FRIENDS OF THE MISSION 2

The present political scenario is so vicious that it is now surely an imperative for citizens to help the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission build the country along Vedantic lines as envisaged by Swami Vivekananda. Although the task seems on the surface to be beyond the capacity of the Mission to achieve, given the smallness of its monastic numeral strength, yet a closer look into the workings of the Mission will reveal that it will surely achieve this stupendous task at no distant a time. National reconstruction and the spiritual regeneration of the world were the twin objectives of Vivekananda's spiritual ministration on Earth. Both seem today like distant dreams. But the Prophet's Word cannot fail. The Divine will devise means for the spiritual inundation of the world whereby a new civilization will be built along Vedantc lines and India shall spearhead this world spiritual movement. She herself will have to be rebuilt as per the master plan of the Rishis as rediscovered in this Age by Swami Vivekananda. The work is on but the support system backing the Mission is as of now weak, to say the least. People criticize every good thing that happens initially. This is in the nature of things, in the dynamics of a movement, especially a spiritual movement. Public indifference is followed by persecution when all seem to be lost before the dawn of acceptance, so said Swami Vivekananda in a variant note. Today, the Mission has been accepted in principle by our countrymen but not much supported in its efforts to rebuild our country in terms of tangible material help.

Vivekananda had wished that there should be a Ramakrishna Centre in each and every village of India. That was his plan to revitalize India. This is a daunting task and apparently impossible of fulfilment. But as I earlier said, it too will be fulfilled. The Prophet's Word is Law. In the coming decades and centuries the world will see a revival of spiritual culture like never before. It may even so chance that the Avatar and his Apostles will make another appearance on the stage of this Earth. Be it however it will be, it cannot be gainsaid that the hour comes when we must pledge our all in support of the Mission's Nation-building and World-welfare activities if we are to call ourselves the children of Ramakrishna. Lest we miss the grand opportunity of serving the Cause, it is meet that we pull in all our resources, and they are considerable for the Mission has millions of devotees, and galvanize the whole movement with a fresh lease of energy. The Ramakrishna Math is for the monks who have joined the Order and they are supposed to run it. But Vivekananda had entrusted the householder disciples of Sri Ramakrishna to participate in a big way in running the Ramakrishna Mission. His dream has not been fulfilled. The householder disciples and devotees of Ramakrishna have over the last century taken the back seat in this connection and left the Mission's activities as well to be run principally by the monks. This must change. Not in the sense that the monks will not give the leadership or will give up the controlling power in running the organization but that the lay devotees must sink in their ploughshare of work for the Mission. Idle prostrations and passive piety must give way to a dynamic faith, the faith which calls out the inner fire and summons one to action. Vivekananda had waged a lifelong battle against tamas (inertia). It is time we respond to his clarion call to build the nation instead of waiting for some 'miracle leader or government' to do the job. And this is the manhood he expected of us.

The Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission has done so much for us. It has given us spiritual peace, education, health facilities, an ideal to live by and, most importantly, hope to see a better future for every word of Vivekananda is fraught with that message of the future glory of India and the spiritual inundation of the world. 'Give and take' is the law of life. It is in strict conformity with the Energy Conservation Principle. it becomes our duty then to give back to the Mission something by way of service, something more by way of material support for the numerous projects they have undertaken, most or all of which get inordinately delayed in completion owing to lack of funds and man-power. If millions of the Mission's devotees join hands and start helping the Mission our country will be rebuilt in no time. I, therefore, exhort all devotees and friends of the Mission to come forward and help the Mission knowing it to be their very own. May Thakur-Ma-Swamiji bless you all with a discerning mind, a feeling heart and a generous disposition is the prayer of this servant of theirs! Victory to Ramakrishna and his Mission!