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The ideology of Ramakrishna
Math and Mission outlined in the page of
ideology finds expression through their
multifarious activities. These activities cover different areas of human
need and social welfare such as education, health, rural development,
self-employment, women's welfare, inter-faith understanding, moral life,
spiritual guidance, and relief to victims of calamities. All these
activities are conducted as service, service to God in man.
In the Ramakrishna Math and
Mission, service is not restricted to a particular type of activity
conducted at a particular time, but is a way of life. Even when
the monks are not doing any service in the outside society, they do
service within the monastic community. And there is no time limit or age
limit for this. The monks continue to engage themselves in various
service activities until they are incapacitated by illness or extreme old
age. Even at the age of eighty-nine the present President General of
Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission is rendering service in different
fields.
Service as a way of life
followed in Ramakrishna Math and Mission has certain distinctive
features. Some of these features are mentioned below.
1. Selflessness,
Sacrifice, Love: The principle of selflessness or unselfishness is an
important teaching of the Holy Trio, and constitutes the very first step
in the three main spiritual paths of Karma, Bhakti and Jnana. Ramakrishna
monks look upon their Sangha as the mystical body of Sri Ramakrishna, and
they learn to merge their individual egos in the collective will of the Sangha. Furthermore, all their work and its fruit are offered as worship
to the Lord. Individual members of Ramakrishna Math and Mission do not
claim credit for their actions; all credit goes to the Sangha. They
engage themselves in service activities not for self-glorification but for
the 'greater glory' of the Lord. Ramakrishna monks also follow the path
of Jnana and, by the practice of self-analysis, learn to identify
themselves with the Pratyagatman or Inner Self which is the
unchanging inner witness of all thoughts and actions. Through all these
means the monks learn to be unselfish and unegoistic.
As already
mentioned, the ideal of service followed in Ramakrishna Movement is based
on the principle Siva-jnane jiva-seva, to serve man as potentially
Divine. It is not, however, easy to serve all, especially the poor and
the sick, in a spirit of worship. This ideal of service calls for a lot
of sacrifice, sacrifice of one's time, energy, comforts, etc. It is these
sacrifices which the members of Ramakrishna Movement undergo, without any
expectation of reward, recognition or fame, that make their ideal of
service authentic.
The
motivation for service and sacrifice is love. The love that flows through
Ramakrishna Math and Mission is Divine Love – the pure, imperishable love
of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda for humanity. This
Divine Love is the force holding together the Sangha, unifying monastic
brothers and lay devotees.
2
Liberty, Equality, Fraternity:
These three great ideals of democracy, about which humanity has been
dreaming and talking for centuries, are becoming a social reality, in a
silent and unobtrusive way, in the Ramakrishna Math and Mission circles.
Swami Vivekananda has repeatedly stated, 'Liberty is the first condition
of growth.' Freedom from religious bigotry, intolerance, hatred and
superstitions, freedom from religious, social and racial prejudices, in a
word, freedom of thought and belief – this is a central fact in the
Ramakrishna Movement. Ramakrishna Math and Mission's activities aim at
the welfare of all people without any distinctions of caste, creed or
race. The rich and the poor, the Brahmin and the Harijan, Hindus, Muslims,
Christians – all are treated as children of the same Divine parents.
These institutions follow Vivekananda's view that social equality is to be
brought about, not by a process of 'levelling down', but by 'levelling
up', that is, not by pulling down those who are already up but by raising
up those who are down.
3.
Excellence, Efficiency, Teamwork: These
three qualities are generally associated with business enterprises, but
they are the governing principles in all activities undertaken by
Ramakrishna Math and Mission. Since all work is done as worship, and only
the best things are offered to the Lord, the members of Ramakrishna Math
and Mission try to do their allotted work in the best way possible. Care
is taken to avoid waste or loss of any kind. Other than the minimum
necessary for the maintenance of the institutions and their inmates, all
the resources are used for the welfare of society. Again, as the monks
are united by the strong bond of monastic brotherhood, they find it easy
and natural to work as a team, and this has contributed much to the
success of Ramakrishna Mission.
4.
Truthfulness, Honesty, Transparency: Ramakrishna
Mission scrupulously follows all statutory and contingent rules and
conditions with regard to receiving and spending funds, which come mostly
through public donations and government grants. Its accounts are
regularly audited and made available to the public. Transparency in
financial matters is a hallmark of Ramakrishna Mission.
5.
Social commitment without politics: In
a democratic country which follows the principle of 'Welfare State', any
kind of social service necessarily involves interaction with the
Government. However, being a spiritual organization which aims at the
spiritual regeneration of humanity, Ramakrishna Mission maintains its
position above active politics and political affiliations.
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