The Brahma Kumaris is not a religion but a spiritual movement which originated in India. The organisation offers meditation, and courses in positive thinking and stress-free living and human empowerment.
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The Brahma Kumaris was originally started in late 1936 or early 1937 by Brahma Baba, also known as Dada Lekhraj. Brahma Baba, a successful diamond merchant received a series of visions through which he was inspired to bring about transformation in the world. He began an organisation known as "Om Mandali", which later came to be known as the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, where he and fellow adherents practiced meditation and a spiritual lifestyle. After he died in 1969, the organisation was run by Didi Manmohini and Dadi Prakashmani. Today, the organisation is led by Administrative Head Dadi Janki and assisted by Additional Administrative Head Dadi Hirdaya Mohini and Joint Administrative Head Dadi Ratan Mohini. The main headquarters is located at Mount Abu, Rajasthan in India. According to the Brahma Kumaris website, there are currently over 825,000 students with over 8,500 centers in 110 countries and territories.
The Brahma Kumaris have established centres globally which provide spiritual services to people and provide spiritual knowledge. The male practitioners of the Brahma Kumaris are called brothers or Brahma Kumars whereas the women are referred to as sisters or Brahma Kumaris. Brahma Kumars or Kumaris who live in the headquarters or one of the many centers around the world live within a strict code of conduct:
The human is not a body but an eternal soul that lives in the body for the time being and is reincarnated from one body to another body. The soul is called “Atma” and is in the center of the forehead. This is where the 'infinitesimal small point of spiritual light energy' of the body is said to be. Before the first time soul enters the body it comes from Paramdham, a place where all the souls rest before they have a body to enter.[2] This is a place of infinite spiritual light. The soul is said to enter the body at about 4 months of pregnancy, this is what gives the mother's body its personality and light.[3]
The Brahma Kumaris believe God to be a 'Soul' like everyone else and not having a physical body, as He does not take birth or re-birth, like human souls. However, the marked difference between human souls and God is that God is the perfect and constant embodiment of all virtues, powers and values and that He is the father of all souls, irrespective of religions. It is believed that the Supreme Soul God Shiva is personally guiding and teaching the Brahma Kumaris.[4]
It is believed that there are 3 different worlds:
The Brahma Kumaris believe that karma plays an extensive role in deciding where and when we are born. The destiny of the soul’s next body depends on how you act and behave in this life. Through meditation, by transforming your thinking pattern and eventually your actions, you can absolve your sins and lead a better life in the next birth.
Time is said to be a cycle that repeats every 5,000 years. There are five ages, called the Golden Age, the Silver Age, the Copper Age and the Iron Age. Each of the ages last about 1,250 years. The Golden Age begins as a paradise where spiritual-minded souls who maintain the highest levels of purity, peace and happiness live. This then leads to the Silver Age, where there is a slight and hardly noticeable decline in purity levels. After this Age, the Earth declines further into the Copper Age where humanity experiences the duality of spirit and matter. Here, suffering is experienced for the first time; the search for God to ease suffering begins and religions are created for the very first time. Twelve hundred and fifty years later, a totally impure Iron Age of suffering, injustice, and irreligious time begins, which personifies hell on earth. The fifth and current Age, the Confluence Age, which lasts for about 100 years, is considered to begin at the ending phase of the Iron Age. This is the age of disaster and mass destruction globally, at which time humanity makes a collective effort in regaining the peace, purity and happiness which they originally had.[5]
The Brahma Kumaris believe strongly in meditation and its outcomes. During meditation, Brahma Kumaris teach how to make one's conscious mind, subconsciouos mind and the intellect pure, through connecting with the pure Source, God Shiva. They propose that meditation does not only have to happen when seated and in silence, but also whilst going about the daily activities. Meditation is the core tenet of the teachings of the Brahma Kumaris, through which one is able to end past karmic effects and lead a pure life.
Every morning, students of the Brahma Kumaris come together to listen to and study messages known as "Murlis". The murlis contain instruction on various spiritual subjects and are meant to be inculcated into one's life. The Murlis are divided into two distinct categories: sakar and avyakt. Sakar murlis were spoken by God through Dada Lekhraj while he was still alive whilst avyakt murlis are spoken through a trance medium by the combined form of Dada Lekhraj and God. Sakar murlis are repeated in a five-year cycle. To attend these classes and meetings, one has to complete the classes of Brahma Kumaris basic course.[6]