The Brahma Kumaris offer programmes, retreats and courses for many areas of the community. These courses are tailored for men, women, couples, families, youth and children. But there are also members of the Brahma Kumaris who have created programmes and courses for their own professional groups. These programmes include the Performing Arts, the Visual Arts, Academics, Business, Health, Education, Environment and Sustainability, Social Sciences and more.
The Brahma Kumaris are active in Interfaith work in most states of Australia. Among the Brahma Kumaris community there are representitives from all the main religions.
A New Project called Pasifika Peace has been created to serve the South Pacific Community. Read about this new project here. Read about the aims of each Activity Group below.
Environment
The Environmental Sustainability Wing (ESW) aims to provide an opportunity for Brahma Kumaris meditation practitioners to network, share ideas, provide support and develop programs that can contribute to an Environmentally Sustainable Conscious Society. It includes environmental and sustainability professionals as well as those with an interest in the field.
At the Oz Wings launch at Leura in 2007 the first steps were taken to developing a vision for the ESW in Australia. Three main themes were identified for action:
- BK Operations – development of an environmental policy and guidelines for ensuring environmental management of retreat centres, centres and programs eg green purchasing, energy and water conservation, recycling
- Service programs – sustaining those working in the environmental sustainability field, conference presentations eg Climate Change and Spirituality, Spirit of Environment Retreats
- Education – course information eg Ecological Footprint & Vegetarianism, environmental tips on the BK Intranet, Retreat Centre environmental education/interpretation – nature/contemplation trail eg Leura.
Some of these activities have begun and following on from this brainstorm it was thought to start something specific for Leura and so work was begun on an Environmental Action Plan and a Forest Nature Trail.
Spirit of Environment Retreats have been the inspiration for the development of the Friends Group at the Baxter Retreat Centre in Melbourne who meet monthly to work on bushland regeneration projects.
For details, please contact Gayle Seddon here
Health
The aims of this group are:
- To share information significant to health, healing and wellbeing to interested people in Australia, and including that which may be of national and international relevance.
- To meet and share information and plan activities and events to enhance the BK profile and involvement in health and spirituality-related activities in Australia.
- To promote the Values in Healthcare – a Spiritual Approach program in a way which is best suited to Australian participation and healthcare systems. This includes potential for training events and creating networks of interested people in various states of Australia.
- Furthering connectedness between the multidisciplinary health professionals within the Australian BK group. Sharing of expertise and ideas in new and innovative practises within healthcare and spirituality blending together.
For details, please contact Gopi Elton here
Interfaith
The aims of this group are:
- To share information significant to Interfaith / Multifaith around Australia and that which may be of national and international relevance.
- Assistance in setting up of local interfaith activities in states or cities where these do not exist.
- To meet and share information and plan activities and events to enhance the BK profile and involvement in interfaith in Australia.
- To create events, seminars, retreats and other activities which involve those interested in interfaith within the BK community and friends.
- To participate in the 2009 World Parliament of Religions (WPR) event in Melbourne and be involved in it’s planning by attending specific meetings beforehand.
- To participate in networking and community-building opportunities where the Brahma Kumaris becomes known in the wider interfaith community.
For details, please contact Gopi Elton here