Author:
Publication: The Telegraph
Date: April 2, 2009
URL: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090402/jsp/calcutta/story_10758025.jsp
Swami Atmasthanandaji Maharaj, the 15th president
of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, spoke to STAR Ananda recently on a wide
range of topics - from how he joined the order to where the Mission is headed.
Excerpts from the interview:
On his inspiration to become a monk:
I grew up in Dinajpur. My father was a Tarkatirtha,
a Sanskrit scholar. I read the Gita and Upanishads early in my life and then
devoured Swamiji's books and biography and also books on Sri Ramakrishna.
While studying philosophy honours at Presidency
College I came in touch with Kedarbaba (Swami Achalananda), who encouraged
me to join the monastic order.
After my graduation, many people were pressing
me to do an MA. But Achalanandaji insisted I join the order right away.
Once he was about to beat me up with a lathi
as I was dilly-dallying! It was then that I made up my mind and joined the
Mission.
On his family's reaction to the decision to
embrace the monastic order:
They were a little hurt, especially because
I was the eldest child. But they didn't make much of an issue of it.
On reconciling the ideals of Sri Ramakrishna
and Swami Vivekananda with the contemporary education system:
We need to imbibe Swami Vivekananda's ideas
on renunciation and service to humankind. We also need to assimilate the other
teachings of Swamiji.
On the ideal path leading to the deliverance
of the modern world:
A combination of Bhakti and Karma Yoga. As
monks we should have confined ourselves to japa and meditation. Then why do
we take up relief work or other services to humankind? Because the god we
worship exists in every human being. This needs to be the ideal of life.
On finding a new direction while society is
going through a phase of serious unrest:
We need to study Swamiji's books which will
provide a ray of light to the world. Television and radio channels should
spread his ideas more often. A few people will not listen to or understand
them but most will be benefited by his teachings. Those who are in business
or senior positions in government offices should imbibe Swamiji's teachings.
On world peace when terrorism is taking its
toll almost everywhere:
We have to follow the "man making"
ideal of Swamiji and search for god in the human. Whether we go to church
or temple or mosque, our most important duty is to serve the living god in
the human.
On religious tolerance in the time of communal
tension:
We don't nurture hatred. We don't ask Christians
to convert to Hinduism, we don't vilify Muslims. Many people are not aware
that several Christians come to our Mission and several Muslims have received
diksha (spiritual initiation) here. Many Muslims worship Sri Ramakrishna at
home.
On the perfect ideal for the present generation:
It has been there for long, created by god....
Many people are living their lives following the ideals of Sri Ramakrishna
and Swami Vivekananda.
On relief work undertaken by the Ramakrishna
Mission over the years:
We do this from a spiritual realisation. Swamiji
had said serving a human and serving god are the same. We are inspired by
this idea.
On risks monks face during relief work:
I fell ill several times while on relief missions.
But it didn't matter. Man will die one day but nothing could have been better
than dying while serving a fellow human.
On the activities of the Ramakrishna Mission
on foreign soil:
I have been to the Mission centres abroad.
They are doing good work. I am happy.