How joining more than ONE million people in more than 135 countries in the ONE Initiative can transform your life, and possibly the world.
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What happens within us, and in the world, when numbers of people form the connection – them to source, source to all, all to each other?
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“One thought, one breath, one second, one source.” So begins the Release Your Wings video explaining the Brahma Kumari ONE Initiative.
Beginning September 15, 2014, and for ONE week, culminating in a Finale on September 21, 2014, involving more than one million people, at Brahma Kumari centers in over 135 countries, an initiative to deepen the relationship with the Divine, a time of meditation, awareness, and remembrance.
Being with One for one week.
It’s worth pondering — the impact of group intention. What happens within us, and in the world, when numbers of people form the connection – them to source, source to all, all to each other?
This is an opportunity to find out.
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It’s easy to believe that the world is going “to hell in a hand basket.” You don’t have to be a writer for media outlets to see “proof” of that all around.
But I also see proof of change.
The Brahma Kumaris refer to the time we’re in now as the “Age of Confluence.” A time of change, a time of remembering the true nature of the soul, a time of returning to awareness of our divinity and our relationship to the “One.”
It’s easy to believe that the world is going “to hell in a hand basket.” You don’t have to be a writer for media outlets to see “proof” of that all around.
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Do you feel it? I do. I feel it in the worst of news stories, because I know that when there is a shift toward the spirit there is a natural, equal and opposite, reaction, of limited consciousness and fear based thinking. And I feel it in the responses to the stories. Anger and hate, yes. But also compassion and determination. For change.
It’s often difficult to stay grounded in spirit when you’re writing about events in Ferguson, or college rape, or your own history of abuse. I can attest that, for me, meditation is a part of that grounding. While I wrote about dealing with emotional bombardment in this Huffington Post article, which was partially inspired by a study session with the Brahma Kumaris, I still fall prey at times to the overwhelming sense of powerlessness, of being too small a voice, too insignificant a presence, too weak a spirit to withstand the tide of one tragic story after another.
But another part of that grounding is fellowship. Surrounding myself with others, in person and in spirit, who are striving to form and deepen that connection — to their own divinity, to the divine source, to all other souls.
This coming week we are called to be a part of that fellowship. In a shift away from separation, away from us and them, and good and evil. A shift within yourself and a shift in the energy of the world.
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As I talked with Sister Helen of the Tampa Brahma Kumari Center (and the creator of the video that follows) I become more and more curious about the power of group energy. Why, I asked, is this movement important to the individual and to the world?
She was kind enough to ask those questions of some of the people who plan to participate. She sent me responses from the Brahma Kumaris who have spent months organizing the ONE Initiative, from Christian spiritual leaders, and from people who are drawn to be a part of this initiative, as I am, for the opportunity to have fellowship and guidance as we devote one week to being with ONE.
Sister Mohini, Director of The Harmony House, which is the Brahma Kumari’s U.S. headquarters, in writing to the Brahma Kumari family in preparation for the ONE Initiative said:
I just wanted to share with all of you news of the gigantic wave of enthusiasm that is rippling through the Brahmin family worldwide, and invite you to invest yourself completely in the magical weeks ahead. From September 15th to 21st, the ONE Initiative goes public; all Centers are requested to open their doors to the public in the morning and the evening and invite souls into the spiritual atmosphere such that they can have a personal and clear experience of Baba. If we all put our hearts completely into this initiative, I envision the impact of three beautiful waves spanning the world from morning to evening every day during that week.
Sister Veronica McHugh, Brahma Kumaris, Florida Region shared her insights:
This time with the ONE is giving us the courage to go to the mirror again and to take care of those things we have been avoiding. We really get to see ourselves clearly in the mirror. For me it has been a really positive good energy and I anticipate something really good coming out of it.
Even though our invitation is for those who might not normally meditate, there is a feeling that the ones who are arranging and organizing it our going to take a lot of benefit. I can feel this move already, in terms of energy. Now that all the preparations are finished, we too will make some kind of commitment (for lack of a better word). As we commit to being here for all of the sessions, it showing a mark of respect for each other.
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Debbie Moss, a Unity Minister in Tampa, Florida added a Christian perspective:
The One movement is important because we are all connected to the One, Creator of all. There is a spark of divinity within all people, that spark is created by & is connected to the One. Connecting to the One we are connecting with all of God’s creation & all of our global neighbors.
The One movement is important to the world because as we pray & meditate we are sending love, healing, peace & harmony to all & contributing positive thoughts to the collective consciousness of humanity.
Participating through group prayer & meditation is a beneficial spiritual activity creating increased good health physically & mentally for ourselves & others we hold in our prayers & thoughts.
In following the teachings of Jesus, he said “you are the light of the world…let your light shine. Our light shines brightly when we are in prayer & meditation with the One. The Spark of Divinity within every human being is the light of the world. The more we connect with the One, the brighter our light shines through our words, actions & deeds. We have an impact on all of those around us as we allow the light of the One to shine through us. God works through us & as us, we are expressions of the One.
Barbara Moss Abramson, a speaker and coach in Orlando, Florida, added:
The ONE movement is an opportunity to tune in to my connection to both myself and the Divine. Because I believe the Divine is inside all of us, the connection is even more powerful. Connecting to the Divine, whatever that may be for someone, on a World level, bring about a sense of community and belonging with each other. We are all connected and when we look at connections versus how we are far apart, we form bonds of being ONE. What an incredible opportunity for the world to join together in a positive movement of unity.
My participation in the ONE movement empowers me to be an ambassador of all that is Divine – within myself and to acknowledge the Divine in everyone I meet. It is an awareness that we are all part of the same source, whatever we individually may call it. As an ambassador of the Divine, I become an ambassador of peace.
I’m grateful for the fellowship with people, face to face and digital, who help me deepen my awareness, and expand my remembering, of who I truly am, and where I truly belong.
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For myself, I’m grateful for the nudge to focus, for one week, on my relationship with the One. I’m grateful for the fellowship with people, face to face and digital, who help me deepen my awareness, and expand my remembering, of who I truly am, and where I truly belong.
I’m grateful for the guided meditations, Daily “Insperience” and other resources provided (especially since the nearest Brahma Kumari centers are five hours drive time from my door) and that the same technology that brings me the news of the world, the same technology that carries my thoughts and opinions and hopes back into the world, that technology also allows me to be a part of the ONE Initiative.
I’ll be joining from my own home. I hope you’ll be joining from wherever you are.
In the ONE Initiative, and the shift that we can bring by being ONE.
RESOURCES:
ONE Iniative (Daily Insperience, Guided Meditations, Suggestions for deepening the connection to One, and more)
Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University
BK Meditation Museum (America Meditating Radio, Pause for Peace free App)
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Title Photo: Flickr/mrhayata
Additional photos and video courtesy of Tampa Brahma Kumaris