In the eternal spiritual tradition of India, Sri Ramakrishna (1836–1886) stands as the living embodiment of the "realization of many sages through many paths of spiritual striving." Every string of his life resounded in an uninterrupted contemplation of the Divine. Diving into the depths of the ocean of forms, he discovered an extraordinary and rare jewel — one that transcended time and place and was filled with a universal wholeness. Hence, seekers from all religions are drawn with irresistible pull to the oceanic spirituality of Sri Ramakrishna to partake of the nectar of his spiritual realizations.

Through the divine flow of an unknown wind of bliss, Sri Ramakrishna continues to influence the spiritual currents of our time. Since not much time has passed between his historical era and the present, a fog of myths has not yet engulfed his life and spiritual practices. Through a life centred on the contemplation of God, he has proved that divine realization is not the monopoly of any particular land or people, rather God's manifestation is to be found everywhere. In this extraordinary life, profound spirituality was perfectly harmonized with an open-hearted generosity.

This divine personage of 19th-century India, who was the “attainer of all paths, and yet beyond all sects,” did not seek to establish a new religion. Nor did he claim that any one spiritual path alone could lead to liberation and thereby reduce the boundless domain of the Divine to a narrow path. God-consciousness was his only message — without which religion becomes imprisoned in narrow rituals, and scripture soon loses its vital power to inspire. At a time when the foundations of religion — faith in God — were being shaken by relentless blows of materialism and skepticism, Sri Ramakrishna, through his blazing spiritual realizations, firmly demonstrated the existence of the blissful and conscious God (Satchidananda) and the truth of the teachings of all previous incarnations and sages. In this way, he reestablished the fallen temple of religion on a solid foundation.

Drawn by the divine personality of Sri Ramakrishna, people came to him from far and wide — men and women, young and old, philosophers and theologians, social workers and humanists, atheists and sceptics, Hindus and Brahmos, Christians and Muslims. Seekers of truth from every nation, religion, and caste came to him. His tiny room at the Dakshineswar Kali Temple near Kolkata was always transformed into a spiritual assembly. In his presence, all experienced a higher realization — touched by his profound God-consciousness, immense love, and universal vision. Each person saw in him the highest manifestation of their own ideals. The impure were purified by his holy company; the pure became purer still; and the sinners were transformed into saints.

Sri Ramakrishna's greatest gift to the modern world is his message of the harmony of all religions. To him, all religions are different expressions of the Divine meant to fulfill the diverse needs of the human mind. Just as the same object can have different names, various religions express different aspects of the same Truth. They are not mutually contradictory, but complementary. Advancing with dedication on various spiritual paths, Sri Ramakrishna realized that all paths ultimately lead to the same goal — summarized in the phrase: “As many faiths, so many paths.” Though the paths vary, the destination is one. Religious harmony does not mean uniformity of religion, but unity in diversity. It is not about merging all religions into one, but rather realizing the fraternal bond that arises from the shared goal of realizing God. This harmony can only be realized by delving deep into one's own experience of the Divine. In today's world, amidst the threat of nuclear war and the alarming rise in religious intolerance, Sri Ramakrishna’s message of harmony shines as a beacon of hope, lighting our path. May his life and message continue to inspire us forever.