Across the globe, the Ramakrishna Mission brings people of different faiths to the same table—sometimes literally—seeking that spark of mutual respect born from honest conversation. Drawing inspiration from Ramakrishna’s conviction that every religion is a valid path to the divine, the Mission often hosts interfaith symposia where clergy and laypersons from Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and other traditions swap stories, compare sacred texts and discover shared ethical ground.

That historic “mother” of all interfaith gatherings—the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago, 1893—featured Swami Vivekananda’s electrifying appeal for religious unity. Today, branches of the Mission replicate that spirit through local meet-ups and youth forums that build bridges rather than walls. Last year’s 160th-birth anniversary celebrations for Vivekananda, for instance, featured Muslim and Christian volunteers alongside Hindu monks in relief drives, demonstrating side-by-side service as a universal language.

A monthly journal, Prabuddha Bharata, regularly publishes viewpoints from scholars of varied confessions, and its online archives open the door for anyone curious about comparative theology. Across India and in centres from New York to Tokyo, the Mission’s spiritual retreats offer “interfaith immersion” weekends—guests pray in a mosque, meditate in a Buddhist hall, chant in a Hindu shrine, and leave with fresh insights into how different rituals converge on the same human quest.

On a larger scale, earthquake relief in Turkey and flood rescue in Kerala saw Mission volunteers partnering with Christian NGOs and Islamic charities, proving that solidarity on the ground deepens understanding in the heart. When leaders of various faith communities join hands—literally planting trees during climate-action drives or standing united in candlelight vigils against terrorism—they model the simple truth Vivekananda once championed: religious harmony isn’t a lofty ideal but a day-to-day commitment to walk a mile in another’s shoes.

Slowly but surely, these efforts spread the message that “many rivers, one ocean” isn’t just a catchy phrase—it’s the very essence of Neo-Vedantic outreach in our interconnected world today.