Spiritual Wisdom in Managing Disasters
On August 13, the new Angel’s House of the Brahma Kumaris in Moscow hosted the local scientific community representatives. The friendly meeting was dedicated to the role of spiritual wisdom in managing disasters. A special guest and keynote speaker, B. K. Mohan Singhal, national coordinator of the Scientists and Engineers Wing of the Raja Yoga Education and Research Foundation,India, Academy Coordinator of Academy for a Better World, Mt.Abu, India shared his rich experience and practical knowledge on this topic.

The atmosphere of the meeting was light and easy, but very productive. Professor Alexander Zimenkov gave B. K. Mohan Singhal a cordial welcome on behalf of the Brahma Kumaris (Centre of Spiritual Development), and the Moscow scientific community. He told the audience about B. K. Mohan Singhal’s biography, course of his life, and his outstanding contribution to the spiritual education and enlightenment of mankind. Over the years, B. K. Mohan Singhal has been actively involved in the organization of Environmental Awareness Campaigns, and has an Indian Government award in acknowledgement of this service. B. K. Mohan Singhal gives lectures and seminars on positive thinking and conflict resolution, revealing the fundamental role of spirituality in any field of human activity.  
There was his first time in Russia, and over a few days B. K. Mohan Singhal held a series of lectures and seminars in Nizhniy Novgorod and St. Petersburg, arriving from Saratov just a few hours before this meeting. 
The key-note of his speech was how the strength of the human mind can do wonders during a time of natural disaster especially when there are no physical rescue resources and communication facilities available, because they often get damaged early in natural disasters.
A virtuous and clear intellect can catch signals of impending danger, make the right choice of optimal and safe locations, correct behavior, etc. The effects of positive karma towards people and the environment plays an essential role and can help a lot in disasters. B. K. Mohan Singhal provided different examples of how people, who had protected the environment, could escape the disastrous effects of natural calamities. He explained how the practice of Raja Yoga meditation helps to make one's intellect clear, which increases one's power of concentration. 
A documentary film on the devastating effects caused on our planet by the activities of spiritually deprived human civilization was a telling illustration of the Indian guest’s speech.
Moscow scientists discussed the fundamental role of spirituality in overcoming the various crises our modern world has been experiencing and faces in future. 
The Ph.D. Professor, colonel Yuri Kurnosov, is a person with worldwide life experience. He served in the frontier troops of the Russian Army, worked as a senior analyst and professor at the Academy of the Federal Security Service of Russia, and as Professor at the Russian Academy of Public Service, under the President of the Russian Federation. He is now Chief Inspector of the Chamber of Accounts of the Russian Federation. He's written a number of analytical textbooks, and is founder of the Russian Analytics School. In his speech Yuri Kurnosov noted the congeniality of India and Russia's spiritual traditions, their rich heritage and kinship; and stressed how, without spirituality, any scientific activity can cause irreparable damage or prove meaningless instead of bringing benefits.

In 2011, Yuriy Kurnosov participated in a Peace of Mind Retreat in India, and believes that the spiritual experience a person gets in Gyan Sarovar and Shantivan is invaluable. 
M.D Professor, Honored Medical Doctor of Russia, Rector of the Psychology Institute, and State Duma deputy for four years, Dana Karimova spoke about the role of spirituality in training students. 
Practicing Psychologist Vladimir Dobrovolsky spoke about recent research in human dreams, which revealed the close connection between what we dream and our way of thinking.
Ph.D., ex-deputy Energy Minister, Vladimir Jandgirov, gave interesting commentaries on the priceless role of spirituality in disaster rescue work. 
Summing up at the end of the meeting, Professor Alexander Zimenkov emphasized how positive thinking and right answers to the fundamental question ‘Who am I?’ help a person keep his/her life full of meaning, and working for the longterm good of society. 
The intense and wide-reaching scientific discussions culminated in a friendly tea party with heart-to-heart talks with the Indian guest and the meeting's hostess B.K. Sudha Rani Gupta.