sar 2013 contemplative ethnography

Seeking Authentic Spiritual Practicechanging phenomena in the brahma kumaris

tamasin ramsay PhDMonash University

Australia

Wednesday, July 17, 13

Hyderabad, SindhIndia (before 1947)

Established officially in 1937Gatherings began in 1932-31930s: 300-400 members, 1 country2013: > 1 million members, > 120 countries


Founder

brahma kumarisworld spiritual university

Name: Lekhraj Kubchand Kripalani Occupation: JewelerDate of Birth: December 15, 1884Family: Married with five children


Foundation Years 1933-36

In the early 1930s, women and children would gather and listen to Dada Lekhraj read the Gita. They chanted “om,” and were drawn into trance states of meditation.


Visions 1936-1937

In 1936 Dada had a series of striking visions and ecstatic spiritual experiences.• A supreme being of incredible power and light• World paradise• Global devastation• The four-armed deity, Vishnu


“om mandli” They spent extended periods of time in contemplative silence.


“om mandli” The love and belonging of that time was unique, and to this day remains unmatched.


clifton beach, hyderabad

Those in Om Mandli would go to the beach and stay in meditation throughout the night, accumulating spiritual strength. This helped them deal with the social and familial conflicts they faced.


Protests inHyderabad and Karachi

The two opposing groups: women and children on one side, and older (primarily male) family members on the other side.


“There was so much chaos outside, that there was nowhere else to go. We had to go within. At that time we thought God was everywhere and

that we were incarnations of God. We didn’t have any understanding. But it didn’t matter. There we found peace, love and power, and didn’t want to leave that feeling even for a

moment. Now, we have the full knowledge, but there isn’t that feeling any more. Now we seem

to focus on service. But the need is still for silence”.


Partition For fourteen years they practiced accumulating spiritual power, becoming pure and establishing a relationship with the transcendent.


Jagdish Chander In the 1950s expansion occurred, and pictures drawn through trance were sent overseas. In late 1970’s Jagdish (far left) wrote ‘Adi Dev’, which was accepted as the definitive history of the Brahma Kumaris.


Origin and Foundation Myth

• Written at a time of rapid expansion (late 1970s-early 1980s)

• Definitive history and theology• In 2007 discovered to be incorrect• Removed from circulation outside India• Increased circulation throughout India


Beliefs - 1930’s-1950s

• The soul is infinite divine light

• God is omnipresent

• We are all forms of God


Beliefs - 1960’s-2013

• The soul is a point of light

• God is a point of light

• Each soul, including the Supreme Soul, are distinct beings


“When I go into silence, somehow the differences in history and the knowledge don’t matter any more. It all makes sense… of course it happened that way”- BK from Europe


“It absolutely makes sense that it happened that way – how wonderful that it’s so much messier and more complicated than we thought. Because that’s how real life is.” - BK from Australia


“I actually feel more connected with our own beginnings now than I ever did before. Sometimes, when I read those original documents, I can really get a sense of how they felt.” - BK from UK


“It makes me want to return to that experience. I think that’s what we need now… a return to silence”. - BK from Germany


“I don’t really care about all that stuff (historical and theological discrepancies. But I know it’s become so huge and unwieldy (the organization) that the only way left to go, is within. Otherwise we just become like managers in any organization. I came here to be a yogi, not a bureaucrat.”- BK from Canada


Yogi in Bliss

Typical picture demonstrating the contemplative practice of Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga meditation.


Diamond HallRajasthan, India

Completed in 1997, the Brahma Kumaris main campus accommodates 20,000 people at a big event. The increase in BK population over time has resulted in a change of practice.


Australia (top)

Asia (right)

brahma kumaris world spiritual university

2013


Thank You!tamasin ramsay, PhD

[email protected]


sar 2013 contemplative ethnography

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