What is Brahma Kumaris? Is it a religious cult or a spiritual movement? How did a movement that began in the 1930s in Hyderabad, Sindh (now in Pakistan), grow to have over a million followers and 5000 centres in 135 countries worldwide? What is the purpose of Brahma Kumaris? How do its followers view religion, and why do women hold key administrative positions within the organization? In this episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, BK Shivani answers these questions. A practitioner and teacher of Rajyoga Meditation since 1996, BK Shivani is a well-known TV personality and the host of the show 'Awakening With Brahma Kumaris', which focuses on mental stress, happiness, and relationships. She also shares her thoughts on Ram Rajya, Akhand Bharat, and parenting in this insightful conversation. 00:00 - Introduction 01:56 - How Brahma Kumaris Began 10:58 - Ram Rajya & Akhand Bharat 15:18 - The Role of Religion in People’s Lives 21:20 - Why BK Shivani Joined Brahma Kumaris 28:02 - Adopting Celibacy 30:28 - Why Do Brahma Kumaris Wear White Clothes? 35:37 - Rules of Celibacy 40:45 - How to End Violence and Crime 47:17 - Garbh Sanskar Explained 54:22 - Outside vs. Home-Cooked Food 56:46 - Attachment vs. Love 01:03:08 - Can You Always Think Right? 01:09:08 - Why Don’t Brahma Kumaris Eat Outside? 01:14:06 - Is the End of Kalyug Near? 01:16:09 - What Is Forgiveness? 01:23:57 - How Are Atheists Taught Spirituality? 01:29:58 - Do Issues Vary Between the Rich and the Poor? 01:32:15 - Holidays: Before vs. Now 01:38:51 - Can Anyone Change Someone’s Thinking? 01:43:28 - BK Shivani’s Thoughts on Crime and Violence 01:46:35 - Is There Any Role of Destiny in Life? 01:52:50 - Talking to a Loved One at Life’s Final Stage 02:07:38 - Live-In Relationships 02:09:02 - Substance Abuse 02:15:58 - Social Media 02:17:19 - The Joy of Missing Out 02:19:54 - Divorce 02:28:37 - News Debates 02:30:18 - Sex Education 02:34:46 - What Is Love? 02:37:42 - Stress 02:40:43 - Therapy