Wikipedia

Brahma Kumaris: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
spellcheck
GreenC bot (talk | contribs)
Bots
2,428,056 edits
 
(38 intermediate revisions by 10 users not shown)
Line 20:
| website = {{URL|http://www.brahmakumaris.org/|International}} {{URL|http://www.brahmakumaris.com/|India}}
}}
The '''Brahma Kumaris''' ({{lang-sa|ब्रह्माकुमारी}} ("Daughters of Brahma")) is a spiritual movement that originated in [[Hyderabad, Sindh]], during the 1930s.<ref name= censamm.org>[https://censamm.org/resources/profiles/brahma-kumaris Summary of movement]. censamm.org</ref><ref name=bk_faq>[http://www.brahmakumaris.org/about-us/faqs What Does Brahma Kumaris Mean?] brahmakumaris.org</ref><ref name=Monier>[[Monier Monier-Williams|Monier-Williams, Monier]] (1899) ''Sanskrit Dictionary''. Clarendon Press, Oxford. [http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/ebooks/mw/0300/mw__0325.html p. 292]</ref> Founded by [[Dada Lekhraj|Lekhraj Kripalani]], the organisation teaches the importance of moving beyond labels associated with the human body, including race, nationality, religion, and gender, through meditation that emphasizes the concept of identity as souls rather than bodies. It aims to establish a global culture centered around what they refer to as "soul-consciousness".<ref name="World 2010">{{Cite book |title=Religions of the world: a comprehensive encyclopedia of beliefs and practices |date=2002 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-57607-223-3 |editor-last=Melton |editor-first=J. Gordon |location=Santa Barbara, Calif.}}</ref><ref name="Matt Tomlinson, Wendy Smith, Lenore Manderson 2012_1">{{cite book
The '''Brahma Kumaris''' is a spiritual movement that originated in [[Hyderabad, Sindh]], during the 1930s.<ref name= censamm.org>[https://censamm.org/resources/profiles/brahma-kumaris Summary of movement]. censamm.org</ref>
The Brahma Kumaris ({{lang-sa|ब्रह्माकुमारी}}, "Daughters of Brahma"<ref name=bk_faq>[http://www.brahmakumaris.org/about-us/faqs What Does Brahma Kumaris Mean?] brahmakumaris.org</ref><ref name=Monier>[[Monier Monier-Williams|Monier-Williams, Monier]] (1899) ''Sanskrit Dictionary''. Clarendon Press, Oxford. [http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/ebooks/mw/0300/mw__0325.html p. 292]</ref>) movement was founded by [[Dada Lekhraj|Lekhraj Kripalani]]. Women continue to hold primary leadership positions within the organisation.<ref name="Kranenborg1">{{cite web
| url = http://www.cesnur.org/testi/bryn/br_kranenborg.htm▼
| title = Brahma Kumaris: A New Religion?▼
| last=Kranenborg|first=Reender ▼
|year=1999▼
|publisher=Center for Studies on New Religions ▼
| access-date = 27 July 2007▼
|quote=A preliminary version of a paper presented at CESNUR 99}}</ref>▼
 
The organisation teaches meditation that emphasizes the concept of identity as souls rather than bodies. The members of the organisation believe that all souls are good by nature and that God is the source of all goodness.<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> The organisation teaches the importance of moving beyond labels associated with the human body, including race, nationality, religion, and gender. It aims to establish a global culture centered around what they refer to as "soul-consciousness".<ref name="World 2010">{{cite book|last1=Melton|first1=J. Gordon|last2=Baumann|first2=Martin|title=Religions of the World. A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices|url=https://archive.org/details/religionsworldco00melt|url-access=limited|pages=[https://archive.org/details/religionsworldco00melt/page/n465 383]–384|publisher=ABC-CLEO, LLC|year=2010|isbn=9781576072233}}</ref><ref name="Matt Tomlinson, Wendy Smith, Lenore Manderson 2012_1">{{cite book
|chapter=4. Brahma Kumaris: Purity and the Globalization of Faith
|author1=Tomlinson, Matt
Line 38 ⟶ 28:
|publisher= Springer
|year=2012
|isbn=978-94-007-2931-5}}</ref> The members of the organisation believe that all souls are good by nature and that God is the source of all goodness.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jones |first=Constance |title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism |last2=Ryan |first2=James Daniel |last3=Melton |first3=J. Gordon |date=2007 |publisher=Facts On File |isbn=978-0-8160-5458-9 |series=Encyclopedia of world religions |location=New York, NY}}</ref>
|isbn=978-94-007-2931-5}}</ref>
 
In 2019, the organisation had more thatthan 8000eight thousand centres across 110one hundred ten countries and more than 1one million members. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Our History – The Brahma Kumaris |url=https://brahmakumaris.org.au/new/about-us/our-history/ |access-date=2024-02-12 |language=en-US}}</ref> Women continue to hold primary leadership positions within the organisation.<ref name="Kranenborg1">{{cite web
▲ | url = http://www.cesnur.org/testi/bryn/br_kranenborg.htm
▲ | title = Brahma Kumaris: A New Religion?
▲ | last=Kranenborg|first=Reender
▲|year=1999
▲|publisher=Center for Studies on New Religions
▲ | access-date = 27 July 2007
▲|quote=A preliminary version of a paper presented at CESNUR 99}}</ref>
 
== Early history ==
[[File:Lekhraj_Kripalani.jpg|thumb|upright|right|The Founder, Lekhraj Kriplani]]
The Brahma Kumaris, originallyorganisation called ''Om Mandali'',was startedfounded in [[Hyderabad, Sindh]], in north-westnorthwest [[India]] (present-day [[Pakistan]]).<ref name="Matt Tomlinson, Wendy Smith, Lenore Manderson 2012_1" /> ItThey receivedwere thisinitially nameknown becauseas ''Om Mandali,'' as the members would together chant "'''[[Om" together,]]''' before havingengaging discoursein ona spiritual mattersdiscourse in the traditional [[satsang|satsangs]] style(meetings). TheThese original discourses were closely connected{{vague|date=May 2024}} to the ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]''.<ref name="Matt Tomlinson, Wendy Smith, Lenore Manderson 2012_1" />
 
The founder,Founder [[Dada Lekhraj|Lekhraj Khubchand Kirpilani]] (who becamealso known in the group as "Om Baba") was ain the wealthyjewelry jewelerbusiness.<ref name="Matt Tomlinson, Wendy Smith, Lenore Manderson 2012_1" /> HeIn claimed1935, toafter witnesswitnessing a series of visions and other[[transcendence (philosophy)|transcendental]] experiences thatand commencedvisions, aroundhe 1935gave andup becamehis thebusiness basisto forlay the discoursesfoundation of ''Om Mandali''. He believed that there was a [[higher power|greater power]] working through him and that many of those who attended thesethe gatheringsdiscourses were themselves having [[spiritual experiencesexperience]]s.<ref name="Matt Tomlinson, Wendy Smith, Lenore Manderson 2012_1"/> The majority of those who came were women and children from the [[Bhaiband|Bhaibund]] caste,<ref>{{cite journal
|last=Babb
|first=Lawrence
Line 56 ⟶ 53:
|year=1984
|doi=10.1086/494068|s2cid=144737560
}}</ref> -which a casteconsisted of wealthy merchants and business people whose husbands and fathers were often overseas on business.<ref name="Liz_Hodgkinson_Peace2">{{cite book
| last = Hodgkinson
| first = Liz
Line 67 ⟶ 64:
 
[[File:Om Mandali President Om Radhe.tif|thumb|upright|left|The President of Om Mandali, Radhe Pokardas Rajwani (1916–1965) in approximately 1964]]
After threeThree years ofafter the organization comingcame into existence, it became clear that ''Om Mandali'' was giving very special importance to the role of women, and was not adhering to the 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 Radhe6">{{cite book
| last1 = Pokardas
| first1 = Om Radhe
Line 81 ⟶ 78:
| year = 1981
| publisher = B.K. Raja Yoga Center for the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University.
}}</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[[celibacy]]. In tradition-bound patriarchal India, these personal life decisions were the exclusive right of men.<ref name="Liz_Hodgkinson_Peace2"/> A committee headed by a number of importantinfluential male members of the Bhaibund community began to form in opposition and became known as the 'Anti-Om Mandali Committee'. On 21 June 1938, this group picketed the premises of ''Om Mandali's' premisesand preventingprevented members from entering. Thisthe campus and caused considerable upheaval in the community. Women attending the discourses were verbally abused,. thereThere was an attempt to burn the premises down, and the police made several arrests. Many women and girls were latersubjected victims ofto [[domestic violence in their homes]].<ref name="Liz_Hodgkinson_Peace3">{{cite book
| last = Hodgkinson
| first = Liz
Line 89 ⟶ 86:
| isbn = 1-55874-962-4
| page = 30
}}</ref>
}}</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 [[Sindh High Court|Court of the Judicial Commissioner of Sindh]].<ref name="Om Radhe1">{{cite book▼
 
▲}}</ref> The picketing resultedled into criminal proceedings being taken against both groups, and. onOn 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 [[Sindh High Court|Court of the Judicial Commissioner of Sindh]].<ref name="Om Radhe1">{{cite book
| last1 = Pokardas
| first1 = Om Radhe
Line 96 ⟶ 95:
| publisher=Om Mandali, Pharmacy Printing Press, Bunder Road Karachi
| pages= 126–135 (original numbering)
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=47qgtgAACAAJ&q=Is+this+justice+by+Om+Radhe}}</ref> In an unusual move, the judges directly criticised the Districtdistrict Magistratemagistrate for trying to punish the victims for the disturbance caused by the perpetrators and for trying to apply the law according to histheir own personal bias.<ref name="Om Radhe2">{{cite book
| last1 = Pokardas
| first1 = Om Radhe
Line 104 ⟶ 103:
| 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 = https://books.google.com/books?id=47qgtgAACAAJ&q=Is+this+justice+by+Om+Radhe}}</ref> Nevertheless, in an increasinglyFollowing sourthese atmosphereevents, ''Om Mandali'' had decided to leave Hyderabad and gradually relocated itstheir activities to [[Karachi]] in the latter half of 1938. Approximately 300three hundred members moved.<ref name="Om Radhe3">{{cite book
| last1 = Pokardas
| first1 = Om Radhe
Line 113 ⟶ 112:
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=47qgtgAACAAJ&q=Is+this+justice+by+Om+Radhe}}</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: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 inquireenquire into the activities of ''Om Mandali''. When the Tribunaltribunal madereleased its findings, Om Radhe responded by compiling a book titledentitled ''Is this Justice?'' criticising the tribunal, which they alleged did not have a constitutional basis and made its findings without takingobtaining evidence from ''Om Mandali''.<ref name="Om Radhe4">{{cite book
| last1 = Pokardas
| first1 = Om Radhe
Line 120 ⟶ 119:
| year = 1939
| publisher=Om Mandali, Pharmacy Printing Press, Bunder Road Karachi
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=47qgtgAACAAJ&q=Is+this+justice+by+Om+Radhe}}</ref> In May 1939, 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 Radhe5">{{cite book
| last1 = Pokardas
| first1 = Om Radhe
Line 126 ⟶ 125:
| year = 1939
| publisher=Om Mandali, Pharmacy Printing Press, Bunder Road Karachi
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=47qgtgAACAAJ&q=Is+this+justice+by+Om+Radhe}}</ref> Nevertheless, ''Om Mandali'' continued to hold their satsangs (meetings), and the government did not enforce itthe ban. Possibly because of this, the committee then hired someone to killassassinate Om Baba,. but theThe attempt was unsuccessful.<ref name="Liz_Hodgkinson_Peace4">{{cite book
| last = Hodgkinson
| first = Liz
Line 135 ⟶ 134:
| pages = 36
}}</ref><ref name="BK_Jagdish_Chander_Adi_Dev2"/>
▲[[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]]
 
==Expansion==
In May 1950, ''Om Mandali'' moved to [[Mount Abu]] in [[Rajasthan]], India. From the beginning, the organization's focus had been on education, not worship, and for this reason it renamed itself as Brahma Kumaris (BK) World Spiritual University. In 1952, after a 14-year period of retreat, a more structured form of teaching was offered to the public by way ofthrough a seven -lesson course.<ref name="John_Walliss_reflexive">{{cite book▼
[[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 [[Rajasthan]] India. From the beginning, the organization's focus had been on education, not worship, and for this reason it renamed itself as Brahma Kumaris (BK) World Spiritual University. In 1952, after a 14-year period of retreat, a more structured form of teaching was offered to the public by way of a seven lesson course.<ref name="John_Walliss_reflexive">{{cite book
| last = Walliss
| first = John
Line 149 ⟶ 148:
}}</ref>
 
After an unpromising start, where they almost ran out of funds,<ref name="Reader" /> Brahma Kumaris began an international expansion programme from the mid-1950s.<ref name="Howell_Nelson_1998"/> Since the 1970s, it firsthas spread to [[London]] and then tothroughout the West.<ref name="Reader">Chryssides, George D.; Wilkins, Margaret and Wilkins, Margaret Z. (2006) ''A Reader in New Religious Movements: Readings in the Study of New Religious Movements''. Continuum. {{ISBN|0-8264-6168-9}}</ref><ref name="World">Esposito, John L.; Fasching, Darrell J. and Lewis, Todd (2002) ''Religion and globalization: world religions in historical perspective''. Oxford University Press. p. 340. {{ISBN|9780195176957}}</ref> The most visible manifestations of the organisation are its "Spiritualspiritual Museums"museums, located in most major Indian cities.<ref name="Reader" />
 
In 1980, the Brahma Kumaris became registered as a Non-Governmental[[nongovernmental Organisationorganisation]] with the [[United Nations Department of PublicGlobal RelationsCommunications]]. In 1983, the Brahma Kumaris achieved consultative status with the Economic and Social Council at the [[United Nations]].<ref name="Whaling_Frank_Understanding_BK5">{{cite book
| last = Whaling
| first = Frank
Line 160 ⟶ 159:
| pages = 65
}}</ref>
▲[[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]]
 
The leadership and membership of the BK movement remains primarily female, for example,: in the UK, only one-third of the 42forty-two centres are run by males,<ref name="Howell_Nelson_1998"/> and 80%women comprise eighty percent 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> {{asof|February 2015}}, centres are mostly in followers' own homes with a tendency toward middle- or upper -class membership. Estimates for its worldwide membership rangesrange from 35,000thirty-five thousand in 1993 to 400,000four hundred thousand in 1998<ref name="Adherents_stats">{{cite web
| url = http://www.adherents.com/Na/Na_83.html#584
| title = Adherent Statistic Citations
Line 170 ⟶ 169:
| archive-date = 6 March 2012
| url-status = usurped
}}</ref> to 450,000four hundred fifty thousand in 2000,;<ref name="howell06">[[#Howell2006|Howell (2006)]], pp. 71–72</ref> however, itmany is reported that manyadherents wereare probably not completely committed to the group's worldview.<ref name="howell07">[[#Howell2006|Howell (2006)]], p. 72: "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 practicespractice]]s. 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".</ref>
 
== Beliefs ==
Line 177 ⟶ 176:
===Self===
 
The Brahma Kumaris seeview [[human]]shumans as being made upcomposed of two parts;: an external or visible body, (includingwhich extensionsincludes suchaspects aslike status and possessions), and a subtle energy of the [[SoulEnergy (spiritesotericism)#Brahma Kumaris|soulenergy]] whoseknown as the soul. The [[character structure]] of the soul is revealedexpressed through a person's external activityactions. –However, butregardless always this is created byof the inneroutward soulappearance, -whether actions are donecarried out with love, peacefullypeace, with happiness, or humility, isreflects anthe aspectessence of one's soul.<ref name="Ramsay_Custodians of Purity1">{{cite journal |last=Ramsay |first=Tamasin |date=Sep 2010 |title=Custodians of Purity An Ethnography of the Brahma Kumaris |publisher=Monash University |pages=105}}</ref> The Brahma Kumaris teach that the soul is an infinitesimal point of spiritual light residing in the forehead of the body it occupies,<ref name="Ramsay_Custodians of Purity1" /> and that all souls originally existed with God in a "Soul World", a world of infinite light, peace and silence.
| last = Ramsay
| first = Tamasin
|date=Sep 2010
| title = Custodians of Purity An Ethnography of the Brahma Kumaris
| publisher = Monash University
| 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_Custodians of Purity1" /> and that all souls originally existed with God in a "Soul World", a world of infinite light, peace and silence.
 
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_Custodians of Purity1" />
Line 190 ⟶ 182:
===Supreme Soul===
[[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 [[eternity|eternal]], and regardregarding him as a point of living light like a human souls,soul but withoutlacking a physical body, as he does not enter the cycle of birth, death, and [[reincarnation|rebirth]]. God is seen as the perfect and constant embodiment of all virtues, powers, and values, andthe that He is the[[unconditional love|unconditionally loving]] Fatherfather of all souls, irrespectivewithout ofrespect theirto religion, gender, or culture.<ref name="Ramsay_Custodians of Purity4">{{cite journal
| last = Ramsay
| first = Tamasin
Line 282 ⟶ 274:
|publisher= Springer
|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- cialfinancial 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|9780816054589}}</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 of "world service".<ref name="Matt Tomlinson, Wendy Smith, Lenore Manderson 2012_3">{{cite book
Line 319 ⟶ 311:
| quote = However Brahma Kumaris women become core members by being fully 'surrendered,’ and their prominence derives from their mediumistic capacities, channelling ''{{lang|hi-Latn|murli}}s'' (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)
| 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, 24‐2724-27 September 2009.</ref>
 
There are two types of {{lang|hi-Latn|murli}}:<ref name="Whaling_Frank_Understanding_BK4">{{cite book
Line 351 ⟶ 343:
| quote = Dadiji ke shareer mein Baba aye ... Maine unse baat ki ("Baba entered Dadi's body and he communicated to me through her")
}}</ref> at the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University at their headquarters in [[Mount Abu]], Rajasthan.<ref>Jha, Ravi S (28 June 2007) [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930200917/http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data%2Fsubcontinent%2F2007%2FJune%2Fsubcontinent_June1110.xml&section=subcontinent&col= Patil kicks up another row]. ''Khaleej Times''</ref> Patil stated that when she met Baba He had indicated great responsibility was coming her way.<ref name="ibnlive_ghost"/><ref>Kalyani, Shankar [https://web.archive.org/web/20080412150647/http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnist1.asp?main_variable=Columnist&file_name=shankar%2Fshankar227.txt&writer=shankar Battle for the palace]. ''The Pioneer''</ref><ref name="Spirit">{{cite news
| url = httphttps://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-06-27/india/27965196_1_pratibhaPratibha-patilbelieves-upain-left-presidential-nominee-upa-left-candidatespirits/articleshow/2152156.cms
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110303050850/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-06-27/india/27965196_1_pratibha-patil-upa-left-presidential-nominee-upa-left-candidate
| url-status = deadlive
| archive-date = 3 March 2011
| title = Pratibha believes in spirits?
Line 364 ⟶ 356:
 
===Lifestyle===
[[File:Awakening with Brahmakumaris program in Bangkok.jpg|right|thumb|[[Shivani Verma|BK Sister Shivani Verma]] and [[Suresh Oberoi]] in [[Bangkok]] on the [[paid programming|pay-to-broadcast]] television program ''Awakening with Brahma Kumaris'']]▼
 
Brahma Kumaris recommend a specific lifestyle<ref name="Liz_Hodgkinson_Peace5">{{cite book
| last = Hodgkinson
Line 384 ⟶ 376:
|url-access = registration
|url = https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch
}}</ref> in orderto achieve greater control over the [[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">{{cite book|last=Clarke|first=Peter|title=Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements|pages=71–72|publisher=Routledge|year=2006|isbn=0-203-59897-0}}</ref>
 
* Complete [[celibacy]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brahmakumaris.org/about-us/faqs |title=Brahma Kumaris – FAQs – Teachings and way of life – Are there any special lifestyle disciplines in the Brahma Kumaris way of life? |quote=Celibacy is seen as the basis for cultivating a safe and pure way for people to be and live together. ... The Brahma Kumaris view celibacy as fundamental to self-realisation and to recreating a loving relationship with God and to creating a culture of peace and non-violence. |access-date=22 March 2018 |work=Brahma Kumaris official website}}</ref><ref name="Lawrence_Babb_Redemptive">{{cite book
| last = Babb
| first = Lawrence A.
Line 425 ⟶ 417:
| isbn = 978-0-19-508489-4
}}</ref>
* ''[[sattva|Sattvic]]'' vegetarianism, a strict [[lacto vegetarianism|lacto-vegetarian]] diet<ref name="Bo_Tree">{{cite book
| last = Bartholomeusz
| first = Tessa J.
Line 435 ⟶ 427:
|location= New York
| isbn = 0-521-46129-4
}}</ref> (excluding eggs, onions, garlic, and/or spicy foodfoods) cooked only by the self or other members of the Brahma Kumaris members.<ref name="Lawrence_Babb_Redemptive"/><ref name="Fard">{{cite web
| url = http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/1995/5/1995-5-02.shtml
| title = Brahma Kumaris: Conquering A Callous World with Purity
Line 442 ⟶ 434:
| quote = 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.
}}</ref>
* AbstainingAbstention from alcohol, tobacco, and non-prescriptionnonprescription drugs.<ref name="Lawrence_Babb_Redemptive"/><ref name="Bo_Tree"/>
* Daily early -morning [[meditation]] at(''Amrit Vela'') from 4:00<ref name="Lawrence_Babb_Redemptive"/> to 4:45&nbsp;am, called 'Amrit Vela'a.m.<ref name="Lawrence_Babb_Redemptive"/>
* Daily morning class at approximately 6:30&nbsp;ama.m.<ref name="Enc_New">{{cite book |last = Whaling
|first = Prof Frank
|title = Encyclopedia of New Religions; New Religious Movements, Sects and Alternative Spiritualities
Line 458 ⟶ 450:
|url = https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofne0000unse_d3h6
}}</ref><ref>Hodgkinson, Liz (2002) ''Peace & Purity: the story of the Brahma Kumaris''. Health Communications. p. 96. {{ISBN|9781558749627}}</ref>
* BrahmaFrequent Kumaris can be identified by their frequent adoptionwear of wearing white clothes,attire to symbolise purity.<ref name="Hinnells">{{cite book
| last = Hinnells
| first = John
Line 485 ⟶ 477:
| pages = 909–10
}}</ref>
* StudentsPreference often prefer to keepfor the company of other BK followers as opposed to non-BKs.<ref name="Lawrence_Babb_Redemptive"/>
 
==Activities==
===Education===
▲[[File:Awakening with Brahmakumaris program in Bangkok.jpg|right|thumb|[[Shivani Verma|BK Sister Shivani Verma]] and [[Suresh Oberoi]] in [[Bangkok]] on the [[paid programming|pay-to-broadcast]] television program ''Awakening with Brahma Kumaris'']]
Traditionally, the Brahma Kumaris conducted an ''introduction to meditation'' consisting of seven two-hour-long sessions. The sessions include their open-eyed meditation technique and their philosophy. The organisation also offers courses in "[[Optimism|positive thinking]]", "self management leadership" and "living values".<ref name="Values_Education">{{cite journal
| last = Nesbitt
Line 516 ⟶ 507:
 
===Renewable energy===
 
[[File: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
Line 550 ⟶ 541:
| pages = 29–30
}}</ref>
 
▲[[File: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]]
 
In 2012, experiments were being conducted in partnership with leading agricultural universities in India 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 effect on crop development.<ref name="Systems approach to Agriculture"/><ref>Agrawal, Priti (19 July 2011) [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/Shashwat-yogic-farming/articleshow/7443126.cms? Shashwat yogic farming]. ''Times of India''</ref> An article published in the Journal of Asian Agri-History reviews two separate studies on SYA. One study was conducted by [[G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology]] (GBPUAT), Pantnagar, Uttarakhand and the other by [[Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University]] (SDUAT) of Gujarat. The review reports that the Brahma Kumaris meditation techniques used enhanced seed growth, seed germination rates and increased the level of microbes present in the soil.<ref name="Yogic Farming through Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Meditation: An Ancient Technique for Enhancing Crop Performance">{{cite journal| url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283764704
Line 585 ⟶ 578:
}}</ref> particularly as they still believe that such an event will happen "soon". However, they maintain that 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 may be visiting the group to learn about meditation or values based living.<ref name="Hinduism. 2010"/>
 
In theThe ''Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion'', Howell reported that the Brahma Kumaris protected itself from the practice of families "dumping" their daughters with the organisation by requiringrequire a payment from the families of those wishing to dedicate their daughters to the workorganization, andintended servicesto ofcover theliving organisation.expenses Theduring paymentthe istrial intendedperiod, toas covera theway livingto expensesprevent incurredfamilies duringfrom the"dumping" trialtheir perioddaughters.<ref name="Howell_Nelson_1998" />
 
John Wallis wrote a book examining the status of tradition in the contemporary world, which used the religion as a case study,<ref>Walliss, John (2002). ''The Brahma Kumaris As a Reflexive Tradition: Responding to Late Modernity''.</ref> focusing on recruitment methods, the issue of celibacy, and reinterpretation of religious history. He reported the rewriting of the revelatory messages (Murlis) by the Brahma Kumari.<ref name="Prophecy">{{cite journal
Line 598 ⟶ 591:
}}</ref>
 
When the organisationorganization startedbegan in the 1930s in Sindh, it sparked controversy by empowering women to assert their right to remain celibatecelibacy, particularlyespecially in marriage, was a prime factor inchallenging the controversymale-dominated that arose in 1930s Sindh, as it directly challenged the dominancesociety of men over women in the patriarchal [[Indian subcontinent]].<ref name="New Religious Movements 2006" /> Feminist commentator Prem Chowdry hascriticized criticised thethis practice of celibacy within the organisation as being a form of patriarchal control.<ref name="Prem">{{cite journal|jstor=4404549
| last = Chowdry
| first = Prem
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahma_Kumaris"