Aruna Ladva invites us to join her on a journey to the BKWSU headquarters in India.
Often referred to as ‘An oasis in the desert’ Mount Abu is the highest peak in the Aravali Range of Rajasthan, western India. Its heights are home to rivers, lakes, waterfalls, and evergreen forests. For centuries, it served as a hill station and a cool summer retreat from the dry dusty plains of Rajasthan for the Rajput kings. In later years, it became a favourite destination for the British Raj seeking to escape the heat of the cities.
Mount Abu is the legendary home of many saints and sages. Hindu Mythology has it that 330 million gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon used to visit this holy mountain, and it is also renowned as the place where the great saint Vashishth lived and performed sacrificial worship to protect the earth from demons. Latter-day visitors to the mountain take the form of pilgrims and tourists who come to see the many beautiful and famous Hindu and Jain temples.
It was in the early 1950’s that the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (BKWSU/BK) moved to this splendid location of Mount Abu serving as the BKWSU world headquarters, the original complex at the top of the mountain remains a centre for administration. It also functions as a beautiful and tranquil Ashram, home to many dedicated brothers and sisters, some from the earliest days of the organisation. Two further campuses have been built over the years; Gyan Sarovar, which means ‘Lake of Knowledge’, is a place for spiritual learning that is home to many retreat guests from all over the world. The other campus Shantivan, meaning ‘Place of Peace’ is at the base of the mountain and caters for the rapidly expanding BK community.
Shantivan houses the largest solar cooking facility in the world, and the largest hall in Asia without pillars – ‘Diamond Hall’. When Diamond Hall is in use, the sight of up to 20,000 people dressed in brilliant white, the preferred colour of the BKs, is truly stunning.
I have made more visits to Madhuban than I can remember, but always in the cooler months of October through to April. This year I am travelling to Madhuban in August for the first time, an out-of-season treat for me. As I wind my way up the mountain in a taxi, I see that the July rains have painted everything green and the place is transformed, it could easily be mistaken for the evergreens of British Columbia or The Pyrenees.
As I arrive at the top, the white washed buildings fade in and out of view in a filigree mist, giving the place an ethereal appearance. This is the place where the founder of the Brahma Kumaris, Brahma Baba, spent many years studying, teaching, and achieving his perfection. As I enter the campus I spot many familiar faces, which greet me with a loving acknowledgement of the eyes, ‘Drishti’ and a sweet ‘Om Shanti’ (a greeting of peace), that reassures the soul it has arrived home.
My first stop after dropping my luggage is to visit Dadi Janki, the head of the BKWSU. As I enter her room, I see Dadi, a petite lady in her nineties, dressed in something akin to a white kaftan. Her hair is combed neatly and shaped into a slim plait at the back, and in bizarre contrast to this homely scene, she is wielding a Blackberry in her right hand. I am reminded that Dadi, far from being old, is ageless, and she is undaunted by anything. Dadi will use whatever tool is needed to get a job done, in this case she had found a method to honour the confidentiality of the many e-mails she receives each day.
Dadi looks at me and her face lights up. She greets me with “Wah” – meaning “wonderful!” Dadi has a way of making one feel special, even if you don’t feel wonderful in that moment. I go over to her and the real meeting takes place through the eyes, ‘Drishti’ this graceful way of looking in to the soul of another and seeing their inner beauty.
I have known Dadi now for just over 34 years, I met her just a few years after she moved to London. She has always been sweet and encouraging towards me and held a vision for me that perhaps I could not hold for myself. Over time, she has become my mother and mentor, with many of the decisions I have made in my life being guided by her.
From her many years in London (she was sent to London from India in 1972 to begin service here), Dadi has learnt to adapt to the west like no one else I know. At 94 she still maintains her discipline of 4am meditation and has a continuous line of people wishing to meet with her throughout the day. She has no academic credentials behind her name yet runs this huge organisation, with over 8000 branches in more than a hundred countries, with a shrewd and judicious intellect. Her memory is sharp and so is her eyesight.
Dadi asks me about my various travels and the people I have connected with over the last few months, the questions are sincere, as she genuinely cares. Dadi is like a back bone, the spine of this spiritual family, not because we depend upon her, but more because she is the glue that binds us all together.
She goes on to ask about my spiritual efforts, I have nothing to hide and I can only be honest, because after all I would only be deceiving myself. She adds her own words of wisdom and experience and my homework here has already been set!
It is dusk now and I am beckoned to the ‘Tower of Peace’ a monument made of marble which is dedicated the founder, Brahma Baba. The rains have died down and the sky has turned orange and pink with streaks of blue. The soft breeze hits my cheeks and I am already transported far, far away from this mountain.
The practice of Meditation and the lifestyle that follows has been an integral part of my life from the age of eight. It has certainly developed and matured as I have. Being at peace at 14 is significantly different from being at peace at 40.
I am truly convinced, more than ever, that if we are to survive in this complicated, and chaotic world, then spirituality must be an important and integral part of our practice. The Brahma Kumaris University has so much to offer, that no one walks away empty handed. Like the Kings of India, you will certainly find the rest and calm your soul is seeking on this mountain.
Om Shanti – a greeting of peace
Brahma Kumaris is a registered charity in England & Wales (269971) and
Scotland (SCO40512)
