Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda - Vol-8
XXXV
To Miss Mary Hale
168, BRATTLE STREET,
CAMBRIDGE,
8th December, 1894.
DEAR SISTER,
I have been here three days. We had a nice lecture from Lady Henry
Somerset. I have a class every morning here on Vedanta and other
topics. Perhaps you have got the copy of Vedantism by this time
which I left with Mother Temple to be sent over. I went to dine
with the Spaldings another day. That day they urged me, against my
repeated protests, to criticise the Americans. I am afraid they
did not relish it. It is of course always impossible to do it.
What about Mother Church and the family at Chicago? I had no
letters from them a long time. I would have run into town to see
you before this, had I time. I am kept pretty busy the whole day.
Then there is the fear of not meeting you.
If you have time, you may write, and I shall snatch the first
opportunity to see you. My time of course is always in the
afternoon, so long I shall be here, that is until the 27th or 28th
of this month; I will have to be very busy in the morning till 12
or 1.
With my love to you all,
Ever your affectionate brother,
VIVEKANANDA.
XXXVI
To Miss Mary Hale
CAMBRIDGE,
December, 1894.
DEAR SISTER,
I received your letter just now. If it is not against the rules of
your society, why do you not come to see Mrs. Ole Bull, Miss
Farmer, and Mrs. Adams the physical culturist from Chicago?
Any day you will find them there.
Yours ever affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA.
XXXVII
To Miss Mary Hale
CAMBRIDGE,
21st December, 1894.
DEAR SISTER,
I had not anything from you since your last. I am going away next
Tuesday to New York. You must have received Mrs. Bull's letter in
the meanwhile. If you cannot accept it, I shall be very glad to
come over any day - I have time now as the lectures are at an end,
except Sunday next.
Yours ever affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA.
XXXVIII
To Miss Isabelle McKindley
528, 5TH AVE., NEW YORK,
24th Jan., 1895.
DEAR MISS BELL,
I hope you are well. . . .
My last lecture was not very much appreciated by the men but
awfully so by vemen. You know this Brooklyn is the centre of
anti-women's rights movements; and when I told them that women
deserve and are fit for everything, they did not like it of
course. Never mind, the women were in ecstasies.
I have got again a little cold. I am going to the Guernseys. I
have got a room downtown also where I will go several hours to
hold my classes etc. Mother Church must be all right by this time,
and you are all enjoying this nice weather. Give Mrs. Adams
mountain high love and regard from me when you see her next.
Send my letters as usual to the Guernseys.
With love for all,
Ever your aff. bro.,
VIVEKANANDA.
XXXIX
To Mr. Francis Leggett
NEWYORK,
10th April, 1895.
DEAR FRIEND,
It is impossible to express my gratitude for your kindly inviting
me to your country seat [Ridgely]. I am involved in a mistake now
and find it impossible for me to come tomorrow. Tomorrow I have a
class at Miss Andrews' of 40 W. 9th Street. As I was given to
understand by Miss MacLeod that that class could be postponed, I
was only too glad at the prospect of joining the company tomorrow.
But I find that Miss MacLeod was mistaken and Miss Andrews came to
tell me that she could not by any means stop the class tomorrow or
even give notice to the members, who are about 50 or 60 in number.
In view of this I sincerely regret my inability and hope that Miss
MacLeod and Mrs. Sturges will understand that it is an unavoidable
circumstance, and not the will, that stands in the way of my
taking advantage of your kind invitation.
I shall only be too glad to come day after tomorrow, or any other
day this week, as it suits you.
Ever sincerely yours,
VIVEKANANDA.
XL
To Mr. E. T. Sturdy
54 W. 33RD STREET,
NEW YORK,
24th April, 1895.
DEAR FRIEND,
I am perfectly aware that although some truth underlies the mass
of mystical thought which has burst upon the Western world of
late, it is for the most part full of motives, unworthy, or
insane. For this reason, I have never had anything to do with
these phases of religion, either in India or elsewhere, and
mystics as a class are not very favourable to me. . . .
I quite agree with you that only the Advaita philosophy can save
mankind, whether in East or West, from "devil worship" and kindred
superstitions, giving tone and strength to the very nature of man.
India herself requires this, quite as much or even more than the
West. Yet it is hard uphill work, for we have first to create a
taste, then teach, and lastly proceed to build up the whole
fabric.
Perfect sincerity, holiness, gigantic intellect, and an
all-conquering will. Let only a handful of men work with these,
and the whole world will be revolutionised. I did a good deal of
platform work in this country last year, and received plenty of
applause, but found that I was only working for myself. It is the
patient upbuilding of character, the intense struggle to realise
the truth, which alone will tell in the future of humanity. So
this year I am hoping to work along this line - training up to
practical Advaita realisation a small band of men and women. I do
not know how far I shall succeed. The West is the field for work
if a man wants to benefit humanity, rather than his own particular
sect or country. I agree perfectly as to your idea of a magazine.
But I have no business capacity at all to do these things. I can
teach and preach, and sometimes write. But I have intense faith in
Truth. The Lord will send help and hands to work with me. Only let
me be perfectly pure, perfectly sincere, and perfectly unselfish.
"Truth alone triumphs, not untruth; through truth alone stretches
the way to the Lord" (Atharva-Veda). He who gives up the little
self for the world will find the whole universe his. . . . I am
very uncertain about coming to England. I know no one there, and
here I am doing some work. The Lord will guide, in His own time.
XLI
To Mr. E. T. Sturdy
19 W. 38TH ST.,
NEW YORK
DEAR FRIEND,
I received your last duly, and as I had a previous arrangement to
come to Europe by the end of this August, I take your invitation
as a Divine Call.
"Truth alone triumphs, not untruth. Through truth alone lies the
way to Devayâna (the way to the gods)." Those who think that a
little sugar-coating of untruth helps the spread of truth are
mistaken and will find in the long run that a single drop of
poison poisons the whole mass. . . . The man who is pure, and who
dares, does all things. May the Lord ever protect you from
illusion and delusion! I am ever ready to work with you, and the
Lord will send us friends by the hundred, if only we be our own
friends first. "The Atman alone is the friend of the Atman."
Europe has always been the source of social, and Asia of spiritual
power; and the whole history of the world is the tale of the
varying combinations of those two powers. Slowly a new leaf is
being turned in the story of humanity. The signs of this are
everywhere. Hundreds of new plans will be created and destroyed.
Only the fit will survive. And what but the true and the good is
the fit?
Yours etc.,
VIVEKANANDA.
XLII
To the Hale Sisters
NEW YORK,
5th May, 1895.
DEAR BABIES,
What I expected has come. I always thought that although Prof. Max
Muller in all his writings on the Hindu religion adds in the last
a derogatory remark, he must see the whole truth in the long run.
As soon as you can, get a copy of his last book Vedantism; there
you will find him swallowing the whole of it - reincarnation and
all.
Of course, you will not find it difficult at all to understand, as
it is only a part of what I have been telling you all this time.
Many points you will find smack of my paper in Chicago.
I am glad now the old man has seen the truth, because that is the
only way to have religion in the face of modern research and
science.
Hope you are enjoying Todd's Rajasthan.
With all love, your brother,
VIVEKANANDA.
PS. When is Miss Mary coming to Boston? - V.
XLIII
C/O MISS PHILIPS,
19 WEST 38TH STREET,
NEW YORK
28th May, 1895.
DEAR ALASINGA,
Herewith I send a hundred dollars or £20-8-7 in English money.
Hope this will go just a little in starting your paper. Hoping to
do more by and by.
I remain, ever yours, with blessings,
VIVEKANANDA.
PS. Reply immediately to it C/o the above address. New York will
be my headquarters henceforth.
I have succeeded in doing something in this country at last.
V.
XLIV
To Miss Josephine MacLeod
21W. 34TH ST.,
NEW YORK,
June, 1895.
DEAR JOE,
Experiences are gathering a bit thick round you. I am sure they
will lift many a veil more.
Mr. Leggett told me of your phonograph. I told him to get a few
cylinders - I talk in them through somebody's phonograph and send
them to Joe - to which he replied that he could buy one, because
"I always do what Joe asks me to do." I am glad there is so much
of hidden poetry in his nature.
I am going today to live with the Guernseys as the doctor wants to
watch me and cure me. . . . Doctor Guernsey, after examining other
things, was feeling my pulse, when suddenly Landsberg (whom they
had forbidden the house) got in and retreated immediately after
seeing me. Dr. Guernsey burst out laughing and declared he would
have paid that man for coming just then, for he was then sure of
his diagnosis of my case. The pulse before was so regular, but
just at the sight of Landsberg it almost stopped from emotion. It
is sure only a case of nervousness. He also advises me strongly to
go on with Doctor Helmer's treatment. He thinks Helmer will do me
a world of good, and that is what I need now. Is not he broad?
I expect to see "the sacred cow" today in town. I will be in New
York a few days more. Helmer wants me to take three treatments a
week for four weeks, then two a week for four more, and I will be
all right. In case I go to Boston, he recommends me to a very good
ostad (expert) there whom he would advise on the matter.
I said a few kind words to Landsberg and went upstairs to Mother
Guernsey to save poor Landsberg from embarrassment.
Ever yours in the Lord,
VIVEKANANDA.
XLV
To Miss Mary Hale
(Written on birch bark)
PERCY N. H.,
17 June, 1895.
DEAR SISTER,
Going tomorrow to the Thousand Islands care Miss Dutcher's,
Thousand Island Park, N.Y. Where are you now? Where will you all
be in summer? I have a chance of going to Europe in August, I will
come to see you before I go. So write to me. Also I expect books
and letters from India. Kindly send them care Miss Phillips, 19 W.
38th Street, N.Y. This is the bark in which all holy writings are
written in India. So I write Sanskrit: May the husband of Uma
(Shiva) protect you always.
May you all be blessed ever and ever.
VIVEKANANDA
XLVI
To Miss Mary Hale
54 W. 33RD STREET,
NEW YORK,
22nd June, 1895.
DEAR SISTER,
The letters from India and the parcel of books reached me safe. I
am so happy to know of Mr. Sam's arrival. I am sure he is
"bewaring of the vidders" nicely. I met a friend of Mr. Sam's one
day on the street. He is an Englishman with a name ending in "ni".
He was very nice. He said he was living in the same house with Sam
somewhere in Ohio.
I am going on pretty nearly in the same old fashion. Talking when
I can and silent when forced to be. I do not know whether I will
go to Greenacre this summer. I saw Miss Farmer the other day. She
was in a hurry to go away, so I had but very little talk with her.
She is a noble, noble lady.
How are you going on with your Christian Science lessons? I hope
you will go to Greenacre. There you will find quite a number of
them and also the Spiritualists, table turnings, palmists,
astrologers, etc., etc. You will get all the "cures" and all the
"isms" presided over by Miss Farmer.
Landsberg has gone away to live in some other place, so I am left
alone. I am living mostly on nuts and fruits and milk, and find it
very nice and healthy too. I hope to lose about 30 to 40 lbs. this
summer. That will be all right for my size. I am afraid I have
forgotten all about Mrs. Adam's lessons in walking. I will have to
renew them when she comes again to N.Y. Gandhi has gone to England
en route to India from Boston, I suppose.
I would like to know about his "chaperon" Mrs. Howard and her
present bereaved state. I am very glad to hear that the rugs did
not go down to the bottom of the Atlantic and are at last coming.
This year I could hardly keep my head up, and I did not go about
lecturing. The three great commentaries on the Vedanta philosophy
belonging to the three great sects of dualists, qualified
dualists, and monists are being sent to me from India. Hope they
will arrive safe. Then I will have an intellectual feast indeed. I
intend to write a book this summer on the Vedanta philosophy. This
world will always be a mixture of good and evil, of happiness and
misery; this wheel will ever go up and come down; dissolution and
resolution is the inevitable law. Blessed are those who struggle
to go beyond. Well, I am glad all the babies are doing well but
sorry there was no "catch" even this winter, and every winter the
chances are dwindling down. Here near my lodgings is the
Waldorf-Hotel, the rendezvous of lots of titled but penniless
Europeans on show for "Yankee" heiresses to buy. You may have any
selection here, the stock is so full and varied. There is the man
who talks no English; there are others who lisp a few words which
no one can understand; and others are there who talk nice English,
but their chance is not so great as that of the dumb ones - the
girls do not think them enough foreign who talk plain English
fluently.
I read somewhere in a funny book that an American vessel was being
foundered in the sea; the men were desperate and as a last solace
wanted some religious service being done. There was "Uncle Josh"
on board who was an elder in the Presbyterian Church. They all
began to entreat, "Do something religious, Uncle Josh! We are all
going to die." Uncle Joseph took his hat in his hand and took up a
collection on the spot!
That is all of religion he knew. And that is more or less
characteristic of the majority of such people. Collections are
about all the religion they know or will ever know. Lord bless
them. Good-bye for present. I am going to eat something; I feel
very hungry.
Yours affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA.
XLVII
To Miss Mary Hale
C/O MISS DUTCHER,
THOUSAND ISLAND PARK, N.Y.
26th June, 1895.
DEAR SISTER,
Many thanks for the Indian mail. It brought a good deal of good
news. You are enjoying by this time, I hope, the articles by Prof.
Max Müller on the "Immortality of the Soul" which I sent to Mother
Church. The old man has taken in Vedanta, bones and all, and has
boldly come out. I am so glad to know the arrival of the rugs. Was
there any duty to pay? If so I will pay that, I insist on it.
There will come another big packet from the Raja of Khetri
containing some shawls and brocades and nick-nacks. I want to
present them to different friends. But they are not going to
arrive before some months, I am sure.
I am asked again and again, as you will find in the letters from
India, to go over. They are getting desperate. Now if I go to
Europe, I will go as the guest of Mr. Francis Leggett of N.Y. He
will travel all over Germany, England, France, and Switzerland for
six weeks. From there I shall go to India, or I may return to
America. I have a seed planted here and wish it to grow. This
winter's work in N.Y. was splendid, and it may die if I suddenly
go over to India, so I am not sure about going to India soon.
Nothing noticeable has happened during this visit to the Thousand
Islands. The scenery is very beautiful and I have some of my
friends here with me to talk about God and soul ad libitum. I am
eating fruits and drinking milk and so forth, and studying huge
Sanskrit books on Vedanta which they have kindly sent me from
India.
If I come to Chicago I cannot come at least within six weeks or
more. Baby needn't alter any of her plans for me. I will see you
all somehow or other before I go.
You fussed so much over my reply to Madras, but it has produced a
tremendous effect there. A late speech by the President of the
Madras Christian College, Mr. Miller, embodies a large amount of
my ideas and declares that the West is in need of Hindu ideas of
God and man and calls upon the young men to go and preach to the
West. This has created quite a furore of course amongst the
Missions. What you allude to as being published in the Arena I did
not see a bit of it. The women did not make any fuss over me at
all in New York. Your friend must have drawn on his imagination.
They were not of the "bossing" type at all. I hope Father Pope
will go to Europe and Mother Church too. Travelling is the best
thing in life. I am afraid I shall die if made to stick to one
place for a long time. Nothing like a nomadic life!
The more the shades around deepen, the more the ends approach and
the more one understands the true meaning of life, that it is a
dream; and we begin to understand the failure of everyone to grasp
it, for they only attempted to get meaning out of the meaningless.
To get reality out of a dream is boyish enthusiasm. "Everything is
evanescent, everything is changeful" - knowing this, the sage
gives up both pleasure and pain and becomes a witness of this
panorama (the universe) without attaching himself to anything.
"They indeed have conquered Heaven even in this life whose mind
has become fixed in sameness. God is pure and same to all,
therefore they are said to be in God" (Gita, V.19). Desire,
ignorance, and inequality - this is the trinity of bondage.
Denial of the will to live, knowledge, and same-sightedness is the
trinity of liberation.
Freedom is the goal of the universe.
"Nor love nor hate nor pleasure nor pain nor death nor life nor
religion nor irreligion: not this, not this, not this."
Yours ever,
VIVEKANANDA.
XLVIII
To Miss Mary Hale
C/O MISS DUTCHER,
THOUSAND ISLAND PARK, N.Y.
26th June, 1895.
DEAR SISTER,
Many thanks for the Indian mail. I cannot express in words my
gratitude to you. As you have already read in Max Müller's article
on Immortality I sent Mother Church, that he thinks that those we
love in this life we must have loved in the past, so it seems I
must have belonged to the Holy Family in some past life. I am
expecting some books from India. I hope they have arrived. If so,
will you kindly send them over here? If any postage is due I shall
send it as soon as I get intimation. You did not write about the
duty on the rugs; there will be another big packet from Khetri
containing carpets and shawls and some brocades and other
nick-nacks. I have written them to get the duty paid there if it
is possible through the American Consul in Bombay. If not I shall
have to pay it here. I do not think they will arrive for some
months yet. I am anxious about the books. Kindly send them as soon
as they arrive.
My love to Mother and Father Pope and all the sisters. I am
enjoying this place immensely. Very little eating and good deal of
thinking and talking and study. A wonderful calmness is coming
over my soul. Every day I feel I have no duty to do; I am always
in eternal rest and peace. It is He that works. We are only the
instruments. Blessed be His name! The threefold bondage of lust
and gold and fame is, as it were, fallen from me for the time
being, and once more, even here, I feel what sometimes I felt in
India, "From me all difference has fallen, all right or wrong, all
delusion and ignorance has vanished, I am walking in the path
beyond the qualities." What law I obey, what disobey? From that
height the universe looks like a mud-puddle. Hari Om Tat Sat. He
exists; nothing else does. I in Thee and Thou in me. Be Thou Lord
my eternal refuge! Peace, Peace, Peace! Ever with love and
blessings,
Your brother,
VIVEKANANDA.
IL
To Mr. E. T. Sturdy
19 WEST 38TH ST., NEW YORK,
2nd August, 1895.
DEAR FRIEND,
Your kind note received today. I am going to Paris first with a
friend and start for Europe on the 17th of August. I will however
remain in Paris only a week to see my friend married, and then I
go over to London.
Your advice about an organisation was very good indeed. And I am
trying to act on that line.
I have many strong friends here, but unfortunately they are most
of them poor. So the work here must be slow. Moreover it requires
a few months more of work in New York to carry it to some visible
shape: as such I will have to return to New York early this
winter, and in summer I will return to London again. So far as I
see now I can stay only a few weeks in London. But if the Lord
wills, that small time may prove to be the beginning of great
things. From Paris I will inform you by wire when I arrive in
England.
Some Theosophists came to my classes in New York, but as soon as
human beings perceive the glory of the Vedanta, all abracadabras
fall off of themselves. This has been my uniform experience.
Whenever mankind attains a higher vision, the lower vision
disappears of itself. Multitude counts for nothing. A few
heart-whole, sincere, and energetic men can do more in a year than
a mob in a century. If there is heat in one body, then those
others that come near it must catch it. This is the law. So
success is ours, so long as we keep up the heat, the spirit of
truth, sincerity, and love. My own life has been a very chequered
one, but I have always found the eternal words verified: "Truth
alone triumphs, not untruth. Through truth alone lies the way to
God."
May the Sat in you be always your infallible guide! May He
speedily attain to freedom and help others to attain it!
Ever yours in the Sat,
VIVEKANANDA.
L
To Mr. E. T. Sturdy
19, WEST 38TH STREET,
NEW YORK,
9th August, 1895.
DEAR FRIEND,
. . . It is only just that I should try to give you a little of my
views. I fully believe that there are periodic ferments of
religion in human society, and that such a period is now sweeping
over the educated world. While each ferment, moreover, appears
broken into various little bubbles, these are all eventually
similar, showing the cause or causes behind them to be the same.
That religious ferment which at present is every day gaining a
greater hold over thinking men, has this characteristic that all
the little thought-whirlpools into which it has broken itself
declare one single aim - a vision and a search after the Unity of
Being. On planes physical, ethical, and spiritual, an
ever-broadening generalisation - leading up to a concept of Unity
Eternal - is in the air; and this being so, all the movements of
the time may be taken to represent, knowingly or unknowingly, the
noblest philosophy of the unity man ever had - the Advaita
Vedanta.
Again, it has always been observed that as a result of the
struggles of the various fragments of thought in a given epoch,
one bubble survives. The rest only arise to melt into it and form
a single great wave, which sweeps over society with irresistible
force.
In India, America, and England (the countries I happen to know
about) hundreds of these are struggling at the present moment. In
India, dualistic formulae are already on the wane, the Advaita
alone holds the field in force. In America, many movements are
struggling for the mastery. All these represent Advaita thought
more or less, and that series, which is spreading most rapidly,
approaches nearer to it than any of the others. Now if anything
was ever clear to me, it is that one of these must survive,
swallowing up all the rest, to be the power of the future. Which
is it to be?
Referring to history, we see that only that fragment which is fit
will survive, and what makes fit to survive but character? Advaita
will be the future religion of thinking humanity. No doubt of
that. And of all the sects, they alone shall gain the day who are
able to show most character in their lives, no matter how far they
may be.
Let me tell you a little personal experience. When my Master left
the body, we were a dozen penniless and unknown young men. Against
us were a hundred powerful organisations, struggling hard to nip
us in the bud. But Ramakrishna had given us one great gift, the
desire, and the lifelong struggle not to talk alone, but to live
the life. And today all India knows and reverences the Master, and
the truths he taught are spreading like wild fire. Ten years ago I
could not get a hundred persons together to celebrate his birthday
anniversary. Last year there were fifty thousand.
Neither numbers nor powers nor wealth nor learning nor eloquence
nor anything else will prevail, but purity, living the life, in
one word, anubhuti, realisation. Let there be a dozen such
lion-souls in each country, lions who have broken their own bonds,
who have touched the Infinite, whose whole soul is gone to
Brahman, who care neither for wealth nor power nor fame, and these
will be enough to shake the world.
Here lies the secret. Says Patanjali, the father of Yoga, "When a
man rejects all the superhuman powers, then he attains to the
cloud of virtue." He sees God. He becomes God and helps others to
become the same. This is all I have to preach. Doctrines have been
expounded enough. There are books by the million. Oh, for an ounce
of practice!
As to societies and organisations, these will come of themselves.
Can there be jealousy where there is nothing to be jealous of? The
names of those who will wish to injure us will be legion. But is
not that the surest sign of our having the truth? The more I have
been opposed, the more my energy has always found expression. I
have been driven and worshipped by princes. I have been slandered
by priests and laymen alike. But what of it? Bless them all! They
are my very Self, and have they not helped me by acting as a
spring-board from which my energy could take higher and higher
flights?
. . . I have discovered one great secret - I have nothing to fear
from talkers of religion. And the great ones who realise - they
become enemies to none! Let talkers talk! They know no better! Let
them have their fill of name and fame and money and woman. Hold we
on to realisation, to being Brahman, to becoming Brahman. Let us
hold on to truth unto death, and from life to life. Let us not pay
the least attention to what others say, and if, after a lifetime's
effort, one soul, only one, can break the fetters of the world and
be free, we have done our work. Hari Om!
. . . One word more. Doubtless I do love India. But every day my
sight grows clearer. What is India, or England, or America to us?
We are the servants of that God who by the ignorant is called MAN.
He who pours water at the root, does he not water the whole tree?
There is but one basis of well-being, social, political or
spiritual - to know that I and my brother are one. This is true
for all countries and all people. And Westerners, let me say, will
realise it more quickly than Orientals, who have almost exhausted
themselves in formulating the idea and producing a few cases of
individual realisation.
Let us work without desire for name or fame or rule over others.
Let us be free from the triple bonds of lust, greed of gain, and
anger. And this truth is with us!
Ever yours in the Lord,
VIVEKANANDA.
LI
To Mr. E. T. Sturdy
C/O MISS MACLEOD,
HOTEL HOLLANDE,
RUE DELA PAIX,
PARIS,
5th September, 1895.
DEAR AND BLESSED FRIEND,
It is useless to express my gratitude for your kindness; it is too
great for expression. . . .
I have a cordial invitation from Miss Müller, and as her place is
very near to yours, I think it will be nice to come to her place
first for a day or two and then to come over to you.
My body was very ill for a few days, which caused this delay in
writing you.
Hoping soon for the privilege of mingling hearts and heads
together.
I remain, ever yours in love, and fellowship in the Lord,
VIVEKANANDA.
LII
To Miss Josephine MacLeod
C/O E. T. STURDY, ESQ.,
HIGH VIEW, CAVERSHAM,
READING, ENGLAND,
September, 1895.
DEAR JOE JOE,
A thousand pardons for not promptly writing to you. I arrived safe
in London, found my friend, and am all right in his home. It is
beautiful. His wife is surely an angel, and his life is full of
India. He has been years there - mixing with the Sannyasins,
eating their food, etc., etc.; so you see I am very happy. I found
already several retired Generals from India; they were very civil
and polite to me. That wonderful knowledge of the Americans that
identify every black man with the negro is entirely absent here,
and nobody even stares at me in the street.
I am very much more at home here than anywhere out of India. The
English people know us, we know them. The standard of education
and civilisation is very high here - that makes a great change, so
does the education of many generations.
Have the Turtle-doves returned? The Lord bless them and theirs for
ever and ever. How are the babies - Alberta and Holister? Give
them my oceans of love and know it yourself.
My friend being a Sanskrit scholar, we are busy working on the
great commentaries of Shankara etc. Nothing but philosophy and
religion here, Joe Joe. I am going to try to get up classes in
October in London.
Ever affectionately with love and blessings,
VIVEKANANDA.
LIII
(Translated from Bengali)
To Swami Abhedananda
C/O E. T. STURDY, ESQ.,
HIGH VIEW, CAVERSHAM,
READING, ENGLAND,
October, 1895.
DEAR KALI,
You may have got my earlier letter. At present send all letters to
me at the above address. Mr. Sturdy is known to Târakdâ. He has
brought me to his place, and we are both trying to create a stir
in England. I shall this year leave again in November for America.
So I require a man well-up in Sanskrit and English, particularly
the latter language - either Shashi or you or Sâradâ. Now, if you
have completely recovered, very well, you come; otherwise send
Sharat. The work is to teach the devotees I shall be leaving here,
to make them study the Vedanta, to do a little translation work
into English, and to deliver occasional lectures. "Work is apt to
cloud spiritual vision." X__ is very eager to come, but unless the
foundation is strongly laid, there is every likelihood of
everything toppling down. I am sending you a cheque along with
this letter. Buy clothes and other necessary things - whoever
comes. I am sending the cheque in the name of Master Mahashay
Mahendra Babu. Gangâdhar's Tibetan choga is in the Math; get the
tailor to make a similar choga of gerua colour. See that the
collar is a little high, that is, the throat and neck should be
covered. . . . Above all, you must have a woolen overcoat, for it
is very cold. If you do not put on an overcoat on the ship, you
will suffer much. . . . I am sending a second class ticket, as
there is not much difference between a first class and a second
class berth. . . . If it is decided to send Shashi then inform the
purser of the ship beforehand to provide him with vegetarian diet.
Go to Bombay and see Messrs. King, King & Co., Fort, Bombay,
and tell them that you are Mr. Sturdy's man. They will then give
you a ticket to England. A letter is being sent from here to the
Company with instructions. I am writing to the Maharaja of Khetri
to instruct his Bombay agent to look after the booking of your
passage. If this sum of Rs. 150/- is not sufficient for your
outfit, get the remainder from Rakhal. I shall send him the amount
afterwards. Keep another Rs. 50/- for pocket expenses - take it
from Rakhal; I shall pay back later. I have not up to now got any
acknowledgement of the amount I sent to Chuni Babu. Start as
quickly as possible. Inform Mahendra Babu that he is my Calcutta
agent. Tell him to send a letter to Mr. Sturdy by next mail
informing him that he is ready to look after all business
transactions in Calcutta on your behalf. In effect, Mr. Sturdy is
my secretary in England, Mahendra Babu in Calcutta, and Alasinga
in Madras. Send this information to Madras also. Can any work be
done unless all of us gird up our loins? And be up and doing!
"Fortune favours the brave and energetic." Don't look back -
forward, infinite energy, infinite enthusiasm, infinite daring,
and infinite patience - then alone can great deeds be
accomplished. We must set the whole world afire.
Now on the day the steamer is due to start, write a letter to Mr.
Sturdy informing him by which steamer you are leaving for England.
Otherwise there is some likelihood of your having difficulties
when you reach London. Take the ship that comes directly to
London, for even if it takes a few days longer on the voyage, the
fares are less. At the moment our purse is lean. In time we shall
send preachers in large numbers to all the quarters of the globe.
Yours affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA.
PS. Write at once to the Maharaja of Khetri, that you are going to
Bombay and that you will be glad if his agent attends to the
booking of your passage and sees you off the board.
Keep my address with you written in a pocket-book, lest there
should be difficulties afterwards.
LIV
To Miss Josephine MacLeod
HIGH VIEW, CAVERSHAM,
READING, ENGLAND,
October, 1895.
DEAR JOE JOE,
I was so glad to hear from you. I was afraid you had forgotten me.
I am going to have a few lectures in and about London. One of
them, a public one, will be at Princes' Hall on the 22nd at 8-30.
Come over and try to form a class. I have as yet done almost
nothing here. Of course, breaking the ice is slow always. It took
me two years in America to work up that little which we had in New
York.
With love for all,
Yours ever,
VIVEKANANDA.
LV
To Miss Josephine MacLeod
HIGH VIEW, CAVERSHAM,
READING, ENGLAND,
20th October, 1895.
DEAR JOE JOE,
This note is to welcome the Leggetts to London. This being in a
sense my native country, I send you my welcome first, I shall
receive your welcome next Tuesday the 22nd at Princes' Hall half
past eight p.m.
I am so busy till Tuesday, I am afraid, I shall not be able to run
in to see you. I, however, shall come to see you any day after
that. Possibly I may come on Tuesday.
With everlasting love and blessings,
Yours,
VIVEKANANDA.
LVI
To Miss Josephine MacLeod
80 OAKLEY STREET,
CHELSEA,
31st October, 1895.
DEAR JOE JOE,
I shall be only too glad to come to lunch on Friday and see Mr.
Coit at the Albemarle.
Two American ladies, mother and daughter, living in London came in
to the class last night - Mrs. and Miss Netter. They were very
sympathetic of course. The class there at Mr. Chamier's is
finished. I shall begin at my lodgings from Saturday night next. I
expect to have a pretty good-sized room or two for my classes. I
have been also invited to Moncure Conways's Ethical Society where
I speak on the 10th. I shall have a lecture in the Balboa Society
next Tuesday. The Lord will help. I am not sure whether I can go
up with you on Saturday. You will have great fun in the country
anyway, and Mr. and Mrs. Sturdy are such nice people.
With love and blessings,
VIVEKANANDA.
PS. Kindly order some vegetables for me. I don't care much for
rice - bread will do as well. I have become an awful vegetarian
now.
V.
LVII
80 OAKLEY ST., CHELSEA,
31st October, 1895 (5 p.m.).
DEAR FRIEND(Mr. E. T. Sturdy),
Just now two young gentlemen, Mr. Silverlock and his friend, left.
Miss Müller also came this afternoon and left just when these
gentlemen came in.
One is an Engineer and the other is in the grain trade. They have
read a good deal of modern philosophy and science and have been
much struck by the similarity with the latest conclusions of both
with the ancient Hindu thought. They are very fine, intelligent,
and educated men. One has given up the Church, the other asked me
whether he should or not. Now, two things struck me after this
interview. First, we must hurry the book through. We will touch a
class thereby who are philosophically religious without the least
mystery-mongering. Second, both of them want to know the rituals
of my creed! This opened my eyes. The world in general must have
some form. In fact, in the ordinary sense religion is philosophy
concretised through rituals and symbols.
It is absolutely necessary to form some ritual and have a Church.
That is to say, we must fix on some ritual as fast as we can. If
you can come Saturday morning or sooner, we shall go to the
Asiatic Society library or you can procure for me a book which is
called Hemâdri Kosha, from which we can get what we want, and
kindly bring the Upanishads. We will fix something grand, from
birth to death of a man. A mere loose system of philosophy gets no
hold on mankind.
If we can get it through, before we have finished the classes, and
publish it by publicly holding a service or two under it, it will
go on. They want to form a congregation, and they want ritual;
that is one of the causes why - will never have a hold on Western
people.
The Ethical Society has sent me another letter thanking me for the
acceptance of this offer. Also a copy of their forms. They want me
to bring with me a book from which to read for ten minutes. Will
you bring the Gita (translation) and the Buddhist Jâtaka
(translation) with you?
I would not do anything in this matter without seeing you first.
Yours with love and blessings,
VIVEKANANDA.
LVIII
80 OAKLEY STREET,
CHELSEA,
1st November, 1895.
DEAR FRIEND (Mr. E. T. Sturdy),
The tickets of the Balleren (?) Society are 35 in number.
The subject is "Indian Philosophy and Western Society". Chairman
blank.
As you did not ask me to send them over, I do not. I got your
letters properly.
Yours in the Sat,
VIVEKANANDA.
LIX
2nd November, 1895.
DEAR FRIEND (Mr. E. T. Sturdy),
I think you are right; we shall work on our own lines and let
things grow.
I send you the note of the lecture.
I shall come on Sunday if nothing extraordinary prevents me.
Yours with love,
VIVEKANANDA.
LX
R.M.S. "BRITANNIC"
BLESSED AND BELOVED (Mr. E. T. Sturdy),
So far the journey has been very beautiful. The purser has been
very kind to me and gave me a cabin to myself. The only difficulty
is the food - meat, meat, meat. Today they have promised to give
me some vegetables.
We are standing at anchor now. The fog is too thick to allow the
ship to proceed. So I take this opportunity to write a few
letters.
It is a queer fog almost impenetrable though the sun is shining
bright and cheerful. Kiss baby for me; and with love and blessings
for you and Mrs. Sturdy,
I remain, Yours,
VIVEKANANDA.
PS. Kindly convey my love to Miss Müller. I left the night shirt
at Avenue Road. So I shall have to do without any until the trunk
is brought out of the hold.
LXI
228 WEST39TH STREET,
NEW YORK,
8th December, 1895.
DEAR FRIEND (Mr. E. T. Sturdy),
After ten days of a most tedious and rough voyage I safely arrived
in New York. My friends had already engaged some rooms at the
above where I am living now and intend to hold classes here long.
In the meanwhile the Theosophists have been alarmed very much and
are trying their best to hurt me; but they and their followers are
of no consequence whatever.
I went to see Mrs. Leggett and other friends, and they are as kind
and enthusiastic as ever.
Did you hear anything from India about the coming Sannyasin?
I will write later fuller particulars of the work here.
Kindly convey my best love to Miss Müller and to Mrs. Sturdy and
all the other friends and kiss baby for me.
Yours ever in the Sat,
VIVEKANANDA.
LXII
To Miss Josephine MacLeod
228 WEST 39TH STREET,
NEW YORK,
8th December, 1895.
DEAR JOE JOE,
After 10 days of the most disastrous voyage I ever had I arrived
in New York. I was so so sick for days together.
After the clean and beautiful cities of Europe, New York appears
very dirty and miserable. I am going to begin work next Monday.
Your bundles have been safely delivered to the heavenly pair, as
Alberta calls them. They are as usual very kind. Saw Mrs. and Mr.
Salomon and other friends. By chance met Mrs. Peak at Mrs.
Guernsey's but yet have no news of Mrs. Rothinburger. Going with
the birds of paradise to Ridgely this Christmas. Wish ever so much
you were there.
Had you a nice visit with Lady Isabelle? Kindly give my love to
all our friends and know oceans yourself.
Excuse this short letter. I shall write bigger ones by the next.
Ever yours in the Lord,
VIVEKANANDA.
LXIII
To Mr. E. T. Sturdy
NEW YORK,
1895.
The work here is going on splendidly. I have been working
incessantly at two classes a day since my arrival. Tomorrow I go
out of town with Mr. Leggett for a week's holiday. Did you know
Madame Antoinette Sterling, one of your greatest singers? She is
very much interested in the work.
I have made over all the secular part of the work to a committee
and am free from all that botheration. I have no aptitude for
organising. It nearly breaks me to pieces.
. . . What about the Nârada-Sutra? There will be a good sale of
the book here, I am sure. I have now taken up the Yoga-Sutras and
take them up one by one and go through all the commentators along
with them. These talks are all taken down, and when completed will
form the fullest annotated translation of Patanjali in English. Of
course it will be rather a big work.
At Trübner's I think there is an edition of Kurma Purâna. The
commentator, Vijnâna Bhikshu, is continually quoting from that
book. I have never seen the book myself. Will you kindly find time
to go and see if in it there are some chapters on Yoga? If so,
will you kindly send me a copy? Also of the Hatha-Yoga-Pradipikâ,
Shiva-Samhitâ, and any other book on Yoga? The originals of
course. I shall send you the money for them as soon as they
arrive. Also a copy of Sânkhya-Kârikâ of Ishwara Krishna by John
Davies. Just now your letter reached along with Indian letters.
The one man who is ready is ill. The others say that they cannot
come over on the spur of the moment. So far it seems unlucky. I am
sorry they could not come. What can be done? Things go slow in
India!
Ramanuja's theory is that the bound soul or Jiva has its
perfections involved, entered, into itself. When this perfection
again evolves, it becomes free. The Advaitin declares both these
to take place only in show; there was neither involution nor
evolution. Both processes were Maya, or apparent only.
In the first place, the soul is not essentially a knowing being.
Sachchidânanda is only an approximate definition, and Neti Neti is
the essential definition. Schopenhauer caught this idea of willing
from the Buddhists. We have it also in Vâsanâ or Trishnâ, Pali
tanhâ. We also admit that it is the cause of all manifestation
which are, in their turn, its effects. But, being a cause, it must
be a combination of the Absolute and Maya. Even knowledge, being a
compound, cannot be the Absolute itself, but it is the nearest
approach to it, and higher than Vasana, conscious or unconscious.
The Absolute first becomes the mixture of knowledge, then, in the
second degree, that of will. If it be said that plants have no
consciousness, that they are at best only unconscious wills, the
answer is that even the unconscious plant-will is a manifestation
of the consciousness, not of the plant, but of the cosmos, the
Mahat of the Sankhya Philosophy. The Buddhist analysis of
everything into will is imperfect, firstly, because will is itself
a compound, and secondly, because consciousness or knowledge which
is a compound of the first degree, precedes it. Knowledge is
action. First action, then reaction. When the mind perceives,
then, as the reaction, it wills. The will is in the mind. So it is
absurd to say that will is the last analysis. Deussen is playing
into the hands of the Darwinists.
But evolution must be brought in accordance with the more exact
science of Physics, which can demonstrate that every evolution
must be preceded by an involution. This being so, the evolution of
the Vasana or will must be preceded by the involution of the Mahat
or cosmic consciousness. (See also Vol VIII Sayings and Utterances
& Vol V Letter to Mr. Sturdy .)
There is no willing without knowing. How can we desire unless we
know the object of desire?
The apparent difficulty vanishes as soon as you divide knowledge
also into subconscious and conscious. And why not? If will can be
so treated, why not its father?
VIVEKANANDA.
LXIV
To Mr. E. T. Sturdy
228 WEST 39TH STREET,
NEW YORK,
16th December, 1895.
BLESSED AND BELOVED,
All your letters reached by one mail today. Miss Müller also
writes me one. She has read in the Indian Mirror that Swami
Krishnananda is coming over to England. If that is so, he is the
strongest man that I can get.
The classes I had here were six in the week, besides a question
class. The general attendance varies between 70 to 120. Besides
every Sunday I have a public lecture. The last month my lectures
were in a small hall holding about 600. But 900 will come as a
rule, 300 standing, and about 300 going off, not finding room.
This week therefore I have a bigger hall, with a capacity of
holding 1200 people.
There is no admission charged in these lectures, but a collection
covers the rent. The newspapers have taken me up this week, and
altogether I have stirred up New York considerably this year. If I
could have remained here this summer and organised a summer place,
the work would be going on sure foundations here. But as I
intended to come over in May to England, I shall have to leave it
unfinished. If, however, Krishnananda comes to England, and you
find him strong and able, and if you find the work in London will
not be hurt by my absence this summer, I would rather be here this
summer.
Again, I am afraid my health is breaking down under constant work.
I want some rest. We are so unused to these Western methods,
especially the keeping to time. I will leave you to decide all
these. The Brahmavâdin is going on here very satisfactorily. I
have begun to write articles on Bhakti; also send them a monthly
account of the work. Miss Müller wants to come to America. I do
not know whether she will or not. Some friends here are publishing
my Sunday lectures. I have sent you a few copies of the first one.
I shall send you next mail a few of the next two lectures, and if
you like them I shall ask them to send you a number. Can you
manage to get a few hundred copies sold in England? That will
encourage them in publishing the subsequent ones.
Next month I go to Detroit, then to Boston, and Harvard
University. Then I shall have a rest, and then I come to England,
unless you think that things go on without me and with
Krishnananda.
Ever yours with love and blessings,
VIVEKANANDA.
LXV
To Swami Saradananda
228 WEST 39TH STREET,
NEW YORK,
23rd December, 1895.
DEAR SHARAT,
Your letter only made me sad. I see you have lost all enthusiasm.
I know all of you, your powers and your limitations. I would not
have called you to any task which you are incompetent to do. The
only task I would have given you was to teach elementary Sanskrit,
and with the help of dictionaries and other things assist S. in
his translations and teachings. I would have moulded you to it.
Anyone could have done as well - only a little smattering of
Sanskrit was absolutely necessary. Well, everything is for the
best. If it is the Lord's work the right man for the right place
will be forthcoming in the right time. None of you need feel
disturbed. As for Sanyal, I don't care who takes money or not, but
I have a strong hatred for child-marriage. I have suffered
terribly from it, and it is the great sin for which our nation has
to suffer. As such, I would hate myself if I help such a
diabolical custom directly or indirectly. I wrote to you pretty
plain about it, and Sanyal had no right to play a hoax upon me
about his "law-suit" and his attempts to become free. I am sorry
for his playing tricks on me who have never done him any harm.
This is the world. What good you do goes for nothing, but if you
stop doing it, then, Lord help you, you are counted as a rogue.
Isn't it? Emotional natures like mine are always preyed upon by
relatives and friends. This world is merciless. This world is our
friend when we are its slaves and no more. This world is broad
enough for me. There will always be a corner found for me
somewhere. If the people of India do not like me, there will be
others who do. I must set my foot to the best of my ability upon
this devilish custom of child-marriage. No blame will entail on
you. You keep at a safe distance if you are afraid. I am sorry,
very sorry, I cannot have any partnership with such doings as
getting husbands for babies. Lord help me, I never had and never
will have. Think of the case of M__ Babu! Did you ever meet a more
cowardly or brutal one than that? I can kill the man who gets a
husband for a baby. The upshot of the whole thing is - I want
bold, daring, adventurous spirits to help me. Else I will work
alone. I have a mission to fulfil. I will work it out alone. I do
not care who comes or who goes. Sanyal is already done for by
Samsâra. Beware, boy! That was all the advice I thought it my duty
to give you. Of course, you are great folks now - my words will
have no value with you. But I hope the time will come when you
will see clearer, know better, and think other thoughts than you
are now doing.
Good-bye! I would not bother you anymore and all blessings go with
you all. I am very glad I have been of some service to you
sometimes if you think so. At least I am pleased with myself for
having tried my best to discharge the duties laid on me by my
Guru, and well done or ill, I am glad that I tried. So good-bye.
Tell Sanyal that I am not at all angry with him, but I am sorry,
very sorry. It is not the money - that counts nothing - but the
violation of a principle that pained me, and the trick he played
on me. Good-bye to him also, and to you all. One chapter of my
life is closed. Let others come in their due order. They will find
me ready. You need not disturb yourselves at all about me. I want
no help from any human being in any country. So good-bye! May the
Lord bless you all for ever and ever!
VIVEKANANDA.
LXVI
To Mr. E. T. Sturdy
RIDGELYMANOR,
29th December, 1895.
DEAR FRIEND,
By this time the copies of the lectures must have reached you.
Hope they may be of some use.
I think, in the first place, there are so many difficulties to
overcome; in the second place, they think that they are fit for
nothing - that is the national disease; thirdly, they are afraid
to face the winter at once; the Tibet man they don't think is a
very strong man to work in England. Someone will come sooner or
later.
Yours in the Sat,
VIVEKANANDA.
PS. My Christmas greetings to all our friends - to Mrs. and Mr.
Johnson, to Lady Margesson, Mrs. Clark, Miss Hawes, Miss Müller,
Miss Steel, and all the rest. - V.
Kiss baby for me and bless him. My greetings to Mrs. Sturdy. We
will work. "Wah guru ki fateh." - V.
LXVII
To Miss Mary Hale
NEW YORK,
6th January, 1896.
DEAR SISTER,
Many thanks for your kind New Year's greetings. I am glad to learn
you enjoyed your six weeks with the Esq. although they be only
golf playing. I have been in the midst of the genuine article in
England. The English people received me with open arms, and I have
very much toned down my ideas about the English race. First of
all, I found that those fellows as Lund etc. who came over from
England to attack me were nowhere. Their existence is simply
ignored by the English people. None but a person belonging to the
English Church is thought to be genteel. Again, some of the best
men of England belonging to the English Church and some of the
highest in position and fame became my truest friends. This was
quite another sort of experience from what I met in America, was
it not?
The English people laughed and laughed when I told them about my
experience with the Presbyterians and other fanatics here and my
reception in hotels etc. I also found at once the difference in
culture and breeding between the two countries and came to
understand why American girls go in shoals to be married to
Europeans. Everyone was kind to me there, and I have left many
noble friends of both sexes anxiously waiting my return in the
spring.
As to my work there, the Vedantic thought has already permeated
the higher classes of England. Many people of education and rank,
and amongst them not a few clergymen, told me that the conquest of
Rome by Greece was being re-enacted in England.
There are two sorts of Englishmen who have lived in India. One
consisting of those who hate everything Indian, but they are
uneducated. The other, to whom India is the holy land, its very
air is holy. And they try to out-Herod Herod in their Hinduism.
They are awful vegetarians, and they want to form a caste in
England. Of course, the majority of the English people are firm
believers in caste. I had eight classes a week apart from public
lectures, and they were so crowded that a good many people, even
ladies of high rank, sat on the floor and did not think anything
of it. In England I find strong-minded men and women to take up
the work and carry it forward with the peculiar English grip and
energy. This year my work in New York is going on splendidly. Mr.
Leggett is a very rich man of New York and very much interested in
me. The New Yorker has more steadiness than any other people in
this country, so I have determined to make my centre here. In this
country my teachings are thought to be queer by the "Methodist"
and "Presbyterian" aristocracy. In England it is the highest
philosophy to the English Church aristocracy.
Moreover those talks and gossips, so characteristic of the
American woman, are almost unknown in England. The English woman
is slow; but when she works up to an idea, she will have a hold on
it sure; and they are regularly carrying on my work there and
sending every week a report - think of that! Here is I go away for
a week, everything falls to pieces. My love to all - to Sam and to
yourself. May the Lord bless you ever and ever!
Your affectionate brother,
VIVEKANANDA.
LXVIII
To Mr. E. T. Sturdy
228 WEST 39TH STREET,
NEW YORK,
16th January, 1896.
BLESSED AND BELOVED,
Many many thanks for the books. The Sankhya Karika is a very good
book, and the Kurma Purana, though I do not find in it all
expected, has a few verses on Yoga. The words dropped in my last
letter were Yoga-Sutra, which I am translating with notes from
various authorities. I want to incorporate the chapter in Kurma
Purana in my notes. I have very enthusiastic accounts of your
classes from Miss MacLeod. Mr. Galsworthy seems to be very much
interested now.
I have begun my Sunday lectures here and also the classes. Both
are very enthusiastically received. I make them all free and take
up a collection to pay the hall etc. Last Sunday's lecture was
very much appreciated and is in the press. I shall send you a few
copies next week. It was the outline of our work.
As my friends have engaged a stenographer (Goodwin), all these
class lessons and public lectures are taken down. I intend to send
you a copy of each. They may suggest you some ideas.
My great want here is a strong man like you, possessing intellect,
and ability, and love. In this nation of universal education, all
seem to melt down into a mediocrity, and the few able are weighed
down by the eternal money-making.
I have a chance of getting a piece of land in the country, and
some buildings on it, plenty of trees and a river, to serve as a
summer meditation resort. That, of course, requires a committee to
look after it in my absence, as also the handling of money and
printing and other matters.
I have separated myself entirely from money questions, yet without
it the movement cannot go on. So necessarily I have to make over
everything executive to a committee, which will look after these
things in my absence. Steady work is not in the line of the
Americans. The only way they work, is in a herd. So let them have
it. As to the teaching part, my friends will go over this country
from place to place, each one independent, and let them form
independent circles. That is the easiest way to spread. Then, when
there will be sufficient strength, we shall have yearly gatherings
to concentrate our energies.
The committee is entirely executive and it is confined to New York
alone. . . .
Ever yours with love and blessings,
VIVEKANANDA.
LXIX
23rd January, 1896.
DEAR ALASINGA,
By this time you must have got enough of matter on Bhakti from me.
The last copy, dated 21st December, of Brahmavadin is in. I have
been smelling something since the last few issues of the
Brahmavadin. Are you going to join the Theosophists? This time you
simply gave yourselves up. Why, you get in a notice of the
Theosophists' lectures in the body of your notes! Any suspicion of
my connection with the Theosophists will spoil my work both in
America and England, and well it may. They are thought by all
people of sound mind to be wrong, and true it is that they are
held so, and you know it full well. I am afraid you want to
overreach me. You think you can get more subscribers in England by
advertising Annie Besant? Fool that you are.
I do not want to quarrel with the Theosophists, but my position is
entirely ignoring them. Had they paid for the advertisement? Why
should you go forward to advertise them? I shall get more than
enough subscribers in England when I go next.
Now, I would have no traitors, I tell you plainly, I would not be
played upon by any rogue. No hypocrisy with me. Hoist your flag
and give public notice in your paper that you have given up all
connections with me, and join the . . . camp of the Theosophists
or cease to have anything whatsoever to do with them. I give you
very plain words indeed. I shall have one man only to follow me,
but he must be true and faithful unto death. I do not care for
success or no success. I am tired of this nonsense of preaching
all over the world. Did any of Annie Besant's people come to my
help when I was in England? Fudge! I must keep my movement pure or
I will have none.
Yours,
VIVEKANANDA.
PS. Reply sharp your decision. I am very decided on this point.
You ought to have told me so before, had your intentions been such
from the very beginning. The Brahmavadin is for preaching Vedanta
and not Theosophy. I almost lose my patience when I see these
underhand dealings. This is the world - those whom you love best
and help most try to cheat you. - V.
LXX
To Mr. E. T. Sturdy
228 WEST 39TH STREET,
NEW YORK,
29th February, 1896.
BLESSED AND BELOVED,
I am coming before May if possible. You need not worry about that.
The pamphlet was beautiful. The newspaper cuttings from here will
be forwarded if we can get them.
The books and pamphlets here have been got up this way. A
committee was formed in New York. They paid all the expenses of
stenographing and printing on condition the books will belong to
them. So these pamphlets and books are theirs. One book, the
Karma-Yoga has been already published; the Raja-Yoga, a much
bigger one, is in the course of publication; the Jnana-Yoga may be
published later on. These will be popular books, the language
being that of talk, as you have seen already. I have purged
everything that is objectionable, and they help me in getting up
the books.
The books are the property of this Committee, of which Mrs. Ole
Bull is the principal backer, also Mrs. Leggett.
It is only just that they should have the books as they paid all
the expenses. There is no fear of the publishers meddling with
them, as they are the publishers themselves.
If any books come from India please keep them.
The stenographer, who is an Englishman named Goodwin, has become
so interested in the work that I have now made him a Brahmachârin,
and he is going round with me, and we shall come over together to
England. He will be very helpful as he has been always.
Yours with all blessings,
VIVEKANANDA.
LXXI
To Mr. E. T. Sturdy
NEW YORK,
17th March, 1896.
BLESSED AND BELOVED,
I received your last just now and it frightened me immensely.
The lectures were delivered under the auspices of certain friends
who paid for the stenography and all other expenses on condition
they alone will have the right to publish them. As such, they have
already published the Sunday lectures as well as three books on
"Karma-Yoga", "Raja-Yoga", and "Jnana-Yoga". The Raja-Yoga
especially has been much altered and re-arranged along with the
translation of "Yoga-Sutras of Patanjali". The Raja-Yoga is in the
hands of Longmans. The friends here are furious at the idea of
these books being published in England; and as they have been made
over to them by me legally, I am at a loss what to do. The
publication of the pamphlets was not so serious, but the books
have been so much re-arranged and changed that the American
edition will not recognise the English one. Now pray don't publish
these books, as they will place me in a very false position and
create endless quarrel and destroy my American work.
By last mail from India I learn that a Sannyasin has started from
India. I had a beautiful letter from Miss Müller, also one from
Miss MacLeod; the Leggett family has become very attached to me.
I do not know anything about Mr. Chatterji. I hear from other
sources that his trouble is money, which the Theosophists cannot
supply him with. Moreover the help he will be able to give me is
very rudimentary and useless in the face of the fact of a much
stronger man coming from India. So far with him. We need not be in
a hurry.
I pray you again to think about this publishing business and write
some letters to Mrs. Ole Bull and through her ask the opinion of
the American friends of the Vedanta, remembering "ours is the
Gospel of oneness of all beings", and all national feelings are
but wicked superstitions. Moreover I am sure that the person who
is always ready to give way to other's opinions finds at last that
his opinion has triumphed. Yielding always conquers at last. With
love to all our friends,
Yours with love and blessings,
VIVEKANANDA.
PS. I am coming sure in March as early as possible.
V.
LXXII
To Miss Mary Hale
DEAR SISTER,
I am afraid you are offended and did not answer any of my letters.
Now I beg a hundred thousand pardons. By very good luck, I have
found the orange cloth and am going to have a coat made as soon as
I can. I am glad to hear you met Mrs. Bull. She is such a noble
lady and kind friend. Now, sister, there are two very thin
Sanskrit pamphlets in the house. Kindly send them over if it does
not bother you. The books from India have arrived safe, and I had
not to pay any duty on them. I am surprised that the rugs do not
arrive yet. I have not been to see Mother Temple any more. I could
not find time. Every little bit of time I get I spend in the
library.
With everlasting love and gratitude to you all,
Ever your loving brother,
VIVEKANANDA.
PS. Mr. Howe has been a very constant student except the last few
days. Kindly give my love to Miss Howe.
V.
LXXIII
To the Hale Sisters
6 WEST 43RD STREET,
NEW YORK,
14th April, 1896.
DEAR SISTERS,
I arrived safe on Sunday and on account of illness could not write
earlier. I sail on board the White Star Line Germanic tomorrow at
12 noon. With everlasting memory of love, gratitude and blessings,
I am, your ever loving brother,
VIVEKANANDA.
LXXIV
WAVENEY MANSIONS,
FAIRHAZEL GARDENS,
LONDON N.W.
April, 1896
Thursday Afternoon.
DEAR STURDY,
I forgot to tell you in the morning that Prof. Max Müller also
offered in his letter to me to do everything he could if I went to
lecture at Oxford.
Yours affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA.
PS. Have you written for the Artharva-Veda Samhita edited by
Shankara Pandurang?
V.
LXXV
To the Hale sisters
HIGH VIEW, READING,
20th April, 1896.
DEAR SISTERS,
Greetings to you from the other shore. The voyage has been
pleasant and no sickness this time. I gave myself treatment to
avoid it. I made quite a little run through Ireland and some of
the Old English towns and now am once more in Reading amidst
Brahma and Maya and Jiva, the individual and the universal soul,
etc. The other monk is here; he is one of the nicest of men I see,
and is quite a learned monk too. We are busy editing books now.
Nothing of importance happened on the way. It was dull,
monotonous, and prosaic as my life. I love America more when I am
out of it. And, after all, those years there have been some of the
best I have yet seen.
Are you trying to get some subscribers for the Brahmavadin? Give
my best love and kindest remembrance to Mrs. Adams and Mrs.
Conger. Write me as soon as is convenient all about yourselves,
and what you are doing, what breaks the monotony of eating,
drinking, and cycling. I am in a hurry just now, shall write a
bigger letter later; so good-bye and may you be always happy.
Your ever affectionate brother,
VIVEKANANDA.
PS. I will write to Mother Church as soon as I get time. Give my
love to Sam and sister Locke.
V.
LXXVI
To Miss Mary Hale
63 ST. GEORGE'S ROAD,
LONDON, S.W.,
30th May, 1896.
DEAR MARY,
Your letter reached just now. Of course, you were not jealous but
all of a sudden were inspired with sympathy for poor India. Well,
you need not be frightened. Wrote a letter to Mother Church weeks
ago, but have not been able to get a line from her yet. I am
afraid the whole party have taken orders and entered a Catholic
convent - four old maids are enough to drive any mother to a
convent. I had a beautiful visit with Prof. Max Müller. He is a
saint - a Vedantist through and through. What think you? He has
been a devoted admirer of my old Master for years. He has written
an article on my Master in The Nineteenth Century, which will soon
come out. We had long talk on Indian things. I wish I had half his
love for India. We are going to start another little magazine
here. What about The Brahmavadin? Are you pushing it? If four
pushful old maids cannot push a journal, I am blowed. You will
hear from me now and then. I am not a pin to be lost under a
bushel. I am having classes here just now. I begin Sunday lectures
from next week. The classes are very big and are in the house. We
have rented it for the season. Last night I made a dish. It was
such a delicious mixture of saffron, lavender, mace, nutmeg,
cubebs, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, cream, limejuice, onions,
raisins, almonds, pepper, and rice, that I myself could not eat
it. There was no asafoetida, though that would have made it
smoother to swallow.
Yesterday I went to a marriage à la mode. Miss Müller, a rich
lady, a friend who has adopted a Hindu boy and to help my work has
taken rooms in this house, took us to see it. One of her nieces
was married to somebody's nephew I suppose. What tiring nonsense!
I am glad you do not marry. Good-bye, love to all. No more time as
I am going to lunch with Miss MacLeod.
Yours ever affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA.