The Brahma Kumaris: An Introduction.

“The Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organization acknowledges the intrinsic goodness of all people. We teach a practical method of meditation that helps individuals understand their inner strengths and universal truths. A worldwide family of individuals from all walks of life, we are committed to spiritual growth and personal transformation, believing them to be essential in creating a peaceful and just world. Acknowledging the challenges of rapid global change, we nurture the well-being of the entire human family by promoting spiritual understanding, leadership with integrity and elevated actions towards a better world. With over 8000 centers in over 110 countries, and a learning community of over a million worldwide, two unique aspects of the Brahma Kumaris are the following: 1) All the programs and courses are FREE, 2) Most importantly the organization is led by “. ://us.brahmakumaris.org/

Brahma Kumaris is the largest spiritual organization in the world led by women. It was the founded by  Prajapita Brahma Baba who to put women in front from the very beginning. Thus, it has set Brahma Kumaris apart on the stage of the world’s religions and spiritual organizations. Characterized by a for forgiveness and a profound commitment to unity globally. The spiritual headquarters of Brahma Kumaris is in Mount Abu, India.

I first encountered the BK in the summer of 1990. I did the seven-day course, consisting of: real knowledge of self, knowing what is God, (of any faith,) the human tree, the rise and fall of humans, the understanding Raj yoga, the benefits of Raj yoga, which is mandatory.

My mother is a dedicated member of the BK’s for 30 plus years. She  meditates every day at 4 am in the morning for 1-1/2 hours. In the evening she meditates for 1-1/2 hours. She also attends one meeting daily (Monday to Friday,) at the BK’s HQ in Coventry.  She was very dedicated no matter what the weather. She is so adamant about going when her diabetes, (at the age of 85 plus) that my dad drove her, there and back. She is a strict stalwart for the cause. The last time we went to Oxford, in 2012. Two days before my “incident.”  It was the Duke of Marlboro ex-home with 500 acres of land. And a stunning view with the Thames and a house full of guests and dedicated servers. The food was so prefect-vegetarian. Despite the absence of garlic and onions, the food or ‘bhajan’ was delicious.

The full capacity was around 3000 people.

There is basically four areas of study:

• Universal truths, regarding the nature of the soul, God and the impact of a close relationship between the two, create a context for our spiritual endeavor. This understanding helps us master the ongoing flow of experiences we call life.

• The practice of Raja Yoga meditation

  

  • A step-by-step process helps us to focus on our deep inner strength and potential.
  •  Silence takes us into a world of stillness. My mum meditations to BK’s music only.
  • The more time I give to silence, the more silence will give me time.

The BK’s offer a framework for a life-changing experience. By exploring and discovering the most fundamental question of all, “Who am I?. I developed a sense of slight self-mastery, that allows me to stay in charge of my life. The BK’s begins by reflective meditation, then they have talks. For instance, afternoon tea with to welcome  all asylum seekers and refugees, and demystifying Raja yoga.

MY OWN EXPERIENCE

On the way to Mount Abu in northern INDIA, my father and I were cynical about the BK’s. When we finally reached our destination on a bus, a sense of peace and harmony was overwhelming. Situated amidst lush green, forested hills on the highest peak, Mount Abu is the summer capital for the Indian state of Rajasthan. In New Delhi, my uncle retired at only 40, he amassed in his own wealth. Next door were a family of Jains.

“Jainism is an ancient religion from India that teaches that the way to liberation and bliss is to live lives of harmlessness and renunciation. The essence of Jainism is concern for the welfare of every being in the universe and for the health of the universe itself. Jains believe that animals and plants, as well as human beings, contain living souls. Each of these souls is considered of equal value and should be treated with respect and compassion. Jains are strict vegetarians and live in a way that minimizes their use of the world. Jains believe in reincarnation and seek to attain ultimate liberation – which means escaping the continuous cycle of birth, death and rebirth so that the immortal soul lives for ever in a state of bliss.” http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/jainism/living/aparigraha.shtml

But I digress.

The place was fantastic. My mum got up at 4 am for collective meditation. I was still asleep. My father who did not go to the intensive 7-day course, stayed in a bed and breakfast.

The rites and rituals are: attending morning class daily, observing celibacy, eating pure food, keeping good company, inculcating divinity, doing service, giving happiness to others, keeping Godly principles etc.

Om Shanti is a mantra used in meditation. Om has THREE Sounds to it. It believes it to be the sound of the universe. Shanti is a Sanskrit word that means “peace,” but is also translated as “calm” or “bliss.”

In yoga practice they focus their thoughts, for cosmic peace.

“Om shanti, shanti, shanti.” The latter symbolizes three forms of peace: peace of the mind, peace in speech and peace in the physical body. It is also represent hope for individual peace, collective peace and universal peace.

My mum tells me, when you chant OM, or AUM, you chant each sound. My mum showed me the correct way to activate each sound: The ahhhh, the ooohh and the mmmmm, activates different degrees makes of consciousness. The ahhhh sound is connected to material consciousness. The ooohh syllable In other words, it corresponds to the material body and its place in your physical environment. The ooohh sound corresponds to the energy of one’s mind. My ownreal relationship with a higher spirit was this: When I was very, very ill and the all my doctors’ told me that only  have  4 months to live, I went to Global House in London where Dadi Janki was visiting. Dadi Janki is the head of the BK’s. I was given a private audience with Dadi Janki and I recall two things.  First, her overwhelming presence, it was as though she could see into my soul. She spoke very softly when she gave me her blessings. The second was her generosity, she kept on instructing her attendants to gift me the flowers in the room, then chocolates, and many other things.

I am convinced to this day that her blessings were integral to my recovery.

Our Life Here

Our spiritual education is a gift from God, what ever the religion. My mum studies Mulri’s daily.  My mother is committed to using the best of herself, and others. My mother cooks in remembrance of God. Her diet is very strict. No garlic and onions. Habits that drain the soul of spiritual power. Therefore BK’s, don’t smoke, drink, take drugs or gamble. Seeing all souls as our spiritual brothers and sisters. They also have Ayurveda’s herbs such as:

1) Ashwagandha is Indian ginseng. Used as a natural remedy for well-being and its health benefits are many. It’s an adaptogenic herb. It is very well known for relieving stress, and improving the body’s natural immunity systems.

2) Neem is a plant, best known in the Ayurveda best known for its ability to purify the skin and control blood sugar. Neem boasts a vast array of healing properties.

3) Triphala is an Ayurvedic blend of three fruits: Amalaki, Haritaki and Bibhitaki. I use it as a laxative. It’s also known for detoxification. Recent studies have shown this natural herb has anti-cancer effects and chemo-protective one.  http://brahmakumarisresearch.org/lifestyle

The Chicago PD Torturers

I have taught this in a class, entitled: race, place and space. It will shock you.

“In 1983, three Chicago police officers arrested Mr. Cannon in connection with a murder case, drove him to a desolate area and tortured a confession out of him. Mr. Cannon explains in court documents that he refused to confess after the officers forced the barrel of a shotgun into his mouth and repeatedly pulled the trigger. He finally gave in, after they shocked his genitals with a cattle prod.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/31/opinion/chicagos-grim-era-of-police-torture.html

“[Burge] put some handcuffs on my ankles, then he took one wire and put it on my ankles, he took the other wire and put it behind my back, on the handcuffs behind my back. Then after that, when he—then he went and got a plastic bag, put it over my head … so I bit through it. So he went and got another bag and put it on my head and he twisted it. When he twisted it, it cut my air off and I started shaking. … So then he hit me with the voltage. When he hit me with the voltage, that’s when I started gritting, crying, hollering … It feel [sic] like a thousand needles going through my body. And then after that, it just feel [sic] like, you know—it feel [sic] like something just burning me from the inside, and, um, I shook, I gritted, I hollered, then I passed out.” https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/12/chicago-police-torture-jon-burge/383839/

If you have been to North Chicago every thing looks dazzlingly cheerful. But the South Side is different story. Jon Burge, the commander had been fired after he was connected to torture cases. He was protected because of the statutes of limitations. He and the gang excelled in torture of the inmates; such as the cattle prodding, burning, mock hangings, suffocated suspects with plastic bags and used electrical shocks to victims’ genitals, etc. Even at the tender age of 13.

Chicago’s investigation of torture is focused on police commander Jon Burge, who was assigned to Chicago’s South side in 1972. Between then and 1981, Burge and his men used torture to elicit confessions from more than 110 African-American men. He learned his craft as a military police in Vietnam.  Jon Burge, who with his so-called “midnight crew” of rogue detectives inflicted the torture.

He was ultimately convicted by federal prosecutors in 2010 of perjury for lying about police torture that he oversaw. That conviction resulted in a mere four and a half years in prison for Burge. Utterly odious. When Rahm Emanuel was campaigning for the compensation, he said 11 million. After successfully campaigning it suddenly dropped to about 5.5 million. Snake.

 

Former Chicago police commander Jon Burge is the subject of a new course for Chicago public schools.

 

 

 

THIS IS AMERICA – “An  Analysis”

Background to the video “This is America”

This is the background and I want you to analyze the lyrics as well what is happening in the background, etc.

This year, (May 2018) so far there were more kids murdered by school shooting, than killed in the armed forces  (army, navy, etc.) The true facts are these: “USA has 88.8 guns per 100 people, or about 270,000,000 guns, which is the highest total and per capita number in the world. 22% of Americans own one or more guns -35% of men and 12% of women.” https://gun-control.procon.org/America’s

The pervasive gun culture is in part due to historical reasons. Emanating from its colonial history, revolutionary roots, frontier expansion, slavery and the Second Amendment, which  states that: “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

The Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home.

Police violence: This covers an array of unlawful stops and search,tasering, beatings, and killings. The deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Sandra Bland, Philando Castile, etc have garnered some headlines, but many other folks die in silence. Here is a partial list of what various activists are doing, as I  write.

1. Having town halls and voter registration efforts in dozens of cities.
2. Writer and activist Shaun King started a political action committee  (PAC) aimed at electing progressive, smart-on-crime prosecutors, sheriffs and judges.
3. The team behind the police-reform-oriented Campaign Zero has launched the  projects aimed at empowering their supporters to undercut the four presidents.
4. Others, have found a home inside the broader framework of the Resistance.

THE PROCESSING OF ARRESTS

1. Arrest: Black people are nearly three times more likely to be arrested for drug offenses as white people. Black people are three or four times more likely to be killed by police during an arrest.
2. Pre-Trial: New York City showed that Black people were more likely to be in jail while they await trial.  Even after controlling for the seriousness of charges and prior records. The same pattern of abuse is replicated.
3. Prosecution: Prosecutors are nearly thrice as likely to charge Black men with an offense that carries a mandatory minimum sentence than white men facing similar circumstances. e.g. the difference between crack cocaine and cocaine.
4. Sentencing: Black people have been found to be far more likely to have their probation revoked than their white counterparts.Bearing these facts to be true, lets us analyze the multifaceted pressures on Black men and women. Notice anything? According to the constitution, “The right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.” Firearms have become the fabric for American freedoms, rights,  and cultures.

Language

Some terms that are useful in your analysis.  I want you to discuss what you see in the terms of using the following terms. Let us begin.

1. Denotation: The everyday or common sense meaning of a sign. Connotation: that a sign carries in addition to it’s everyday meaning.
2. Ideology: A set of ideas or beliefs which are held to be acceptable by the creators of the media text, maybe in line with those of the dominant White ruling social groups in society, or alternative ideologies such as feminist ideology.
3. Moral Panic: Is the intensity of feeling stirred up by the media  about an issue that appears to threaten the social order, such as against Muslims after 9/11, or against immigrants generally.
4. Signifier/Signified:  The ‘thing’ that conveys the meaning, and the manner in which meaning conveyed. e.g. a red rose is a significance, the signified is love. https://brianair.wordpress.com/film-theory/glossary-of-media-terminology/

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/05/02/americas-incarceration-rate-is-at-a-two-decade-low/ft_18-04-27_incarcerationrate_map/

 

In the early 1900s, Marcus Garvey prophesied that a new Black King would soon come to Africa and that man would be the Messiah. After this, in Ethiopia, a new king was crowned and his name was Haile Selassie I.

Rastafari, sometimes termed Rastafarianism, is an Abrahamic religion. It is  both a religion and social  movement.  It developed in  the 1930s. The Rastafari movement was founded on the belief that Haile Selassie 1, the Emperor of Ethiopia, was God incarnate on Earth.  Much diversity exists among practitioners, who are known as Rastafari, Rastafarians, or Rastas. The inchoate Rastafarians movement, took this man as the second coming of Jesus. However, while most people do not believe in a second coming of the Messiah solely based on prophecy. The Rastafarians do.  They point to evidence as well, particularly the claim that Haile Selassie is related to King Solomon, giving him a connection to Jesus. If Haile Selassie I was the Messiah, he kept it very quiet about it. He himself always denied being a reincarnation of Jesus.

Take for example Rastafarians .”The Harder They Come,” featuring singer Jimmy Cliff,  Desmond Dekker and others, premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 1972. It became an international success. Around the same time, the street-poetry of Bob Marley included “Slave Driver” ” Concrete”  and  “400 Years”.   E.g. in “Concrete Jungle” there cries from the  dispossessed and distressed for rural and urban communities.

Rastas believe that marijuana is a religious sacrament, on a par with taking Holy Communion.  The act of smoking weed as a means of engaging with ‘Jah’ (God.)  Rastas never cut their hair. Instead serpentine corkscrew curls known as dreadlocks, intended as a visual homage to the Lion of Judah. An emblem often depicted on the flag of Ethiopia. True Rastas are perceived a social movement against Babylon:  It is a reaction to historic injustices and neocolonialist policies. Through education, brainwashing, and color (white is right) by the neocolonialism forces, (white establishment) which sought to impose their values, judgements, and a general loathing towards the subjugated majority. Which basically means  rich kids with dreadlocks with trust funds are called ‘Trustfarians. Privileged white kids who subscribe to the  land lifestyle (because they can) since they have no worries about money, a job. Or rich kids  whose parents put money in a trust for their child to use as they please or an orphan of rich parents/grandparents/relatives and is now living off a trust.

Rastafarian religion places high value on the natural world as something that should be lived in harmony with nature. The Rastafarians believe that they should live their life as ‘Jah’ intends is to be lived. The stress here is on the personal, subjective understanding of one’s meaning and purpose in life. The ancient Babylon mentality that is very much alive and kicking today.  In contrast to the modern society values its members according to their wealth, and ability to work in conventional and settings. “Babylon has become the symbol of the wickedness and evils of the world” /www.lds.org/manual/doctrines-of-the-gospel-student-manual/35-fall-of-babylon-and-establishment-of-zion?

Take ‘Slave Driver’ and ‘400 Years’ by Bob Marley and The Wailers. No chains around my feet/But I’m not free/I know I’m bounded in captivity,” Marley also sang in ‘Concrete Jungle’, the first of several cries and criticisms on behalf of the oppressed.

The Nyahbinghi Order;

 Nyahbighi which means “death to the Black and White downpressors.” The focus of this group is on the veneration of Haile Haile Selassie, who is regarded by them as the embodiment of God. Which emphasizes the repatriation of blacks to Africa. The Nyahbinghi regard water, air and fire as representations of the elements of life. Nyahbinghi eat organic produce only, such as vegetables, fruits, herbs and barks, and avoid the consumption of salt. The word ‘foundation’ means affirmation of life through earth.

Twelve Tribes of Israel. Rastafarians who are Afrocentic and focuses its attention is oppressed within Western society, or “Babylon”. Many Rastas call for the resettlement of the African diaspora in either Ethiopia or Africa more widely, referring to this continent as the Promised land of “Zion.”Other interpretations shift focus on to the adoption of an Afrocentric attitude while living outside of Africa. Rastafarians refer to their practices as “livity”. “Communal meetings are known as “Groundations” and are typified by music, chanting and the inhalation of smoking cannabis. Dreadlocks have several  layers of meaning for Rastafarians, including  “the biblical command not to cut one’s hair” (Leviticus 21:5), the appearance of a lion’s mane, representing strength, Africa, Ethiopia, and the Lion of Judah – naturalness and simplicity, which are associated with Africa – the Rasta’s roots in Africa” http://www.religionfacts.com/rastafarianism

The Bobo Shanti movement was founded in 1958 in Jamaica, by Prince Emmanuel Charles Edwards, considered by many to be the Black Christ. Selassie is regarded as King or God, Garvey is perceived to be a prophet and Emmanuel a High Priest Bobo Shanti wear brightly colored turbans and long flowing robes. They are opposed the laws and principles of Jamaican society. There are rules for menstruating women.

10 Things Everyone Should Know About Rastas