India: The head of the Salesian order met with the monks of Ramkrishna Math, a Hindu religious order with nearly 1,500 monks spread over 183 branches in some 130 centres all over India and in different parts of the world.

Fr. Angel Fernandez Artime, who is the tenth successor of Salesian founder Don Bosco, made an unscheduled visit on September 28 to the Ramkrishna Mission World Headquarters at Belur on the northern outskirts of Kolkata, India.

The Rector Major was in Kolkata at Don Bosco School Liluah near Belur for the South Asia Salesian Family Congress to mark the concluding celebrations of 200th birth anniversary of Don Bosco.

Assistant General Secretary Swami Bhajanananda of Ramakrishna Mission along with 11 senior monks welcomed the Salesian Rector Major and 10 provincials.

“It was the very first meeting of a superior general of any Catholic religious order to the Hindu monastery,” said Shyamal Baran Roy, a senior journalist and Salesian alumnus who scheduled the meet.

“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 both for me and provincials a call for 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 Ram Krishna Missions’ monastic spirituality saying, “we believe in religious pluralism. Monks cooperate with lay devotees and render social service, medical assistance, education as well as conduct rural youth welfare programs.”

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 explained to the Rector Major in Spanish.

Rama Krishna Mission is a monastic organization for men started by Sri Rama Krishna Paramahamsa (1836-1886), the great 19th century saint of Bengal. The mission aims at the harmony of religions, East and the West, ancient and modern. It also strives for spiritual fulfillment, all-round development of human faculties, social equality, and peace for all humanity, without any distinctions of creed, caste, race or nationality.

When the Rector Major proposed the possibilities of Catholic and Hindu orders working together on common social issues, Swami Bhajanananda welcomed the idea but expressed caution over losing one’s identity.

“Although we are not against any organization, we have to maintain our own identity of being universal,” the senior monk said referring to the rising rightwing Hindu fundamentalism in India.

Source: Vatican Radio