Not all "business" involves money, as you well know. I am not getting at you here, just stating the obvious. Its called a "loss leader" in business. You "lose" initially (costs out of pocket) to gain at a later point.
Likewise, its all just cumulative PR to build a market and a reputation within that market ... a game the BKs are deeply into and one I have always picked up on; both "status by association" and subterfuge (appearing to be what one is not). Of course, if your "business" is spiritual sedition, then I am not complaining.
By tenants, you mean BKs who signed the contract to lease it as a BKWSU venue. Semantics ... the Inner Space "shops" are not "centers" either but they are still recruiting stations and fronts. East Sydney Meditation Space seems pretty heavily branded as BK to me, its just that all the BKs are presented as not obviously being BKs.
I address this more heavily at the West because, as you know, the Trimurti God Father stuff is still the core of the Brahma Kumaris and the New Age ambiental stuff, even corporate consulting stuff, is just the icing appealing to Westerners so they come and have a nibble.
What does "progressive BKs" equate to in BKWSU Australian terms? Do they follow principles and are they doctrinally orthodox BKs? What is the current state of play in the Australian BKWSU? Numbers up or down etc ...
I was shocked to see a paid for Zen retreat being held at Leura. I don't see that as progress. Either it had to be done just for the money or else, to me, it was just more subterfuge designed to give the impression that Brahma Kumarism is more ecumenical and openminded than it really is.
(The paradox being that most Western BKs are/were nice, ecumenical and openminded but the God of the BKs, the core theology and the leadership are not ... "like putting Icing on a turd", I say).
Likewise, its all just cumulative PR to build a market and a reputation within that market ... a game the BKs are deeply into and one I have always picked up on; both "status by association" and subterfuge (appearing to be what one is not). Of course, if your "business" is spiritual sedition, then I am not complaining.
terry wrote:The East Sydney Meditation Space is not a centre - it is a warehouse space paid for by a couple of "progressive" BKs who like to run alternative approaches to spirituality that are not exclusively BK. The "clientele" are mostly "drop in" from the local bohemian area.
On one night, one of the tenants of the space attended, and said she found it very interesting.
By tenants, you mean BKs who signed the contract to lease it as a BKWSU venue. Semantics ... the Inner Space "shops" are not "centers" either but they are still recruiting stations and fronts. East Sydney Meditation Space seems pretty heavily branded as BK to me, its just that all the BKs are presented as not obviously being BKs.
I address this more heavily at the West because, as you know, the Trimurti God Father stuff is still the core of the Brahma Kumaris and the New Age ambiental stuff, even corporate consulting stuff, is just the icing appealing to Westerners so they come and have a nibble.
What does "progressive BKs" equate to in BKWSU Australian terms? Do they follow principles and are they doctrinally orthodox BKs? What is the current state of play in the Australian BKWSU? Numbers up or down etc ...
I was shocked to see a paid for Zen retreat being held at Leura. I don't see that as progress. Either it had to be done just for the money or else, to me, it was just more subterfuge designed to give the impression that Brahma Kumarism is more ecumenical and openminded than it really is.
(The paradox being that most Western BKs are/were nice, ecumenical and openminded but the God of the BKs, the core theology and the leadership are not ... "like putting Icing on a turd", I say).