- Posts: 69
- Joined: 29 Aug 2014
Despite the criticism leveled at BKs, some of which may not be without merit, I continue to be a BK. Allow me to explain.
I know BKs chase money and VIPs (I am not a VIP). BK Sisters can be territorial. They can berate you in public. They can treat center-goers as free labor. They can interfere in your private life. And so on.
Among other things, I cannot explain why the dates of destruction, stated in the Murlis and published in the literature (not the dates insinuated by BKs) were wrong. I don’t know why they create myths around certain BK figures. I don’t understand why the early trance experiences were sensual in nature when they were supposed to be about the asexual Golden Age. I don’t know why the historic accounts from 3000 years ago don’t match what should be the Silver Age.
Will the world destruct and the Golden Age arrive soon? I don’t know. Will I arrive in that age? I don’t know. Honestly, it does not matter to me. I am a BK because it makes me a better person today.
Since I grew up in the Hindu culture many aspects of BKism were not new to me. The Laws of Karma, the soul, its reincarnation, vegetarian meals that also excluded onion and garlic, celibacy (or sex only to procreate), starting the day at 4AM with prayers, ending the day with prayers, bathing after bowel movements, etc. were not new (even if I did not necessarily follow them all). The seat of the soul, Krishna as a deity and not God, the short 5000 year cycle, the unyielding adherence to the disciplines, the unambiguous distinction between God and deities, etc. were the new aspects.
Having pondered over Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, the modern self-improvement theories, teachings of the umpteen saints, gurus and the Deepak Chopras of the world, I concluded that Bhagawad Gita provides the best map to conduct ones life. And I choose to be a BK because in MY OPINION BKism explains the Gita and shows how to follow it the best. I find many aspects of BKism attractive. I will list three here.
BKism is an important and significant part of my life, but it is not my life. BK Sisters may try to invert that equation, but I don’t let them, for better or for worse. The purist may balk at my approach. So be it. I am too focused on improving my present than worrying about the distant future.
Arbit
I know BKs chase money and VIPs (I am not a VIP). BK Sisters can be territorial. They can berate you in public. They can treat center-goers as free labor. They can interfere in your private life. And so on.
Among other things, I cannot explain why the dates of destruction, stated in the Murlis and published in the literature (not the dates insinuated by BKs) were wrong. I don’t know why they create myths around certain BK figures. I don’t understand why the early trance experiences were sensual in nature when they were supposed to be about the asexual Golden Age. I don’t know why the historic accounts from 3000 years ago don’t match what should be the Silver Age.
Will the world destruct and the Golden Age arrive soon? I don’t know. Will I arrive in that age? I don’t know. Honestly, it does not matter to me. I am a BK because it makes me a better person today.
Since I grew up in the Hindu culture many aspects of BKism were not new to me. The Laws of Karma, the soul, its reincarnation, vegetarian meals that also excluded onion and garlic, celibacy (or sex only to procreate), starting the day at 4AM with prayers, ending the day with prayers, bathing after bowel movements, etc. were not new (even if I did not necessarily follow them all). The seat of the soul, Krishna as a deity and not God, the short 5000 year cycle, the unyielding adherence to the disciplines, the unambiguous distinction between God and deities, etc. were the new aspects.
Having pondered over Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, the modern self-improvement theories, teachings of the umpteen saints, gurus and the Deepak Chopras of the world, I concluded that Bhagawad Gita provides the best map to conduct ones life. And I choose to be a BK because in MY OPINION BKism explains the Gita and shows how to follow it the best. I find many aspects of BKism attractive. I will list three here.
- 1. I find the notion of God who transforms, but does not create, very appealing. (If God were to create then we’d have to locate His creator, and so on.)
2. I believe that praying to God is essential. I don’t find any other form of praying better than the BK meditation, although I don’t think it the only form.
3. BKism taught me to work on myself and not others, and provides a step-by-step manual to do so, daily. I find this hugely empowering. It was a game changer which helped simplify my life.
BKism is an important and significant part of my life, but it is not my life. BK Sisters may try to invert that equation, but I don’t let them, for better or for worse. The purist may balk at my approach. So be it. I am too focused on improving my present than worrying about the distant future.
Arbit