pages 2-3 page 3 page 4

The Inner WaveThe Inner WaveNews, insights and experiences from the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (UK)

Issue 7: Sept /Oct 2009

Welcome to this 1st birthday issue of the Inner Wave. A warm thank you from all of us for your support, comments and ideas about the

newsletter – please keep them coming to newsletter@uk.bkwsu.org. In this issue we explore what is meant by inner power and

protection. Editorial Team

© Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (UK)The Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (UK) teaches Raja Yoga as a way of experiencing peace of mind and a positive approach to life.

For more information about our activities around the UK, please see www.bkwsu.org/uk Registered Charity in England & Wales (269971) and Scotland (SC040512)

SSnnaappsshhoottss frroomm oour ppaarrtner oorrggaanniissaattiioons aroundd tthhee wwoorrlldd

What’sInside...

I was introduced to meditation while at

college. I used to be very shy but, after

learning about spirituality, I began to open up,

make friends and feel more confident.

 Later, at uni, I gave up drinking and smoking

- not because I felt I had to; it just came

naturally. My friends found this weird but

cool, as it’s something people find hard to do.

 It was at uni that I started making films. The

first one I made was about how all religions

are talking about the same things. I’ve since

done a lot of video projects for the BKs and

now work professionally as a filmmaker. I

want to use film to help create a better world.

 Raja Yoga has helped me be naturally

positive.  It’s built me up inside and enabled

me to express my true personality more

deeply. I’m a fun-loving, enthusiastic person

but I can also be serious. It has also helped

me organise things in my head.  For instance,

when I was burgled at uni and my computer

with all my work on it was taken, I actually

remember smiling at the time. OK, there was

an ‘Oh man!’ moment, when I realised what

had gone, but then I just made a list of what

needed to be replaced and then said to

Haiti: Volunteers for The Children’s Voice Foundation taking

part in Living Values Education training in Port au Prince on

27th July 2009. LVE is a partnership project of the Brahma

Kumaris. www.livingvalues.net

USA: An exhibit at the Peace, Power & Protection

Village Fair at Peace Village in Upstate New York, 29th

August – 6th September 2009, which celebrated the

Learning & Retreat Center’s 10th birthday.

myself: time to move on.   That ability to

organise my thoughts means that events

don’t overtake me.

 Meditation is like finding something you

never knew you’d lost and then realising: ‘Oh,

yes!’ It’s so subtle and very powerful.  Medi-

tating for a few minutes isn’t going to change

everything. It’s the months and years of

practice that are transforming me, making

me feel calm and peaceful.  I feel I’ve grown

and gained strength. It’s fun, down to earth,

deep and practical - I use it every day.

 Bipin Anand is a film-maker and an active member of the Brahma Kumaris involved in media and youth work teaching practical, values-based living.

Learn to meditateFor information about free Raja Yoga

meditation courses around the UK:

www.bkwsu.org/uk/uk/whatwedo/

courses

Visit our online TV channel Watch videos of interviews, lectures and other Brahma Kumaris events (mostly in English) around the UK www.BrahmaKumarisUK.blip.tv

Join our mailing listSign up to receive The Inner Wave, Thought for the Day or events in your area by email at

www.bkwsu.org/uk/mailing_lists

A Reflection at Dusk

Ultimately, I only have what I truly am.

That is strength.

If I have borrowed strength from a name,

A role, a position a group or a person

There comes a point when it all dissolves

and I will feel empty,

Floundering for a sense of identity and

Desperate for self esteem.

I go ‘inside’ and find myself.

All support, all wisdom, all solutions are

already there.

Simply, I need to remember.

From Reflections at Dawn, Day and Dusk

available from www.bkpublications.com

In My Life

Bipin Anand

To be able to generate and sustain inner

power you need a change of attitude, vision,

and perception.  This has been my own

experience and it has made a huge difference

to me. But it is no small matter; you are

talking about radically changing your outlook

on life.  It’s a conceptual shift to understand

that there can be space between you, the

observer of life, and the part you are playing

in it. 

 

When you see yourself as a physical being,

then, because the material world is in a state

of constant flux, keeping up with change

becomes progressively draining. You suffer,

because your sense of who you are is defined

by those things that can be at risk - like your

job, your partner, your health. You lose power

in the sense that you lose equanimity, happi-

ness and clarity of judgement.  You also lose

your compassion, your ability to be sensitive

to others, because of being needy yourself.

 

My understanding now is that we’ve all come

from the Seed, a Source of goodness, peace

and compassion - which is our original nature

too. When we let go of the thinking patterns

that create selfishness, we start to experi-

ence that original nature and this puts us on

the same wavelength as the Source.

Divine protection isn’t about helping us pass

our exams or earn more money, let alone win

a war; it is at a level where what is protected

is the flow of goodness, unselfishness and

joy that human beings experience when they

feel able to live true to their innermost

nature.  Right now, the world seems to be

re-awakening to the need for this kind of

power. 

 

When we learn to align with Divine purpose,

it is as though we ride a wave that carries us

over what might otherwise have seemed like

insuperable obstacles. This is a powerful

way of thinking to help us in our everyday

efforts to live by our highest values.

 Neville Hodgkinson is a writer and journalist, specialising in health and science issues. He has been practising Raja Yoga meditation for 30 years.

Meeting Life’s ChallengesNeville Hodgkinson

“ I make a point of

creating thoughts and

feelings of happiness,

peace and benevolence,

which make me feel

better – not worse.”

Bipin Anand at a retreat for emerging leaders from many professions aged 18-30 entitled

Choose, Change & Become at Global Retreat Centre, Oxfordshire, September 2009.

Next issue: Time

“ Spirituality gives you

strength.

”“ I do experience

protection but I have to tune

into it.

”

Russia: Dadi Gulzar, Co-Administrative Head of the Brahma

Kumaris, inaugurates the 'Golden Dawn' Festival in St Petersburg

on September 17th 2009, along with representatives of the

Russian capital’s TV, arts and academic circles.

Neville Hodgkinson

Experiencing Inner Power & Protection

The Voice of Stillness

Special Feature Elizabeth Edmunds

“

Power & ProtSpec

“ Meditation is like finding something you never knew

you’d lost and then realizing: Oh, yes!

”

In My LifeBipin Anand

You are what you

think…

Love, purity,

peace, wisdom.

The more you

think of these

things,

The more you will

become them.

Dadi Janki, From Companion of God,

available from www.bkpublications.com

E is for Elevated Thinking

The A-Z of Spiritual Living

London area

Blackheath

Covent Garden

Croydon

Ealing

Finchley

Hounslow

Ilford

Kensington & Chelsea

Lewisham

Stanmore

Tooting

Upton Park

Wembley

Willesden Green

Sheffield

Stoke on Trent

Manchester

Newcastle

NottinghamLoughborough

Birmingham

BrightonWorrthing

Bristol

CambridgeBury St Edmunds

Haverhill

Cardiff

Chelmsford

Coventry

Crawley

Eastbourne

EdinburghGlasgow

Leeds

Leicester

Bournemouth

Peterborough

Canterbury

Bradford

GillinghamRochester

Tunbridge Wells

Wellingborough

Sandwich

Newton Abbot

WindsorReading

Oxford

Mold - N. Wales

Broadstairs

‘UK society increasingly fearful’ was a story run by BBC News earlier this year, about recent research by the Mental Health Foundation. “The report, In the Face of Fear, found more than a third of people say they get frightened or more anxious more often than they used to, while 77% thought the world had become a scarier place.” (BBC News website 14.4.09 )

Yet people everywhere are facing huge challenges and making the right choices in life by relying their own inner strength and courage – often experi-encing a protection and strength beyond human capacity. How do we harness our inner strength? Is Divine protection possible? How do we access this? And what effect do such experiences have on our own lives and the lives of those around us?

In September 2009 this project was launched in over 70 countries worldwide to explore these questions, share some simple yet profound techniques of Raja Yoga meditation and encourage people to share their own experiences of inner strength and the support of a higher power in their lives. 56 events took place throughout the UK and people around the world have visited and contributed their stories on our blog: www.powerandprotection.org

From Simple Vegetarian Recipes available from www.bkpublications.com

Experiencing Inner Power & Protection

Sir Gulam Noon, Founder and Chairman of Noon Products and the Noon Foundation. Sir Gulam was trapped in the Taj Hotel during the terrorist attack in Mumbai, November 2008.

“Spirituality gives you strength. A spiritual person does not have to fear. When my brother asked, “What is going to happen?” I said, “Something will happen and then we’ll be saved.” When you are a spiritual person, there is an intuition also, because spirituality and intuition are connected… Call it spirituality or what you like, but you must have the courage of conviction in your own mind and that will carry you through your life.”

Supapong Krishnakan, Chairman of Rayong Purifier PCL, Thailand (Excerpt from the blog: A Life Changing Moment, 27th September 2009). Unemployed for three years with a family to support, he challenges God: For all the good things I’ve done, why am I in this situation?

“…At that moment, as I succumbed to the stillness and quiet, the answer came! It was a soft whisper, like a breeze softly blowing in my face. I heard, not through my ears but with my heart, “Of all the things you’ve done, nothing was wrong. The only thing wrong was that you thought you did it all yourself.” This answer made me realize my problem. I had a big idea about myself. I thought I had been successful; everything was always centred on me and how good I was… Suddenly I realized that there were a lot of people, a lot of things, involved with my success and that there was a lot more purpose in life than to be successful in a worldly way. My spiritual eye opened up, I saw the world anew and suddenly everything became very still. I got up, put on my good clothes and

faced the world with different feelings…” www.powerandprotection.org

Sister Jayanti, Director, Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (UK)

“There are many different types of energy – physical, spiritual, emotional and also Godly energy. Godly energy is when I can link myself with the Supreme, I can experience God’s power around me and the energy of love, truth and light and that protects me from whatever negativity is around me. It also helps me to protect myself from the negativity within me – such as ego, anger and greed. A spiritual practice, such as meditation, silence or prayer, allows me to generate that energy that can protect me personally but also extend out and protect others too.”

Emily Buchanan, World Affairs Correspondent, BBC Radio 4 and BBC World Service, who escaped unscathed from a light aircraft that had crash landed in Zimbabwe in 1992.

“I didn’t think I was going to die; it just seemed so unreal. But, when it was over, I did think it extraordinary that I hadn’t. Lots of people had lots of theories afterwards. Was it angels, ancestors, God – I’ve no idea – but it was something. I don’t think I had a strong sense of who I was at the time, I wasn’t particularly aware of my inner power, yet still there was some sense of being protected. My question is: are you safer, if you are aware? Perhaps it’s a case of: these things can happen to you and it is how you tackle them. You are more able to deal with situations, because you don’t panic and so there’s less of that pointless energy of worry and anxiety. In this way I suppose you can protect yourself from all sorts of things.”

5 Steps that can help us to experience inner power and protection

1. Let every day begin with a ‘good morning’ to the self, to God and to life. The first thought of the day gives

me power and peace.

2. Everything, everyone is my teacher. No matter how difficult, how unexpected, how unwanted, since it has

come in my life, I ask myself, “What do I learn now?”

3. Every two hours I put a brake on my mind and tongue and become quiet; just a minute to be peaceful. I stop,

relax, recharge and then re-enter the flow of daily activities.

4. I ‘put a fullstop’ as soon as I see myself complaining and blaming. These two habits destroy my inner power

completely, because they show I am still expecting solutions and changes from others.

5. During the day I say ‘thank you’ to God, to life, that today I exist, today I can express, today I can share love.

The Voice of StillnessElizabeth Edmunds

I do experience protection but I have to tune into it. I am very aware that I

am not on my own. Yet it is my own voice – not a great voice coming down

from heaven. It’s very internal; it is steady and sure and doesn’t say as

much as the moving mind.

I meditate twice a day - to somehow access a space beyond the mind,

where there is an absence of words, but not of presence. It is as if the joy of

God is in that space and at that point you join it. Anybody could access this. It isn’t anybody’s.

Going around my daily duties, I wouldn’t expect to hear voices. It’s more when I’m intent on doing something for

somebody else or for the Absolute. In relation to Just This Day, for instance, it will help me, when I think, “Perhaps I

shouldn’t do this”, it will take me through barriers, or, when idleness comes, it will

say, “Come on, do the next thing.”

Elizabeth Edmunds is a member of the School of Economic Science and Founder of

Just This Day, a worldwide initiative taking place on Wednesday 25th November,

uniting people in creating peace and stillness, which the Brahma Kumaris are

pleased to support www.justthisday.org.

RECIPE: Black Velvet Cake2 2/3 cups flour

2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

2 tbsp honey or 6oz sugar

2/3 cup oil

Mix all together, beat well and bake at Gas 4 for approximately 25 minutes. Ice with carob or cocoa icing.

2 cups water

6 tbsp carob or cocoa powder

2 tsp baking powder

2 tbsp vinegar

Elizabeth Edmunds

Eventsaround the

UKSeptember

- October2009

pages 2-3 page 3 page 4

The Inner WaveThe Inner WaveNews, insights and experiences from the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (UK)

Issue 7: Sept /Oct 2009

Welcome to this 1st birthday issue of the Inner Wave. A warm thank you from all of us for your support, comments and ideas about the

newsletter – please keep them coming to newsletter@uk.bkwsu.org. In this issue we explore what is meant by inner power and

protection. Editorial Team

© Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (UK)The Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (UK) teaches Raja Yoga as a way of experiencing peace of mind and a positive approach to life.

For more information about our activities around the UK, please see www.bkwsu.org/uk Registered Charity in England & Wales (269971) and Scotland (SC040512)

SSnnaappsshhoottss frroomm oour ppaarrtner oorrggaanniissaattiioons aroundd tthhee wwoorrlldd

What’sInside...

I was introduced to meditation while at

college. I used to be very shy but, after

learning about spirituality, I began to open up,

make friends and feel more confident.

 Later, at uni, I gave up drinking and smoking

- not because I felt I had to; it just came

naturally. My friends found this weird but

cool, as it’s something people find hard to do.

 It was at uni that I started making films. The

first one I made was about how all religions

are talking about the same things. I’ve since

done a lot of video projects for the BKs and

now work professionally as a filmmaker. I

want to use film to help create a better world.

 Raja Yoga has helped me be naturally

positive.  It’s built me up inside and enabled

me to express my true personality more

deeply. I’m a fun-loving, enthusiastic person

but I can also be serious. It has also helped

me organise things in my head.  For instance,

when I was burgled at uni and my computer

with all my work on it was taken, I actually

remember smiling at the time. OK, there was

an ‘Oh man!’ moment, when I realised what

had gone, but then I just made a list of what

needed to be replaced and then said to

Haiti: Volunteers for The Children’s Voice Foundation taking

part in Living Values Education training in Port au Prince on

27th July 2009. LVE is a partnership project of the Brahma

Kumaris. www.livingvalues.net

USA: An exhibit at the Peace, Power & Protection

Village Fair at Peace Village in Upstate New York, 29th

August – 6th September 2009, which celebrated the

Learning & Retreat Center’s 10th birthday.

myself: time to move on.   That ability to

organise my thoughts means that events

don’t overtake me.

 Meditation is like finding something you

never knew you’d lost and then realising: ‘Oh,

yes!’ It’s so subtle and very powerful.  Medi-

tating for a few minutes isn’t going to change

everything. It’s the months and years of

practice that are transforming me, making

me feel calm and peaceful.  I feel I’ve grown

and gained strength. It’s fun, down to earth,

deep and practical - I use it every day.

 Bipin Anand is a film-maker and an active member of the Brahma Kumaris involved in media and youth work teaching practical, values-based living.

Learn to meditateFor information about free Raja Yoga

meditation courses around the UK:

www.bkwsu.org/uk/uk/whatwedo/

courses

Visit our online TV channel Watch videos of interviews, lectures and other Brahma Kumaris events (mostly in English) around the UK www.BrahmaKumarisUK.blip.tv

Join our mailing listSign up to receive The Inner Wave, Thought for the Day or events in your area by email at

www.bkwsu.org/uk/mailing_lists

A Reflection at Dusk

Ultimately, I only have what I truly am.

That is strength.

If I have borrowed strength from a name,

A role, a position a group or a person

There comes a point when it all dissolves

and I will feel empty,

Floundering for a sense of identity and

Desperate for self esteem.

I go ‘inside’ and find myself.

All support, all wisdom, all solutions are

already there.

Simply, I need to remember.

From Reflections at Dawn, Day and Dusk

available from www.bkpublications.com

In My Life

Bipin Anand

To be able to generate and sustain inner

power you need a change of attitude, vision,

and perception.  This has been my own

experience and it has made a huge difference

to me. But it is no small matter; you are

talking about radically changing your outlook

on life.  It’s a conceptual shift to understand

that there can be space between you, the

observer of life, and the part you are playing

in it. 

 

When you see yourself as a physical being,

then, because the material world is in a state

of constant flux, keeping up with change

becomes progressively draining. You suffer,

because your sense of who you are is defined

by those things that can be at risk - like your

job, your partner, your health. You lose power

in the sense that you lose equanimity, happi-

ness and clarity of judgement.  You also lose

your compassion, your ability to be sensitive

to others, because of being needy yourself.

 

My understanding now is that we’ve all come

from the Seed, a Source of goodness, peace

and compassion - which is our original nature

too. When we let go of the thinking patterns

that create selfishness, we start to experi-

ence that original nature and this puts us on

the same wavelength as the Source.

Divine protection isn’t about helping us pass

our exams or earn more money, let alone win

a war; it is at a level where what is protected

is the flow of goodness, unselfishness and

joy that human beings experience when they

feel able to live true to their innermost

nature.  Right now, the world seems to be

re-awakening to the need for this kind of

power. 

 

When we learn to align with Divine purpose,

it is as though we ride a wave that carries us

over what might otherwise have seemed like

insuperable obstacles. This is a powerful

way of thinking to help us in our everyday

efforts to live by our highest values.

 Neville Hodgkinson is a writer and journalist, specialising in health and science issues. He has been practising Raja Yoga meditation for 30 years.

Meeting Life’s ChallengesNeville Hodgkinson

“ I make a point of

creating thoughts and

feelings of happiness,

peace and benevolence,

which make me feel

better – not worse.”

Bipin Anand at a retreat for emerging leaders from many professions aged 18-30 entitled

Choose, Change & Become at Global Retreat Centre, Oxfordshire, September 2009.

Next issue: Time

“ Spirituality gives you

strength.

”“ I do experience

protection but I have to tune

into it.

”

Russia: Dadi Gulzar, Co-Administrative Head of the Brahma

Kumaris, inaugurates the 'Golden Dawn' Festival in St Petersburg

on September 17th 2009, along with representatives of the

Russian capital’s TV, arts and academic circles.

Neville Hodgkinson

Experiencing Inner Power & Protection

The Voice of Stillness

Special Feature Elizabeth Edmunds

“

Power & ProtSpec

“ Meditation is like finding something you never knew

you’d lost and then realizing: Oh, yes!

”

In My LifeBipin Anand

You are what you

think…

Love, purity,

peace, wisdom.

The more you

think of these

things,

The more you will

become them.

Dadi Janki, From Companion of God,

available from www.bkpublications.com

E is for Elevated Thinking

The A-Z of Spiritual Living