Mount Abu ( Rajasthan ): It isn’t every day that saints, and katha vachaks from all over Bharat sit on the same stage to discuss ‘Solutions through spirituality in the present-day scenario’. Indeed, this is the theme of the 3-day conference organized by the Religious Wing of Brahma Kumaris at their Gyan Sarovar campus, Mount Abu.
The conference held its inaugural session which began with lighting of the lamps in remembrance of the Supreme Soul (Param Atma). Sister B.K. Manorama, National Coordinator, Religious Wing-RERF Brahma Kumaris, Prayagraj, in her keynote address, extended all the dignitaries and audience members a heartfelt welcome. She noted that while there are a lot of flashy lights on the streets, there is darkness inside the soul. Unless that darkness is eliminated, she said, there can be no solutions to the present-day problems prevalent in every home such as lack of peace of mind, depression, trouble in relationships etc. And the only light that can dispel that darkness is the light of spirituality, she said. She congratulated everyone for making it to the conference- “This is the Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya(Godly University). You are here on invitation from God Himself”, she explained. She concluded her address by appealing to everyone to share in the responsibility of helping God establish the Adi Sanatan Devi Devata Dharma(Original eternal deity religion) by awakening the spirit. Because, she said, only self-transformation can lead to world transformation.
The chief guest, Mahamandaleshwar Gowrishi Swami Gyanaswaroopanand Akriya ji Maharaj from Jodhpur expressed his admiration for the fact that the Brahma Kumaris is a women-led organization. He reminisced about having wanted to visit when he was a child and expressed happiness that his desire had finally fulfilled today. He noted how these days, kids are taught to prioritize worldly pursuits- getting degrees, amassing wealth etc. when in fact, he said, the priority should be developing elevated sanskars(personality traits). That could only happen through awakening the spiritual self. He extended his heartfelt congratulations to the Brahma Kumaris for their service in awakening spirituality around the world.
Guest of honor, Brahmarshi Swami Mahesh Yogi ji from Ayodhya shared that there are people in the world who think that in the present scenario where on one hand, there are wars and on the other hand, necessities have grown, it is science, not spirituality that is the call of the time. Such people, he noted, lack recognition of the power of spirituality. He offered, for example, that no matter what intention or feeling a person came to the Brahma Kumaris campus with, he/she would return with feelings of love, purity and peace. This, he explained, is the power of spirituality; it can transform feelings and attitudes. He expressed hope that, as a result of all the efforts, future generations would be born with spirituality in their DNA so as to eliminate the very need for conferences about how to awaken spirituality.
B.K. Karuna, Chairperson of Media wing of Brahma Kumaris, provided the attendees a brief overview of the Brahma Kumaris while noting that the organization has been serving the world by sharing the teachings of Rajayoga for the last 87 years. During this time, he said, the organization has grown from 380 students at its inception to lakhs of students today in over 140 countries. The soul wants to be great, it wants to be elevated but it lacks the power to become that in the present-day environment, he noted. Through the study of Rajayoga, the soul receives that power here at this spiritual university. Looking at the dignitaries on stage, he expressed happiness that while a lot has been taken away, the world hasn’t been able to take away spirituality from Bharat. Congratulating them on coming, he said: “Welcome to your home.”
Shriman Niranjan Pranava Swarupi Trividh Daasohi Basavannajja ji from Kundgol, Karnataka, speaking in his mother tongue, Kannada, talked about how we have fallen behind in spirituality even as we aspire to make Bharat ‘Vishwa Guru’ again. Learning how to connect with the inner self and with God, he said, a practice common to both the saint community as well as the Brahma Kumaris- waking up during the Brahm Mahurat or Amrit vela (4am) to connect with the self and with God. Showing that saints can also be humorous, he said that having experienced so much spirituality in just these last two days at the Brahma Kumaris campus, he was looking for a good excuse to stay behind.
B.K. Narayan, Zonal Coordinator, Religious Wing-RERF Brahma Kumaris, Indore delivered the vote of thanks by emphasizing a message that emerged consistently throughout the session – there is a lot of knowledge in the world today about a lot of things but no solution to the world’s problems. That solution can only be through spirituality. He invited everyone to take advantage of the Rajayoga camps organized through these 3 days with the goal to help attendees experience connecting with the self and with God. Everyone wishes to lead a carefree, worry-free life; you can learn how, through these sessions, he offered. He concluded by thanking the attendees as well as the many BK volunteers that helped organize the conference.
As is customary with the Brahma Kumaris, the session concluded with a few minutes of remembrance of the Supreme Father. It was an opportunity to say ‘thanks’ to the Father for the invitation to a deeper relationship with the self and with the Supreme.
Other guests of honor on stage included Sant Chetan Anand ji, Sirsa, Haryana, and Maharaj Pavan Kumar Das Phalahari, Ayodhya.
The event has been organized by the Religious Wing of the Rajayoga Education and Research Foundation (RERF), a sister organization of the Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya. The Religious Wing aims at spiritual empowerment of religion, wherein utmost importance is given to non-violence, tolerance, and forgiveness in inter-religious relationships.
News in Hindi:
ज्ञान सरोवर , माउंट आबू । आज ज्ञान सरोवर के हार्मनी हॉल में आर इ आर एफ की भगिनी संस्था ब्रह्माकुमारीज धार्मिक प्रभाग द्वारा एक सम्मेलन का आयोजन हुआ , इस सम्मेलन का विषय था “वर्तमान परिस्थितियों में आध्यात्म से समाधान ” पर चर्चा।
