Brahma Kumaris (Om Shanti)

Om Shanti

The Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University acknowledges the intrinsic goodness of all people. We teach a practical method of meditation that helps individuals understand their inner strengths and values.

A worldwide family of individuals from all walks of life, we are committed to spiritual growth and personal transformation, believing them essential in creating a peaceful and just world.

Acknowledging the challenges of rapid global change, we nurture the well-being of the entire human family by promoting spiritual understanding, leadership with integrity and elevated actions towards a better world.

History

Perhaps few organisations have stimulated as much change and discussion at the time of their inception, or have undergone such expansion in succeeding decades, as the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University. Yet, throughout its growth and development, the BKWSU has managed to maintain its original principles and adhere to its original purpose.

When the University came into being under the name “Om Mandali” it consisted of only a handful of men, women and children living in Hyderabad, Sindh (now part of Pakistan, but at that time part of colonial India). After a respected and wealthy member of their community, Dada Lekhraj, experienced a series of visions in 1936, these spiritual pioneers were inspired to transform their lives.

Founder’s Visions

Dada Lekhraj’s visions revealed a body of knowledge about the nature of the soul, of God and of time – concepts so simple in their expression but so profound in meaning that they awakened a powerful sense of recognition in those with whom the visions were shared.

A year after Om Mandali’s establishment, the organisation moved from Hyderabad to Karachi. For fourteen years, until two years after the partition of India and Pakistan, the founding group of nearly 400 individuals lived as a self–sufficient community devoting their time to intense spiritual study, meditation and self transformation.

World Headquarters

In 1950, the community moved to Mount Abu, a quiet place reputed for its ancient heritage and regarded as a sacred destination by many in search of spiritual rejuvenation and empowerment. Nestled high in the Aravali Mountains of Rajasthan, it provided an ideal location for reflection and contemplation. After a few years in a rented building, the community moved to the site which remains the University’s world headquarters: Madhuban (meaning ‘Forest of Honey’).

Brahma Baba

On a physical level, Brahma Baba was a man of stature, with soft white hair and a handsome visage. On a spiritual level, his presence was soothing and gentle, and from his eyes emanated wisdom, understanding, compassion and strength.

Brahma Baba, born into a humble home as Lekhraj Kripilani in 1876, was the son of a village schoolmaster. Lekhraj was brought up within the disciplines of the Hindu tradition. He did not follow in his father’s footsteps as a teacher; instead he entered the jewellery business, earning considerable fortune as a diamond trader. As a businessman and as a family man, father of five children, Dada Lekraj maintained a highly respectable position within the local community and was known for his philanthropy.

Then, in 1936, at the age of 60, when most of his colleagues were planning their retirement, Dada Lekhraj entered into the most active and fascinating phase of his life, during which he became known as Brahma Baba.

Initially he felt called to invest more time in quiet reflection and solitude. Then one day, while in a meditative state Brahma Baba felt a warm flow of energy surrounding him, filling him with light and exposing him to a series of powerful visions. These visions continued periodically over several months. They gave him new insights into the innate qualities of human souls, revealed the mysterious entity of God and described the process of world transformation. The intensity of the messages conveyed by the visions was such that Brahma Baba felt compelled to wrap up his worldly business and devote himself to understanding the significance and application of this revealed knowledge. Although the visions ceased, their Source remained with him for the next 3 decades, guiding his transformation as well as that of those around him.

Brahma Baba’s Legacy

70 years have passed since Brahma Baba received that series of visions. Who could have guessed – besides those touched by similar visionary experiences – that the young women he placed at the forefront of the institution he founded would now be on the world stage, sharing platforms with political and religious leaders at the highest level, and leading a lifestyle revolution currently followed by nearly one million people from all backgrounds of culture and religion, race and society? Or that millions of others – at this time when loss of integrity in human hearts and minds has plunged so many into despair – would be taking benefit from the teachings he transmitted, finding empowerment in the present and hope for the future?

The living skills that Brahma Baba taught have stood the test of time. The young women that he put to the forefront, now in their eighties and nineties, have become beacons of love, peace and happiness in a world increasingly troubled by disordered relationships, greed, addiction, anger and violence.

Brahma Baba – Tower of Peace

Brahma Baba passed on in 1969 at the age of 93. The Tower of Peace on the Madhuban campus is a tribute to the invincible spirit of this ordinary human being who achieved greatness by rising to the challenge of the deeper truths of life.

Spiritual Leaders

One of the first questions frequently asked upon encountering the Brahma Kumaris is, “Is this a women’s organisation?” The answer is “no”. Although primarily administered by women, it is an organisation in which both women and men participate equally.

The Role of Women

In October 1937, Brahma Baba formed a Managing Committee of eight young women and in February 1938, he surrendered all his property and assets to a Trust administered by them. The soundness of his decision to choose women and young girls as administrators and spiritual teachers has been born out by the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (BKWSU) becoming a respected global institution under their leadership. Brahma Baba also correctly foresaw that core values based on traditionally feminine qualities – patience, tolerance, sacrifice, kindness and love – would increasingly become the foundation of progress in personal growth, human relations, and the development of caring communities.

Spiritual Partnership

Brahma Baba’s vision of the future world was one of harmony between the sexes and of partnership rooted in spirituality, for spirituality is the key to trust and respect. Today, although women head the organisation, there are many men coordinating centres and playing other key administrative roles.

Current Spiritual Leaders

Dadi Janki

Administrative Head – Brahma Kumaris

As Administrative Head of the Brahma Kumaris, Dadi Janki provides a working leadership model for all women and men who are seeking to integrate both male and female qualities into their personal and professional lives. Dadi Janki lovingly engages people of all faiths and walks of life to be true to their spiritual self; to undertake their unique and individual part in the play of creating a future world worthy of the generations to come. In short, Dadi Janki calls us all to our potential.

Dadi Hirdaya Mohini

Additional Administrative Head – Brahma Kumaris

The name Hirdaya Mohini means ‘The one who attracts the heart’, and perhaps because she attracts the hearts of one and all, Dadi is popularly known by the name Gulzar, which means ‘rose garden’. At the age of eight, Dadi Gulzar was one of the original members of a boarding school set up in Sindh in 1937 by Brahma Baba. Her concentrated training in spiritual principles and practice has continued ever since. Dadi Hirdaya Mohini became a member of the committee of women that administers the Brahma Kumaris and, in doing so, paved the way for many other women to develop leadership skills.

Dadi Ratan Mohini

Joint Administrative Head – Brahma Kumaris

Dadi Ratan Mohini wears several administrative ‘hats’ in addition to being Joint Administrative Head of the BKWSU. She is also the Director of the Personnel Department of the Madhuban campuses at the University’s headquarters in Mount Abu, Chairperson of the Youth Wing of the Raja Yoga Education and Research Foundation, Director of Teacher Training Programmes in India, and Zonal Head of Brahma Kumaris services in the state of Rajasthan. Yet this “most beautiful jewel”, as her name connotes, always appears light and tension-free. Known for her dedication to fostering spiritual and moral excellence in young people, Dadi, even in her eighties, is herself lively and young at heart.

Rajyoga

The most important journey you can take is the journey within. This is a journey to the truth of who you really are. This is the place, just beyond every day consciousness, where spiritual empowerment begins. Spiritual power gives you the power to choose creative thinking rather than automated thinking, response rather than reaction, peace, love and harmony rather than stress, conflict and chaos.

Meditation enables you to embark on this inward journey. Raja Yoga meditation gives you a clear spiritual understanding of yourself, helps you re–discover and use the positive qualities already latent within you, enables you to develop your strengths of character and create new attitudes and responses to life.

You begin to remember things about yourself that you once knew, but had long forgotten. You start to enjoy moments of silence and to savour periods of introspection and reflection.

Meditation also helps you disconnect from damaging habits of thought, feeling and reaction. This results in a conscious, positive release of energy which improves the quality of your attitude, actions, and interactions.

The process of going within, disconnecting from harmful habits, connecting to your innate spiritual resources, and reconnecting with your external life, is personally empowering in a lasting way.

Meditation is taught as a method of raising self-awareness leading to self–realisation. Meditation stills the mind and empowers the intellect to achieve insight and understanding of the spiritual laws and principles which sustain harmony and can bring natural renewal at all levels of life on earth.

Raja Yoga Meditation

“Meditation, accurately directed, makes God accessible to everyone.” –Sr. Jayanti, God’s Healing Power (Michael Joseph, Penguin Group, 2002)

Raja Yoga meditation redefines the self as a soul and enables a direct connection and relationship with the Supreme Source of purest energy and highest consciousness. Raja Yoga can be translated as ‘supreme union’, or as ‘highest connection’. Every soul has a right to experience this ultimate relationship.

Headquarters

India is a country rich in tradition and legendary stories of the intrigues that depict the wars and romances of its ancient kings and their kingdoms of unimaginable wealth. Many of these kings or ‘rajas’ lived in the state of Rajasthan, ‘The Land of Kings’. During the hot summers the Rajput kings travelled across the desert plains to the cooling heights of their summer palaces in the Aravali Mountains. Today, winding their way up the serpentine mountain road away from the desert, travellers are wonderstruck by the magic of these mountains.

Mount Abu

The highest peak among the Aravalis is Mount Abu. In ancient texts and folklore, Abu is associated with the names of sages and seers; thus there are many temples and hermitages to be found upon it. One of the most exquisite works of art in India is the 11th century Dilwala Temple built here and maintained by the Jains.

Mt. Abu: The Town

The town of Mount Abu itself is a bustling bazaar: dusty shops burst into narrow streets, vendors cry out their wares and sacred cows wander aimlessly amidst the people. More often than not, the hospitable shopkeepers proudly introduce foreign customers to their family members. The friendly, hard working Rajasthani people still carry the regal bearing of their heritage – the men are decked in their turbans and the women in their colourful dresses and traditional jewellery.

Headquarters Campuses

However, a short walk takes you away from the maze of activity into the tranquil seclusion of this sacred destination whose atmosphere emanates a sense of enchantment; and to the worldwide headquarters of the Brahma Kumaris from whence the knowledge of the king of all yogas, Raja Yoga, is disseminated. The headquarters complex consists of three campuses – Madhuban, Gyan Sarovar and Shantivan – as well as a recreational park and the Global Hospital & Research Centre.

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