Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda - Vol-7
XXXV
63 ST. GEORGE'S ROAD,
LONDON, S.W.
16th May, 1896.
DEAR ADHYAPAKJI, (Prof. John Henry Wright. The letter was written
on the death of his daughter, aged 16.)
Last mail brought the very very sad news of the blow that has
fallen on you.
This is the world my brother - this illusion of Mâyâ - the Lord
alone is true. The forms are evanescent; but the spirit, being in
the Lord and of the Lord, is immortal and omnipresent. All that we
ever had are round us this minute, for the spirit can neither come
nor go, it only changes its plane of manifestation.
You are strong and pure and so is Mrs. Wright, and I am sure that
the Divine in you has arisen and thrown away the lie and delusion
that there can be death for anyone.
"He who sees in this world of manifoldness that one support of
everything, in the midst of a world of unconsciousness that one
eternal consciousness, in this evanescent world that one eternal
and unchangeable, unto him belongs eternal peace."
May the peace of the Lord descend upon you and yours in abundance
is the prayer of
Your ever loving friend,
VIVEKANANDA.
XXXVI
63 ST. GEORGE'S ROAD, LONDON,
7th June, 1896.
DEAR MISS NOBLE,
My ideal indeed can be put into a few words and that is: to preach
unto mankind their divinity, and how to make it manifest in every
movement of life.
This world is in chain of superstition. I pity the oppressed,
whether man or woman, and I pity more the oppressors.
One idea that I see clear as daylight is that misery is caused by
ignorance and nothing else. Who will give the world light?
Sacrifice in the past has been the Law, it will be, alas, for ages
to come. The earth's bravest and best will have to sacrifice
themselves for the good of many, for the welfare of all. Buddhas
by the hundred are necessary with eternal love and pity.
Religions of the world have become lifeless mockeries. What the
world wants is character. The world is in need of those whose life
is one burning love, selfless. That love will make every word tell
like thunderbolt.
It is no superstition with you, I am sure, you have the making in
you of a world-mover, and others will also come. Bold words and
bolder deeds are what we want. Awake, awake, great ones! The world
is burning with misery. Can you sleep? Let us call and call till
the sleeping gods awake, till the god within answers to the call.
What more is in life? What greater work? The details come to me as
I go. I never make plans. Plans grow and work themselves. I only
say, awake, awake!
May all blessings attend you for ever!
Yours affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA.
XXXVII
63 ST. GEORGE'S ROAD,
LONDON, S.W.
6th July, 1896.
DEAR FRIEND AND BROTHER, (To Dr. Lewis I. Janes.)
Yours of the 25th June has duly reached and gave me great
pleasure. I am so glad to see the noble work progressing. I had
learnt with the greatest delight from Mrs. Bull of the work that
is going to be done in Cambridge this winter and no better person
could have been selected to direct it as yourself. May all power
attend you. I will be only too glad to write for the magazine from
time to time and my first instalment was to be in a few weeks,
when I hope to get some leisure. Certainly it goes without saying
that no one of the types we call religious ought to die - they
like races require fresh infusion of blood in the form of ideas.
It is wonderful to be able to sympathise with others from their
standpoints of view.
By this time Goodwin and the other Swami must have reached
America. They I trust will be of help to you in your noble work.
Godspeed to all good work and infinite blessings on all workers
for good.
Yours ever in the truth,
VIVEKANANDA.
XXXVIII
(Written to Sj. Sharat Chandra Chakravarti, B.A.)
ॐ नमो भगवते रामकृष्णाय!
शुभमस्तु! आशीर्वादप्रेमालिङ्गनपूर्वकमिदं भवतु तव प्रीतये।
पाञ्चभौतिकं मे पिञ्जरमधुना किञ्चिद् सुस्थतरम्।
अचलगुरोर्हिमनिमण्डितशिखराणि पुनरुज्जीवयन्ति मृतप्रायानपि जनानिति
मन्ये। श्रमबाधापि कथश्चित् दूरीभूतेत्यनुभवामि। यत्ते हृदयोद्वेगकरं
मुमुक्षुत्वं लिपिभंङ्गया व्यञ्जितं तन्मया अनुभूतं पूर्वम्। तदेव
शाश्वते ब्रह्मणि मन: समधातुं प्रसरति। "नान्य: पन्था: विद्यतेऽनाय।"
ज्वलतु सा भावना अधिकमधिकं यावन्नधिगत एकान्तक्षय: कृताकृतानाम्।
तदनु सहसैव ब्रह्मप्रकाश: सह समस्तविषयप्रध्वंसेन। आगामिनी सा
जीवन्मुक्तिस्तव हिताय तवानुरागदाढर्येणैवानुमेया। याचे पुनस्तं
लॊकगुरुं महासमन्वयाचार्य श्री १०८ रामकृष्णं आविर्भवितुम् तव
हृदयोद्देशे येन वै कृतकृतर्थस्त्वं आविष्कृतमहाशौर्य: लोकान्
समुद्धर्तुं महामोह्ह्सागरात् सम्यक् यतिष्यसे। भव चिराधिष्ठित ओजसि।
वीराणामेव करतलगता मुक्ति: न कापुरुषाणाम्। हे वीरा, बद्धपरिकरा
भवत्, सम्मुखे शत्रव: महामोहरूपा:। "श्रेयांसि बहुविघ्नानि" इति
निश्चितेऽपि समधिकतरं कुरुत यत्नम्। पश्यत इमान् लोकान्
मोहग्राहग्रस्तान्। शृणुत अहो तेषां हृदयभेदकरं कारुण्यपूर्णं
शोकनादम्। अग्रगा भवत्, अग्रगा, हे वीरा, मोचयितुं पाशं बद्धानांम्
श्लथयितुं क्लेशभारं दीनानां, द्योतयितुं हृदयान्धकूपं अज्ञानाम्।
अभीरभीरिति घोषयति वेदान्तडिण्डिम:। भूयात् स भेदाय हृदग्रन्थे:
सर्वेषां जगन्निवासिनामिति।
तवैकान्तशुभभावुक: विवेकानन्द:।
(Translated from Sanskrit.)
DARJEELING,
19th March, 1897.
Salutation to Bhagavan Ramakrishna!
May you prosper! May this letter conveying blessings and cordial
embrace make you happy! Nowadays this fleshy tabernacle of mine is
comparatively well. Meseems, the snow-capped peaks of the
Himalayas, the Chief among mountains, bring even the moribund back
to life. And the fatigue of the journeys also seems to have
somewhat abated. I have already felt that yearning for Freedom -
potent enough to put the heart into turmoil - which your letter
suggests you are experiencing. It is this yearning that gradually
brings on a concentration of the mind on the eternal Brahman.
"There is no other way to go by." May this desire blaze up more
and more in you, until all your past Karma and future tendencies
are absolutely annihilated. Close upon the heels of that will
follow, all on a sudden, the manifestation of Brahman, and with it
the destruction of all craving for the sense-world. That this
freedom-in-life is approaching for your welfare is easily to be
inferred from the strength of your fervour. Now I pray to that
world-teacher, Shri Ramakrishna, the Preacher of the gospel of
universal synthesis, to manifest himself in the region of your
heart, so that, having attained the consummation of your desires,
you may with an undaunted heart try your best to deliver others
from this dreadful ocean of infatuation. May you be ever possessed
of valour! It is the hero alone, not the coward, who has
liberation within his easy reach. Gird up your loins, ye heroes,
for before you are your enemies - the dire army of infatuation. It
is undoubtedly true that "all great achievements are fraught with
numerous impediments"; still you should exert your utmost for your
end. Behold, how men are already in the jaws of the shark of
infatuation! Oh, listen to their piteous heart-rending wails.
Advance, forward, O ye brave souls, to set free those that are in
fetters, to lessen the burden of woe of the miserable, and to
illumine the abysmal darkness of ignorant hearts! Look, how the
Vedanta proclaims by beat of drums, "Be fearless!" May that solemn
sound remove the heart's knot of all denizens of the earth.
Ever your well-wisher,
VIVEKANANDA.
XXXIX
ALAMBAZAR MATH, CALCUTTA,
May 5th, 1897.
DEAR MRS. BULL,
I have been to Darjeeling for a month to recuperate my shattered
health. I am very much better now. The disease disappeared
altogether in Darjeeling. I am going tomorrow to Almora, another
hill station, to perfect this improvement.
Things are looking not very hopeful here as I have already written
you - though the whole nation has risen as one man to honour me
and people went almost mad over me! The practical part cannot be
had in India. Again, the price of the land has gone up very much
near Calcutta. My idea at present is to start three centres at
three capitals. These would be my normal schools, from thence I
want to invade India.
India is already Ramakrishna's whether I live a few years more or
not.
I have a very kind letter from Prof. Janes in which he points out
my remarks about degraded Buddhism. You also write that Dharmapala
is very wroth about it. Mr. Dharmapala is a good man, and I love
him; but it would be entirely wrong for him to go into fits over
things Indian.
I am perfectly convinced that what they call modern Hinduism with
all its ugliness is only stranded Buddhism. Let the Hindus
understand this clearly, and then it would be easier for them to
reject it without murmur. As for the ancient form which the Buddha
preached, I have the greatest respect for it, as well as for His
person. And you well know that we Hindus worship Him as an
Incarnation. Neither is the Buddhism of Ceylon any good. My visit
to Ceylon has entirely disillusioned me, and the only living
people there are the Hindus. The Buddhists are all much
Europeanised - even Mr. Dharmapala and his father had European
names, which they have since changed. The only respect the
Buddhists pay to their great tenet of non-killing is by opening
"butcher-stalls" in every place! And the priests encourage this.
The real Buddhism, I once thought, would yet do much good. But I
have given up the idea entirely, and I clearly see the reason why
Buddhism was driven out of India, and we will only be too glad if
the Ceylonese carry off the remnant of this religion with its
hideous idols and licentious rites.
About the Theosophists, you must remember first that in India
Theosophists and Buddhists are nonentities. They publish a few
papers and make a lot of splash and try to catch Occidental ears.
. .
I was one man in America and another here. Here the whole nation
is looking upon me as their authority - there I was a much reviled
preacher. Here Princes draw my carriage, there I would not be
admitted to a decent hotel. My utterances here, therefore, must be
for the good of the race, my people - however unpleasant they
might appear to a few. Acceptance, love, toleration for everything
sincere and honest - but never for hypocrisy. The Theosophists
tried to fawn upon and flatter me as I am the authority now in
India, and therefore it was necessary for me to stop my work
giving any sanction to their humbugs, by a few bold, decisive
words; and the thing is done. I am very glad. If my health had
permitted, I would have cleared India by this time of these
upstart humbugs, at least tried my best. . . . Let me tell you
that India is already Ramakrishna's and for a purified Hinduism I
have organised my work here a bit.
Yours,
VIVEKANANDA.
XL
ALMORA,
11th July, 1897.
My dear Shuddhananda,
I was very glad to receive your last report. I have very little
criticism to make except that you ought to write a bit more
legibly.
I am quite satisfied with the work done so far, but it must be
pushed forward. I have not learnt as yet of the suggestion I made
before as to getting a set of chemical and physical apparatus and
starting classes in elementary and experimental Chemistry and
Physics, especially in Physiology.
What about the other suggestion of buying sets of all the
scientific books that have been translated into Bengali?
It now seems to me that there must at least be three Mahantas
(heads) elected at a time - one to direct the business part, one
the experimental, the other the intellectual part.
The difficulty is to get the director of education. Brahmananda
and Turiyananda may well fill the other two. Of visitors I am
sorry to learn that you are only getting Babus from Calcutta. They
are no good. What we want are brave young men who will work, not
tomfools.
Ask Brahmananda to write to both Abhedananda and Saradananda to
send weekly reports to the Math without fail, also to send Bengali
articles and notes for the would-be paper. Is G. C. Ghosh getting
up things for the paper? Work on with a will and be ready.
Akhandananda is working wonderfully at Mahula, but the system is
not good. It seems they are frittering away their energies in one
little village and that only doling out rice. I do not hear that
any preaching has been done along with this helping. All the
wealth of the world cannot help one little Indian village if the
people are not taught to help themselves. Our work should be
mainly educational, both moral and intellectual. I have not learnt
anything abut it - only so many beggars are helped! Ask
Brahmananda to open centres in different districts so as to cover
the largest space with our small means.
And then, so far it seems to have been ineffectual, for they have
not succeeded in rousing the people of the place to start
societies to educate the people, so that they may learn to be
self-reliant, frugal, and not given to marrying, and thus save
themselves from future famine. Charity opens the heart, but work
on through that wedge.
The easiest way is to take a hut - make it a temple of Guru
Maharaj! Let the poor come here to be helped, also to worship. Let
there be Kathâ (Puranic recitals) morning and evening there -
through that you may teach all you want to teach the people. By
degrees the people will be interested. They will keep up the
temple themselves; maybe the hut temple will evolve into a great
institution in a few years. Let those that go to relief-work first
select a central spot in each district and start such a
hut-temple, from which all our little work is to proceed.
Even the greatest fool can accomplish a task if it be after his
heart. But the intelligent man is he who can convert every work
into one that suits his taste. No work is petty. Everything in
this world is like a banyan-seed, which, though appearing tiny as
a mustard-seed, has yet the gigantic banyan tree latent within it.
He indeed is intelligent who notices this and succeeds in making
all work truly great. (This paragraph only is translated from
Bengali.)
Moreover, they have to see that cheats do not get the food of the
deserving. India is full of lazy rogues, and curious, they never
die of hunger, they always get something. Ask Brahmananda to write
this to everyone in relief-work - they must not be allowed to
spend money to no good. We want the greatest possible good work
permanent from the least outlay.
Now you see you must try to think out original ideas - else, as
soon as I die, the whole thing will tumble to pieces. For example,
you hold a meeting to consider, "How we can reap the best
permanent results out of the small means at our disposal." Let all
have notice a few days before and let each suggest something and
discuss all the suggestions, criticising them; and then send me a
report.
Lastly, you must remember I expect more from my children than from
my brethren. I want each one of my children to be a hundred times
greater than I could ever be. Every one of you must be a giant -
must, that is my word. Obedience, readiness, and love for the
cause - if you have these three, nothing can hold you back.
With love and blessings,
VIVEKANANDA.
XLI
ALMORA,
23rd July, 1897.
MY DEAR MISS NOBLE,
Excuse these few lines. I shall write more fully as soon as I
reach some place. I am on my way from the hills to the plains.
I do not understand what you mean by frankness without familiarity
- I for one will give anything to get rid of the last lingering
bit of Oriental formality in me and speak out like a child of
nature. Oh, to live even for a day in the full light of freedom,
to breathe the free air of simplicity! Is not that the highest
purity?
In this world we work through fear of others, we talk through
fear, we think through fear, alas! we are born in a land of
enemies. Who is there who has been able to get rid of this feeling
of fear, as if everyone is a spy set specially to watch him? And
woe unto the man who pushes himself forward! Will it ever be a
land of friends? Who knows? We can only try.
The work has already begun and at present famine-relief is the
thing next to hand. Several centres have been opened and the work
goes on; famine-relief, preaching, and a little teaching. As yet
of course it is very very insignificant, the boys in training are
being taken out as opportunity is offering itself. The sphere of
action at present is Madras and Calcutta. Mr. Goodwin working in
Madras. Also one has gone to Colombo. From the next week a monthly
report of the whole work will be forwarded to you if it has not
already reached you. I am away from the centre of work, so things
go a little slow, you see; but the work is satisfactory on the
whole.
You can do more work for us from England than by coming here. Lord
bless you for your great self-sacrifice for the poor Indians.
I entirely agree with you that the work in England will look up
when I am there. But all the same it is not proper to leave India
before the machine is moving at some rate and I am sure that there
are many to guide it in my absence. That will be done in a few
months. "God willing", as the Mussulmans say. One of my best
workers is now in England, the Raja of Khetri. I expect him soon
in India, and he will be of great service to me no doubt.
With everlasting love and blessings,
Yours,
VIVEKANANDA.
XLII
ALMORA,
29th July, 1897.
MY DEAR MISS NOBLE,
A letter from Sturdy reached me yesterday, informing me that you
are determined to come to India and see things with your own eyes.
I replied to that yesterday, but what I learnt from Miss Muller
about your plans makes this further note necessary, and it is
better that it should be direct.
Let me tell you frankly that I am now convinced that you have a
great future in the work for India. What was wanted was not a man,
but a woman - a real lioness - to work for the Indians, women
specially.
India cannot yet produce great women, she must borrow them from
other nations. Your education, sincerity, purity, immense love,
determination, and above all, the Celtic blood make you just the
woman wanted.
Yet the difficulties are many. You cannot form any idea of misery,
the superstition, and the slavery that are here. You will be in
the midst of a mass of half-naked men and women with quaint ideas
of caste and isolation, shunning the white skin through fear or
hatred and hated by them intensely. On the other hand, you will be
looked upon by the white as a crank, and every one of your
movements will be watched with suspicion.
Then the climate is fearfully hot; our winter in most places being
like your summer, and in the south it is always blazing.
Not one European comfort is to be had in places out of the cities.
If in spite of all this, you dare venture into the work, you are
welcome, a hundred times welcome. As for me, I am nobody here as
elsewhere, but what little influence I have shall be devoted to
your service.
You must think well before you plunge in; and after work, if you
fail in this or get disgusted, on my part I promise you, I will
stand by you unto death whether you work for India or not, whether
you give up Vedanta or remain in it. "The tusks of the elephant
come out, but never go back"; so are the words of a man never
retracted. I promise you that. Again, I must give you a bit of
warning. You must stand on your own feet and not be under the
wings of Miss Muller or anybody else. Miss Muller is a good lady
in her own way, but unfortunately it got into her head, when she
was a girl, that she was a born leader and that no other
qualifications were necessary to move world but money! This idea
is coming on the surface again and again in spite of herself, and
you will find it impossible to pull on with her in a few days. She
now intends to take a house in Calcutta for herself and yourself
and other European or American friends who may come.
It is very kind and good of her, but her Lady Abbess plan will
never be carried out for two reasons - her violent temper and
overbearing conduct, and her awfully vacillating mind. Friendship
with many is best at a distance, and everything goes well with the
person who stands on his own feet.
Mrs. Sevier is a jewel of a lady -so good, so kind! The Seviers
are the only English people who do not hate the natives, Sturdy
not excepted. Mr. and Mrs. Sevier are the only persons who did not
come to patronise us, but they have no fixed plans yet. When you
come, you may get them to work with you, and that will be really
helpful to them and to you. But after all it is absolutely
necessary to stand on one's own feet.
I learn from America that two friends of mine, Mrs. Ole Bull of
Boston and Miss MacLeod, are coming on a visit to India this
autumn. Miss MacLeod you already know in London, that
Paris-dressed young American lady; Mrs. Ole Bull is about fifty
and has been a kind friend to me in America. I may suggest that
your joining the party may while away the tedium of the journey,
as they also are coming by way of Europe.
I am glad to receive a note at least from Sturdy after long. But
it was so stiff and cold. It seems he is disappointed at the
collapse of the London work.
With everlasting love,
Yours ever in the Lord,
VIVEKANANDA.
XLIII
(Translated from Bengali)
BELUR MATH,
16th April, 1899.
DEAR MADAM (Shrimati Sarala Ghosal, B. A.),
Very glad to receive your kind note. If by the sacrifice of some
specially cherished object of either myself or my
brother-disciples many pure and genuinely patriotic souls come
forward to help our cause, rest assured, we will not hesitate in
the least to make that sacrifice nor shed a tear-drop - you will
see this verified in action. But up till now I have seen nobody
coming forward to assist in this way. Only some have wished to put
their own hobby in place of ours - that is all. If it really help
our country or humanity - not to speak of giving up Guru-worship -
believe me, we are prepared to commit any dire iniquity and suffer
the eternal damnation of the Christians. But my hairs have turned
grey since I began the study of man. This world is a most trying
place, and it is long since I have taken to wandering with the
lantern of the Grecian Philosopher in hand. A popular song my
Master often used to sing comes to my mind:
"He who's a man after one's heart
Betrays himself by his very looks.
Rare indeed is such a one!
He's a man of aesthetic perceptions
Who treads a path contrary to others."
This much from my side. Please know that not one word of it is
exaggerated - which you will find to be actually the case.
But then I have some doubts about those patriotic souls who can
join with us if only we give up the worship of the Guru. Well, if,
as they pose, they are indeed panting and struggling so much -
almost to the point of dissolution from their body - to serve the
country, how can the single accident of Guru-worship stop
everything!
This impetuous river with rolling waves which bade fair to sweep
away whole hills and mountains - was a bit of Guru-worship
sufficient to turn it back to the Himalayas! I put it to you, do
you think anything great will come of such patriotism, or any
substantial good proceed from such assistance? It is for you to
say; I can make nothing out of it. For a thirsty man to weigh so
much the merits of water, or for a man about to die of hunger to
cogitate so much and turn up his nose at the food presented! Well,
people have strange ways of thinking. I, for one, am inclined to
think that those people were best in a glass-case; the more they
keep away from actual work, the better.
"Love stops not for questions of birth.
Nor the hungry man for stale food."
This is what I know. But I may be wholly mistaken. Well, if this
trifle of Guru-worship sticks in one's throat to choke one to
death, we had better extricate him from this predicament.
However, I have a great longing to talk over these points with you
in detail. For talking these things over, affliction and death
have given me leave till now, and I hope they will do so yet.
May all your wishes be fulfilled in this New Year!
Yours sincerely,
VIVEKANANDA.
XLIV
C/O F. H. LEGGETT,
21 WEST THIRTY-FOURTH STREET
NEW YORK
Nov., 1899.
MY DEAR STURDY,
This is not to defend my conduct. Words cannot wipe off the evils
I have done, nor any censor stop from working the good deeds, if
any.
For the last few months I have been hearing so much of the
luxuries I was given to enjoy by the people of the West - luxuries
which the hypocrite myself has been enjoying, although preaching
renunciation all the while: luxuries, the enjoyment of which has
been the great stumbling-block in my way, in England at least. I
nearly hypnotised myself into the belief that there has at least
been a little oasis in the dreary desert of my life, a little spot
of light in one whole life of misery and gloom; one moment of
relaxation in a life of hard work and harder curses - even that
oasis, that spot, that moment was only one of sense-enjoyment!!
I was glad, I blessed a hundred times a day those that had helped
me to get it, when, lo, your last letter comes like a thunderclap,
and the dream is vanished. I begin to disbelieve your criticisms -
have little faith left in all this talk of luxuries and enjoyments
and other visions memory calls up. These I state. Hope you will
send it round to friends, if you think fit, and correct me where I
am wrong.
I remember your place at Reading, where I was fed with boiled
cabbage and potatoes and boiled rice and boiled lentils, three
times a day, with your wife's curses for sauce all the time. I do
not remember your giving me any cigar to smoke - shilling or penny
ones. Nor do I remember myself as complaining of either the food
or your wife's incessant curses, though I lived as a thief,
shaking through fear all the time, and working every day for you.
The next memory is of the house on St. George's Road - you and
Miss Muller at the head. My poor brother was ill there and Miss
Müller drove him away. There too I don't remember to have had any
luxuries as to food or drink or bed or even the room given to me.
The next was Miss Müller's place. Though she has been very kind to
me, I was living on nuts and fruits. The next memory is that of
the black hole of London where I had to work almost day and night
and cook the meals oft-times for five or six, and most nights with
a bite of bread and butter.
I remember Mrs. Sturdy giving me a dinner and a night's lodging in
her place, and then the next day criticising the black savage - so
dirty and smoking all over the house.
With the exception of Capt. and Mrs. Sevier, I do not remember
even one piece of rag as big as a handkerchief I got from England.
On the other hand, the incessant demand on my body and mind in
England is the cause of my breakdown in health. This was all you
English people gave me, whilst working me to death; and now I am
cursed for the luxuries I lived in!! Whosoever of you have given
me a coat? Whosoever a cigar? Whosoever a bit of fish or flesh?
Whosoever of you dare say I asked food or drink or smoke or dress
or money from you? Ask, Sturdy, ask for God's sake, ask your
friends, and first ask your own "God within who never sleeps."
You have given me money for my work. Every penny of it is there.
Before your eyes I sent my brother away, perhaps to his death; and
I would not give him a farthing of the money which was not my
private property.
On the other hand, I remember in England Capt. and Mrs. Sevier,
who have clad me when I was cold, nursed me better than my own
mother would have, borne with me in my weakness, my trials; and
they have nothing but blessings for me. And that Mrs. Sevier,
because she did not care for honours, has the worship of thousands
today; and when she is dead millions will remember her as one of
the great benefactresses of the poor Indians. And they never
cursed me for my luxuries, though they are ready to give me
luxuries, if I need or wish.
I need not tell you of Mrs. Bull, Miss MacLeod, Mr. and Mrs.
Leggett. You know their love and kindness for me; and Mrs. Bull
and Miss MacLeod have been to our country, moved and lived with us
as no foreigner ever did, roughing it all, and they do not ever
curse me and my luxuries either; they will be only too glad to
have me eat well and smoke dollar cigars if I wish. And there
Leggetts and Bulls were the people whose bread whose money bought
my smokes and several times paid my rent, whilst I was killing
myself for your people, when you were taking my pound of flesh for
the dirty hole and starvation and reserving all this accusation of
luxury.
"The clouds of autumn make great noise but send no rain;
The clouds of the rainy season without a word flood the earth."
See Sturdy, those that have helped or are still helping have no
criticism, no curses: it is only those who do nothing, who only
come to grind their own axes, that curse, that criticise. That
such worthless, heartless, selfish, rubbish criticise, is the
greatest blessing that can come to me. I want nothing so much in
life as to be miles off from these extremely selfish axe-grinders.
Talking of luxuries! Take these critics up one after the other -
It is all flesh, all flesh and no spirit anywhere. Thank God, they
come out sooner or later in their true colours. And you advise me
to regulate my conduct, my work, according to the desires of such
heartless, selfish persons, and are at your wit's end because I do
not!
As to my Gurubhais (brother-disciples), they do nothing but what I
insist on their doing. If they have shown any selfishness
anywhere, that is because of my ordering them, not what they would
do themselves.
Would you like your children put into that dark hole you got for
me in London, made to work to death, and almost starved all the
time? Would Mrs. Sturdy like that? They are Sannyasins, and that
means, no Sannyasin should unnecessarily throw away his life or
undertake unnecessary hardship.
In undergoing all this hardship in the West we have been only
breaking the rules of Sannyasa. They are my brothers, my children.
I do not want them to die in holes for my sake. I don't, by all
that is good and true I don't, want them starved and worked and
cursed for all their pains.
A word more. I shall be very glad if you can point out to me where
I have preached torturing the flesh. As for the Shâstras
(scriptures), I shall be only too glad if a Shâstri (Pundit) dares
oppose us with the rules of life laid down for Sannyasins and
Paramahamsas.
Well, Sturdy, my heart aches. I understand it all. I know what you
are in - you are in the clutches of people who want to use you. I
don't mean your wife. She is too simple to be dangerous. But, my
poor boy, you have got the flesh-smell - a little money - and
vultures are around. Such is life.
You said a lot about ancient India. That India still lives,
Sturdy, is not dead, and that living India dares even today to
deliver her message without fear or favour of the rich, without
fear of anybody's opinion, either in the land where her feet are
in chains or in the very face of those who hold the end of the
chain, her rulers. That India still lives, Sturdy, India of
undying love, of everlasting faithfulness, the unchangeable, not
only in manners and customs, but also in love, in faith, in
friendship. And I, the least of that India's children, love you,
Sturdy, with Indian love, and would any day give up a thousand
bodies to help you out of this delusion.
Ever yours,
VIVEKANANDA.
XLV
CHICAGO,
26th Nov., 1899.
MY DEAR MRS. LEGGETT,
Many, many thanks for all your kindness and especially the kind
note. I am going to start from Chicago on Thursday next, and got
the ticket and berth ready for that day.
Miss Noble is doing very well here, and working her way out. I saw
Alberta the other day. She is enjoying every minute of her stay
here and is very happy. Miss Adams (Jane Adams), as ever is an
angel.
I shall wire to Joe Joe before I start and read all night.
With all love to Mr. Leggett and yourself,
Ever yours affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA.
XLVI
CHICAGO,
30th Nov., 1899.
MY DEAR MOTHER, (Mrs. Leggett.)
Nothing new - except Madame Calvé's visit. She is a great woman. I
wish I saw more of her. It is a grand sight to see a giant pine
struggling against a cyclone. Is it not?
I leave here tonight. These lines in haste as A__ is waiting. Mrs.
Adams is kind as usual. Margot doing splendidly. Will write more
from California.
With all love to Frankincense,
Ever your son,
VIVEKANANDA.
XLVII
LOS ANGELES,
6th Dec., 1899.
DEAR MARGOT,
Your sixth has arrived, but with it yet no change in my fortune.
Would change be any good, do you think? Some people are made that
way, to love being miserable. If I did not break my heart over
people I was born amongst, I would do it for somebody else. I am
sure of that. This is the way of some, I am coming to see it. We
are all after happiness, true, but that some are only happy in
being unhappy - queer, is it not? There is no harm in it either,
except that happiness and unhappiness are both infectious.
Ingersoll said once that if he were God, he would make health
catching, instead of disease, little dreaming that health is quite
as catching as disease, if not more! That is the only danger. No
harm in the world in my being happy, in being miserable, but
others must not catch it. This is the great fact. No sooner a
prophet feels miserable for the state of man than he sours his
face, beats his breast, and calls upon everyone to drink tartaric
acid, munch charcoal, sit upon a dung-heap covered with ashes, and
speak only in groans and tears! - I find they all have been
wanting. Yes, they have. If you are really ready to take the
world's burden, take it by all means. But do not let us hear your
groans and curses. Do not frighten us with your sufferings, so
that we came to feel we were better off with our own burdens. The
man who really takes the burden blesses the world and goes his own
way. He has not a word of condemnation, a word of criticism, not
because there was no evil but that he has taken it on his own
shoulders willingly, voluntarily. It is the Saviour who should "go
his way rejoicing, and not the saved".
This is the only light I have caught this morning. This is enough
if it has come to live with me and permeate my life.
Come ye that are heavy laden and lay all your burden on me, and
then do whatever you like and be happy and forget that I ever
existed.
Ever with love,
Your father,
VIVEKANANDA.
XLVIII
1719 TURK STREET,
SAN FRANCISCO,
17th March, 1900.
MY DEAR MOTHER (Mrs. Leggett.),
So glad to get your nice letter. Well, you may be sure I am
keeping in touch with my friends. Yet a delay may sometimes cause
nervousness.
Dr. and Mrs. Hiller returned to the city, much benefited, as they
declare, by Mrs. Melton's rubbings. As for me, I have got several
huge red patches on my chest. What materialises later on as to
complete recovery, I will let you know. Of course, my case is such
that it will take time to come round by itself.
So thankful to you and to Mrs. Adams for the kindness. I will
surely go and call on them in Chicago.
How are things going on with you? I have been following the "Put
up or shut up" plan here, and so far it has not proved bad. Mrs.
Hansborough, the second of the three sisters, is here, and she is
working, working, working - to help me. Lord bless their hearts.
The three sisters are three angels, are they not? Seeing such
souls here and there repays for all the nonsense of this life.
Well, all blessings to you for ever is my prayer. You are one of
the angels also, say I.
With love to Miss Kate,
Ever your son,
VIVEKANANDA.
PS. How is the "Mother's child"?
How is Miss Spencer? All love to her. You know already I am a very
bad correspondent, but the heart never fails. Tell this to Miss
Spencer.
V.
IL
1719 TURK STREET,
SAN FRANCISCO,
17th March, 1900.
DEAR MOTHER (Mrs. Leggett.),
I had a letter from Joe asking me to send my signature on four
slips of paper, so that Mr. Leggett may put my money in the bank
for me. As I cannot possibly reach her in time, I send the slips
to you.
I am getting better in health and doing financially something. I
am quite satisfied. I am not at all sorry that more people did not
respond to your call. I knew they would not. But I am eternally
thankful to you for all your kindness. May all blessings follow
you and yours for ever.
It is better that my mail be sent to 1231 Pine Street, C/o the
Home of Truth. For though I be moving about, that place is a
permanent establishment, and the people there are very kind to me.
I am so glad to learn that you are very well now. Mrs. Melton has
left Los Angeles - I am informed by Mrs. Blodgett. Has she gone to
New York? Dr. and Mrs. Hiller came back to San Francisco day
before yesterday. They declare themselves very much helped by Mrs.
Melton. Mrs. Hiller expects to get completely cured in a short
time.
I had a number of lectures here already and in Oakland. The
Oakland lectures paid well. The first week in San Francisco was
not paying, this week is. Hope the next week will pay also. I am
so glad to hear the nice arrangement made by Mr. Leggett for the
Vedanta Society. He is so good.
With all love,
Yours,
VIVEKANANDA.
PS. Do you know anything about Turiyananda? Has he got completely
cured?
V.
L
1719 TURK STREET,
SAN FRANCISCO,
7th April, 1900.
DEAR MOTHER (Mrs. Leggett.),
Accept my congratulations for the news of the cause of the wound
being completely removed. I have no doubt of your being perfectly
cured this time.
Your very kind note cheered me a good deal. I do not mind at all
whether people come round to help me or not; I am becoming calm
and less worried.
Kindly convey my best love to Mrs. Melton. I am sure to recover in
the long run. My health has been improving in the main, though
there are occasional relapses. Each relapse becoming less, both in
tone and in time.
It is just like you to have Turiyananda and Siri treated. The Lord
has blessed you for your great heart. May all blessings ever
follow you and yours.
It is perfectly true that I should go to France and work on
French. I hope to reach France in July or earlier. Mother knows.
May all good ever follow you, is the constant prayer of
Your son,
VIVEKANANDA.
LI
17th April, 1900.
MY DEAR MR. LEGGETT,
Herewith I send the executed Will to you. It has been executed as
desired by her, and of course, as usual, I am requesting you for
the trouble of taking charge of it.
You and yours have been so uniformly kind to me. But you know,
dear friend, it is human nature to ask for more favours (now that
they have come) where it gets from.
I am only a man, your child.
I am so sorry A__ has made disturbances. He does that now and
then, at least used to. I do not venture to meddle, for fear of
creating more trouble. You know how to manage him best. By the
time you receive this letter, I will be off from San Francisco.
Will you kindly send my Indian mail C/o Mrs. Hale, 10 Aster
Street, Chicago, and to Margot in the same place? Margot writes
very thankfully of your gift of a thousand dollars for her school.
May all blessings ever follow you and yours for your uniform
kindness to me and mine, is the constant prayer of
Yours affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA.
PS. I am so glad to learn that Mrs. Leggett has already recovered.
V.
LII
2nd May, 1900.
DEAR AUNT ROXY, (Mrs. Blodgett of Los Angeles),
Your very, very kind letter came. I am down again with nerves and
fever, after six months of hard work. However, I found out that my
kidneys and heart are as good as ever. I am going to take a few
days' rest in the country and then start for Chicago.
I have just written to Mrs. Milward Adams and also have given an
introduction to my daughter, Miss Noble, to go and call upon Mrs.
Adams and give her all information she wants about the work.
Well, dear good mother, may all blessings attend you and peace. I
just want a bit of peace badly - pray for me. With love to
Kate,
Ever your son,
VIVEKANANDA.
PS. Love to Miss Spencer - the Basaquisitz(?), Mrs. S__, and the
other friends.
A heap of loving pats on the head to Tricks.
V.
LIII
PERROS GUIREC
BERTAGNE,
22nd September, 1900.
To Miss Alberta Sturges
on her 23rd birthday
The mother's heart, the hero's will,
The softest flower's sweetest feel;
The charm and force that ever sway
The altar fire's flaming play;
The strength that leads, in love obeys;
Far-reaching dreams, and patient ways,
Eternal faith in Self, in all
The sight Divine in great in small;
All these, and more than I could see
Today may "Mother" grant to thee.
Ever yours with love and blessings,
VIVEKANANDA.
DEAR ALBERTA,
This little poem is for your birthday. It is not good, but it has
all my love. I am sure, therefore, you will like it.
Will you kindly send a copy each of the pamphlets there to madame
Besnard, Clairoix, Bres Compiegne, Oise, and oblige?
Your well-wisher,
VIVEKANANDA.