Gulzar, "Ours is not a religious organisation".

BK Gulzar interviewed about the Brahma Kumaris stance on religion.

Interesting to note she says, "Mostly, the courses are available to all without any fee".

What is the difference between the Brahma Kumaris and other schools of faith?

Ours is not a religious organisation. We do not claim to profess any religion. Religion or dharma means a path that you have chosen to live your lifestyle. What we see in Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and other religions is a set code of conduct or a path given by God through God-sent messengers according to the need of the time.

These helped in sustaining values and morals which led to certain levels of peace, love, and happiness in the world ...

How do you initiate people into your organisation?

People from all walks of life and different religions have been following the Brahma Kumari way of life. Those who wish to join us are given an hour-a-day course, which lasts for seven days, which includes The Knowledge of Self, the Supreme Soul, and the time.

Mostly, the courses are available to all without any fee. We also conduct seminars and lectures on self-management and stress-free living for multinational companies, colleges, schools and welfare organisations in India and abroad. Those who wish to know more come to the classes, meditate regularly, and adopt and imbibe the teachings based on their experience of self-transformation.

It will be interesting to see how Gulzar successor is going to behave and handle the annual, major attraction, "spirit penetration" show, if it happens at all .!

I wonder what will happen and what will be the consequences, if the so called "spirit" did like the new medium, decided to stay back, and not to penetrate the new medium body, as BK claim .!

Would not that be catastrophic to the Brahma Kumaris, and may be the begining of the count down for their end .?

"We don't have gurus" and "we are not a religion" seem to be the two primary mantras of the BK world!

I noticed the second answer ... "People from all walks of life and different religions". It's a lie and she knows it.

Yes, people *come* from all walks of life and different religions but, as she very well knows, they have to give up other religions and convert to Brahma Kumarism.

They spend a lot of effort defending themselves from being seen a cult religion ... "we're not religious, we're spiritual" is another typical one appealing to the general trend of people drifting away from organized religions.

Boy, are they in for a shock when they join the BKs.

"We are the 'no guru' gurus of the 'non-religion' religion".

What do they honestly thing "gurus" are and how are they any different from them? What they have really been saying is, "please don't call us a cult or cult leaders".

The thing is, I think they have almost made it past the cult stage and into the 'minority religion' bracket.

she is quite frightening up close, creepy is not the word!

According to the BK end of year accounts submitted to the UK Charity Commission, received on 29 Oct 2012, they are a religious organisation:

BKWSU (UK) is a non-governmental, non-political, religious organisation that was established in 1975. The charity was constituted under a trust deed, dated 18th July 1975, with various amendments. It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission (Registered Charity Number 269971 in England and Wales and SC040512 in Scotland).

Page 3, Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (UK) Financial Statements Year Ended 31 December 2011.

Further according to the submission the BK's objectives are:

1. To promote the advancement of the Hindu Religion and other religions of the world.
2. To promote the advancement of education by educational courses, programmes and projects and studies of and research in the field of Hindu Religious Philosophy and Yoga (various techniques of concentration as defined and discussed in the Hindu Scriptures) and to make known the results of such studies and research.
3. To relieve poverty, mental and physical sickness and distress.
4. To promote the mental, spiritual or moral improvement of the community.

The Charity Commission also has a report citing why the Church of Scientology was not granted charity status here:
Application for Registration as a Charity by The Church of Scientology.

They found that for the purposes of English Law the Church of Scientology was not a religion because, even though they believed in a Supreme Being, the practices of Scientology did not constitute worship of that being.

I am not a lawyer, but since Dadi Gulzar has claimed that the BK are not a religious organisation would that not violate their charity status? If they are a religion then the practices of the BK must constitute worship. Is the act of Raja Yoga and remembering Baba sufficient to be considered worship? If so, then are those who attend Raja Yoga/guided meditation courses instructed up front that what they are learning is an act of worship to the BK god?

Thank you for your post. It would be worth exploring with the Charity Commission what they think about this.

More evidence of their 'shapeshifting' ability to say whatever they think someone wants to hear and they can get away with.

The Murlis are full of exhortations not to do religion and the condemnation of it. I don't it is fair to call their adoption of other religions' celebrations as being religious celebrations. I suppose Thursday morning Bhog offering might be about as religiously ritualistic as they get.

What do others think? Do the BKs worship?

Do you have any doubt about the Brahma Kumaris, not worshipping ?

They worship and adore, money, influence (through VIPs), and also the media, which facilitates their access to people!