But Brahma Kumaris is not without its detractors

But Brahma Kumaris is not without its detractors, as through a stringent methodology. It is a charge Lingadevaru denies; Festival of Hope coming to Framingham.

The teachings of Brahma Kumaris, according to Lingadevaru, are to acknowledge the intricacies of all people. Through meditation, positive thinking and stress management, he says, each and every person can learn to recognize their own internal qualities, such as peace, love and happiness, and then put them to use.

"We can bring society back into having values and eradicate all this negativity," said Lingadevaru. It offers an alternative to what Lingadevaru described as old-age conceptualizations. "We are guided by meditation. There's not really any magic here."

But Brahma Kumaris is not without its detractors, as some Internet sites say the spiritualist organization exhibits cult-like tendencies through a stringent methodology. It is a charge Lingadevaru denies.

"Those that have not felt the experience they were looking for are usually the ones to come out and say those sorts of things," said Lingedevaru, "We are an educational organization."

There is some element of truth in the fact and the way he has presented it. "The ones who have not been to experience what they want are the ones that are saying that".

Yogi

"We can bring society back into having values and eradicate all this negativity," said Lingadevaru. "We are guided by meditation. There's not really any magic here."

"Those that have not felt the experience they were looking for are usually the ones to come out and say those sorts of things," said Lingedevaru, "We are an educational organization."

Well, we all know the game ... its hardly worth discussing.

Putting aside the few, say, Christian anti-cult groups who will criticise anything, I would say that most of the detractors HAVE experienced what the BKs have to offer and I think it is wrong to suggest that their failure to experience anything is the root cause of any discontentment. I would say the problem is they ALSO experienced all the rest of luggage that goes along with being a Brahma Kumari follower. I think the comments the reporter quotes will have come from support groups who have never joined but that have also counseled families who have lost members to the BKs, dealt with the financial abuse like the Cult Information Center etc.

The statement about being "guided by meditation" and there being "no magic" is dishonest and is where the BKs shoot their own foot. Actually, I think this cuts to the very core of the Brahma Kumaris. They are guided by mediums and channelled entities. The core is psychism not meditation. its that whole jumble created by taking on other religon's terminology again

If we define "magic" as occult, I think there is whole lot more of what would be defined as "occult" going on than most ordinary nodding 'ha-ji' BKs are consciously aware of.

The question is what kind of experience are people looking for?

It is like the Meat Balls in the freezer section the wrapping looks nice and colourful and appetizing but when you actually think you will realize what those Meat Balls really are.

If it was a education center than why are the Murl's not accessible to everyone?