RAMAKRISHNA MATH

& MISSION

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CONTENTS-

SR. NO TOPIC PAGE NO.

1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 3

2 INTRODUCTION 4

3 LIFE HISTORY 4

4 RAMAKRISHNA MATH 6

5 RAMAKRISHNA MISSION 6

6 HISTORY 7

7 OVERVIEW 8

8 ADMINISTRATION 8

9 MOTTO AND PRINCIPLES 9

10 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 9

11 INSTITUTIONS 10

12 BRANCHES 11

13 EMBLEM 11

14 ACTIVITIES 11

15 RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES 13

16 CONCLUSION 14

17 BIBLIOGRAPHY 16

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INTRODUCTION- 1

Swami Vivekananda (January 12, 1863 - July 4, 1902) is one of the most inspiring personalities of India, who did a lot to make India a better place to live in. within a short span of time, he achieved a lot and went a long way in serving humans. He was the principal disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa. It is Swami Vivekananda who can be attributed the credit for laying the foundation for the establishment of Ramakrishna mission and math that are actively involved in carrying out philanthropic works. The national day that is celebrated on the 12th of January every year is dedicated to Swami Vivekananda, as it is on this day that this impressive personality was born. His influence led to the introduction of Vedanta philosophy in America and England. His efforts were acknowledged even by the noted Indian leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and Subhash Chandra Bose. Subhash Chandra Bose called him "the maker of modern India". According to Gandhiji, it was the influence of Swami Vivekananda that his love for his country increased thousand fold. He deserves a major credit for giving the nation a modern vision. His influence led to the introduction of Vedanta philosophy in America and England.

LIFE HISTORY-

Birth and childhood-2

Vivekananda was born as Narendranath Datta (shortened to Narendra or Naren) at his ancestral home at 3 Gourmohan Mukherjee Street in Calcutta, the capital of British India, on 12 January 1863 during the Makar Sankranti festival. He belonged to a traditional Bengali Kayastha family and was one of nine siblings. His father, Vishwanath Datta, was an attorney at the Calcutta High Court. Durgacharan Datta, Narendra's grandfather, was a Sanskrit and Persian scholar who left his family and became a monk at age twenty-five. Narendra's mother, Bhuvaneswari Devi, was a devout housewife. The progressive, rational attitude of Narendra's father and the religious temperament of his mother helped shape his thinking and personality.

Education-3

In 1871 Narendra enrolled at Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's Metropolitan Institution, where he studied until his family moved to Raipur in 1877. Narendra was an avid reader and was interested in a wide range of subjects, including philosophy, religion, history, social science, art

1 http://www.studymode.com/essays/Swami-Vivekanand-Life-551376.html (17/04/2014, 6:04 pm)2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivekananda (16/04/2014, 3:52pm)3 Id at 2

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and literature. He was also interested in Hindu scriptures, including the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Puranas. Narendra was trained in Indian classical music, and regularly participated in physical exercise, sports and organised activities. Narendra studied Western logic, Western philosophy and European history at the General Assembly's Institution. In 1881 he passed the Fine Arts examination, and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1884. Narendra studied the works of David Hume, Immanuel Kant, Johann Gottlieb Fichte, Baruch Spinoza, Georg W. F. Hegel, Arthur Schopenhauer, Auguste Comte, John Stuart Mill and Charles Darwin. He became fascinated with the evolutionism of Herbert Spencer and corresponded with him

With Sri Ramakrishna-4

At the threshold of youth Narendra had to pass through a period of spiritual crisis when he was assailed by doubts about the existence of God. It was at that time he first heard about Sri Ramakrishna from one of his English professors at college.

Travels-5

In 1888, Narendra left the monastery as a Parivrâjaka— the Hindu religious life of a wandering monk, "without fixed abode, without ties, independent and strangers wherever they go". His sole possessions were a kamandalu (water pot), staff and his two favourite books: the Bhagavad Gita and The Imitation of Christ. Narendra travelled extensively in India for five years, visiting centres of learning and acquainting himself with diverse religious traditions and social patterns. He developed sympathy for the suffering and poverty of the people, and resolved to uplift the nation. Living primarily on bhiksha (alms), Narendra travelled on foot and by railway (with tickets bought by admirers). During his travels he met, and stayed with Indians from all religions and walks of life: scholars, dewans, rajas, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, paraiyars (low-caste workers) and government officials.

Difficult situations-6

After a few years two events took place which caused Narendra considerable distress. One was the sudden death of his father in 1884. This left the family penniless, and Narendra had to bear the burden of supporting his mother, brothers and sisters. The second event was the illness of Sri Ramakrishna which was diagnosed to be cancer of the throat.

4 http://www.belurmath.org/swamivivekananda.htm (17/04/2014, 9:43am)5 supra note 26 Supra note 4

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Discovery of real India-7

During his travels all over India, Swami Vivekananda was deeply moved to see the appalling poverty and backwardness of the masses. He was the first religious leader in India to understand and openly declare that the real cause of India’s downfall was the neglect of the masses.  The immediate need was to provide food and other bare necessities of life to the hungry millions. For this they should be taught improved methods of agriculture, village industries, etc. It was in this context that Vivekananda grasped the crux of the problem of poverty in India.

Last days-

In June 1899 he went to the West on a second visit. This time he spent most of his time in the West coast of USA. After delivering many lectures there, he returned to Belur Math in December 1900. The rest of his life was spent in India, inspiring and guiding people, both monastic and lay. Incessant work, especially giving lectures and inspiring people, told upon Swamiji’s health. His health deteriorated and the end came quietly on the night of 4 July 1902.8

According to his disciples, Vivekananda attained mahasamādhi; the rupture of a blood vessel in his brain was reported as a possible cause of death. His disciples believed that the rupture was due to his brahmarandhra (an opening in the crown of his head) being pierced when he attained mahasamādhi. Vivekananda fulfilled his prophecy that he would not live forty years.9

RAMAKRISHNA MATH- 10

RAMAKRISHNA MATH is a monastic organization for men brought into existence by Sri Ramakrishna (1836-1886), the great 19th century saint of Bengal who is regarded as the Prophet of the Modern Age.

RAMAKRISHNA MISSION- 11

RAMAKRISHNA MISSION is a registered society in which monks of Ramakrishna Math and lay devotees cooperate in conducting various types of social service mainly in India. It was founded by Sri Ramakrishna's chief apostle, Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), one of the foremost thinkers and religious leaders of the present age, who is regarded as 'one of the main molders of the modern world', in the words of an eminent Western scholar A. L. Basham.7 Supra note 48 Supra note 49 Supra note 210 http://www.belurmath.org/ (17/04/2014, 5:20 pm)11 Id at 10

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HISTORY- 12

Ramakrishna Mission was founded in the year 1897 in the name of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, by his illustrious disciple Swami Vivekananda.13

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (1836–1886), regarded as a 19th-century saint, was the founder of the Ramakrishna Order of monks and is regarded as the spiritual founder of the Ramakrishna Movement. Ramakrishna was a priest in the Dakshineswar Kali Temple and attracted several monastic and householder disciples. Narendranath Dutta, who later became Vivekananda was one of the chief monastic disciples. Shortly before his death in 1886, Ramakrishna gave the ochre cloths to his young disciples, who were planning to become renunciates. Ramakrishna entrusted the care of these young boys to Vivekananda. After Ramakrishna's death, the young disciples of Ramakrishna gathered and practised spiritual disciplines. They took informal monastic vows on a night which to their pleasant surprise turned out to be the Christmas Eve in 1886.

After the death of Ramakrishna in 1886, the monastic disciples formed the first Math (monastery) at Baranagore. Later Vivekananda became a wandering monk and in 1893 he was a delegate at the 1893 Parliament of the World's Religions. His speech there, beginning with "Sisters and brothers of America" became famous and brought him widespread recognition. Vivekananda went on lecture tours and held private discourses on Hinduism and spirituality. He also founded the first Vedanta Society in the United States at New York. He returned to India in 1897 and founded the Ramakrishna Mission on 1 May 1897.Though he was a Hindu monk and was hailed as the first Hindu missionary in modern times, he exhorted his followers to be true to their faith but respect all religions of the world as his guru Ramakrishna had taught that all religions are pathways to God. One such example is his exhortion "to become like Jesus Christ" and that one can be born in a church but he or she should not die in a church meaning that one should realise the spiritual truths for themselves and not stop at blindly believing in doctrines taught to them. The same year, famine relief was started at Sargachi by Swami Akhandananda, a direct disciple of Ramakrishna. Swami Brahmananda, a direct disciple of Ramakrishna was appointed as the first president of the Order. After the death of Vivekananda in 1902, Sarada Devi, the spiritual counterpart of Ramakrishna, played an important role as the advisory head of a nascent monastic organisation. Gayatri Spivak writes that Sarada Devi "performed her role with tact and wisdom, always remaining in the background.

OVERVIEW- 14

12 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramakrishna_Mission (19/04/2014, 3:22 pm)13 http://www.rkmissionvijayawada.org/history.htm (18/04/2014, 4:18 pm)14 Supra note 12

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The Math and the Mission are the two key organisations that direct the work of the socio-religious Ramakrishna movement influenced by 19th-century saint Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and shaped by his chief disciple Vivekananda. Also referred to as the Ramakrishna Order, the Math is the movement's monastic organisation. Founded by Ramakrishna in 1886, the Math primarily focuses on spiritual training and the propagation of the movement's teachings.

The Mission, founded by Vivekananda in 1897, is an humanitarian organisation which carries out medical, relief and educational programs. Both the organisations have headquarters at the Belur Math. The Mission acquired a legal status when it was registered in 1909 under Act XXI of 1860. Its management is vested in a Governing Body. Though the Mission with its branches is a distinct legal entity, it is closely related to the Math. The elected trustees of the Math also serve as Mission's Governing Body. Vedanta Societies comprise the American arm of the Movement and work more in purely spiritual field rather than social welfare.

ADMINISTRATION-15

The Ramakrishna Math is administered by democratically elected Board of Trustees. From amongst themselves the Trustees elect President, Vice-Presidents, general secretary, Assistant Secretaries and Treasurer. For the confirmation of the election of the President, Vice-Presidents and the general secretary, the opinion of monks of twenty years standing is sought and taken.

The Ramakrishna Mission is administered by a Governing Body, which is composed of the Trustees of Ramakrishna Math. The headquarters of Ramakrishna Math at Belur (popularly known as Belur Math) serves also as the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission. A branch centre of Ramakrishna Math is managed by a team of monks posted by the Trustees led by a head monk with the title Adyaksha. A branch centre of Ramakrishna Mission is governed by a Managing Committee consisting of monks and lay persons appointed by the Governing Body of Ramakrishna Mission whose Secretary functions as the executive head.

All the monks of the Ramakrishna Order form the democratic base of the administration. A representative meeting of all monks is held every three years when the report of all the activities of the Organization are approved and the accounts passed and guidance sought for further development.

This conference places its seal of approval on the decisions taken by the Trustees elected by them and gives policy guidance.

The scope of the Administration follows the detailed rules made by Swami Vivekananda when he was the General President of Ramakrishna Mission after the monastic brothers opined that there should be specific rules for the work of the Ramakrishna Mission (as the Ramakrishna

15 Supra note 12

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Movement is commonly known). These rules were dictated by Swami Vivekananda to Swami Suddhananda between 1898 to 1899, and has been accepted as the consensus of the opinion of all the monks of the Ramakrishna Mission then, consisting of all the disciples of Sri Ramakrishna and their disciples. Later for clear and formal legal confirmation of these rules, a Trust Deed was registered by Swami Vivekananda and many of the other disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, during 1899 – 1901.

THE MOTTO AND PRINCIPLES-16

The aims and ideals of the Mission are purely spiritual and humanitarian and has no connection with politics. Vivekananda proclaimed "Renunciation and service" as the twofold national ideals of modern India and the work of the mission strives to practice and preach these ideals. The service activities are based on the message of "Jiva is Shiva" from Ramakrishna and Vivekananda's message of "Daridra Narayana" to indicate that service to poor is service to God. The Principles of Upanishads and Yoga in Bhagavad Gita reinterpreted in the light of Ramakrishna's Life and Teachings is the main source of inspiration for the Mission. The service activities are rendered looking upon all as veritable manifestation of the Divine. The Motto of the organisation is Atmano Mokshartham Jagad-hitaya Cha. Translated from Sanskrit आत्मनॊ� म�क्षा�र्थम� जगद्धि�ता�य च it means For one's own salvation, and for the good of the world.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES-17

The goals and objectives of these twin organizations are based on the principles of Practical Vedanata-

To spread the idea of the potential divinity of every being and how to manifest it through every action and thought.

 To spread the idea of harmony of religions based on Sri Ramakrishna's experience that all religions lead to the realization of the same Reality known by different names in different religions.

The Mission honours and reveres the founders of all world religions such as Buddha, Christ and Mohammed.

To treat all work as worship, and service to man as service to God. To make all possible attempts to alleviate human suffering by spreading education,

rendering medical service, extending help to villagers through rural development centres, etc.

16 Supra note 1217 Supra note 10

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To work for the all-round welfare of humanity, especially for the uplift of the poor and the downtrodden.

To develop harmonious personalities by the combined practice of Jnana, Bhakti, Yoga and Karma.

INSTITUTIONS-

The Ramakrishna Math and Mission is an organization that has numerous institutions under it. These institutions are either schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, service homes and so on. The names of a few are mentioned below-18

RamaKrishna Mission High School, MaharaniPeta, Visakhapatnam, AP.

Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Deoghar

Kondavil Ramakrishna Vidyalayam, Sri Lanka

Rama Krishna Institute of Moral & Spiritual, Education Mysore, Karnataka

Ramakrishna Mission Home of Service , Varanasi

Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College , Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School, Barahanagar, WB

Ramakrishna Mission Residential College, Narendrapur  WB

Ramakrishna Mission Shilpayatana  (I.T.I. & Higher Secondary Vocational), Belur Math,

District: Howrah, WB

Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, Vivekananda Vidyabhavan, WB

Ramkrishna Mission Multipurpose School ,Kamarpukur, WB

Rahara Ramkrishna Mission School , WB

Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya, Coimbatore  Tamil Nadu

Ramakrishna Mission Hospital,Vivek Vihar, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh

Ramakrishna Mission School, Narottamnagar, Arunachal Pradesh

Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Purulia  West Bengal

Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University

Ramakrishna Sevashram Chittagong , Bangladesh

BRANCHES-19

18 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ramakrishna_Mission_institutions (17/04/2014, 11:45 pm)19 http://www.rkmkhar.org/ramakrishna-math-ramakrishna-mission-the-organization/ (18/04/2014, 7:28 pm)

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The Math and Mission have 171 centres all over the world: 128 in India, 13 in USA, 12 in

Bangladesh, 2 in Russia, and one each in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Fiji, France,

Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka,

Switzerland, and UK. Besides, there are 33 sub-centres attached to some of these centres.

EMBLEM-20

The emblem of the Ramakrishna Order designed by Swamiji is a unique and unparalleled work of art created by one of the richest minds in contemporary history in an exalted mood of spiritual inspiration. It is a profound symbol of harmony and synthesis for reverential meditation in this present age of conflict and disharmony. This symbol is the epitome of Swamiji’s message of harmony and synthesis, leading to life’s fulfilment. This is indeed the most eloquent expression of what he really preached, what he wanted every man and woman to be, to realize, either in the East or in the West. The goal is to realize, even in this very life, one’s real Self, the self-effulgent Atman, the Swan in the emblem and through this realization to be free of all limitations, all bondages, all littleness. This spiritual freedom is one thing to be aspired for and achieved in this very life. It releases one from one’s prison-house of limited individuality and confers upon him or her, the blessing of universal existence. He then becomes one with Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute. ‘Be free. This is the whole of religion’ said Swamiji. The meaning behind this emblem, in the language of Vivekananda himself:

In the words of Swami Vivekananda himself, “The wavy waters in the picture are symbolic of Karma, the lotus of Bhakti, and the rising-sun of Jnana. The encircling serpent is indicative of Yoga and awakened Kunadalini Shakti, while the swan in the picture stands for Paramatman. Therefore, the ideal of the picture is that by the union of Karma, Jnana, Bhakti and Yoga, the vision of the Paramatman is obtained”21

ACTIVITIES- 22

The principal workers of the mission are the monks. The mission's activities cover the following areas,

Education Health care Cultural activities Rural uplift Tribal welfare

20 http://www.rkmkhar.org/the-emblem-of-ramakrishna-order/ (17/04/2014, 9:47 am)21 Supra note 1222 Supra note 12

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Youth movement etc.

The mission has its own hospitals, charitable dispensaries, maternity clinics, tuberculosis clinics, and mobile dispensaries. It also maintains training centres for nurses. Orphanages and homes for the elderly are included in the mission's field of activities, along with rural and tribal welfare work.

The mission has established many renowned educational institutions in India, having its own university, colleges, vocational training centres, high schools and primary schools, teacher-training institutes, as well as schools for the visually handicapped. It has also been involved in disaster relief operations during famine, epidemic, fire, flood, earthquake, cyclone and communal disturbances.

The mission played an important role in the installation of photovoltaic (PV) lighting systems in the Sundarbans region of West Bengal. Due to the geographical features of the Sunderbans, it is very difficult to extend the grid network to supply power to its population. The PV lighting was used to provide electricity to the people who were traditionally depending on kerosene and diesel

Educational Work:23 The Math and Mission run 748 educational institutions (including 12 colleges, 22 higher secondary schools, 41 secondary schools, 135 schools of other grades, 4 polytechnics, 48 vocational training centres, 118 hostels, 7 orphanages, etc) with a total student population of more than 200,000.

Medical Service:24 The twin organizations run 15 hospitals (with 2182 beds), 125 dispensaries, and 48 mobile medical units which treat about 8,000,000 patients every year. Besides these, a considerable number of medical camps are organized, mostly in rural areas, where thousands of patients are treated and more than 3000 operated on for cataract free of cost every year. The Math and Mission run a medical research institute and 5 nurses’ training centres.

Work in Rural and Tribal Areas:25 For rural and tribal people, the Math and Mission run 3 institutes of agriculture and 4 rural development training institutes. Besides, farmers are taught improved methods of cultivation and also provided with agricultural inputs and financial help. Projects such as construction of pucca houses, wasteland development, planting of fruit and forest trees, etc are undertaken. Drinking water is provided by digging bore wells and tube wells.

Relief:26 During natural or man-made disasters, the Mission’s work includes primary relief with food, clothes, medicine and permanent relief activities like construction of new full-fledged townships, bridges, and roads, sometimes a project going over Rs. 150 million.

23 Supra note 1924 Supra note 1925 Supra not 1926 Supra note 19

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Publication:27 The Mission’s publication centres produce some of the best publications on religion, philosophy, and spiritual culture. The total turnover in 2004-05 was Rs. 86 million.

Spreading Religion and Culture:28 The Math and Mission spread the spiritual teachings and cultural ideals through a large number of public libraries, lectures, discourses and seminars, audio-visual units, exhibitions, museums, retreats and publishing books, journals, etc. Books on Vedanta, the message of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda, spirituality and world religions in almost all the major languages of India and in some of the important languages of other countries are published form the 21 publication centres of the Math and Mission.

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES- 29

The mission is a non-sectarian organization and ignores caste distinctions.

Ramakrishna ashrama's religious activities include satsang and arati. Satsang includes communal prayers, songs, rituals, discourses, reading and meditation. Arati involves the ceremonial waving of lights before the images of a deity of holy person and is performed twice in a day. Ramakrishna ashramas observes major Hindu festivals, including Maha Shivarathri, Rama Navami, Krishna Asthami and Durga Puja. They also give special place to the birthdays of Ramakrishna, Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda and other monastic disciples of Ramakrishna. The 1 January is celebrated as Kalpataru day.

The math and the mission are known for their religious tolerance and respect for other religions. Among the earliest rules laid down by Swami Vivekananda for them was, "Due respect and reverence should be paid to all religions, all preachers, and to the deities worshiped in all religions." Acceptance and toleration of all religions is the one of ideals of Ramakrishna Math and Mission. Along with the major Hindu festivals, Christmas Eve and Buddha's Birthday are also devoutly observed. Cyril Veliath of Sophia University writes that the Ramakrishna Mission monks are a relatively orthodox set of monks who are "extremely well respected both in India and abroad", and that they "cannot be classified as just another sect or cult, such as the groups led by the gurus". Veliath writes that "of the Hindu groups I have worked with I have found the Ramakrishna Mission to be the most tolerant and amenable to dialogue, and I believe that we Christians couldn’t do better, than to cooperate wholeheartedly in their efforts towards inter-religious harmony. Bob Robinson writes, "Unlike more militant Hindu organisations, the mission has consistently advocated and itself displayed a tolerant, friendly attitude towards minority religious traditions and a sympathetic acquaintance with at least parts of the scriptures of those faiths."

27 Supra note 1928 Supra note 1929 Supra note 12

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 The Mission had declared themselves to be non-Hindus and asked for Minority status-30

The matter went to the Supreme Court. Swami Ramananda set out the features of Ramakrishna religion. The Court held that Ramakrishna Religion was very much part of Hindu religion and thus could not like Christian colleges, avail of Constitutional benefits granted by article 30 (1). However, the Court said that considering the special circumstances in which the College at Rahra came into existence, ‘we feel the interests of Justice may suffer by directing the State Govt to constitute its own governing body on standard pattern of the usual sponsored colleges, as prayed for by the writ petitioners. But, the view expressed herein shall not come in the way of the State government wanting to change their earlier arrangement with the Mission college.

The West Bengal government was trying to exercise control over the Mission schools. Therefore provisions must favor minorities to the extent that forced the Ramakrishna Mission to apply for Minority Status.

CONCLUSION-

Swami Vivekananda was a patriot. He was worried for the poverty in India. He also tried to remove poverty from this country.  He was the greatest spiritual figure in India.31

He was a world famous monk.He was a good scholar, a good actor, player and wrestler. He was very popular for his knowledge in Sanskrit. Above all, he was a speaker of truth. He was never known to tell a lie.32

In 1897 Vivekananda founded Ramakrishna Mission to provide institutional shape for the spread of his message and that of his Guru. In 1899 the foundation of a monastery at Belur expedited the works of the Mission.33

The mission was to train monastic workers to live upon and propagate the Vedic religion in the light of Ramakrishna's life and teaching, establish fellowship among the followers of different religions, and serve suffering humanity without making any distinction of caste, creed or community.34

30 http://www.esamskriti.com/essay-chapters/Why-did-the-Ramakrishna-Mission-say-they-are-not-Hindus-1.aspx (18/04/2014, 6:32 pm)31 http://www.preservearticles.com/201104296018/essay-on-swami-vivekananda.html (17/04/2014, 5:39 pm)32 Id at 3133 http://www.preservearticles.com/2012010920189/essay-on-the-life-of-swami-vivekananda.html (18/04/2014, 7:29 pm)34 Id at 33

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The mission had many branches in different parts of the country and carried on social service by opening schools, hospitals, orphanages, libraries, etc. Branches of Ramakrishna Mission were also opened in America, Germany, England, and Switzerland and in other states after the death of Vivekananda.35

 In his long lecture, Swami Vivekananda explained to the world that God is One, and that the different religions are like different rivers (or routes) to terminate in the sea (the same des-tination). Hence there should not be any dispute among the preachers of different religions that they worship god in separate forms or with different beliefs. The realization of the eternal truth of One God can avoid hatred among the people.36

Swamiji's views were acclaimed with great appreciation, and a number of American men and women became his disciples, who later joined the Ramakrishna Mission.37

Swami Vivekananda taught us the essence of nationalism in his bold writings. He wrote : "Our sacred motherland is the land of religion and philosophy-the birthplace of spiritual giants-the land of renunciation, where and where alone, from the most ancient to the most modern times, there has been the highest ideal of life open to man."38

He also said, "Have faith that you are all, my brave lads, born to do great things."Swamiji's call to the nation is: "Arise, awake; wake up yourself, and awaken others. Achieve the consummation of life before you pass off. Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached."39

Ramakrishna Mission breathed the spirit of not only personal salvation but also social liberation. Ramakrishna Mission through its humanitarian works for the last one century epitomizes the spirit of sacred soul of Swami Vivekananda and his illustrious philosophical mentor Ramakrishna Paramhansa.40

BIBLIOGRAPHY-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramakrishna_Mission http://www.belurmath.org/swamivivekananda.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivekananda

35 Id at 3336 http://www.preservearticles.com/2011112517881/562-words-short-essay-on-swami-vivekananda.html (17/04/2014, 5:56 pm)37 Id at 3638 Supra note 3639 Supra note 3640 Supra note 33

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