Swami Ishatmananda, 71, is a monk and the spiritual leader of the Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago. In this interview, he reflects on his childhood in Kolkata and the philosophical influence of his father, whose spiritual outlook inspired his early interest in the Vedanta tradition. As a young boy, he was introduced to the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, and during a formative trip to Cherrapunji in Meghalaya at age sixteen, he met a Ramakrishna Mission monk whose guidance led him to pursue monkhood. With his mother’s blessing, he began his training in the Ramakrishna Mission and was first placed in the Andaman Islands, where he helped establish vocational and educational programs for youth. Immersed in nature, he deepened his spiritual and meditation practice. In 2013, he was invited to relocate to Chicago to lead the Vivekananda Vedanta Society, where he focused on fundraising to resolve past debts and helped build a thriving center dedicated to the teachings of Swami Vivekananda. Throughout the conversation, he speaks about the contrasts between Eastern and Western cultures, emphasizing the values of selflessness, kindness, compassion, and the importance of service as central to spiritual life.
