We seem to be hearing a lot from BK supporters on this forum recently, no doubt considering that they are presenting the ‘voice of reason’ amongst negativity and cricitism. I hope they note that should the tables be reversed and some of the usual contributors here appeared on a BK forum they would be rapidly discouraged from articulating their viewpoints so lengthily.
The BKs is just another religion (some of us would term it a cult) trying to get as many converts as possible by whatever means possible. That includes using whatever nice concepts, pretty sounding words and attractive surroundings that they can. Like any religion, there are nice words in there about peace and love, and brotherhood, which you will find in some form or another in any religion or spiritual group. Can we dispute them? No, not really. Does that make everything else they say correct? No, it doesn’t. Nor does it make them unique or special.
Those of us who have exited or are questioning are reading between those easy sounding phrases, looking beyond the superficials of behaviour or have had experiences that clearly point out to us that what is being presented on the surface is not what is really going on. Does meditation benefit people? Yes, usually. So people will get benefit from most forms of meditation, including turning up at a centre. At least initially, maybe for a long time. If people meditate too much can it be detrimental? Yes, it can. Does anyone in the BKs take responsibility when this happens? No, it is blamed on the person having the problem (karma etc) – just like in any cult.
If someone says that their teachings are God speaking, how do we know that is correct? The fact of the matter is we don’t. Nobody does. We can accept this is so because we get a few nice experiences, or because everyone seems happy and we like the feelings we get, or we respect the person articulating it, or we are tired of looking and just want to stop somewhere that seems a good place. Does this mean it is God? No it doesn't. Read a few of the excellent references listed on this website (e.g. 'The Siren Call of Hungry Ghosts' by Joe Fisher, or the Bronte Baxter website). The fact of the matter is we don’t know what we are linking up with, we just choose to believe that it is beneficial and positive. Maybe we do get benefit from the experience (for a time at least), but one must be mindful that we really don’t know what is behind it.
There are enough things happening to have made many of us wary. If, indeed, the BKs really is what it says it is, i.e. God’s university, then you would not have things like child abuse, manipulation (both financial and personal), corruption and outright lying etc occurring at the level that it does and in the places that it does. If the Murli were God’s words, then not one single thing should be incorrect. Judging by the amount of revision that has taken place for whatever reason, that would show that God’s words are not always correct – or not considered to be so by the BKs themselves.
BK supporters, you are entrenched in your beliefs. You are allowed to be, you are entitled to believe what you want to believe. Just be aware that those who contribute on this site have also been in the place that you have, trying to be the best BKs they can be, taking the Murli teachings to heart. But they are no longer in that place for very good reason. You can call it Maya if you want, call it what you like, label it what you like. But we have heard all the arguments you present at length. We used to spout them ourselves.
Sword, you stated:
Sword wrote:I suspect from what you've expressed about BKs that you found the inner workings of the organisation to be less than desirable. You would be better placed to provide facts.
It's funny you should raise this issue actually. I was actually to say the same about the large pool of criticism on this forum towards BK. There is a lot of viewpoint but very little substantive fact. Like specific cases, dates, times, places. Yet a lot of strong emotion, obviously quite sincerely felt.
Saying that, I don't really want to see a massive list of BK "dirty laundry". You know, it won't surprise or shock me and I just don't want to spew out a lot of attack on souls who are not present to defend themselves.
We could bounce the same statements back to you. In the Yagya, there is very little substantive fact and that which is presented has been changed and obscured so often that it is very difficult to establish what was the original – a good effort has been made on this website. You ask for facts to be provided and then say that you really don’t want to see a massive list of BK ‘dirty laundry’. In other words, you really don’t want to hear any facts that contradict your views, yet we are listening to yours.
The esssence of BK teachings are the Murlis. That’s what the BKs say. Really all the rest has been added on to make the package more attractive to more modern times and more sophisticated and educated people. If you go to many New Age events etc you will hear the same stuff – because that is where it has been adapted from. You just have to scratch the surface to see that despite all the BK claims of religious tolerance and attendance at inter faith events, they are dismissive of other religions and, if you attend morning classes for long enough, you will note the disdain and mockery of other religions, sometimes subtle and sometimes overt. They are not what they present themselves to be. That is what we are saying on this website. There are people in the BKs who are genuine, I don’t think anyone here would dispute that, but as an organisation they are far from honest in every respect. That is what we are saying. And that dishonesty would seem to extend right back to the ‘BapDada’ entity which advises, encourages and directs the expansion of this organisation.
All of us would have liked at some time for the BKs to be true, even mostly true. Regretfully we have faced the inevitable; that it is no more special than any other religion or cult, although clever, articulate and spiritually seductive in enticing one to accept it as such. We have all abandoned that hope some time ago. You can tell us it is true as often as you like, but we have returned from that space, some sadder, all wiser.
Seems like I have gone on at length too. Sorry about that. Once again, we respect your right to articulate your views but if you are trying to convince us, well, I think you are in the wrong place.
Respectfully
Searcher