Brahma Kumaris
World Spiritual Organization
(Raja Yoga)
In 1876, the founder of this religious group, Lekh Raj, was
born in Hyderabad, Sindh (now Pakistan). He was the child of a village
headmaster, certainly a humble beginning. Later in life, he became a very
successful and wealthy diamond merchant, known for his philanthropic treatment
of the poor. Around the age of sixty, "Dada" (as he was affectionately
called-meaning "elder brother") felt compelled to spend a great deal of his
time in solitude. His focus was the contemplation of the true nature of God and
the self.
During meditation he claimed to receive a series of divinely
inspired visions. A dominant prophetic theme involved a soon-to-come era of
great destruction on the earth-through natural calamities, war and the use of
powerful weapons (evidently a reference to what would later be known as nuclear
arms). Another vision revealed souls descending like tiny stars to the earth.
Upon arriving here these souls were trans-formed into divine beings in a
restored world of celestial-like peace, love, harmony and happiness.
One vision was most pivotal to Lekh Raj's view of his own
role. He claimed to see the four-armed god Vishnu who revealed, "I am you."
It is also taught that around 1937 god Shiva began descending into Lekh Raj's
body expressing his wisdom and insights concerning the closing of a dark
cyclical era (called "the Iron Age") and the dawning of a new and glorious
era (called "the Golden Age"). When Shiva alledgedly spoke through one of
Lekh Raj's disciples, the name Prajapita Brahma was supernaturally bestowed on
him. It was also communicated that he would be Brahma's instrument to awaken
the ancient yoga system of India and to establish the new world. He was
especially known for preaching the equality of women with men in a society and
during an era in which the opposite view was much more dominant and widespread.
This religious group explains that on January 18, 1969,
Brahma Baba reached karmateet-the stage of being freed from all karmic
accounts. His soul departed to higher spiritual realms where he continues to
work toward this goal of a transition into a golden-aged new world. Those who
follow his teachings are known as Brahmins (the "twice-born"). Brahma
Kumaris World Spiritual University (or Organization) has many centers all over
the world. Their system of meditation and spiritual discipline is referred to as
"Raja Yoga." Their views on key doctrinal issues are quite unique as
compared to other yoga groups.
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to view what followers believe on that subject.
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