Cult Abuse
Some Abuses Of Rights And Freedoms include destruction of individuality and free will, isolation from family, friends and the general community, and abuse of a members finances, time and energy.
1. Abuse Of Individuality: They adopt a ‘groupness’ mentality. They are not permitted to think for themselves apart from the group and only accept what they are told.
To be an individual is considered egocentricity. One must see oneself according to the generic understanding that applies to everyone – mind, intellect, sanskars (habits, attitudes), virtues and vices. Individuality is seen as being related to the mortal and temporary and therefore invalid.
2. Abuse of Intimacy: Relationships with friends, relatives, spouses, children, parents etcare broken or seriously hampered.
A member of the Brahma Kumaris is directed to dissociate from all family and friends as they are considered only attachments and therefore bondage to the ‘old world’ – which is to be destroyed very soon anyway. A member is not allowed to eat food cooked by anyone other than another member. All non-BKWSU members are considered impure ‘shudras’ (untouchables) who are the very expression of vice and weakness and are therefore to be avoided as much as possible. Contact with shudras is only recommended when serving them i.e.: trying to make them a member.
3. Abuse of Finances: Pressure to give all you can to the group. In non-communal groups, members usually live at the lower socio-economic strata, not because of a lower income level, but because they are always giving money to the group for some reason.
In order to purify ones karma, especially karma related to wealth, one must give donations to the BKWSU. This begins with a 10% tithing and then anything extra one can give. This would include gifts of jewellery, property, inheritances etc. For those of lim ited financial means volunteer work is recommended as a way of saving the BKWSU from spending money. The BKWSU has become a ridiculously wealthy organisation through the extraction of wealth from its membership. Finances are discussed in greater detail under “financial deception” later.
4. ‘Us versus Them’ Mentality: Isolation from the community in general. Anyone and everything outside the group is seen as ‘of the devil’ or ‘unenlightened’ etc. Their enemies now include former friends; the Christian church; governments; education systems; the media – the world in general. Those who are involved with these in any way see such involvement as a ‘means to an end’.
One would not accuse the BKWSU of being openly hateful of others but they still maintain an “us and them” mindset. The BKWSU have an elitist view of themselves as the pure souls who are the true children of god. All the rest are impure and to be ‘helped’. It tends to be more patronising attitude than resentful or paranoid.
5. Abuse of Time And Energy: The group controls and uses almost all the members time and energy in group activities. They are usually in a constant state of mental and physical exhaustion. As described previously, the BKWSU make a lot of demands of its members.
The mariadas isolate a student from previously existing family and social networks. They are encouraged to abandon or limit material concerns and efforts. They are not allowed to watch television or movies or read books. The time and energy that results from this is then redirected into ‘service’ and personal spiritual effort including meditation and study. A student’s day begins with meditation at 4.00am every day. They will be occupied until the end of their day. Being tired is a normal experience.
6. Abuse of Free Will: They must unquestioningly submit to the group’s teachings anddirections and their own free will is broken. Their will actually becomes the groups will without their realizing it. This is done either by coercive methods including low protein diets and lack of sleep, or over a period of time through intimidation. Both methods make heavy use of guilt.
A new student is taught that they are at the weakest and most impure stage of their eternal journey of reincarnation. The ‘pure vision’ of good members and seniors will help them reach their purest and most elevated stage, along with the wisdom and practices they will be taught. But only if they follow all the rules – mariadas and shrimat. In other words they are only to succeed if they surrender completely, and they are damned if they don’t. The student surrenders their free will to the group, and especially the Seniors, quite deliberately, and will not think independently or in a contrarian way again – without feeling guilty and remorseful. To think for yourself is considered maya and is therefore egocentric.
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By Kristin, April 25, 2009 @ 4:31 pm
Wow! That’s an amazing article. Thanks for writing that. That was so clearly written and easy to read. It was very accurate to my experience as a dedicated BK for 10 years. Is there a way to connect directly with the writer? I am new to this website. Thank you.
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editor Reply:
April 30th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
I recommend that you go to http://www.brahmakumaris.info. This is a forum for open discussion for exBKs.
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reymond Reply:
February 24th, 2010 at 4:00 am
thanks for the info… its a predestined in the drama…
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By menuka, December 10, 2009 @ 7:17 am
except the meditation part rest is bull shit……… i don’t know what BKs want to preach…. they try to snatch all the happiness n put a person in pressure…. but to follow or not depends upon the person who is listening to all the stuffs…. i pity all those who r devotees of BKs…. what i hate the most is changing clothes while going to toilet…. a stupid stuff.. who has got time to do so…. they collect so much fund .. y don’t they help poor n needy… why don’t they give shelter to homeless…. GREATNESS OF A PERSON LIES IN HELPING THE HELPLESS NOT PREACHING ALL THOSE STUFFS……. BKS r simply trying to expand their organisation n their followers ……they try to break a happy family…………….
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By TS, January 6, 2010 @ 1:31 pm
so very true – good on you – happy 2010!
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By henrypfeiff, January 6, 2010 @ 1:59 pm
I had been a dedicated bk for 12 years and have now decided to make my life – not out of any disgust with the bk’s but simply because i felt it was time i move on to make MY life.
I still keep some of the principles which r NOT the property of b.k’s but which I feel is in harmony with the elements of nature. These include vegetarianism and having a shower after going to toilet amongst others. I guess the latter has something to do with energy which is also taught in reiki and pranic healing.
Whatever my experience tells me is not good about the b.k’s, I just put them aside but I am also grateful to the experience I acquired whilst serving the b.k’s. I had the opportunity of speaking in front of thousands and that gave me lots of confidence. Had the b.k’s not been there, little chance wd i have got to exploit this hidden ability of mine. Today, I am happy to use this ability of public speech at work.
What helps me to move forward and face any b.k’s without the feeling of guilt is that I think I have to be true to myself 1st. I am getting married this year and I believe that whatever we sow, so shall we reap. That is why I believe that my time with the b.k’s was never a waste of time and energy but simply a part of the journey of my spiritual growth.
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By Nishit Maxil, February 21, 2010 @ 12:14 am
Hi
Let’s get real! These people are about control to the max – ‘spirituality’ in India is big business, a thriving business, taking advantage of other people, trapping them with a complex systems of threats and promises into handing over power, money and property. Psychological abuse is just one of the great sins of this organisation that claims to be purer than pure! Control is the mechanism, money and property is the agenda. Perhaps this is to bankroll the new ‘Sindhis’ since they have left Pakistan after partition. Buyer beware you will lose much more than just a few dollars!
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By editor, February 22, 2010 @ 7:42 pm
Well Henryfeiff and Nishit Maxil are both correct, even if that may seem paradoxical. If you look through the postings you can see that there are people who have journeyed through BK life and happily moved on – they describe a degree of detachment from the BK process, participating with the group on their own terms. On the contrary there are, it seems, a much larger number who have become more deeply involved and subsequently become victim to the underlying control and manipulation that lies behind the smiling face that greets you at the centres. From my observation it is a question of dependency and vulnerability. Some people are vulnerable to cult processes and become severely affected, and when they finally realise that all is not as it seems, and they have been victim to a cult process, they can really spin out. Those who were approaching things from a more emotionally sound position can leave taking the benefits of their efforts with them.
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By soulful, June 28, 2012 @ 1:18 pm
i’m new to brahma kumaris. i’m on my 6th beginner’s class, and i have one more to go. i’m a spiritual seeker and i continue to hold on to my christian faith. i’ve always felt that there’s something that doesn’t quite sit well with me surrounding some of bk’s teachings, something that i never felt when i explored other eastern and shamanic practices. in one of the classes, we were told that there will be a physical (world) destruction where all the continents will sink except for india and part of china. we were also told, and this is something that i can’t reconicle with, that the goal is to become such a wise soul that we will no longer need or rely on god. i also have a difficult time using brahma baba as the intecessor between myself and god. if brahma baba was once in human form, as well as jesus christ, what invoke him and not the other ascended masters? celibacy is also a must which i don’t understand particularly if you’re in a loving committed relationship with a partner. it’s difficult for a newcomer to discern because they do promise enlightenment and liberation from bondage yet the group members themselves is very attached and co-dependent among each other.
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By Richard Sullivan, August 12, 2012 @ 4:01 am
Thank you for this website. I was planning on going to the Dallas location for a “Free Vegetarian cooking lesson.” Something told me to investigate before I go.
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