Newsletter
Newsletter June 2020
BK Kruti behn
Brahma kumaris, satellite in-charge
National coordinator Youth Wing, RERF.
Dear divine brother/Sister, Greetings of Peace & Love.
The year 2020 arrived with lots of Challenges. It is helping us all to strengthen and enhance our mental capacities to accept & face challenges successfully. Many of us searched for alternatives and settled down with modern technologies to continue with their work.
Let us learn to adjust easily with the situations rather than getting disheartened. The night is always followed by day. Call of time is to get ready to welcome the golden dawn by empowering self with spiritual powers.
Simplicity,
No need to think too much. Learn to make less effort and receive greater attainments. Have simple food, simple clothes etc. but make your thinking elevated.
Stay happy and give happiness to others. When everything is simple in this way, life is sweet and easy. I do not burden others nor carry the burdens of others.
Be tension free. When we stay simple, there is no tension. Tension leads to depression. Understand that nothing is mine. Be free, nothing is really yours. Understand that whatever is God’s, is mine. His are the qualities of purity, peace, love, and power. When I stay light I am able to draw might from the one.
“Life’s situations are a game for the one who is prepared to face challenges”
Expression
For the one who is a skilled player, every situation, however challenging it may be, seems like a game. Even the most difficult situation is faced bravely, knowing that it has come to teach something and increase the skill within. So, such a person becomes a source of support to those around during difficult times.
Experience
When I am aware of my own skills and specialities, I am able to face all life’s situations with lightness and confidence. I enjoy everything that comes my way. I also am able to experience progress as I use all situations as a means for further increasing my own potential.
Mount Abu, India — Dadi Janki Kirpalani, who led the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, a spiritual movement of over a million people, died on Friday in Mt. Abu, India. She was 104. The cause was a heart attack. Born in Sindh, in northern India, it was clear from an early age that she was called to spiritual life. This was considered impossible in India, where spiritual leaders were almost exclusively men. As with most girls in India at that time, she received only three years of formal schooling. But at her request her father took her on pilgrimages all over India when she was still a girl, introducing her to many sages and saints. Though she saw impressive demonstrations of devotional practice and special physical powers, none of this satisfied her.
At 19, while walking with her father in her hometown of Hyderabad, Sindh, a province in northern India that became part of Pakistan after the 1947 partition, they encountered Dada Lekraj, a highly respected jeweller in Sindh, whom she had known since childhood. Later she described that encounter as a moment that changed her life. She said that as he approached, his image dissolved into a field of light and she felt transported beyond the physical world into a timeless dimension and engulfed in pure love. Certain that he was somehow connected with the truth she had been seeking, she requested to go to the spiritual gatherings or satsangs he had begun holding in his home. But Indian tradition required that young women be married according to a choice made by their parents, and this was her fate. Newly married, her husband refused her request, making her a virtual prisoner in her home, occasionally even beating her.
Eventually, Janki’s father realized he had made a terrible mistake in marrying her off and helped her escape to Karachi, where a small community that had grown up around Lekraj had moved in 1939. This community eventually became known as the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, and the spiritual knowledge they taught on the soul, God and time was the focus of the remaining 80 years of her life.
After the 1947 partition of India, the group moved from Karachi to Mt Abu, Rajasthan. Then in 1974, Janki, now called Dadi, which means senior sister in Hindi, was asked to go to London and to begin serving what they called “the foreign lands”. With a tiny Air India bag and two white saris and knowing only a few words of English, she moved to a small flat in a poor part of the city. A door became her makeshift bed. She very soon met a handful of young westerners who were to become lifelong supporters of the work of the movement outside India. She was also accompanied from those earliest days by Sister Jayanti, daughter of Murli and Rajani Kirpalani, a Sindhi couple already living in London.
Word of the teachings gradually spread across the UK, and then across the world, where the spiritual university now has a presence in about 130 countries.
Those who studied with Dadi Janki during the years in which the movement underwent such massive expansion remember her relentless drive – her sheer force of will – that they should follow her example in the study, remembrance of God, and service. Despite teaching non-attachment, Dadi Janki was not afraid to engage deeply with those she saw as potential helpers in the task of guiding humanity through difficult times ahead. This gave many the inspiration to go beyond normal limitations and to embark on the tough task of personal, social, and world renewal. She developed a real love for those she met abroad, commenting on their honesty, sincerity and openness. And they developed a deep love for her wisdom, courage and persistent friendship that lasted the rest of her life.
She was tireless, accepting invitations to speak in the city after city, to be a Wisdom Keeper at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, and to speak at the United Nations, wherein 1983 the Brahma Kumaris had become a non-governmental organization with general consultative status. She gave equal time and love to those leading ordinary lives and to the scientists, prime ministers and well-known people who came to know her. Robin Gibb of the popular British singing group, the Bee Gees, wrote a song in her honour, “Mother of Love”, that he performed at Wembley Arena in 2006.
In 2007, Dadi Prakashmani, the then head of the Brahma Kumaris, passed on, and Janki was called back to India to lead the organization. She was 91. For the next 13 years, she regularly addressed groups of 20,000 or more at the Mt Abu headquarters. She took her last international trip in 2019, when she travelled from Dubai to Nairobi, then to London and New York.
Her health began to fail in February. Finally, her small body, fragile since childhood, was taken to the Global Hospital, in Mt Abu, where breathing difficulties and a heart attack finished her life and service. Normally, an invitation would have gone out to tens of thousands of Brahma Kumaris and their friends and contacts to come to India for a final farewell. But with the COVID 19 virus closing borders and grounding flights, her life was celebrated in a small ceremony in the ashram to which she had come in 1950, a simple ending for one who had devoted herself to simplicity and truth.
You always assisted a colleague to finish his project in time; but, when you asked him for a favour, he refused. You reached home tired and expected your young child to behave well; but, he threw tantrums the entire evening. Are these situations familiar or have you been in similar situations and wondered: Why can’t people meet simple expectations? Why can’t they be as I expect? Our habits, personalities, perspectives, choices and priorities are different. So, we cannot always act in the same way as others, irrespective of our authority, role or responsibility. It also doesn’t matter how simple and right our expectation is. Release expectations from everyone – family members, friends, colleagues and people of the society. Let us be on our way, accepting everyone as they are. We accept, advise, instruct and share opinion respectfully; but, we should not get upset if people don’t meet our expectations. Let us drop the belief that expectations are normal and hold the belief that acceptance is normal. It helps us remain emotionally stable in every situation and have harmonious relationships. No two individuals can think, speak or behave identically. Yet, we routinely wonder: How can he be like this? or Why did she say that? A load of such futile thoughts and expectations block our energy of love and peace. Let us remember that our state of mind has no connection with anyone or anything outside of us. Sit back and program your thoughts and feelings about other people. Do not succumb, do not hit back, do not expect, do not blame and do not complain. You take charge of your inner state and choose your response. In this way, you come out of impulsive, auto-piloted reactions to people’s behaviour. Your acceptance u that people are different can sustain your happiness and influence them positively.
Meditation is the process of getting to know yourself completely, both who you are inside and how you react to what is outside. Above all, meditation is enjoying yourself in the literal sense of the word.
Through meditation, you discover a very different “me” from perhaps the stressed or troubled person, who may seem superficially to be “me”.
You realize that your true nature, the real you, is actually very positive. You begin to discover an ocean of peace right on your doorstep.
Programs during May’20
Upcoming program
Online Meditation Course on Zoom
Starts on 6th July and 13th July from 8.00 – 9.00 am
- Contact: [email protected]
- Phone: +91 88498 31877
Today’s world is a world of fast changes. Though there is significant development in the areas of scientific, economical, technological spheres, we find that people are unable to cope up with these fast changes. We see an increase of negativity in “the outer world”, the signs of which are: increased crimes, corruption, civil wars, disharmony in relationships, suicides etc.
We like change but on the other hand in real life, we resist change. The reason is there is no clarity about change.
To cope up with the fast-changing world, we have to bring changes within ourselves. In other words, to cope up with the increase of negativity in the outer world, there has to be an increase of positivity in the inner world. When we aim to increase positivity within us, we shall be safe from the influence of the negative. Here, it is best to use the word transformation instead of the word change.
In spiritual language, transformation means to journey through life towards the better, towards the positive. Self-transformation means doing such action or making such efforts that there is a visible progress or improvement in the way we are able to manifest ourselves by changing our form. In short, self-transformation is the process to bring about a visible change by changing our form (our essential nature). This is possible only through the use of spiritual knowledge, spiritual powers & imbibing the spiritual values. In other words, knowledge, powers & values are the tools for self-transformation.
Self-transformation is related to the aim & object of our life. The effort we put in self-transformation is limited to our aim & object. If our aim in life is a small aim, then we will only transform to the extent of fulfilling this small aim. If on the other hand, our aim is a high aim, then we will transform to fulfil the high aim. So, it is prudent to always aim high.
While journeying through life keeping a high aim, it is bound to have obstacles or storms. However, this should not hinder our self-transformation process and we should keep moving ahead fearlessly.
One main obstacle is the habit of seeing others. Self-transformation is only possible when we don’t see others. We should not see whether others change or not. Nor should we wait for others to change. We should aim to change ourselves first. We should transform ourselves first. Transformation always begins with the self. When we transform ourselves, we can become an example in front of others. Arjuna could hit the eye of the bird because he saw only the eye of the bird and nothing else. Similarly, we should focus on transforming ourselves and then we will certainly succeed.
We wish to see a world that is better, we wish to see a world that is transformed. However, this is not possible without self-transformation. World transformation cannot occur without self-transformation.
BK Ravindra Pai (Bangalore)
Youth life is full of internal & external energy and therefore, youths are dreaming of ample of things that they want to become in their lives. This is a very crucial time for every youth. These days, during their college studies, youths are very much career conscious and they take the awareness of various career options. A best suited chosen career option can become a turning point of such youths.
However, the question remains unanswered that how can I select the best-suited career option among all available with me. This is where character comes into the picture. To define a character, one needs to explore “characteristics”.
We will define here four unique characteristics to fulfil one’s dreams: Clarity, Intensity, Capability and Practicability. Let’s look into each one of them very closely.
Firstly, Clarity means knowledge that means I need to ask myself five questions what is my aim, why I am choosing this career path, how will I achieve it, where and when will I accomplish it. For this, I need to sit, introspect myself and find out the answers from within. If required, I can also consult seniors, friends, well-wishers etc. But, remember, the final decision is mine and mine only.
After getting clarity and fixing the goal of life and career, I need the deepest intensity to achieve the goal set. All of my energies are now fully focused on the chosen path in order to reach my goal. Definitely, there will be obstacles, barriers etc., however, I should not be deterred by anything. There is nothing but energy boosters.
Later, I need to fulfil all the requirements to be capable enough to execute the plans I have set. These demands are both internal and external as well. I need to develop the soft & hard (technical) skills so as to become a complete soldier with all the needed weaponries and ammunitions to fight against all odds and become victorious at the end of the war called career struggle.
Lastly now, it’s a time to “just do it fearlessly”, a critical time to implement, incorporate or execute the plans beneath the light of clarity, the immense fire of intensity and full of capabilities. Grab all the opportunities coming across. There should neither be any delay nor excuses nor laziness etc. Always remember this most important slogan – “It’s now or never”.
Dear youths, wishing you all the best and success that you always deserve. Ultimately, the victory is yours because the time is yours now.
BK Abhijit Patil, IT/Software professional.
जीवनमूल्य और जीविका
युवा शारीरिक और मानसिक दोनों ही उर्जाओं से ओतप्रोत होता है। अत: वह अपने जीवन में बहुत कुछ हासिल करने की चाहना रखता है। मानव-जीवन की यह युवावस्था बहुत ही महत्त्वपूर्ण होती है। आज का युवा वर्ग महाविद्यालयीन पढ़ाई पढ़ते समय ही जीविका के प्रति संवेदनशील होता है और इस कारण विभिन्न विकल्प खोज निकालता है। सहीं विकल्प का चुनाव उसके जीवन का एक सुहावना मोड़ बन जाता है।
परन्तु यह प्रश्न मन में आना लाज़मी है कि, इन उपलब्ध बहुविध विकल्पों में मेरे योग्य कौनसा पर्याय उपयुक्त साबित होगा। ‘जीवन-चित्र’ को चित्रित करने के अति-महत्त्वपूर्ण समय पर व्यक्ति का चरित्र या व्यक्तित्त्व प्रखर रूपसे सामने आता है। व्यक्तित्त्व का सीधा सम्बन्ध व्यक्ति-मूल्यों से, जीवन-मूल्यों से है।
अपने सपनों को साकार करने हेतु यहाँ पर हम मुख्य चार व्यक्ति-मूल्यों का दर्शन करेंगे: स्पष्टता, तीव्रता, क्षमता और साध्यता।
प्रथमत:, स्पष्टता माना ज्ञान या समझ अर्थात मुझे चाहिए पाँच सवालों के जवाब: मेरे जीवन का लक्ष्य क्या है, मैंने इस जीविका के विकल्प का क्यों चुनाव किया है, वह मैं कैसे साध्य करूँगा, कब और कहाँ इसे प्राप्त कर सकूँगा। इसके लिए मुझे कुछ समय निकाल स्वयं से बातें करनी होगी और इन सवालों के जवाब खोजने होंगे। जरूरत पडने पर, मैं अपने हितेषियों/शुभ-चिंतकों के साथ सलाह-मशहरा अवश्य करूँ, परन्तु ध्यान रहें – अंतिम निर्णय मेरा ही होगा क्योंकि यह मेरी जीवन यात्रा हैं, जिसकी मंजिल स्वयं मुझे ही हासिल करनी है।
अपने लक्ष्य को निर्धारित कर लेने के बाद, मुझे चाहिए अपने लक्ष्य प्राप्ति की लगन। अब मेरी सारी शक्तियॉं उसी मार्ग पर एकाग्र होंगी, जिसे मैंने स्वयं चुना है। यह तो निश्चित है कि इस मार्गक्रमण में बाधायें, रुकावटें, गतिरोध तो आयेंगे हीं। किन्तु मैं इन सभी से अविचल रह हिम्मत के साथ कदम आगे बढ़ाता चलूँ क्योंकि मैं जानता और मानता भी हूँ कि, यह विघन और कुछ नहीं बल्कि मेरी लगन की अगन को बढ़ाने के साधन हैं।
तद्पश्चात मुझे अपने अंदर उन सारी क्षमताओं भरना हैं, जिनके द्वारा मैंने निश्चित कि हुए योजनाओं को अम्मल में जाया जा सकें। यह क्षमतायें आतंरिक एवं बाह्य दोनों भी हैं। पर्याप्त मानवीय (soft) तथा तांत्रिक (technical) कौशल्य/कार्यकुशलता (skills) को विकसित कर मुझे एक ऐसा सुसज्जित योद्धा बनना है, जो अपनी इन अनोखे हथियारों को लिए आनेवाले किसी भी परिस्थितियों के साथ दो हाथ कर अंतिमत: इस जीविका-संघर्ष में विजय सुनिश्चित कर सकें।
अभी आखिर में, यह वक्त है – प्रत्यक्ष रूप से कार्यक्षेत्र में आकर कर्म करने का – प्राप्त ज्ञान-नयनों से, लक्ष्य-प्राप्ति की अटूट लगन से, योग्यताओं भरी साधनों से। समय है – रास्ते चलते आनेवाले सुनहरे अवसरों का सम्पूर्ण लाभ उठाने का। अभी किसी भी प्रकार का विलम्ब, बहाना, आलस्य-अलबेलापन नहीं चलेगा। सदा यह नारा कानों में गूंजता रहें – “अभी नहीं तो कभी नहीं।”
प्यारे युवा साथियों, आप को अपने लक्ष्य-प्राप्ति हेतु हार्दिक शुभकामनायें। सफलता तो आपका जन्म-सिद्ध अधिकार हैं ही।
