The Brahma Kumaris - the philosophy, the perspective and the purpose
Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, (Brahma Kumaris in short) is a unique Vishwa Vidyalaya ( university ) and a well known spiritual value based educational institution. Through it’s teachings, the institution has gained global acceptance and unique international recognition. The institution believes in the parenthood of God and the brotherhood of man and is open to the people of the entire globe irrespective of their caste, creed, age and social, economic or political status. Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya and the two other institutions created by it, namely Raj Yoga Education and Research Foundation and Brahma Kumaris Academy for a Better World are dedicated to the goal of establishing a Value-based society. They aim at bringing harmony in human relations and changing the attitudes and outlook of man so that there is the spirit of brotherhood, love and co-operation. In order to achieve this goal of establishing a new world order in which there is honesty, sincerity, goodwill and high civic sense, these institutions facilitate people to have a clear vision of their goal and also respective role in the world drama. They give them a clear view of the world and also knowledge of their own identity. They also teach theory and practice of Rajyoga Meditation so that man’s mind becomes free from tension, bias, prejudices, hypocrisy, jealousy, hatred, greed, ego and such other negative tendencies that cause conflict in the society and degrade the person himself. They give special guidance for the effort of inculcating moral values and divine virtues in the self and enables a person to experience deep peace and bliss through Meditation and Spiritual Wisdom. The emphasis of Brahma Kumaris is on promoting the qualities of humanism, tolerance and never-ending enthusiasm for spreading the knowledge of truth in every sphere of life. The institution recognises the intrinsic spirituality and goodness of every human being. Further it helps people rediscover that goodness themselves within, thus encouraging and facilitating the development of spiritual awareness, attitudes, behavior and skills through a process of lifelong learning. The institution's purpose is to share the vision of a world where people live in harmony with others and to strengthen individual awareness of the dignity and inherent worth of every human being. The institution imparts knowledge and experience that enable a person to face the problems of life in a calm, composed and confident manner. Such a person can lead a life of inner satisfaction and kindle in others stable faith in goodness and brings honour to his nation. It firmly believes that education should be for practical life and not merely for a vocation or a profession or job. The education imparted here, though visibly spiritual in content, is a happy blend of ethics, practical psychology, metaphysics or philosophy, the gist of world history and culture, sociology, political science and, in fact, many other subjects. As an international institution, the Brahma Kumaris offers people of all backgrounds an opportunity to learn meditation and deepen their understanding of universal principles and innate values through a variety of educational programmes, courses and learning resources. As a worldwide family of individuals from all walks of life, the institution provides a caring, co-operative and supportive environment, which encourages individuals to bring out the best in themselves. As a global organization, the institution has created opportunities for people across the world to participate in a variety of initiatives aimed at creating a better world where people live in peace and harmony. The institution believes that all the problems plaguing the society and the world today - social, economical, political, religious etc – can be eradicated only by building character in all human beings. There is a well-known saying that “if character is lost, everything is lost”. Hence the institution gives utmost importance to character-formation and to maintaining peace. It believes that if peace is lost, everything is meaningless and purposeless. The inculcation of moral and spiritual values is not a luxury or burden but an absolute necessity. Brahma Kumaris is an institution with a difference. It is run mostly by women with a spirit of dedication, devotion, renunciation and sacrifice for the welfare of the society as a whole, without any distinction on the basis of race, religion, nationality, caste or creed and without charging any fees. It is supported by voluntary contributions of its students.
