Spot the Jesus

From a very well observed and written short article from Abooali’s Blog.

No 9. Religion

Not long after my visit to the Neasden temple I was walking out from my house when I heard someone calling me. "Teacher Hassan! Teacher Hassan!" shouted the voice. I turned around to find one of the White Ladies running towards me, holding her Sari off the ground to prevent herself from tripping.

I called the women who attended the Brahma Kumaris Centre opposite my house the 'White Ladies' because they always wore white from head to toe, usually Saris – though anything white would do: white trousers, white jumpers, white shoes and white socks. (I often wondered whether their houses had white furniture, white televisions and white cutlery.)

They were a bit of a nuisance because they parked their cars all along the road when they came for morning worship, making it impossible for anyone else to find a parking space. They did not usually say anything to you either, though were pleasant enough if you greeted them first. I was very surprised to see one of them running towards me, calling me "Teacher Hassan," something only those who knew me at Islamia School did.


"Assalamu-Alaykum, Teacher Hassan. Do you remember me?" She was a short, slim Asian woman, in her late thirties or early forties.

"I am afraid I don't, I am sorry."

"I am Seema, Wasim's mother; he was in your class at Islamia School a few years back."

"Oh yes!" I gasped, feeling astonished to see someone who had been a devout Muslim now quite obviously following a form of Hinduism.


"Yes, Wasim, a lovely boy, Mashaallah," I hesitated, wondering whether to say anything about her not being a Muslim anymore. Eventually I said; "Do you attend the Brahma Kumaris Centre?"

"Yes, I go there regularly."

"Aren't you a Muslim anymore then?" I blurted that out in a way that did not sound right.

"In a way I still consider myself a Muslim, but I now appreciate the significance of Islam much better."

"It's odd that we should meet like this because I too have begun to move away from the traditional understanding of Islam."

"Do you believe things happen for a reason - I mean that there are powers at work beyond our understanding, but are ultimately for our good?"

"Erm ... yes, I think I do."


"You may find this strange, Teacher Hassan, but I had a voice inside me urging me to call you."

"That's pretty amazing."

"I'd like to invite you to attend some of the talks at the centre. I feel you would really benefit from them."

"Yes, OK ... Insha-allah."


I began attending a series of one-to one lectures that introduced the Brahama Kumaris beliefs. The topics included, Self–Realisation, Reincarnation, Nirvana, and Karma. Seema explained that time is cyclic and goes through five stages, starting with the 'Golden Age', a time of peace, love, and harmony. Each following stage marks a decline on the previous, until we reach the last age – the one we're in now - a time of greed and war, disaster and calamity.

If, however, one has woken to one's true self, one will be re-incarnated into the new 'Golden Age.' She explained that one must lead a life of purity and that included celibacy. It all sounded quite nice, apart from the celibacy. (Not that I was in a relationship - but one always lives in hope.)

The centre had a bookshop on the ground floor, and I began to browse through the books on meditation, vegetarian cooking, and positive thinking. Amongst the title's on display were "Don't Get Mad Get Wise" and "The Seven AHA!s Of Highly Enlightened Souls." I decided to choose a book that gave an overview of the Brahma Kumaris movement and its core beliefs.


In the 1930s a wealthy Indian jeweler, Dada Lekhraj, claimed to have received a series of revelations from God. He was shown that the end of the present age was imminent and that a select few would purify their souls and achieve a place in the newly regenerated world to come. Those who did not purify their souls would be trapped in an eternally repeating cycle of misery and hardship. Dada Lekhraj encouraged women to join and become spiritual teachers, which went against the prevailing culture. Despite opposition the movement grew and now boasts a million followers worldwide. When Dada Lekhraj died in 1969 the messages from God continued to be received by others from within the movement.


As I sat in the foyer of the centre one day, waiting for my next lesson, an elderly Indian man sat next to me. We soon got to talking about religions and I asked him what the Brahma Kumaris thought about religious leaders such as Muhammad or Jesus.


"They were pure souls who did much good in the world. In fact we believe that they are reincarnated in different ages, right up to today."

"Really, what would they be doing now?"

"They would probably be following the spiritual path of Brahma Kumaris."


Whenever I visited the centre after that I couldn't help playing 'Spot Jesus' ... There were a surprising number of likely candidates.

Another characteristic of many religious people that I find especially irritating is the obsession with converts. Abi had a Christian magazine delivered to the house that seemed to be filled entirely with stories of famous people who Jesus had saved, while at the Brahma Kumaris centre I was often told, proudly, that

... a lot of 'English people' had become followers of their teachings.

An interesting independent view that captures much of the inner culture of the BKWSU; BK pretending to members of other religions, having little voices from God speaking to them in their heads via "touchings", the obsession with conversion, the claims of over religious leaders, the diffusion range of money earning merchandising on the side ... even the little vignette of Sisters unused to wearing saris having a hard time in them, the high value placed on white skin. So much of it is verbatim quotation from what has been taught for the last 20 ... 30 years at least.

In the same article, the author writes about Islamists claiming that "Prince Charles is also said to have converted 'in secret'". Funnily enough, again, exactly the same type of speculation the Beakies indulge themselves in about Princess Diana's sexual unfaithful husband.

My goodness, it is ridiculous ... how could it be true? If Jesus was to attended the BKWSU, Janki Kripalani would definitely have him to shave his beard, cut his hair and wear a nice beige suit. May be that is why he had to sit at the back of the class and only slipped in at the end of the Silver Age according to them. Click to enlarge ...

Check this out - lesson in brain function - I leave the reader to extrapolate meaning based on their hours in front of particular images.