In this, the quasquicentennial year of the Mission, it has become necessary to look back at its glorious past and prepare for what should be a golden future of the spiritual movement that bears the name of Sri Ramakrishna, and of the religion, society, and country that have been its birthplace and cradle, and, arguably, of the entire humankind. The Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission together make up the fulcrum on which these are pivoted: it is necessary to understand the impact of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission in respect of the upliftment of humanity, both materially and spiritually!' In Swami Gambhirananda's words:
On 1 May 1897 Swamiji called a meeting of the devotees of Sri Ramakrishna at the house of Balaram Bose in Calcutta where the Ramakrishna Mission Association was formally inaugurated. Its main activities then were the study of Sri Ramakrishna's message and conducting some relief work. It remained in a sort of suspended animation till 1909, when the Ramakrishna Mission took its place as a registered charitable society.²
Why did Swami Vivekananda establish the Ramakrishna Mission when an organisation like the Ramakrishna Math already existed? And what is the difference between these two? Such questions naturally arise, but the answers are not very simple. Partly because of historical necessities and partly on account of spiritual and religious reasons did these twin organisations grow up and spread their wings worldwide.
In his message to the Convention of the Mission in 1980, the then President of the Order, Swami Vireshwarananda, explained:
This story is from the November 2022 edition of Prabuddha Bharata.
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This story is from the November 2022 edition of Prabuddha Bharata.
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Jesus Christ: The Compassion Incarnate
The idea of the incarnation of God is prevalent among Hindus and Christians. Both believe the ‘Word’ to be the source of incarnations and the created beings— sentient and insentient.
Inspiring Anecdotes
Original in Hindi: Sharat Chandra Pendarkar
When the Divine Lord Protects
GLIMPSES OF HUMAN VALUES - 4
Mother of All
I am going out on a limb to declare that Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi is the real spirit behind the birth, growth, and success of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission.
'I Have Come to Help You in Your Chosen Path'
In the initial days of Holy Mother’s stay in Dakshineswar, when she was there for the first time, Sri Ramakrishna suddenly asked her by way of examining her: ‘Well my dear, have you come to drag me down to the worldly level?’ The Mother replied without a moment’s hesitation: ‘No. Why should I drag you to worldly ways? I have come to help you in your chosen path [Tomār ishṭa pathe sahājya korte eshechhi].’
Holy Mother in the World
Sri Sarada Devi, reverently and affectionately referred to as Holy Mother by those affiliated with the Ramakrishna Movement, lived from 1853 to 1920. She lived in the world but was not of the world.
The Holy Mother in Puri
A Compilation
Spiritual Conversations with Swami Premananda
SPIRITUAL TALKS
The Transforming Power Of Vedanta
A religion will remain always powerful as long as it can transform the lives of people and change their outlook."¹ These words were spoken by Swami Ritajananda, a Ramakrishna Order monk who headed the Vedanta centre in France for 33 years.
The Lengthening Shadow: 125 Years of the Ramakrishna Mission
ON 1 MAY 1987, in Calcutta, Swami Vivekananda planted the seed that has now blossomed into the vast, unique and indispensable organisation that is the Ramakrishna Mission.
