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'''Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University'''

==Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University==

 

Brahma Kumaris' so-called "World Spiritual University" promotes new and unique ideas based on messages received from mediumship and spirit chaneling. It also claims its practises are the "ancient" Raja Yoga despite only commencing post-1950. It is now promoted behind the facade of new age, positive thinking, values based and coporate training courses. Many individuals experience benefit from these. Indeed, some individuals can look back at their time as a "student" of the BKWSU positively. However, whether right or wrong, at the core of BKWSU teachings and lifestyles are identical elements to recognised cult behaviour. Elements that are hidden from the general public and slowly introduced during the process of indoctrination.

==Followers homes counted as centers==

==Followers homes counted as centers==

Whilst claiming to have 8,500 centres in 100 countries, the vast majority of these are privately owned residential homes and apartments, many taking donations to pay for personal mortgages.  

Whilst claiming to have 8,500 centres in 100 countries, the vast majority of these are privately owned residential homes and apartments, many taking donations to pay for personal mortgages.  

==Beliefs==

==Beliefs==

Brahma Kumari beliefs include;

Brahma Kumaris believe God possessed a multi-millionaire Hindu jeweler called Lekhraj Kripalani in Pakistan and started to speak and act through him. He and his followers predicted the end of the world, which Brahma Kumaris call "Destruction" in WWII, 1950, 1976, the mid-1980s and year 2000. For the first 20 years of their existence, his followers believed him to be Prajapati God Brahma. At some point after 1950, they introduced the concept of a new spirit being called God Shiva. Until that time, the small community lived off Lekhraj Kripalani's accumulated fortune and other donations. From the early 1950s, the movement became evangelical and has since spread to the West, amassing considerable wealth and a large property portfolio including a English country mansion and many upscale ashrams.

» belief in the imminent destruction of this world by an unavoidable Nuclear Holocaust [now overdue by 30 to 50 years]

» belief in themselves as the only true messengers of God

 

» belief that God only speaks to them and them alone in person at their Indian headquarters via a mediumistic channeller

* belief in the imminent destruction of this world by an unavoidable Nuclear Holocaust [now overdue by 30 to 50 years]

» hypnagogic, trance-like practises and repetitive auto-suggestion

* belief in themselves as the only true messengers of God

» fixation on attracting VIPs to enhance their credibility and act as "microphones" for their message

* belief that God only speaks to them and them alone in person at their Indian headquarters via a mediumistic channeller

» exaggerated distinction between "pure" [their teachings and activities] and "impure" [the rest of the World's opinions and leaders]

* hypnagogic, trance-like practises and repetitive auto-suggestion

» exaggerated sense of self-importance [they being topknot "Brahmins"], the rest of the World [Untouchables or "Shudras"]

* fixation on attracting VIPs to enhance their credibility and act as "microphones" for their message

» belief in an unrealistic view of science, e.g. all of time existing within one endlessly repeating 5,000 year timeframe

* exaggerated distinction between "pure" [their teachings and activities] and "impure" [the rest of the World's opinions and leaders]

» a slow and gradual re-writing of their core beliefs as they fail

* exaggerated sense of self-importance [they being topknot "Brahmins"], the rest of the World [Untouchables or "Shudras"]

» unquestionable and unaccountable non-democratic leadership

* belief in an unrealistic view of science, e.g. all of time existing within one endlessly repeating 5,000 year timeframe

» amassing of considerable wealth from followers under such pressures

* a slow and gradual re-writing of their core beliefs as they fail

» complete separation from non-BKs by complete control of diet, demanding lifestyle, celibacy

* unquestionable and unaccountable non-democratic leadership

» graphic exaggeration of the plight of those that leave the group ; "grinding of teeth like the sound of mustard seeds ... crying tears of blood at Destruction", sexual activity being like "throwing one's self from a 5th storey high building", having to face a severe God at Judgement Day

* amassing of considerable wealth from followers under such pressures

» secrecy, revision and disguise of the nature and process of teachings

* complete separation from non-BKs by complete control of diet, demanding lifestyle, celibacy

» intense and long lasting social and psychological problems within individuals leaving the organisation.

* graphic exaggeration of the plight of those that leave the group ; "grinding of teeth like the sound of mustard seeds ... crying tears of blood at Destruction", sexual activity being like "throwing one's self from a 5th storey high building", having to face a severe God at Judgement Day

* secrecy, revision and disguise of the nature and process of teachings

* intense and long lasting social and psychological problems within individuals leaving the organisation.

The Brahma Kumaris encourage followers;

The Brahma Kumaris encourage followers;

» not to eat food cooked by impure non-followers such as physical relatives

* not to eat food cooked by impure non-followers such as physical relatives

» to practice detachment from parents and children

* to practice detachment from parents and children

» to separate from non-Brahma Kumari partners and family so as not to make any more "karmic accounts" with them that would be obstacles to their path

* to separate from non-Brahma Kumari partners and family so as not to make any more "karmic accounts" with them that would be obstacles to their path

Under these pressures, individuals are willing to put aside reason and surrender themselves mind, body and wealth, to the will of senior members of the BKWSU. Most of these senior members are professionally untrained in any manner whatsoever. Despite dabbling with perhaps the deepest levels of the human mind, many of these senior members have only ever had a basic education, e.g. 3 years schooling, and no professional experience. One senior BK recently estimated that in India there were as many as 20,000 so-called teachers that have had no training whatsoever. The curriculum and teaching methods have been likened to that of a primary school or kindergarten where followers are infantilized

Under these pressures, individuals are willing to put aside reason and surrender themselves mind, body and wealth, to the will of senior members of the BKWSU. Most of these senior members are professionally untrained in any manner whatsoever. Despite dabbling with perhaps the deepest levels of the human mind, many of these senior members have only ever had a basic education, e.g. 3 years schooling, and no professional experience. One senior BK recently estimated that in India there were as many as 20,000 so-called teachers that have had no training whatsoever. The curriculum and teaching methods have been likened to that of a primary school or kindergarten where followers are infantilized

== Controversies and criticism ==

== Controversies and criticism ==

Questioned how dinosaurs fit within a 5,000 year Cycle of Time BK Neville Hodgkinson, a former scientific correspondent for an English national newspaper, questioned the existence of dinosaurs on the basis of the lack of bones that have been found whilst other BK follower argued that dinosaurs exist in a parallel space-time dimension and because of a warp hole end up in this dimension.

Questioned how dinosaurs fit within a 5,000 year Cycle of Time BK Neville Hodgkinson, a former scientific correspondent for an English national newspaper, questioned the existence of dinosaurs on the basis of the lack of bones that have been found whilst other BK follower argued that dinosaurs exist in a parallel space-time dimension and because of a warp hole end up in this dimension.

The Brahma Kumaris have featured in the 'Wissen schtzt' 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). This has leading to the presecution of followers in local media leading to job losses after it discovered that they belonged to a secte [85] and denouncement for their influence on children under their care.

The Brahma Kumaris have featured in the 'Wissen schtzt' 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). This has leading to the presecution of followers in local media leading to job losses after it discovered that they belonged to a secte and denouncement for their influence on children under their care.

 

 

==Websites==

==Websites==

* http://www.brahmakumaris.info/

* http://www.brahmakumaris.info

* http://www.brahmakumaris.com/

* http://www.brahmakumaris.com

* http://www.bkwsuwatch.com

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== Share this page ==

== Share this page ==

* "Brahma Kumaris: A New Religion?". Reender Kranenborg, Free University of Amsterdam. Retrieved on 2007-07-27. "The entire way of the Brahma Kumaris can be characterized as raja yoga. One should not think here in the first place of classical yoga, as described by Patanjali."

* "Brahma Kumaris: A New Religion?". Reender Kranenborg, Free University of Amsterdam. Retrieved on 2007-07-27. "The entire way of the Brahma Kumaris can be characterized as raja yoga. One should not think here in the first place of classical yoga, as described by Patanjali."

* Walliss, J. (1999). "From world rejection to ambivalence: the development of millenarianism in the Brahma Kumaris". Journal of Contemporary Religion 14 (3): 375–385.

* Walliss, J. (1999). "From world rejection to ambivalence: the development of millenarianism in the Brahma Kumaris". Journal of Contemporary Religion 14 (3): 375–385.

* e Hardy, Hardayal (1984). Struggles and Sorrows: The Personal Testimony of a Chief Justice, Vikas Publishing House. pp. 37–39. ISBN 0706925637.

* Hardy, Hardayal (1984). Struggles and Sorrows: The Personal Testimony of a Chief Justice, Vikas Publishing House. pp. 37–39. ISBN 0706925637.

* e Walliss, John (2002). The Brahma Kumaris As a Reflexive Tradition: Responding to Late Modernity, Ashgate Publishing. pp. 99–129. ISBN 978-0754609513.

* Walliss, John (2002). The Brahma Kumaris As a Reflexive Tradition: Responding to Late Modernity, Ashgate Publishing. pp. 99–129. ISBN 978-0754609513.

* c Chander, B. K Jagdish (1981). Adi Dev: The first man, B.K. Raja Yoga Center for the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University..

* Chander, B. K Jagdish (1981). Adi Dev: The first man, B.K. Raja Yoga Center for the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University..

* Abbott, Elizabeth (2001). A History of Celibacy, James Clarke & Co.. pp. 172–174. ISBN 0718830067.

* Abbott, Elizabeth (2001). A History of Celibacy, James Clarke & Co.. pp. 172–174. ISBN 0718830067.

* Barrett, David V (2001). The New Believers: A Survey of Sects, Cults and Alternative Religions, Cassell & Co.. ISBN 978-0304355921. "'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.".

* Barrett, David V (2001). The New Believers: A Survey of Sects, Cults and Alternative Religions, Cassell & Co.. ISBN 978-0304355921. "'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.".

* c Hodgkinson, Liz (2002). Peace and Purity: The Story of the Brahma Kumaris a Spiritual Revolution, HCI. pp. 2–29. ISBN 1558749624.

* Hodgkinson, Liz (2002). Peace and Purity: The Story of the Brahma Kumaris a Spiritual Revolution, HCI. pp. 2–29. ISBN 1558749624.

* 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.

* 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.

* Coupland, Reginald (1944). The Indian Problem: Report on the Constitutional Problem in India, Oxford University Press.

* Coupland, Reginald (1944). The Indian Problem: Report on the Constitutional Problem in India, Oxford University Press.

* "Dadi Hirdaya Mohini- Joint Administrative Head". BKWSU. Retrieved on 2007-07-28.

* "Dadi Hirdaya Mohini- Joint Administrative Head". BKWSU. Retrieved on 2007-07-28.

* Walliss, John (2002). The Brahma Kumaris As a Reflexive Tradition: Responding to Late Modernity, Ashgate Publishing. ISBN 978-0754609513. "Another rendition of the University's Millenarianism [is] put forward by a group named the Advance Party. This group is made up of predominantly disaffected ex-members of the University and are highly critical of what they allege to be the increasing worldliness and corruptness of the University's hierarchy. The University, they claim on their website, has become a true Ravan Rajya (Kingdom of Devil) where pomp and show and grandeur are given preference over true godly knowledge. At a deeper level, the Advance Party's critique is aimed at the BK theodicy and the manner in which they allege its millenarianism has been understood.".

* Walliss, John (2002). The Brahma Kumaris As a Reflexive Tradition: Responding to Late Modernity, Ashgate Publishing. ISBN 978-0754609513. "Another rendition of the University's Millenarianism [is] put forward by a group named the Advance Party. This group is made up of predominantly disaffected ex-members of the University and are highly critical of what they allege to be the increasing worldliness and corruptness of the University's hierarchy. The University, they claim on their website, has become a true Ravan Rajya (Kingdom of Devil) where pomp and show and grandeur are given preference over true godly knowledge. At a deeper level, the Advance Party's critique is aimed at the BK theodicy and the manner in which they allege its millenarianism has been understood.".