Dadi Prakashmani
The Brahma Kumaris heading the organization are also lovingly referred to as Dadis (grandmothers) and also take care of the visitors just like a granny does of her dear grandchildren.

The current head of the organization is Dadi Prakashmani who is also the president of the Raj Yoga Education and Research Foundation, a wing of the institution, and the managing trustee of the World Renewal Spiritual Trust.

Born in 1922, she dedicated her life to the Brahma Kumaris when she was barely in her teens in 1936. She is also one of the eight original trustees, chosen by Brahma Baba to look after the trust he created.

During her lifetime involvement, she has worked tirelessly to advance the organization to its current standing of over 3,200 centers across the world. Towards this aim, she has toured the globe extensively, spreading the word of peace and goodwill. Recognizing this contribution, she was awarded the UN Peace medal. She has also trained over 5,000 Raj Yoga meditation teachers.

Dadi Janki
Dadi Janki is the co-administrative head of the Brahma Kumaris. She had joined the organization at the age of 21, after having shared her views on peace, purity and spiritual upliftment of humanity with Brahma Baba. She too is a founding member of the organization.

An eternal optimist and extremely compassionate individual, she believes that world peace is an achievable and indispensable basis for a happy, healthy and spiritually uplifted society.

She spends most of her time operating out of the Brahma Kumaris center in London. Dadi Janki travels extensively around the world and has been instrumental in setting up Raj Yoga centers in over 85 countries.

The Brahma Kumaris Philosophy and Education
This institution is unique, as its main emphasis is on value-based education. Two other institutions created by it, namely Raj Yoga Education and Research Foundation and Brahma Kumaris Academy for a Better World, are dedicated to the goal of establishing a value-based society.

The Brahma Kumaris are devoted towards enhancing and developing the human potential. The emphasis is on right living, where human relations are of prime importance, where a spirit of universal brotherhood and co-operation is developed.

The course matter offered in this extraordinary university is spiritual in nature. No text books please! A combination of satsang or spiritual discourses are combined with Raj Yoga meditation classes. No money is charged for these classes as the entire organization is run on the basis of donations.

The Brahma Kumaris organization shuns rituals, rites and idol worship. The main focus is on meditation and a stirring of the soul to reach a higher state of consciousness, wiping clean one’s soul of all impurities like lust, greed, envy etc.

The word yoga means a connection or link. The format of meditation whereby a mental connection is made between the human soul and the Supreme Soul (what one could address as God) is Raj Yoga. This form of meditation or yoga is fairly simple as it does not involve a series of physical exercises. All it requires is for one to sit comfortably in one posture and concentrate on the Supreme Soul or God and mentally disconnect from all that is happening around one for some time.

The word Raj means rule and Raja denotes ruler. The mind is considered to be the Raja or king amongst all human organs, the one that rules over all other organs and body functions. Since Raj Yoga involves absolute concentration of the mind, it is called Raj Yoga or Raja Yoga. This yoga is considered to be the highest form of yoga or the king of all yogas.

It is through these discourses, discussions on history, sociology, psychology and a sharing of varied experiences that modern day problems like stress, confusion, anger are taught to be handled. People are taught how to be confident and calm and face all challenges with equipoise.

The emphasis is on removing negativities like prejudices, hypocrisy, jealousy, hatred, greed and ego and developing humanistic values of honesty, sincerity, goodwill and high civic sense.

Brahma Kumaris and the United Nations
The Brahma Kumaris are associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI) as a non-governmental organization, since 1980. They also have a consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) as well as with UNICEF.

The organization has participated in various UN meets and conferences in places like Beijing, Rio de Janeiro, Istanbul, Copenhagen etc.

In 1986, which was the UN’s International Year of Peace, the Brahma Kumaris launched The Million Minutes of Peace Appeal. This peace appeal reached millions of people across 88 counties and won support from hundreds of companies and organizations. The project collected contributions of over one billion minutes of peace in the form of prayer, meditation and positive thoughts. Thanks to the success of this Peace Appeal, the Brahma Kumaris received seven UN Peace Messenger Awards.

Inspired by the success of this initiative another such project called the first International Peace Messenger Initiative, dedicated to the UN Global Co-operation for a Better World, was launched. This project was even more successful and collected hopes and visions for a better world from thousands of people across 129 countries. It concluded with an international conference at the Brahma Kumaris headquarters in Mount Abu. On this occasion, a document titled Mount Abu Declaration was adopted, which was later put on the Agenda of the General Assembly of the UN and officially adopted.

Location of Madhuban Retreat, Mount Abu
The nearest airport to Mount Abu is in Udaipur, about 185 kms away.

The best option to travel to Mount Abu is by road or rail. The nearest railhead is Abu Road, situated at a distance of nearly 27 kms. Abu Road is well connected by rail to most parts of India.

Once at Abu Road, one can hire taxis or jeeps to make the climb to Mount Abu.

For further information, you can contact:
Brahma Kumaris
Shantivan Complex
Post box No-1
Abu Road
Rajasthan 307 510
India
Phone: +91-2974-28101/02/03/04/05/06 (6 lines)
Fax: +91-2974-28116
E-mail: shantivan@vsnl.com
Website: http://www.brahmakumaris.com

In today’s strife and war ridden world, the Brahma Kumaris’ involvement in the world peace process, assumes a serious dimension. Maybe, through these concerted efforts Brahma Baba’s vision of a new world order, where peace and tranquility reign supreme, may actually come true. And, that truly will be the beginning of a golden era of peace.