(ANS – Belur) – An historic visit took place on 28 September when the head of the Salesian Congregation, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, met with the monks of a top Hindu religious order – the Ram Krishna Mission Math at Belur, on the northern outskirts of Kolkata.

The tenth successor of Don Bosco expressed his happiness at meeting with the top officials of the Hindu religious order. Assistant General Secretary Swami Bhajanananda along with 11 senior monks welcomed the Salesian Rector Major and 10 provincials at Ramkrishna Mission World Headquarters.

“It was the very first meeting of a Superior general of any Catholic religious order to the Hindu monastery,” sadi Shyamal Baran Roy a senior journalist and Salesian Past Pupil who reported on the meeting.

“It is an important moment for us as seekers of God, we are all brothers,” said the Rector Major explaining the fact that “when we meet with other brothers and sisters of any religion who are serious about their spirituality we feel close to them.”

“These moments of communion are for me and for the provincials a call to deeper spirituality,” said Fr Artime, recalling his three-hour meeting with Missionaries of Charity Sisters at the Mother House on the previous day.

Swami Bhajanananda explained the missions’ monastic spirituality saying, “We believe in religious pluralism. Monks cooperate with lay devotees and render social service, medical assistance, education as well as conducting rural youth welfare programs.”

The Rector Major also proposed the possibilities of Catholic and Hindu orders working together on common social issues; and Swami Bhajanananda welcomed the idea, saying also that it is important to pay attention to preserving their own identities.

After some 30 minutes of interaction and exchange of gifts, the visitors had a darshan (tour) of the Ram Krishna Math temple with Swami Atmaroopananda, an American monk who described it to the Rector Major in Spanish.

Rama Krishna Mission is a monastic organization for men started by Sri Rama Krishna Paramahamsa (1836-1886). The mission aims at the harmony of religions, East and the West, ancient and modern. It also strives for spiritual fulfilment, all-round development of human faculties, social equality, and peace for all humanity, without any distinction of creed, caste, race or nationality.

Published 30/09/2015