Sri Ramakrishna Universal Temple (Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago) is a branch of the Ramakrishna Math &  Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math, India.

Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission are twin organizations which form the core of a worldwide spiritual movement (known as Ramakrishna Movement or Vedanta Movement), which aims at:
-- The harmony of religions
-- The harmony of the East and the West
-- Harmony of the ancient and the modern
-- Spiritual fulfillment
-- All-round development of human faculties
-- Social equality
-- Peace for all humanity, without any distinctions.

Ramakrishna Math is a monastic organization for men brought into existence by Sri Ramakrishna (1836-1886),  the great 19th century saint who is regarded as the Prophet of the Modern Age.

It was founded by Sri Ramakrishna's chief apostle, Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), one of the foremost thinkers and religious leaders of the present age, who is regarded as 'one of the main moulders of the modern world', in the words of an eminent Western scholar A. L. Basham.

Swami Vivekananda was the first Hindu Monk to introduce Hinduism to America. His landmark address in 1893, at the Parliament of world religions marked the advent of the universal & eternal message of Vedanta in America.

Today, Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission has over 173 branch centres in the world. The Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission is dedicated to the twin ideals of:
-- Realising God Within.
-- Serving God In Man.

The main goals and objectives of these organizations, based on the principles of Practical Vedanta, are:
-- To spread the idea of the potential divinity of every being and how to manifest it through every action and thought.

-- To spread the idea of harmony of religions based on Sri Ramakrishna's experience that all religions lead to the realization of the same Reality known by different names in different religions. The Mission honours and reveres the founders of all world religions.

-- To treat all work as worship, and service to man as service to God.

-- To make all possible attempts to alleviate human suffering by spreading education, rendering medical service, extending help to villagers through rural development centres, etc.

-- To work for the all-round welfare of humanity, especially for the uplift of the poor and the downtrodden.

-- To develop harmonious personalities by the combined practice of Jnana, Bhakti, Yoga and Karma.

-- The motto of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission is: