The Brahma Kumaris offer programmes, retreats and courses for many areas of the community. These courses are tailored for men, women, couples, families, youth and children. But there are also members of the Brahma Kumaris who have created programmes and courses for their own professional groups. These programmes include the Performing Arts, the Visual Arts, Academics, Business, Health, Education, Environment and Sustainability, Social Sciences and more.
The Brahma Kumaris are active in Interfaith work in most states of Australia. Among the Brahma Kumaris community there are representitives from all the main religions.
There is an active Mens Group which holds programmes for men during the year at our retreat centres. Read about the aims of other Community Activity Groups below.
Men
The aim of the Oz Mens Wing, could probably be summed up under the three key ideas of Encouragement, Sustenance, and Creation.
- To encourage men from any and all walks of life to become more spiritually aware.
- To sustain the spiritual awareness through communication, camaraderie, sharing.
- To create opportunities, programs, events which inspire each other.
For details, please contact Matthew Martin here
Mothers
Mothers from all around Australia are part of the Oz Mothers Wing. Our aim is to support and encourage all mothers in the community, through retreats which focus on meditation and self esteem, a variety of programs, creative activities and Raja Yoga courses. These include:
- A program titled M.U.M.S, with a focus on the Eight Powers of Raja Yoga, which is run by mothers for mothers. It consists of one session per week over 10 weeks.
- Weekly classes for mothers which are held at several BK centres.i>
- Special family retreats and programs.
- One-day retreats on the theme "Mums are Special", held twice a year.
- Once a year a retreat for mothers and daughters called "The Way I See It." Mothers’ retreats are held at our three retreat centres.
- During the school holidays, the three retreat centres and several BK Centres hold "Relax Kids /Relax Mums" programs for children & mothers.
We welcome new ideas and suggestions from mothers for future retreats and programs.
For details, please contact Sally Segal here
Social Sciences
The aim of the Social Sciences Wing is to bring personal and social transformation as a means to realizing a vision of a better world, a global civilization based on principles of harmony and understanding.
- The first activity of the wing is to facilitate an ongoing dialogue between those representing the existing diversities of culture, religions and civilizations in today’s world.
- The second activity of the wing is to create newness by writing about and presenting on new ways of using the disciplines and methods in the social sciences in order to provide a clearer foundation for spiritual empowerment.
For details, please contact Wendy Sargent here
Universities
The aim of the University Wing is to connect BK academic researchers; in particular, those who are conducting research in a university or in a policy institution. This also includes post-graduate students undertaking research. The main objectives of the University Wing are to:
- (i) provide a support network to sustain those working in the academic profession and to enable a balance through a spiritual approach to life and work; and
- (ii) by being aware of other researchers, to aid conversations and potential research collaborations, where some research may also be how to encompass ‘spirituality’ in research.
The University Wing, although based around Australian academics, forms part of a larger “Global Academic Network” which aims to connect BK academics worldwide.
For details, please contact Kalvinder Shields here
Pasifika Peace
Since the mid ‘70s, the Brahma Kumaris have been offering meditation courses and programs on personal development in Australasia. In April 2007, a commitment was made to reach out to neighbouring countries in the South Pacific, offering more people in the region the opportunity to learn meditation and explore personal transformation. We have called this outreach initiative “Pasifika Peace”.
Pasifika Peace aims to deliver free-of-charge, courses in Meditation, Inner Leadership and Positive Thinking to the Pacific peoples in a culturally empowering manner and through sustainable programs. It is a joint New Zealand/Australia initiative of the Brahma Kumaris.
During September 2008, Pasifika Peace visited Samoa and Vanuatu to meet with community, government and business leaders, the media, students and local people. The welcoming and positive response has resulted in plans for sustainable follow-up in Samoa and Vanuatu - to teach Meditation, and personal development courses in response to local needs. There will be a follow-up visit to Samoa of a longer duration in May – July 2009, and a follow up visit to Vanuatu in June 2009. It is further envisaged that courses may also be offered in Papua New Guinea in early 2009.
For more information or to request a course in your area, pls. contact here