Spiritual Applications Research Centre (SpARC Wing)
A Research Wing of
Rajyoga Education and Research Foundation (RERF), Brahma
Kumaris
Background
The world has seen considerable progress in
material and technological terms over the last century. Today, there is a
heightened awareness that sustainable development is possible only by adopting
a values based framework. More and more people from all walks of life are
recognizing the need for spiritual development in order to cope with the
pressures of day to day life.
In the past, the topics of thought &
consciousness, wisdom & morality and meaning & purpose of life have remained
the debating ground of Philosophers and Theologians but have not yielded fruits
that benefit humanity at large.
Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa
Vidyalaya (PBKIVV) and its sister organization Rajayoga Education &
Research Foundation (RERF) have been serving society at all levels through its
various wings. Each wing aims to provide a spiritual approach that can bring
about sustainable development in its respective domain.
The Spiritual Applications Research Centre
(SpARC) was formed in 1995 as an internal research group that would dedicate
itself in exploring and experimenting with applications of the spiritual knowledge
of this institution towards the cause of world service.
The International Coordinating Centre for
SpARC is situated in hall No. 13 at the International Centre for Higher
Learning which is a part of the Academy for a Better World, Gyan Sarovar
complex, Mt. Abu .
SpARC is focused on projects that
experimented with practical applications of Rajayoga in daily life. In
addition, Special Interest Groups (SIG) were formed that explored diverse
topics ranging from the Nature of Time and Space to Values in Business.
Over the time it was observed that SpARC had
another critical role to play. Researchers from all backgrounds invest
considerable time and energy in developing their own disciplines. But the
increase in specialization has resulted in each group working in silos. Of
late, there have been some efforts in providing interdisciplinary approaches in
solving specific problems or bringing development in a few related disciplines.
The need was to provide a platform that allowed researchers from all
backgrounds to congregate on a spiritual basis so that meaningful conversations
and cross-pollination of ideas could take place.
With the blessings of the Almighty, SpARC has
been refocused as a service wing to offer this interdisciplinary spiritual
platform for researchers.
Godly Version:
“It is good that all of you have gathered
here to do research. To the extent you do research whilst sitting in the room
of introversion, to that extent you will receive good touching (divine
inspirations). On the basis of these touching, many souls will benefit. It is
good. But move forward whilst having the
balance of yoga and experimentation. Otherwise everything is good. To the
extent you churn, to that extent butter will emerge. Very good butter will
emerge which will make everyone powerful.”
SpARC Logo
The SpARC logo represents Reality in
terms of three facets, viz., material, temporal and spiritual that are
indicated by three orthogonal circles. The horizontal circle with ‘atom’
indicates cyclic movement of atoms and other physical particles in physical
plane. The vertical circle with ‘soul’ symbolizes as star indicating movement
of soul from metaphysical to physical and back to metaphysical again. The flat circle
in plane of paper indicates universe repeating in identical cycles
Vision
Building a better tomorrow through applied
spirituality.
To engage in holistic research and foster an
interdisciplinary approach on a spiritual foundation in order to develop
effective tools and techniques for the benefit of people from all walks of
life.
Aim and Objective
There is growing need that the fields of scientific
knowledge and spiritual understanding should complement each other for
retrieving the lost glory of a value based society. This is only possible when
spiritual understandings are analysed systematically so that they can be
understood in a convenient way by all sections of society.
In order to achieve this objective, Spiritual
Applications Research Centre (SpARC) has been established in 1995 to conduct
and promote research blend various branches of learning to enhance our
understanding of reality as well as to find applications of spirituality to
overcome problems faced by humanity.
Modus Oprandi
SpARC operates as a research wing.
Researchers who are interested in SpARC activities across the globe communicate
and collaborate using websites, Internet and other media technologies.
Researchers of SpARC participate as Special Interest Groups (SIG), which hold
discussions through, electronic forums. These Researchers also gather for
meetings conducted at Head Quarters, Mount Abu and at convenient venues as and
when required. These meetings are in the form of informal dialogue, seminars,
discussions and workshops. In addition, Conference for Researchers of all
disciplines is organized annually, at Mt. Abu ,
to highlight how Researchers can inculcate Spirituality in their professional
and personal life to sharpen their research skills. These types of programmes
are also organized in different cities of India like Ahmedabad, Bangalore,
Barshi, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Coimbatore, Cuttack, Delhi, Hyderabad,
Jalgaon, Indore, Mumbai, Pune, Shahada, Solapur, Vallabh Vidya Nagar, etc.
Sponsors (Individual & Institutional)
wishing to promote the activities of the SpARC fund specific activities.
Institutions and Individuals with relevant expertise who share the goals of
SpARC are invited to form collaborative links with the centre.
Local Chapter
Since the very beginning of the projects in 1995
every year many BK sisters and brothers come from various corners of the world
to attend the SpARC meetings at Head Quarters which is situated in the Academy
for a Better World, Gyan Sarovar, Mt. Abu .
Each meeting has been a great occasion for “SpARClers” to present their papers
and share their knowledge. Over the years
several SIGs have been formed and in August 1999, it was decided to form Local
Chapters (LCs) or geographical groups of “SpARClers”. Thus the sisters and
brothers belonging to a geographical area can meet frequently share their expertise
carry out proper churning or undertake research activity in a more effective
way. Local SpARClers meet regularly and the progress has been remarkable.
More than 75 local chapters have been formed
throughout India. With the establishment of LCs, the SpARC research activities
have gained good momentum.
Special Interest Groups (SIG)
SpARC has defined various areas with
spiritual concepts in which research activities could be carried out. Important
areas defined for research are as follows:
Rajayoga
Lab: This
SIG aims at facilitating research on enabling easy and sustainable experience
of peace, bliss, freedom from stress etc. Also focusing the power of thought on
matter and people for healing/empowering/purifying the same.
Value-based
Education: This
SIG aims at using technology and research methodologies to develop tools and
techniques for imparting education in values for children. Some pioneering work
has been done in imparting values to school children using Mathematics as a
tool. This work gave birth to a new branch of value education called “Moral
Mathematics”. Similarly, values are being imparted through a set of games
designed by an informal group of children called “The Smile World Club”.
Medicine,
Psychology & Psychiatry: This SIG aims at
facilitating research in Palliative Care and experimenting in preventive and
curative approaches to health through meditative practices and life-style
interventions.
Agricultural Science: SIG aims to do
research on alternate methods (other than fertilizers) in farming and using
Rajyoga meditation for better cultivation.
Disaster
Management: This
SIG aims to understand the nature and impact of various forms of disasters and
to utilise the power of science and spirituality in developing effective
generic solutions in coping with disasters.
Skills Development: It aims at using
Rajyoga meditation as a basis to develop techniques for imparting soft skills
to increase employability of educated youth.
Natural
Sciences: The
approach of this area is to arrive at a justification on a set of fundamental
concepts or axioms which resolve the long standing paradoxes prevailing in
various branches of science while still explaining the observable phenomena.
Environment, Energy Conservations (renewable and
non-renewable): SIG aims to use the spiritual laws for environment
protection, energy conservation for non-renewable resources and using renewable
sources of energy.
Values
in Business: SIG
aims to use spiritual laws and values in the world of economics and exchange
with the vision of respecting these laws and still making the business more prosperous
and healthy for all.
Philosophy and Religion: SIG aims to do
research on inter-faith, different philosophies, religions and Rajyoga.
History, Geography & Future of the World:
SIG
aims to do research on history of the world, geography and the future of the
world in relation to the knowledge imparted by Brahma Kumaris.
Spiritual Skills, Leadership & Management:
SIG
aims to develop tools and techniques in accordance with Godly knowledge,
Rajyoga lifestyle and spiritual laws to impart values & ethics for holistic
leadership and management practices.
Inspirations
Science of matter and science of spirituality
have to work together so that Value-Based Society comes into existence. This is very good that you (SpARC) will be
able to clarify and prove various points of knowledge that Baba has given us
on: History, Geography, Time Cycle, Education, Communication, Health,
Administration, etc.
You will be able to reveal new ways and new
spiritual tools for the good of mankind. This means that you should go into the
depth of everything so that you can gain the practical experience of every
point including research on the spiritual powers, the power of purity...etc.
When you experience them yourselves then you can prove to the world the value
of “Baba’s Gyan”.
Rajyogini Dadi Janki Ji, Chief of PBKIVV
It is a matter of great pleasure that science
and silence have joined hands to work towards the revelation of Baba. Recently,
I met the Secretary General of UNO in France . I found he was very much
tired of working with science. He heard about ‘silence’ for 15 minutes and when
given guided meditation, said that he had a very good experience and had never
imagined that he can ever sit in silence. “Today you have made me to sit in
silence.” He was expressing his gratitude over and over again. He said that you
people who are peaceful have won my heart. Yoga becomes easy to the extent to
which one experiments with it. We often hear our inner voice saying that yes
this yoga is real and natural. In science also only through experimentation
they conclude that this is going to be very useful. We can definitely succeed in revealing Baba
to the scientists. Silence is also deep, subtle and powerful.
Rajyogini Dadi Hriday Mohini Ji, Additional Chief of PBKIVV
Dadi
Hriday Mohiniji, stressed
that SpARClers need to develop the power of concentration in order to be able
to make the right decisions in research activities and do subtle service.
Maintaining an unshakeable stage and helping others during disasters require
practice over a long period of time.
Rajyogini Dadi Ratan Mohini Ji, Joint Chief of PBKIVV
Dadi
Ratan Mohiniji said
that the term SpARC is full of spirituality and it represents: Spirituality - Purity - Ability - Reality –
Clarity. Dadiji also said that enthusiasm brings out the creative best in
researchers. She hoped that SpARClers would explore the depth of spiritual
knowledge and develop refined tools and techniques to become the embodiment of
knowledge. Speaking the language of researchers, Dadiji said that, research is
first to experiment with knowledge on ‘self’ and only after successfully
developing standard procedures, should one venture for applications.
Rajyogi BK Ramesh N Shah, Chairperson, SpARC
One of the main aims in learning this divine
knowledge is to go into the depth and try to understand all its basic
principles to practically experiment with them. When we put them into practice
we see the reactions and we are able to measure the results and understand its
beauty and power.
With this spirit SpARC was started in
February 1995 and is functioning since then. Step by step, year after year, it
has progressed and many sisters and brothers are giving wonderful co-operation
in doing research work at various fields. The applications of the research in
the above mentioned fields are used to find spiritual solutions to global
problems.
Rajyogini BK Usha Shah, Former Vice Chairperson, SpARC
Rajayoga if understood and applied rightly
can fill up energy into the hardworking souls.
Researchers guide this world.
Hence through deeper study and being the embodiment of Godly knowledge
the spiritual researchers would extend benefit to the whole World.
Rajyogini BK Ambika, National Co-ordinator, SpARC
BK
Ambika said that
SpARC aims to promote research into various aspects of spirituality and its
applications to different fields to give a new understanding and outlook. It
has been established to enhance our understanding of reality as well as to find
applications of spirituality to overcome the new challenging problems facing
the humanity. Research takes place in silence. To the extent we do research
whilst sitting in the room of introversion to that extent we will receive good
touching. On the basis of these touching many people will benefit.