Citation:
Abstract:
Abstract: Brahma Kumaris, the largest women-led spiritual organization in the world with over 8000 centers in over 110 countries, has successfully countered the imbalances of power in the spiritual realm in which men dominate as spiritual authorities. All administrative heads of the Brahma Kumaris organization are women as a foundational principle, and the Brahma Kumaris centers around the world are also primarily administered and staffed by women. Even in patriarchal societies such as India where the organization is spiritually headquartered, women have been empowered to pursue their dreams of having a spiritual focus. They are learning to teach to spiritually serve people from all levels of society versus being limited to their traditional roles of serving their immediate family members. The majority of the organization is mothers living at home with their families, in addition to tens of thousands of dedicated female teachers who reside at centers.
Presenter bio: Sudarshan Sundar has been a student and teacher of Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Meditation since 2001. Sudarshan helped start and co-coordinated the activities of "Inner Space Meditation Center and Gallery" in Harvard Square from 2012 to 2020. Since 2021, Sudarshan has served as the Spiritual Affiliate for Brahma Kumaris at Northeastern University's Center for Spirituality Dialogue and Service. Sudarshan has been a Software Engineer by profession at Microsoft since 2003 and also serves as a part-time Regional IT Coordinator for the organization since 2011.
Judy Rodgers has been a student of the Brahma Kumaris and teacher of raj yoga meditation for 27 years. She spent much of her working life in media and as a consultant and communication strategist, working with businesses and universities. The emphasis in her work has been on the power of narrative, how the questions we ask ourselves and the stories we tell ourselves affect our life journeys.
In 2004 she co-founded the Center for Business as Agent of World Benefit at Case Western Reserve University. In 2007 she co-authored a book on altruism called Something Beyond Greatness: Conversations with a Man of Science and a Woman of God. Since 2006 she has lived in the Brahma Kumaris’ Peace Village Retreat Center in the Catskill Mountains north of New York City.
Presenter affiliation: Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organization