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Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University
Formation1930s
TypeMillenarianist New Religious Movement
HeadquartersRajasthan, India
Official language
Hindi, English
Founder
Lekhraj Kripalani (1876-1969), known as "Brahma Baba" to the followers
Key people
Janki Kripalani, Jayanti Kirpalani
Websitebkwsu.org

see previous copy for proposed outline [1]

Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (BKWSU) or Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya is a monastic, renunciate, [1] millenarian[2][3] new religious movement (NRM) of Indian origin whose teachings are based on, and practises, involve both mediumship and channelling. [4][5] It promotes a form of meditation[1] called Raja Yoga, which differs from classical Raja Yoga as described by Patanjali. [6]

See also, Brahma Kumari Beliefs and Lifestyle.


Early history

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See also: Lekhraj Kripalani

The origin of BKWSU can be traced to the group "Om Mandali", founded by Lekhraj Kripalani (1876-1969)[7] in Hyderabad, Sindh in the 1930s. Lekhraj Kripalani, known as "Dada Lekhraj", "Om Baba" or "Brahma Baba" to his followers, was a Bhaibund merchant and follower of the Vaishnavite Vallabhacharya Sect.[8][9] Dada Lekhraj retired from his business in 1932 with assets of 1,000,000 Indian rupees[7] to turn to spirituality. Their original spiritual knowledge was obtained though divine revelations and divine visions of women who had the gift of trance-vision. Lekhraj started holding satsangs which attracted many people and the group became known as Om Mandali. In 1937, he named some of his followers as a managing committee, then reportedly transferred his fortune to the committee.[10] Several women joined Om Mandali, and contributed their wealth to the association as well.[7]

Members of the local Bhaibund community reacted unfavorably to his movement. Many young married Sindhi women attended his ashram and were being encouraged to take vows of celibacy, so the Om Mandali was accused of breaking up families [11][12] including that of his own daughter who he had married into the family of the leader of what was to become the Anti-Party. [7] Om Mandali was denounced as disturber of family peace and some of the Brahma Kumari wives were mistreated by their families. Lekhraj Kripalani was accused of sorcery, lechery, [10] accused of forming a cult and controlling his community through the art of hypnotism. Children were removed from his school.[13] Hindu members of the Sindh Assembly threatened to resign unless the Om Mandali was outlawed, so the Sindh Government used the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1908 to declare it an unlawful association.[7] Under further pressure from the Hindu leaders in the the Government, the group was ordered to close and vacate its premises.[14] To avoid persecution, legal actions and opposition from family members of his followers, the Brahma-kumaris moved from Hyderabad to Karachi, where they settled in a highly structured ashram. The Anti-Om Mandli Committee which had opposed the group in Hyderabad followed them.[15]

In April 1950, after the Partition of India, the Brahma Kumaris moved to Mount Abu in India saying that they had been instructed by God to do so.[9] After Dada Lekhraj's death in 1969, his followers expanded the movement to other countries.[16]

Expansion

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Om Shanti Bawan, the main hall at the Brahma Kumaris headquarters

Beginning in the 1950s, the Brahma Kumaris began an internationalization expansion program,[17] establishing centers across India with female teachers. From 1964 to 1969 methods of outreach began involving exhibitions, seminars and conferences in different parts of India.[18]

The leadership of the BK movement remains primarily female. For example, in the UK, only one-third of the 42 centers are run by males.[19] According to the BKWSU website, there are currently 825,000 students and over 8,500 Raja Yoga centres in 100 countries and territories.[20] According to sources quoted in the Adherents website, worldwide membership ranges from 35,000 (in 1993) to 400,000 (in 1998).[21]

Activities

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The Brahma Kumaris conduct seven one-hour-long courses in their philosophy and open-eyed meditation technique. The organization offers courses in "positive thinking", "Self Management Leadership", and "Living Values."[22] Service requires active support of the movement, especially by participating in its many proscelyting 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 Kaliyug are not in accord with Shiv Bab's will. [23]

The Brahma Kumaris also have a number of voluntary outreach programs in prisons.[24]


See also

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Concepts associated with Brahama Kumaris

References

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  1. ^ a b 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 978-0521461290. {{cite book}}: |first4= missing |last4= (help)
  2. ^ Robbins, Thomas (1997). Millennium, Messiahs, and Mayhem: Contemporary Apocalyptic Movements. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415916486.
  3. ^ Babb, Lawrence A. (1987). Redemptive Encounters: Three Modern Styles in the Hindu Tradition (Comparative Studies in Religion and Society). Oxford University Press. ISBN 0706925637.
  4. ^ Klimo, Jon (1998). Channeling: Investigations on Receiving Information from Paranormal Sources. North Atlantic Books. p. 100. ISBN 978-1556432484.
  5. ^ Wilson, Bryan (1999). Bryan Wilson (ed.). New Religious Movements: Challenge and Response. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415200493. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "Brahma Kumaris: A New Religion?". Reender Kranenborg, Free University of Amsterdam. Retrieved 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.
  7. ^ a b c d e Hardy, Hardayal (1984). Struggles and Sorrows: The Personal Testimony of a Chief Justice. Vikas Publishing House. pp. 37–39. ISBN 0706925637.
  8. ^ Walliss, John (2002). The Brahma Kumaris As a Reflexive Tradition: Responding to Late Modernity. Ashgate Publishing. pp. 99–129. ISBN 978-0754609513.
  9. ^ a b Chander, B. K Jagdish (1981). Adi Dev: The first man. B.K. Raja Yoga Center for the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University.
  10. ^ a b Abbott, Elizabeth (2001). A History of Celibacy. James Clarke & Co. pp. 172–174. ISBN 0718830067.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ Hodgkinson, Liz (2002). Peace and Purity: The Story of the Brahma Kumaris a Spiritual Revolution. HCI. pp. 2–29. ISBN 1558749624.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Coupland, Reginald (1944). The Indian Problem: Report on the Constitutional Problem in India. Oxford University Press.
  15. ^ Howell, Julia Day (2005). Peter Clarke (ed.). Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements. Routledge. pp. 63–64. ISBN 978-0415267076. The call for women brahmins (i.e. kumaris or 'daughters') to remain celibate or chaste in marriage inverted prevailing social expectations that such renunciation was proper only for men and that the disposal of women's sexuality should remain with their fathers and husbands. The 'Anti-Om Mandali Committee' formed by outraged male family members violently persecuted Brahma Baba's group, prompting their flight to Karachi and withdrawal from society. Intense world rejection gradually eased after partition in 1947, when the BKs moved from Pakistan to Mt Abu
  16. ^ Hunt, Stephen J. (2003). Alternative Religions: A Sociological Introduction. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 120. ISBN 0754634108.
  17. ^ Howell, Julia (1998). "Gender Role Experimentation in New Religious Movements". Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. 37 (3): 453–461. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  18. ^ Whaling, Frank (1995). "The Brahma Kumaris". Journal of Contemporary Religion. 10 (1): 10.
  19. ^ Howell, Julia Day (1998). "Gender Role Experimentation in New Religious Movements: Clarification of the Brahma Kumari Case". Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. 37 (3): 453–461. doi:10.2307/1388052. Today the leadership of the BK movement in India remains heavily female. Sisters, or kumaris (daughters), are still "put in front", that is favored for the position of "center-in-charge" (head of a local center). As of December 1995 all Indian centers were run by "sisters." However, "brothers" also reside in many of the centers run by "sisters". Brothers are expected to work to earn an outside income, which provides a substantial share of the support of the centers, and do the domestic work other than cooking. This frees the sisters to engage full-time in service to the organization as teachers, leaders of meditation sessions and spiritual directors. Indian migrants made up half the number of Brahmins in the UK. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  20. ^ "Brahma Kumaris Administration". BKWSU. Retrieved 2007-08-10. Present statistics indicate that the University has 825,000 students and over 8,500 centres in 100 countries and territories.
  21. ^ "Adherent Statistic Citations". Adherents.com. Retrieved 2007-08-20. Worldwide, this path has 4000 centres and approximately 400,000 members.
  22. ^ Nesbitt, Eleanor (2003). "Religious Organisations in the UK and Values Education Programmes for Schools". Journal of Beliefs and Values,. 24 (1): 75–88. The article reports initial findings from a values education programme that is currently being implemented, in various forms, in several primary schools in England. The programme is 'Living Values: an educational program' and it was developed in association with a Hindu-related religious organisation, the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University. The article situates the research within a social and theoretical context and reports from fieldwork conducted over a period of twelve months in schools and Brahma Kumaris centres. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  23. ^ Babb, Lawrence A. (2002). Redemptive Encounters. University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-07636-2. "Service requires active support of the movement, especially by participating in its many proscelyting 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 Kaliyug are not in accord with Shiv Bab's will".
  24. ^ Bedi, Kiran (2007). It's Always Possible : One Woman's Transformation of India's Prison System. Himalayan Institute Press. ISBN 978-0893892586.

Further reading

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Brahma Kumaris publications

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  • Chander, B.K. Jagdish (1977). Easy Raja Yoga: Taught by God Shiva. Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Visha-Vidyalay.
  • Chander, B.K. Jagdish (1969). Versions of God Almighty for Attainment of God-Fatherly Birthright of Heavenly Happiness. Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishva-Vidyalaya (Abu, India). {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • BKWSU (1984). The Song Divine (II) : God the Supreme, Speaking with the Angel Brahma to his Brahman Children in Madhuban during the 1979-80 Season. Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (London, England). {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • O'Donnell, Ken. New Beginnings. BKWSU. ISBN 0-9637396-4-6. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Chander, B.K. Jagdish (1983). Brahma Baba, the Corporeal Medium of Shiva Baba. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Chander, B.K. Jagdish (1984). The Descent of incorporeal God into the Human Body of Brahma : a Brief Biographical Account. Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, Mount Abu, India. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Chander, B.K. Jagdish (1977). Observance of Brahmacharya and Conquest of Sex-Lust. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Chander, B.K. Jagdish (1978). Moral Values, Attitudes and Moods: a book on ethics for a new world order. BKWSU. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Chander, B.K. Jagdish (1980). Human values, Moral values, and Spiritual values: A book on divine values for the coming Golden Age. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • BKWSU (1999). Inner Beauty. Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya. ASIN B000JVYGT6. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • BKWSU (1995). Practical Meditation. Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya. ISBN 0-9637396-0-3. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • BKWSU (2000). Blessings. BKWSU. ISBN 1-55874-838-5. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • BKWSU (1996). Just a Moment. Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya. ASIN B000JMA3OW. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • BKWSU (1995). Power and Effect of Thoughts. Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya. ASIN B000JI7MJK. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • BKWSU (2000). Kaleidoscopic View of Issues, Ideas, Events, Intentions, Attitudes, Individuals, and Institutions. Prajapita Brahma Kumaris. ASIN B000FVUAGI. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Radhe, Brahma-kumari Om (1938). 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. ASIN B00089UWHE. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • The Arts of Life. BKWSU. 1998. ISBN 0-9637396-2-X. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Kumaris, Brahma (1975). Future of Mankind. Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya. ASIN B0007CBK0U. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Chander, B.K. Jagdish (1975). Raj Yoga Illustrated (Raja Yoga, The Science for Attaining Purity, Peace, and Bliss). Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya. ASIN B000M3EGEQ. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Janki, Dadi. Pearls of Wisdom. ISBN 1-55874-723-0. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Janki, Dadi. Perlas de Sabiduria. ISBN 1-55874-791-5. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Janki, Dadi. Wings of Soul. 1999. ISBN 1-55874-672-2. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Janki, Dadi (2000). Las Alas del Espiritu. ISBN 1-55874-782-6. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Janki, Dadi (2003). InsideOut a better way of living, learning, and loving. ASIN 000H7LIPM. {{cite book}}: Check |asin= value (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • The Correspondence Course. BKWSU. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • O'Donnell, Ken (1987). Raja Yoga for beginners. ISBN 0-340-82915-X. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Janki, Dadi (1996). Companion of God. Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, Literature Dept. (London). ISBN 1-886872-02-3. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Stephan, Nagel (1999). Brahmas geheime Schöpfung. Die indische Reformbewegung der "Brahma Kumaris. Theion. ISBN 3-631-35484-3. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • B.K. Jayanti, Kirpalani (1999). Valuing the Future : Education for Spiritual Development. {{cite book}}: Check |authorlink= value (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); External link in |authorlink= (help)

Other publications

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  • Anti Om Mandli Committee (1940). Om Mandli : a true authenticated story about its activities being a reply to "Is This Justice". Anti Om Mandli Committee, Hyderabad. OCLC 32117471. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Lalrinawma, V.S. The Liberation of Women in and through the Movement of the Prajapita Brahma Kumaris. ISPCK, Cambridge Press, Delhi. ISBN 81-7214-771-6. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Howell, Dr Julia D.; Nelson, Peter L. "Surviving Transplantation: The Brahma Kumaris in the Western World". Nelson Center for Humanities and Human Science. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Howell, Dr Julia D. (2003). "Changing Meanings of Religious Pluralism". {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Howell, Dr Julia D. (1997). "Altered States of Consciousness (ASC) Induction and New Religious Movements". Sociology of Religion. 58: 141–164. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Kranenborg, Reender (1999), Brahma Kumaris: A New Religion?, Free University of Amsterdam {{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Shaw, William (1994). Spying in Guruland: Inside Britain’s Cults. Fourth Estate, London. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Babb, Lawrence A (1986). Redemptive encounters : three modern styles in the Hindu tradition. Berkeley : University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-05645-0. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Babb, Lawrence A. (1982). "Amnesia and Remembrance in a Hindu Theory of History". Asian Folklore Studies. 41 (1): 49–66. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Babb, Lawrence A. (1981). "Glancing: Visual Interaction in Hinduism". Journal of Anthropological Research. 37 (4): 387–401. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Mayer, Jean-François; Kranenborg, Reender. La Naissance des Nouvelles Religions. Geneve, Suisse. ISBN 2-8257-0877-1. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Whaling, Dr Frank (2007). ISBN 1-903765-51-X. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  • Varughese, Suma (1998). "Satyug is as Sure as Death". Retrieved 2007-07-28.
  • Varughese, Suma (1998). "Brahma Kumaris, World Spiritual University" (PDF). Interreligious Insight. Retrieved 2007-07-28.
  • Beit-Hallahmi, Benjamin (Aug 2003). "Apocalyptic Dreams and Religious Ideologies: Losing and Saving Self and World". Psychoanalytic Review. 90 (4): 403–439. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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BKWSU

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non-BKWSU

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[[Category:1937 establishments]] [[Category:New religious movements]] [[Category:Spiritual organizations]] [[Category:Yoga organizations]] [[Category:Religious organisations based in India]] [[de:Brahma Kumaris]] [[es:Brahma Kumaris]] [[fr:Brahma Kumaris]] [[nl:Brahma Kumaris Spirituele Akademie]]

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