Brahma Kumarism from which the religious founders studied and experienced 5,000 years ago. Only Brahma Kumarism has a direct relationship with and knowledge of God.

What do the Brahma Kumaris think about Muhammad and Islam?

As with other religions, the BKs believe that Muhammad learned about God religion from the BKWSU 5,000 years ago. He is then said to have reincarnated 1,400 years ago. A second soul is said to have descended from the spirit world, possessed him and together they started their Islam. In essence, that Muhammad was a medium and channel for another entity, just as Lekhraj Kripalani was for God Shiva. Both Muhammad and this other spirit entity are then said to have continued to reincarnate within the Mohammedan religion guiding it in human form until the present day. At no point since his birth did Muhammad leave earth, join God, nor did he have perfect knowledge of God, nor did God inspire him directly. Strangely, the God of BKWSU called Abraham the founder of Islam 2,500 years ago and did not mention Judaism until its expansion into the West.

What do the Brahma Kumaris think about Jesus Christ?

As with other religions, the BKs believe that Jesus learned about God religion from the BKWSU 5,000 years ago. Jesus is then said to have reincarnated, probably in the lowest ebb of heaven on earth. 2,000 years ago the Christ soul, a second soul descended from the spirit world, possessed him and together they started their religion. In essence, that Jesus was a medium and channel for Christ, just as Lekhraj Kripalani was for God Shiva. Both Christ and Jesus are then said to have continued to reincarnate within the Christian religion guiding it in human form until this present day.
Brahma Kumari lifestyle

Celibacy

BK adherents, even married ones, are made to follow strict celibacy including not looking, thinking about or touching other bodies. Total celibacy excludes masturbation or any other form of stimulation. Human love or sex is seen as "the Ocean of Poison" or "the sword of lust". It is the worst vice and the greatest obstacle. Members carrying on sexual or emotional relationships will be advised to split apart, disallowed from making the annual visit to the Indian headquarters or barred. In theory, there is no procreation at all within the BKWSU.

Food

BK adherents are encouraged to follow strict sattvic vegetarianism (lacto-vegetarian without onions and garlic related food stuffs) and are discouraged from eating any food that is not produced by themselves or another Brahma-Kumari adherent. Even their own physical families. BKs do not drink alcohol, smoke, use non-prescription drugs, eat out in restaurants and so on but will allow themselves machine made foods such a bread, drinks or sweets.

Daily routine

A typical BK routine would involved: Wake and prepare for a 45 minute meditation at 4 am. Daily class and meditation from approximately 6.30 am to 8 am. Regular meditation breaks during the day called "traffic Control" Keeping a detailed diary called a chart of their efforts Teaching classes and general evangelism as time allows.7 days a week, 365 days a year. BK adherents are discouraged from taking any holidays except an annual retreat to their Mount Abu headquarters where they meet en masse with their God speaking and acting through one of the organization's psychic mediums, and to work on other outreach programmes.

Additional disciplines

Depending on their level or commitment, Brahma Kumari adherents are slowly encouraged to follow various other additional disciplines such as; body washing after defecation to include a complete change of clothes, washing before cooking, menstruating women are discouraged from entering center kitchen areas as are weaker followers, confession of weakness and impurities to senior teachers.

Going to Madhuban

Each year, during a limited season, Brahma Kumari adherents are encouraged to visit the movement’s headquarters in Mount Abu, Rajasthan called "Madhuban". It is here that adherents are able to listen directly to God speaking to them via the organization's chief medium, an elderly Indian women follower called Hirday Mohini or "Gulzar". Followers are encouraged to make donations here for increased karmic benefit.

Evangelism

The core activity of Brahma Kumari lifestyle is service which is the evangelism of the religion innumerous ways. This is called "Service" to BKs although generally it performs no other function to society or any individuals but to promote the organization. As a rule, the Brahma Kumaris do not do charity although recently a number of members have started to do so against the resistance of the organization's leadership.

Brahma Kumaris and the United Nations

What does the BKWSU do at the United Nations?

The Brahma Kumaris promotes itself through the United Nations, uses the opportunity to meet important people and increases both its leadership's status in the eyes of its followers and the organization's status within the political arena. The BKs have a small office space currently understood to be a couple of desks in the New York headquarters of the United Nation Organization. Adherents attend numerous events internationally to promote their religion, in some cases claiming to be "UN advisors". The organization often dedicates meditation events which it already carries out "to the United Nations". From time to time the BKWSU will produce a light weight article on some peace or spiritual values related subject but in general, the United Nations association is mainly used and abused to the BKWSU benefit establishing credibility for beliefs and activities the United Nations Organization has no knowledge of.

How can an "End of the World Cult" be supported by the United Nations?

Ask the United Nations. They have probably have not been told.

Does the United Nations know what the BKWSU teaches?

Does the United Nations know that the BKWSU believes the world must be destroyed by Nuclear War in order to purify it and that 6,000,000,000 humans must die?

We suspect not.

Does the BKWSU believe in the Universal Declaration of the United Nations' Human Rights?

The Brahma Kumaris beliefs and organizational structural are in many cases entirely contradictory to the Declaration and work of the United Nations. Central to this is the Brahma Kumaris' belief that humanity is doomed and will only decrease in spiritual values until the forthcoming, immediate and desirable final "Destruction" during which 6,000,000,000 human beings will be killed in nuclear war and natural disasters. Heaven on earth, peace amongst humanity is the Brahma Kumaris preserve only after the world has been "purified" in this manner. Furthermore, attempts to save or improve the present world or environment are futile.

Brahma Kumari organizations

Is the BKWSU a real University? No. It is a new religion movement or cult depending on whose opinion you accept. It does not offer accredited course nor meet education requirements as a formal university. The Brahma Kumaris were informed by the channelled entity they believe to be God to name themselves as a "university" so as to avoid controversy. It has been a very successful promotional device.

A member of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University cult would fit a fairly typical profile - intelligent, thoughtful, passionate, concerned by the injustices and prejudices of the world, and also concerned by their own inadequacies or shortcomings and a perception that they need to be better than they are.

They tend to be people of integrity, capable of self control, sacrifice and commitment. They are so committed that they volunteer their time and energy without material reward or even compensation. These characteristics may not have been obvious before they "found their faith" because typically a degree of confusion, anger, resentment or depression, insecurity or negativity may have compromised their emotional state.

The majority of westerners who became members in the 1970's and 1980's were in their twenties although with the new style of recruitment this has changed. Many of those who are older are educated and professional. But there is a common denominator - childhood discontent. Cult members are often the product of less than functional childhoods and see the world as an unhappy place - for example they may have come from dysfunctional families, or single parent families, or negligent (although possibly wealthy) families.

Almost inevitably cult members have reached adulthood emotionally compromised. And they are aware of it. And they want to do something about it. That is the trap. If it all sounds too corny, or pathetic (like it wouldn’t happen to you) don’ be fooled - it is not just in the packaging, nor is it about gullibility. It is about being human and our need and ability to believe. Hitler, Mao Tse Dong, Pol Pot all convinced their followers of the truth of their ideology. Those same followers then went on to murder millions of people on their behalf. So how hard is it then for some of us to be convinced by a spiritual ideology that we should make an effort to be better people and to contribute to a collective that is trying to uplift the world and make it a better place to live? How hard is it to believe that renunciation and dedication would be necessary to achieve this? Who doesn’t want to be better than they are and to make a difference? When you meet the members you will be impressed by their 'niceness' - they are very dedicated to being pleasant people. This is very disarming and is a primary reason they have developed such great influence as a group. It is obviously a different story when they are falling apart - but you won't get to meet ex-members.

What other names or front organizations does the BKWSU use?

Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University

Prajapita Brahma Kumaris

Ishwariya Visha Vidyalaya

Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organization

Academy for a Better World

World Renewal Spiritual Trust

Brahma Kumaris Educational Society

Brahma Kumaris Association

Brahma Kumaris Spiritual Centre

Brahma Kumaris Spirituele Akademie

Rajyoga Education & Research Foundation

Learning Center for Peace

The Meditation Center

Inner Space

Awaken with Brahmakumaris by BK Shivani

Anubhuti Retreat Center

Living Values Education Program

Self Management Leadership

Visions of a Better World Foundation

The Janki Foundation for Global Health Care

Global Forum for Public Relations

Point of Life Foundation

Brahma Kumaris Community Education Resources

Brahma Kumaris Spiritual Learning Centre

Eternity Ink

Just-a-Minute

Peace Village

Bahrain Meditation Centre for Self-development

Center for Spiritual Learning, and others
Who runs the BKWSU and how?

A small group of elderly male and female adherents some of whom have been followers since the1930s, others having joined in the 50s and 60s. The BKWSU puts great emphasis on the leadership being all female but this is not so. And notably not on the financial side. There is controversy over the establishment of the main trust that governs the organization. The BKWSU is very largely undemocratic and the leadership is almost entirely unaccountable. There is no duty of care towards adherents as they consider themselves to run organizations which have no members. Internationally, it is split up into various geographic zones which run somewhat autonomously as personal fiefdoms of the senior sister in charge. Individual centers are mostly private homes. The BKWSU does not publicly offer any constitution or operating manual even to its donors and followers.

Are the Brahma Kumaris a "cult"?

Probably, yes. The Brahma Kumaris have many elements which match identically attributes ascribed to cultic religions. Increasingly, against the advice of their own philosophy, they are becoming a personality cult based around the worship of their founder and senior sisters.
Is the Brahma Kumaris fanatic in their approach?

Emphatically Yes!!! The Brahmakumaris are very fanatic and sometimes too far in their approach wherein their knowledge of god is considered. They consider themselves as the only proprietor of godly knowledge and stretch themselves far and wide with their kind and compassionate speaking approach to the general public and the local families.

Masses get subsequently brainwashed over a period of time with the fear of coming destruction/end of the world. The centers go on making the people aware by introducing well known people from outside, that this is the only true knowledge of god and are prevented by teaching them remaining all else outside Brahma Kumari education are false. The teachers cut the questions from the followers such as topics on kundalini, pranayama, hatha yoga...etc by giving them wrong understanding and that all this is waste of time and of no use without having any knowledge of the ABCs of those systems. One more interesting aspect is that although they say that all religions are one and god is one(true) they don’t entertain people or accept people who don’t want to accept the Brahma Kumari teachings and some followers although very good as good people loses the power of self discrimination within close relationships and finally drop close relationships.
Controversies and criticism

•Dr. John Wallis notes the re-editing of mediumistic messages and failed predictions of the End of the World which had been removed from the teachings and hidden from those that came later on.

•In a paper for the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Howell wrote that teenage girls surrendering to the organisation are required to pay the equivalent of a dowry to the organization. The payment was meant to prevent parents from "dumping" their daughters at the BKWSU as a way to avoid the costs of ordinary marriages. Return to the world for women who have has such a dowry paid for them is difficult.

•BK followers believe that the BKWSU is the precursor to all world religions, even those that predate it, which are seen as being only facets of "the complete diamond"

•The institution uses Hindu terminologies such as Raja Yoga and Bhagavad Gita to attract people but what is taught in the organization is completely different from what they supposed to mean n Hindu system of belief.

•Followers are encouraged to undergo a 'death-in-life' and 'die towards the outer world' renouncing their families and thus be 'divinely' reborn in the 'divine family'. Consequently, the Brahma Kumaris have been accused of breaking up marriages and families since the 1930s. In 2007, the British tabloid newspaper The Daily Mail reported Graham Baldwin, a former university chaplain and army officer who is president of the educational counter-cult organization Catalys, stating that the former members and the families of members had told him that BKWSU has driven a wedge between husband and wife and that there were complaints that it encourages single women and widows to donate property and savings. The BKWSU, an organisation being notable for its sex ban, was said to have "used pernicious methods to control its followers". Ian Howarth of the Cult Information Centre was further quoted about complaints that people have gone undergone personality changes after joining BKWSU and become alienated from their families. A BKWSU spokeswoman replied, "This is very much a minority thing", declining to comment on allegations that BKWSU encourages followers to donate property and savings.

•Questioned how dinosaurs fit within a 5,000 year Cycle of Time: Neville Hodgkinson, a former scientific correspondent for an English national newspaper, questioned the existence of dinosaurs on the basis of the lack of bones.

•The Brahma Kumaris have featured in the 'Wissen schützt' reports of Austria (edited by then Austrian Minister for Family Affairs Mr. Martin Bartenstein), Russia (International Conference "Totalitarian Cults- Threat of Twenty-First Century", Nizhny Novgorod, 2001) and in a MIVILUDES report submitted to the French National Assembly as a "sectes dangereuses"(harmful cult) and "groupe d'enfermement" (group of confinement).[94]This has leading to the persecution of followers in local media leading to job losses after it discovered that they belonged to a sect] and denouncement for their influence on children under their care.

•The BKWSU is accused of falsifying claims internationally, since 1978, that its current leader and relative of the founder Dadi Janki Kripalani is "the most stable mind in the world". Journalists quoted archivists at the University in question and "found no mention of the experiments performed on Dadi Janki in 1978". Indeed, they could not even "find any University of Texas organization called the Medical and Science Research Institute."

•Pratibha Patil , the UPA-Left candidate and current President of India, said on camera during the Indian presidential election, 2007, that she had communicated with the spirit of the deceased leader of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University at their headquarters in Mount Abu, Rajasthan. Patil added that she had received a mediumistic message indicating great responsibility coming her way. She had gone to seek the blessings of Hirday Mohini, also known as Dadi Gulzar or Dadiji.

Lifestyle Summary

The movement teaches that the world is approaching a time of great change that will be heralded by war, natural calamities and suffering. As a form of developing inner spiritual resilience, the Brahma Kumaris adopt a disciplined lifestyle which involves:

•Celibacy, including no sex within marriage. So long as chastity is followed, existing marriages and family life are allowed but not the creation of new partnerships.

•Sattvic vegetarianism, a strict lacto-vegetarian diet (excluding eggs, onions, garlic) cooked only by the self or other members] even excluding their own mother or relatives.

•Abstaining from alcohol, tobacco and non-prescription drugs.

•Daily early morning meditation at 4:00to 4:45 am, called 'Amrit Vela.'

•Daily morning class at approximately 6:30 am.

•Men and women traditionally sit on separate sides of the room at the centers during classes.

•Brahma Kumaris can be identified by their frequent adoption of wearing white clothes, to symbolize purity.

•Recommends that companions be other BK Brahmins as opposed to those given over to worldly pleasures (non-BKs), known as bhogis or shudras (meaning 'untouchables').

•All except the very senior BKs in the Western branches must support themselves (most work), most BKs live in shared accommodation with other members enabling the organization to powerfully reinforce its beliefs.
Summary of Beliefs

In 1952, after a 14 year period of retreat during which the Brahma Kumaris published numerous pamphlets, newspaper articles and wrote letters to important national and international figures, a more structured form of teaching began to be offered to the public by way of a seven lesson course. The movement does not associate itself with Hinduism but projects itself as a vehicle for spiritual teaching rather than a religion.

Central beliefs

Central to its faith are the beliefs that:

•The human being is an eternal soul living within a physical body and is not the physical body which is dualistic "I am a soul, my body is a garment".

•God is considered to be such an eternal soul too and not omnipresent.

•Reincarnation happens only from one human body to another.

•There are a fixed number of human beings reincarnating. BKs currently claim this number to be exactly 7 billion, although earlier they said it was 5 and then 6 billion. The number of souls incarnated gradually increases throughout the supposed 5,000 year cycle and just before the 'end of the world' all these souls are incarnate.

•There was one single 'heavenly' continent on Earth, which broke into pieces (the current continents) at the end of "Silver Age" which, accordingly to BKs, was around 2,500 years ago.

•Humanity is currently reaching the end of the current cycle and thus the world will be destroyed, a time referred to as "Destruction".

•Indian subcontinent will be the site of the future Golden Age paradise and that a form of Hindi is the original language of humanity, all other continents being destroyed.

•Followers are taught that only they will live in the coming Golden Age paradise as Gods and Goddesses.

•God has incarnated into Dada Lehkraj, the founder, and is teaching them directly and exclusively.
NOTES

1. University Press. "What must be noted is that the sect generated fierce hostility in Hyderabad, which led it to transfer its seat to Karachi after a few years."

2. Barrett, David V (2001). The New Believers: A Survey of Sects, Cults and Alternative Religions. Cassell & Co. "'sex is an expression of 'body-consciousness' and leads to the other vices', probably stems in part from the origins of the movement in 1930s India, when women had to submit to their husbands."

3. Babb, Lawrence A. (2002). Redemptive Encounters. University of California Press. "Service requires active support of the movement, especially by participating in its many proselytizing activities ... Great emphasis is placed on the value of bringing converts into the movement, particularly converts who stick... Meditation is the movement's most significant 'effort'. Efforts to reform the Kali Yug are not in accord with Shiv Baba's will".

4. Babb, Lawrence A. (1987). Redemptive Encounters: Three Modern Styles in the Hindu Tradition (Comparative Studies in Religion and Society). "Sexual intercourse is unnecessary for reproduction because the souls that enter the world during the first half of the Cycle are in possession of a special yogic power (yog bal) by which they conceive children"

5. Hinduism Today. Retrieved on 2007-07-28. ""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.""

6. Smith, Dr Wendy A. (Autumn 2007). "Gender Role Experimentation in New Religious Movements: clarification of the Brahma Kumari case". Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 45: 16–17. "Strict adherence requires that they only eat food cooked by themselves or other Brahma Kumaris in order to benefit from the pure vibrations of the person cooling the food. This has meant that some members do not eat food cooked by their mothers or other relatives who are not in the movement thus challenging one of the most basic social activities which fosters social relationships, eating together."

7. Howell, Dr Julia D (April 1997). "ASC induction techniques, spiritual experiences, and commitment to new religious movements". Journal of Beliefs and Values, 58 (2): 149. ""All accept the very senior BKs in the Western branches must support themselves (most work), but the pressure to adopt the BKs "purity rules" (non-commensality with non-members; avoidance of meat and certain other foods, alcohol, and sex), and most Brahmins live in shared accommodation with other members ... enabling the organization to powerfully reinforce its beliefs."".

8. Kelegama, Keerthi (1998). Year 2000 doomed: Mankind destroyed' [Exclusive report on imminent world destruction]. Cambridge Press, Delhi. "Brahmakumaris say that the world destruction takes place in every 5000 years and that 5000 years have already passed after the previous destruction. Soon the new world order would be started with 900,000 people after destroying the rest". "Brahmakumaris World Spiritual University affiliated to the United Nations Department of Public Information as a non-governmental organisation teaches that in every 5000 years world destruction takes place and now is the time for it." "Brahmakumaris also expect the world destruction to take place immediately followed by the birth of Krishna once again". "There must be 900,000 pure souls who are ready to take over the new world order (Golden Age) before the destruction would begin. When the Golden Age [Sath Yug] comes after the world destruction, it would only be heaven on earth. People there would literally be deities"

9. Babb, Lawrence A. (1987). Redemptive Encounters: Three Modern Styles in the Hindu Tradition (Comparative Studies in Religion and Society).""The real issue is what one's status will be in the coming paradise ... Those of the highest status will not only be the rulers of heaven, but will be close to Lekhraj throughout their world-careers.""

10. Howell and 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 intrinsically 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"."

11. 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."

12. 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."".

13. Walliss, John (2002). The Brahma Kumaris as a Reflexive Tradition: Responding to Late Modernity. Ashgate Publishing. "Destruction did not materialise ... many Brahmins left the (University) because their hopes were dashed. Those who stayed had their faith reduced by half. They sacrificed their lives in this godly institution, left their families and invested all their wealth in this cause."