steveo wrote:What does love mean to a BK? My partner has recently been to BK for the first time and despite returning and saying she does not want to become a member, she has begun reading a book by, Mike George ...
Mike George is a marketing guy and long term BK (ostensibly celibate for nearly 30 years) who has carved his own niche out of semi-commercialising Brahma Kumarism, New Agey-ism and business consulting. He adds a lot of tasty icing onto the BK cake. Read about him here and at BKWSUwatch.com. I see there is a new website dedicate to the book, Myths of Love. Thank you very much for bring it to our attention and that the BKs are using it to promote themselves ... as usual.
Loving a BK is a one way act. The BKWSU will instruct the BK to cut off from you entirely. Firstly physically, then mentally and emotionally. Finally, geographically. You are an obstruction to their progress and doing service for the BKWSU, your love for them is a Maya (illusion) or negative karmic bond. Unless you are also going to submit to the BKWSU, you will be removed. Sidelined.
If you do submit, you will both be expect to serve the movement with no 'two way' interaction. It is all about them. No 'you' allowed. The best you will get is a benevolent gaze from an Angelic being. All of the ordinary things of relating, all of the ordinary interests, gradually all interest in the outside world (eating, socialising, sports, entertainment ... you name it) are removed and all that there is is service, service, service, meditation, meditation, meditation ... sucking up to senior acolytes as if they are gods ... and conspiratorial service meetings.
If you have any joint investment, protect them now.
Detachment is the BKs favorite word. For them, you cannot love unless you are detached and unencumbered from worldly love. I suspect there is no specific mention to Shiva or BapDada. I suspect he will just use words like "The One", "The Light", "Highest Love" rather than the names of their spirit entities. The BK like to present their spirit guides as 'universal states' in the first place and it is not until you come close to 'The Light' that you will be told that IN the Light there is a spirit being and that it is to that spirit being that you are to surrender all your love. Of course, the 'spirit being' may well be a distraction from the universal Light, and life. Only time will tell.
In what is NOT another ‘relationship manual’, nor a guide on how to be a ‘better lover’, the author takes us on a journey to the highest territory of the human spirit as he clearly reveals in very down to Earth language.
No prizes for guessing what he thinks the "highest territory of human spirit" is. Its their 'BK Raja Yoga'.
It is funny because Mike knows very well all the shortcomings of the BKWSU. He separated himself from the machine and leadership to a certain extent but has then taken much of 'The Knowledge' and made it into his own business. We would argue that was done strictly against the principles of the religion but the Leadership seems to allow it because it is good for their business. Even his apparent "independence" is a good appearance for them. Stealth evangelism.
There may ultimately be a parting of the ways as one or both feel called to be more ... unlimited. Or there may be an attempt to stay in the relationship and still realize the universality of love together. This could be ‘challenging’ as any attachment is like a denial of that universality ...
Of what I can read online, the book is full of Brahma Kumari trigger words ... "unlimited ... The Jewel ... 3 Dimensions ... subtle communication" etc and ditties so beloved of the Indians intimacy equals “Come in (in) to (ti) me (ma) and see (cy) me". BKs can and will buy it and understand what he is getting at. Non-BKs might find it a little poet and mystic ... but that too is the sale angle, "how spiritual!".
If you can give us your review, or quotes, we can comment on them. Thanks.