New Project Launched in St. Petersburg,“Happy, Pure, Prosperous Family: God’s Masterpiece”

June, 2024 -The Brahma Kumaris Centre in St. Petersburg marks its 34th anniversary by launching a new value-based project dedicated to the Year of Family in Russia. The year 2024 is celebrated as the Year of Family in Russia. The new project, “Happy, Pure, Prosperous Family: God’s Masterpiece” is aimed at enhancing the inculcation of virtues and powers for happy and peaceful life through understanding the spiritual laws that govern the interaction between individuals, family members and communities. 

From the very outset, the project has received support of both governmental and non-governmental organizations. Among its partners are the Union of Women of Russia – Women’s Alliance, Federation of Women with University Education, National Business magazine, ESG Media, the League for Sports Tourism, and others.

The arrival of 10 dedicated brothers, Shantivan niwasis, for the project launching filled the atmosphere of the Diamond Hall of Lighthouse with special vibrations of Baba’s unlimited family of Madhuban. BK Bhanu Prakash (Roti dept), BK Gyaneshwar (Mansarovar), BK Bhanu Prasad (Dining), BK Darshan (Video dept) and others brought special greetings and blessings on behalf of Dadi Ratan Mohini ji, Nirwair bhai sahab, Munni Didi ji, and all Madhuban niwasis. 

The launching event started with a beautiful dance drama representing various facets of the pure divine family life: the family as a ship overcoming the storms of problems, or a garden of living flowers, or a fortress protecting its members from negative forces, etc. 

Ms Anna Mityanina, Children’s Rights Ombudswoman of St. Petersburg, sent an official letter of greetings on the occasion: “The family is the main support for an individual and a constituent of success. The family is about our roots, our history, it is a link between the past and the future. The tree having strong and well-developed roots will grow well and bear fruit. A child’s personality, their virtues of kindness, mercy, respect for seniors, love for their motherland are developed in the atmosphere of the family. I congratulate the Brahma Kumaris Centre in St. Petersburg on the occasion of their 34th anniversary. Wishing you every success in your constructive work for social improvement and rejuvenation of human values, enhancing happy relations in every sphere of life.” 

Some of the project partners came on the stage to share their vision of a happy family. 

Ms. Elena Ioffe, board member of the Union of Women of Russia, said: “A happy family is a small nuclear reactor where the energy of love is generated and then spread further. I would say that this energy is generated mostly by women – mothers, sisters, and daughters.” 

Ms. Zoya Apevalova, president of Federation of Women with University Education, said: “A happy family is about accommodation and acceptance. In spite of challenges that arise on a daily basis, we should learn to accept and enjoy the present moment.” 

Ms. Lubov Bragina, executive director, Radomira Centre, said: “A happy family is the one where every member is loved and respected. It is a place where they value spiritual and emotional closeness to one another. This is why I am happy that the project is starting today at this wonderful place, the Brahma Kumaris Centre in St. Petersburg.” 

BK Vijay Kumar spoke on the subtle spiritual aspects behind the concept of the new project. He said, “Throughout the history of the genealogical Tree of Mankind, souls have preserved the memory of one God and one human world family. We belong to Him, and He belongs to us. This awareness is a thread that is going to give us back the divine power that will sustain the family, society, and the world in general.” 

Santosh Didi explained the message behind the new project by saying, “God, the Supreme Father, has given us a new understanding. Originally, as we come to this world, we are present here for giving, not for taking. Deities are givers, and ordinary human beings are takers. As time goes by, however, we gradually change from givers to takers, and accordingly our sorrow and sufferings keep increasing. Then we establish relationships in order to share our pain, rather than to give comfort and happiness. This is how relationships change into karmic bondages. So the new project is aimed at enabling us to become free from those bondages. And the key to achieve that is to consider ourselves to be souls having happy relations with the household of our own bodies, in the first place, and then to come in interaction with others with the attitude of giving.” 

On this special occasion, the 2nd edition of the book “A Happy Family: 36 Questions and 36 Answers” was introduced to the audience. The book released now is based on the materials of the family training programs and other events that have been held in Lighthouse since 1990. 

The events within the framework of the new project will continue till the end of this year. Those will include dialogues, seminars, training programs, cultural performances, interviews etc. with participation of leading educationists, psychologists, lawyers, journalists of Russia as well as senior BK teachers and other BK members from India and other countries.