Sakaash wrote:I recently heard that there is a new building being constructed called MukriMata and it will hold 5,000 people. Dadi Janki sort of in a roundabout way asked for donations to put towards this mammoth task of getting this building ready before the next season ... so I've been thinking about giving some of my hard earned cash for this -
Hi Sakaash.
welcome on board.
My first response is that Dadi Janki does not "sort of in a roundabout way" ask for money. She is highly skilled and dedicated to the process of extracting money from followers and has been so for decades. I would go as far to say it is her greatest strength for the Yagya and question whether it was a deciding factor in her appointment as "Global Chief" (a decision we, the followers, were never really let into the discussion of).
My second response is to say that according to the Shrimat of the Sakar Murlis, it was against Shrimat to invest money in all these big properties and I have never seen on record when that Shrimat changed. Others, including the accountant Ramesh I am sure, could probably fill us in on that.
You are probably aware that I am "the forum monster", labelled a one person anti-party by some. But, to be honest, I was and am equally inspired by a search for 'God and the truth', was 'open and vulnerable' when I met the Brahma-kumaris and still wish to serve humanity ... but in my own way now.
I can remember in the early days Janki Kripalani sitting laughing in class saying how, (approx) "we tell people every thing is for free but then we take everything from them; mind, body and wealth". I recall one specific morning in the first main Western center. They were laughing because that day a group of newcomers had come ... and they were never seen again! We were pulled into the laughter because, of course, we thought we were superior and our surrender to them, the Brahma-kumaris, made us feel special. Note, I do not say 'surrender to God' or humanity.
My feeling is that God does not need to be served, and certainly not financially. Humanity does. My intellect says that in this day and age of technology, impressive big buildings with business class or VIP lounges are not as necessary and "the message" can be given to many by other cheaper means. It also strikes me that the original model was for a "family path", e.g. grassroots service household to household, not a "corporate path".
My concerns and suggested avenue for you would be, as Baba instructs us to be, a "clever businessman" and investigate your proposed investment a little further before you are drawn in emotionally. If I had serious areas of concern, it would be NOT about the historical and philosophical revision happening at the hands of the BKWSU leadership BUT with the response to this having been discovered and discussed. Before handing over your stored security in the form of money, I would want to discuss with them in the form of a business investment, the handling of their business.
If you do not feel at ease doing so, or if they make you feel at disease doing so, or if they fail or refuse to respond to you inquiries easily, or if they react ... then I think you have answered you own question. These are not people you can trust to do business with. Pick any of the anomalies, contradictions or case of abuse documented on this forum ... or those of your own concerns. Ask to see the financial accounts for the last few years, as it is one's right in law to do so of any charity. I suggesting doing so will reveal the nature of the beast.
As I said, I do not think God needs serving financially, I think humanity does. So if you are inspired to serve humanity, then I suggest thinking about and proposing a practical service plan, or area, of your own and doing that in God's name. Or give the BKWSU the good PR if you with. I am aware that the money being donated to the Brahma-kumaris (because God does not need money) is money which is being mainly taken from Hindi on the basis of their natural sanskars to give charity and which otherwise would be going to temples, bhandaras and worthy charities. Some or all of this would actually have 'practical benefit', e.g. care for widows, children, feeding the hungry, providing clothes and shelter.
The Brahmakumaris redefine 'bring benefit' and I am not sure just who the benefit is being brought to. As one poster, mr green wrote (approx), "we give them money, they give us virtues". In the UK, the BKWSU tax benefited charity was constituted to quote-unquote "alleviate poverty". In my opinion, in the 30 years of its existence, despite drawing in One to Two Million Pounds Sterling per annum, it has never re-distributed any wealth or established programmes to alleviate anyone else's poverty except for their own ... arriving with only their suitcases, as most immigrants form the sub-continent and Africa did.
If I was to play devil's advocate ... offer to fund for them a public server that provides access to ALL of the Murlis and original documents in their original unedited form for
all those BKs that wish to have them when they want. If that is not enough for you, then at least I will say that the benefit of making a large donation to the BKWSU is that - on record - you will receive; preferential treatment, leniency with the applications of the Maryadas (especially applying to business) and, probably, some extra toli from King Janak.
One last thing, I think most of us here, whose involvement goes right back to the 70s and 80s, have seen grandiose service scheme go to absolute waste. I can remember the embarrassment of standing in large empty halls where the public never turned up and I understand that even the flagship Global Hospital has quite an empty feel to it. Honestly, you have done nothing wrong to post here and would be doing nothing wrong to engage both your and their intellectual faculties. I would love for more individuals to engage looking at the financial accounts and projections instead of leaving the Seniors to spend their time on "serving" super rich VIPs for the Lord of the Poor.
Best and most sincere wishes.