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Contact UsComplete Works of Swami Vivekananda - Vol-9
Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda
Volume-9
Published by Advaita Ashrama, Kolkatta
E-Text Source: www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info
Index
Letters (Fifth Series)
Lectures and Discourses
* The Women of India
* The First Step towards Jnana
* Bhakti-Yoga
* The Mundaka Upanishad
* History of the Aryan Race
Notes of Lectures and Classes
* The Religion of India
* Christ's Message to the World
* Mohammed's Message to the World
* Class Lessons in Meditation
* The Gita
* The Gita - I
* The Gita - III
* Gita Class
* Remarks from Various Lectures
Writings: Prose and Poems
* The Ether
* Notes
* Lecture Notes
* Macrocosm and Microcosm
* Footnotes to The Imitation of Christ
* The Plague Manifesto
* One Circle More
* Facsimile of One Circle More
* Poem on Shri Ramakrishna
* An Unfinished Poem
* Bhartrihari's Verses on Renunciation
Conversations and Interviews
Excerpts from Sister Nivedita's Book
* The Home On The Ganges
* At Naini Tal And Almora
* Morning Talks At Almora
* On The Way To Kathgodam
* On The Way To Baramulla
* The Vale Of Kashmir
* Life At Srinagar
* The Temple Of Pandrenthan
* Walks And Talks Beside The Jhelum
* The Shrine Of Amarnath
* At Srinagar On The Return Journey
* The Camp Under The Chennaars
Sayings and Utterances
Newspaper Reports
* American Newspaper Reports
* European Newspaper Reports
* Indian Newspaper Reports
Letters - Fifth Series
I
(Translated from Bengali)
To Balaram Bose
Glory to Ramakrishna
GHAZIPUR
February 6, 1890
RESPECTED SIR,
I have talked with Pavhari Baba. He is a wonderful saint - the
embodiment of humility, devotion, and Yoga. Although he is an
orthodox Vaishnava, he is not prejudiced against others of
different beliefs. He has tremendous love for Mahâprabhu
Chaitanya, and he [Pavhari Baba] speaks of Shri Ramakrishna as "an
incarnation of God". He loves me very much, and I am going to stay
here for some days at his request.
Pavhari Baba can live in Samâdhi for from two to six months at a
stretch. He can read Bengali and has kept a photograph of Shri
Ramakrishna in his room. I have not yet seen him face to face,
since he speaks from behind a door, but I have never heard such a
sweet voice. I have many things to say about him but not just at
present.
Please try to get a copy of Chaitanya-Bhâgavata for him and send
it immediately to the following address: Gagan Chandra Roy, Opium
Department, Ghazipur. Please don't forget.
Pavhari Baba is an ideal Vaishnava and a great scholar; but he is
reluctant to reveal his learning. His elder brother acts as his
attendant, but even he is not allowed to enter his room.
Please send him a copy of Chaitanya-Mangala also, if it is still
in print. And remember that if Pavhari Baba accepts your presents,
that will be your great fortune. Ordinarily, he does not accept
anything from anybody. Nobody knows what he eats or even what he
does.
Please don't let it be known that I am here and don't send news of
anyone to me. I am busy with an important work.
Your servant,
NARENDRA
II
(Translated from Bengali)
To Balaram Bose
Glory to Ramakrishna
GHAZIPUR
February 11, 1890
RESPECTED SIR
I have received your book. In Hrishikesh, Kali [Swami Abhedananda]
has had a relapse and is again suffering from what seems to be
malaria. Once it comes, the fever does not easily leave those who
have never had it before. I too suffered the same way when I first
had the attack of fever. Kali has never had the fever before. I
have not received any letter from Hrishikesh. Where is . . . ?
I am suffering terribly from a backache which began in Allahabad.
I had recovered from it some time back, but it has recurred. So I
will have to stay here awhile longer because of my back and also
because Babaji [Pavhari Baba] has requested it.
What you have written about uncooked bread is true. But a monk
dies that way, not like the breaking of a cup and saucer. This
time I am not going to be overcome by weakness in any way. And if
I die, that will be good for me. It is better to depart from this
world very soon.
Your servant,
NARENDRA
III
(Translated from Bengali)
To Balaram Bose
Salutation to Bhagavan Shri Ramakrishna
GHAZIPUR
February 1890
RESPECTED SIR,
I have received an anonymous letter which I have been unable to
trace back to the gigantic soul who wrote it. Indeed, one should
pay homage to such a man. He who considers a great soul like
Pavhari Baba to be no more than water in a hoof print, he who has
nothing to learn in this world and who feels it a disgrace to be
taught by any other man - truly, such a new incarnation must be
visited. I hope that if the government should discover the
identity of this person, he will be handled with special care and
be placed in the Alipore garden [zoo]. If you happen to know this
man, please ask him to bless me, so that even a dog or a jackal
may be my Guru - not to speak of a great soul like Pavhari Baba.
I have many things to learn. My master used to say: "As long as I
live, so long do I learn". Also please tell this fellow that
unfortunately I do not have the time to "cross the seven seas and
thirteen rivers" or to go to Sri Lanka in order to sleep after
having put oil in the nostrils.
Your servant,
NARENDRA
P.S. Please have the rose-water brought from Ishan Babu's [Ishan
Chandra Mukherjee's] residence if there is delay [in their sending
it to the Baranagore Math]. The roses are still not in bloom. The
rose-water has just been sent to the residence of Ishan Babu.
IV
(Translated from Bengali)
To Balaram Bose
GHAZIPUR
March 12, 1890
BALARAM BABU,
As soon as you get the railway receipt, please send someone to the
railway warehouse at Fairlie Place (Calcutta) to pick up the roses
and send them on to Shashi. See that there is no delay in bringing
or sending them.
Baburam is going to Allahabad soon. I am going elsewhere.
NARENDRA
PS. Know it for certain that everything will be spoiled if
delayed.
NARENDRA
V
(Translated from Bengali)
To Tulsiram Ghosh
GHAZIPUR
10 May 1890
DEAR TULSIRAM:
A basket of roses will be sent to you in a few days at Chitpur. Do
you please send them up immediately to Shashi [Swami
Ramakrishnananda, at the Baranagore Math]. They would not be sent
to the care of Balaram Basu, for there would be such nice delays
and that would be death to the flowers. I think if sent to
Chitpur, to your depot, it would reach you there at the very
place; if not, write sharp. Baburam [Swami Premananda] is here,
going up in a day or two to Allahabad. I too am going off from
this place very soon. I go perhaps to Bareilly and up. What is
Balaram Babu [Balaram Bose] doing?
My Pranâms etc. to you all.
Yours affectionately,
NARENDRA
VI
To Swami Saradananda
Salutation to Bhagavan Ramakrishna
CALCUTTA
32 ASHADHA [JULY 15, 1890]
MY DEAR SHARAT
I am sorry to learn that [Vaikunthanath] Sanyal's habits are as
yet not Pucca [firm]; and what about Brahmacharya? I don't
understand you. If so, the best thing for you both is to come down
and live here. The widow of Mohindra Mukherjee is trying head and
heart to erect a Math for you, and Surendranath Mitra has left
another thousand so that you are very likely soon to get a
beautiful place on the river. As for all the hardships up there, I
reserve my own opinions.
It was not at all my intention to come down, only the death of
Balaram Bose had made me have a peep here and go back. If the
mountains be so bad, there is more than enough place for me; only
I leave Bengal. If one does not suit, another will. So that is my
determination. Everyone here will be so glad at your return here,
and from your letter I see it would be downright injurious to you
if you didn't come down. So come down at your earliest
opportunity. I will leave this place before this letter reaches
you; only I won't go to Almora. I have my own plans for the future
and they shall be a secret.
As for Sanyal, I do not see how I can benefit him. Of course, you
are at liberty to hold your own opinion about the Sanga [holy
company] here. That I can find places Sudrishya [having scenic
beauty] and Subhiksha [where alms are available] is enough. Sanga
is not much, or, I think, not at all necessary for me.
Yours, etc.,
NARENDRA.
VII
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
MINNEAPOLIS
21 November 1893
DEAR MOTHER,
I reached Madison safely, went to a hotel, and sent a message to
Mr. Updike. He came to see me. He is a Congregational and so, of
course, was not very friendly at first; but in the course of an
hour or so became very kind to me, and took me over the whole
place and the University. I had a fine audience and $100.
Immediately after the lecture I took the night train to
Minneapolis.
I tried to get the clergymen's ticket, but they could not give me
any, not being the headquarters. The thing to be done is to get a
permit from every head office of every line in Chicago. Perhaps it
is possible for Mr. Hale to get the permits for me. If it is so, I
hope he will take the trouble to send them over to me to
Minneapolis if they can reach me by the 25th, or to Des Moines if
by the 29th. Else I would do it the next time in Chicago. I have
taken the money in a draft on the bank, which cost me 40¢.
May you be blessed forever, my kind friend; you and your whole
family have made such a heavenly impression on me as I would carry
all my life.
Yours sincerely,
VIVEKANANDA
VIII
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
MINNEAPOLIS
24 November 1893.
DEAR MOTHER
I am still in Minneapolis. I am to lecture this afternoon, and the
day after tomorrow go to Des Moines.
The day I came here they had their first snow, and it snowed all
through the day and night, and I had great use for the arctics. (A
waterproof overshoe.) I went to see the frozen Minnehaha Falls.
They are very beautiful. The temperature today is 21o below zero,
but I had been out sleighing and enjoyed it immensely. I am not
the least afraid of losing the tips of my ears or nose.
The snow scenery here has pleased me more than any other sight in
this country.
I saw people skating on a frozen lake yesterday.
I am doing well. Hoping this will find you all the same, I remain,
Yours obediently,
VIVEKANANDA
IX
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
DETROIT,
14 February 1894.
DEAR MOTHER,
Arrived safely night before last at 1 o'clock a.m. The train was
seven hours late, being blocked by snowdrifts on the way. However,
I enjoyed the novelty of the sight: several men cutting and
clearing the snow and two engines tugging and pulling was a new
sight to me.
Here I met Mr. Bagley, the youngest [Paul F. Bagley], waiting for
me at the station; and, it being very late in the night, Mrs.
Bagley had retired, but the daughters sat up for me.
They are very rich, kind and hospitable. Mrs. Bagley is especially
interested in India. The daughters are very good, educated and
good-looking. The eldest gave me a luncheon at a club where I met
some of the finest ladies and gentlemen of the city. Last evening
there was a reception given here in the house. Today I am going to
speak for the first time. Mrs. Bagley is a very nice and kind
lady. I hope the lectures will please her. With my love and
regards for you all, I remain,
Yours sincerely,
VIVEKANANDA.
PS - I have received a letter from Slayton in reply to that
in which I wrote to him that I cannot stay. He gives me hope. What
is your advice? I enclose the letter [from Narasimhacharya] in
another envelope.
Yours,
V.
X
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
DETROIT,
20 February 1894.
DEAR MOTHER
My lectures here are over. I have made some very good friends
here, amongst them Mr. Palmer , President of the late World's
Fair. I am thoroughly disgusted with this Slayton business
and am trying hard to break loose. I have lost at least $5,000 by
joining this man. Hope you are all well. Mrs. Bagley and her
daughters are very kind to me. I hope to do some private lecturing
here and then go to Ada and then back to Chicago. It is snowing
here this morning. They are very nice people here, and the
different clubs took a good deal of interest in me.
It is rather wearisome, these constant receptions and dinners; and
their horrible dinners - a hundred dinners concentrated into one -
and when in a man's club, why, smoking on between the courses and
then beginning afresh. I thought the Chinese alone make a dinner
run through half a day with intervals of smoking!!
However, they are very gentlemanly men and, strange to say, an
Episcopal clergyman and a Jewish rabbi take great
interest in me and eulogize me. Now the man who got up the
lectures here got at least a thousand dollars. So in every place.
And this is Slayton's duty to do for me. Instead, he, the liar,
had told me often that he has agents everywhere and would
advertise and do all that for me. And this is what he is doing.
His will be done. I am going home. Seeing the liking the American
people have for me, I could have, by this time, got a pretty large
sum. But Jimmy Mills and Slayton were sent by the Lord to
stand in the way. His ways are inscrutable.
However, this is a secret. President Palmer has gone to Chicago to
try to get me loose from this liar of a Slayton. Pray that he may
succeed. Several judges here have seen my contract, and they say
it is a shameful fraud and can be broken any moment; but I am a
monk - no self-defence. Therefore, I had better throw up the whole
thing and go to India.
My love to Harriets, Mary, Isabelle, Mother Temple, Mr. Matthews,
Father Pope and you all.
Yours obediently,
VIVEKANANDA.
XI
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
DETROIT
February 22, 1894
DEAR MOTHER
I have got the $200 for the engagements, $175 and $117 by private
lectures and $100 as a present from a lady.
This sum will be sent to you tomorrow in cheques by Mrs. Bagley.
Today, the banks being closed, we could not do it.
I am going tomorrow to lecture at Ada, Ohio. I do not know whether
I will go to Chicago from Ada or not. However, kindly let not
Slayton know anything about the rest of the money, as I am going
to separate myself from him.
Yours obediently,
VIVEKANANDA.
XII
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
DETROIT,
10 March 1894.
DEAR MOTHER,
Reached Detroit safely yesterday evening. The two younger
daughters were waiting for me with a carriage. So everything was
all right. I hope the lecture will be a success, as one of the
girls said the tickets are selling like hot cakes. Here I found a
letter from Mr. Palmer awaiting me with a request that I should
come over to his house and be his guest.
Could not go last night. He will come in the course of the day to
take me over. As I am going over to Mr. Palmer's, I have not
opened the awfully-packed bag. The very idea of repacking seems to
me to be hopeless. So I could not shave this morning. However, I
hope to shave during the course of the day. I am thinking of going
over to Boston and New York just now, as the Michigan cities I can
come and take over in summer; but the fashionables of New York and
Boston will fly off. Lord will show the way.
Mrs. Bagley and all the family are heartily glad at my return and
people are again coming in to see me.
The photographer here has sent me some of the pictures he made.
They are positively villainous - Mrs. Bagley does not like them at
all. The real fact is that between the two photos my face has
become so fat and heavy - what can the poor photographers do?
Kindly send over four copies of photographs. Not yet made any
arrangement with Holden. (A lecture agent at Detroit.) Everything
promises to be very nice. "Ssenator Ppalmer" is a very nice
gentleman and very kind to me. He has got a French chef - Lord
bless his stomach! I am trying to starve and the whole world is
against me!! He used to give the best dinners in all Washington!
Hopeless! I am resigned!
I will write more from Mr. Palmer's house.
If the Himalayas become the inkpot, the ocean ink, if the heavenly
eternal Devadaroo becomes the pen, and if the sky itself
becomes paper, still I would not be able to write a drop of the
debt of gratitude I owe to you and yours. Kindly convey my love to
the four full notes and the four half notes of the Hale gamut.
May the blessings of the Lord be upon you and yours ever and ever.
Ever yours in grateful affection,
VIVEKANANDA.
XIII
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
DETROIT
16 March 1894
DEAR MOTHER,
Since my last, there has been nothing of interest here. Except
that Mr. Palmer is a very hearty, jolly, good old man and very
rich. He has been uniformly kind to me. Tomorrow I go back to Mrs.
Bagley's because I am afraid she is rather uneasy at my long stay
here. I am shrewd enough to know that in every country in general,
and America in particular, "she" is the real operator at the nose
string.
I am going to lecture here on Monday and in two places near
the town on Tuesday and Wednesday. I do not remember the
lady you refer me to, and she is in Lynn; what is Lynn,
where on the globe its position is - I do not know. I want
to go to Boston. What good would it do me by stopping at Lynn?
Kindly give me a more particular idea. Nor could I read the name
of the lady at whose house you say I met the lady. However, I am
in no way very anxious. I am taking life very easy in my natural
way. I have no particular wish to go anywhere, Boston or no
Boston. I am just in a nice come-what-may mood. Something should
turn up, bad or good. I have enough now to pay my passage back and
a little sight-seeing to boot. As to my plans of work, I am fully
convinced that at the rate it is progressing I will have to come
back four or five times to put it in any shape.
As to informing others and doing good that way, I have failed to
persuade myself that I have really anything to convey to the
world. So I am very happy just now and quite at my ease. With
almost nobody in this vast house and a cigar between my lips, I am
dreaming just now and philosophising upon that work fever which
was upon me. It is all nonsense. I am nothing, the world is
nothing, the Lord alone is the only worker. We are simply tools in
His hands etc., etc., etc. Have you got the Alaska information? If
so, kindly send it to me c/o Mrs. Bagley.
Are you coming to the East this summer? With eternal gratitude and
love,
Your son,
VIVEKANANDA.
XIV
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
DETROIT
Tuesday, 27 March 1894
DEAR MOTHER,
Herewith I send two cheques of $114 and $75 to be put in the banks
for me. I have endorsed them to your care.
I am going to Boston in a day or two. I have got $57 with me. They
will go a long way. Something will turn up, as it always does. I
do not know where I go from Boston. I have written to Mrs.
[Francis W.] Breed but as yet heard nothing from her. His
will be done. Not I but Thou - that is always the motto of my
life.
With my eternal gratitude, love, and admiration for Mother Church
and all the dignitaries,
I remain your son,
VIVEKANANDA.
XV
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
C/O DR. GUERNSEY 528 FIFTH AVENUE
NEW YORK
2 April 1894
DEAR MOTHER,
I am in New York. The gentleman [Dr. Guernsey] whose guest I am is
a very nice and learned and well-to-do man. He had an only son
whom he lost last July. Has only a daughter now. The old couple
have received a great shock, but they are pure and God-loving
people and bear it manfully. The lady of the house is very, very
kind and good. They are trying to help me as much as they can and
they will do a good deal, I have no doubt.
Awaiting further developments. This Thursday [April 5] they will
invite a number of the brainy people of the Union League Club and
other places of which the Doctor is a member, and see what comes
out of it. Parlour lectures are a great feature in this city, and
more can be made by each such lecture than even platform talks in
other cities.
It is a very clean city. None of that black smoke tarring everyone
in five minutes; and the street in which the Doctor lives is a
nice, quiet one.
Hope the sisters are doing well and enjoying their music, both in
the opera and the parlour. I am sure I would have appreciated the
music at the opera about which Miss Mary wrote to me. I am sure
the opera musicians do not show the interior anatomy of their
throats and lungs.
Kindly give brother Sam my deep love. I am sure he is
bewaring of the vidders. Some of the Baby Bagleys are going
to Chicago. They will go to see you, and I am sure you would like
them very much.
Nothing more to write. With all respect, love and obedience,
Your son,
VIVEKANANDA.
PS - I have not to ask now for addresses. Mrs. Sherman (Mrs.
Bagley’s married daughter.) has given me a little book with A.,
B., C., etc., marks and has written under them all the addresses I
need; and I hope to write all the future addresses in the same
manner. What an example of self-help I am!!
V.
XVI
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
[C/O DR. EGBERT GUERNSEY
528 FIFTH AVENUE]
NEW YORK
10 April 1894
DEAR MOTHER,
I just now received your letter. I have the greatest regard for
the Salvationists; in fact, they and the Oxford Mission gentlemen
are the only Christian missionaries for whom I have any regard at
all. They live with the people, as the people, and for the people
of India. Lord bless them. But I would be very, very sorry of any
trick being played by them. I never have heard of any Lord in
India, much less in Ceylon. (Now Sri Lanka.) The people of Ceylon
and northern India differ more than Americans and Hindus. Nor is
there any connection between the Buddhist priest and the Hindu.
Our dress, manners, religion, food, language differ entirely from
southern India, much less to speak of Ceylon. You know already
that I could not speak a word of Narasimha's language!! Although
that was only Madras. Well, you have Hindu princesses; why not a
Lord, which is not a higher title.
There was a certain Mrs. Smith in Chicago. I met her at Mrs.
Stockham's. She has introduced me to the Guernseys. Dr. Guernsey
is one of the chief physicians of this city and is a very good old
gentleman. They are very fond of me and are very nice people. Next
Friday I am going to Boston. I have not been lecturing in New York
at all. I will come back and do some lecturing here.
For the last few days I was the guest of Miss Helen Gould -
daughter of the rich Gould - at her palatial country
residence, an hour's ride from the city. She has one of the most
beautiful and large green-houses in the world, full of all sorts
of curious plants and flowers. They are Presbyterians, and she is
a very religious lady. I had a very nice time there.
I met my friend Mr. Flagg (William Joseph Flagg.) several times.
He is flying merrily. There is another Mrs. Smith here who is very
rich and pious. She has invited me to dine today.
As for lecturing, I have given up raising money. I cannot
degenerate myself any more. When a certain purpose was in view, I
could work; with that gone I cannot earn for myself. I have
sufficient for going back. I have not tried to earn a penny here,
and have refused some presents which friends here wanted to make
to me. Especially Flagg - I have refused his money. I had in
Detroit tried to refund the money back to the donors, and told
them that, there being almost no chance of my succeeding in my
enterprise, I had no right to keep their money; but they refused
and told me to throw that into the waters if I liked. But I cannot
take any more conscientiously. I am very well off, Mother.
Everywhere the Lord sends me kind persons and homes; so there is
no use of my going into beastly worldliness at all.
The New York people, though not so intellectual as the Bostonians,
are, I think, more sincere. The Bostonians know well how to take
advantage of everybody. And I am afraid even water cannot slip
through their closed fingers!!! Lord bless them!!! I have promised
to go and I must go; but, Lord, make me live with the sincere,
ignorant and the poor, and not cross the shadow of the hypocrites
and tall talkers who, as my Master used to say, are like vultures
who soar high and high in their talks, but the heart is really on
a piece of carrion on the ground.
I would be the guest of Mrs. Breed for a few days and, after
seeing a little of Boston, I would come back to New York.
Hope the sisters are all right and enjoying their concerts
immensely. There is not much of music in this city. That is a
blessing (?) Went to see Barnum's circus the other day. It is no
doubt a grand thing. I have not been as yet downtown. This street
is very nice and quiet.
I heard a beautiful piece of music the other day at Barnum's -
they call it a Spanish Serenada. Whatever it be, I liked it so
much. Unfortunately, Miss Guernsey is not given to much thumping,
although she has a good assortment of all the noisy stuffs in the
world - and so she could not play it, which I regret ever so much.
Yours obediently,
VIVEKANANDA.
PS - Most probably I will go to Annisquam as Mrs. Bagley's guest.
She has got a nice house there this summer. Before that, I will go
back to Chicago once more if I can.
V.
XVII
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
C/O MISS FLORENCE GUERNSEY
528 FIFTH AVENUE
NEW YORK
4 May 1894
DEAR MOTHER
Herewith I send over $125 in a cheque upon the 5th Avenue Bank to
be deposited at your leisure.
I am going to Boston on Sunday, day after tomorrow, and write to
you from Boston. With my love to all the family.
I remain yours truly,
VIVEKANANDA
XVIII
To Mrs. John J. Bagley
HOTEL BELLEVUE
EUROPEAN PLAN
BOSTON
May 8, 1894
DEAR MOTHER,
I have arrived in Boston again. Last afternoon [I] spoke at Mrs.
Julia Ward Howe's club - of course for nothing, but it gives me a
prestige. I saw there Mrs. [Ednah Dean] Cheney. Would you not
write a letter to her for me? Although I told her I had a card
from you, I think a letter is better.
Yours truly,
VIVEKANANDA
XIX
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
HOTEL BELLEVUE, EUROPEAN PLAN
BEACON STREET, BOSTON 11 May, 1894
DEAR MOTHER,
I have been since the 7th, lecturing here every afternoon or
evening. At Mrs. Fairchild's I met the niece of Mrs. Howe. She was
here today to invite me to dinner with her today. I have not seen
Mr. Volkinen as yet. Of course, the pay for lecture is here the
poorest, and everybody has an axe to grind. I got a long letter
full of the prattles of the babies. Your city, i.e. New
York, pays far better than Boston, so I am trying to go back
there. But here one can get work almost every day.
I think I want some rest. I feel as if I am very much tired, and
these constant journeyings to and fro have shaken my nerves a
little, but hope to recoup soon. Last few days I have been
suffering from cold and slight fever and lecturing for all that;
hope to get rid of it in a day or two.
I have got a very nice gown at $30. The colour is not exactly that
of the old one, but cardinal, with more of yellow - could not get
the exact old colour even in New York.
I have not much to write, for it is the repetition of the old
story: talking, talking, talking. I long to fly to Chicago and
shut up my mouth and give a long rest to mouth and lungs and mind.
If I am not called for in New York, I am coming soon to Chicago.
Yours obediently,
VIVEKANANDA.
XX
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
HOTEL BELLEVUE EUROPEAN PLAN
BEACON STREET, BOSTON
14 May, 1894
DEAR MOTHER,
Your letter was so, so pleasing instead of being long; I enjoyed
every bit of it.
I have received a letter from Mrs. Potter Palmer (Social queen of
Chicago who made Swami Vivekananda’s acquaintance at the
Parliament of Religions, in which she had been active. Vide
Complete Works, VI.) asking me to write to some of my countrywomen
about their society etc. I will see her personally when I come to
Chicago; in the meanwhile I will write her all I know. Perhaps you
have received $125 sent over from New York. Tomorrow I will send
another $100 from here. The Bostonians want to grind their own
axes!!
Oh, they are so, so dry - even girls talk dry metaphysics. Here is
like our Benares where all is dry, dry metaphysics!! Nobody here
understands "my Beloved". Religion to these people is reason, and
horribly stony at that. I do not care for anybody who cannot love
my "Beloved". Do not tell it to Miss Howe - she may be offended.
The pamphlet I did not send over because I do not like the
quotations from the Indian newspapers - especially, they give a
haul over coal to somebody. Our people so much dislike the Brâhmo
Samâj that they only want an opportunity to show it to them. I
dislike it. Any amount of enmity to certain persons cannot efface
the good works of a life. And then they were only children in
Religion. They never were much of religious men - i.e. they only
wanted to talk and reason, and did not struggle to see the
Beloved; and until one does that I do not say that he has any
religion. He may have books, forms, doctrines, words, reasons,
etc., etc., but not religion; for that begins when the soul feels
the necessity, the want, the yearning after the "Beloved", and
never before. And therefore our society has no right to expect
from them anything more than from an ordinary "house-holder".
I hope to come to Chicago before the end of this month. Oh, I am
so tired.
Yours affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA.
XXI
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
541 DEARBORN AVENUE
CHICAGO
9 June 1894
DEAR MOTHER,
We are all doing very well here. Last night the sisters (The
daughters of Mrs. Hale: Mary and Harriet.) invited me and Mrs.
Norton and Miss Howe and Mr. Frank Howe. We had a grand dinner and
softshell crab and many other things, and a very nice time. Miss
Howe left this morning.
The sisters and Mother Temple (Mrs. James Matthews, Mr. Hale’s
sister.) are taking very good care of me. Just now I am going to
see my "oh-my-dear" Gandhi. Narasimha was here yesterday; he
wanted to go to Cincinnati where he says he has more chances of
success than anywhere else in the world. I gave him the passage,
and so I hope I have got the white elephant out of my hands for
the time being. How is Father Pope doing now? Hope he has been
much benefited by the mudfish business.
I had a very beautiful letter from Miss Guernsey of New York,
giving you her regards. I am going downtown to buy a new pair of
shoes as well as to get some money, my purse having been made
empty by Narasimha.
Nothing more to write. Yes, we went to see the "Charley's
Aunt". I nearly killed myself with laughing. Father Pope
will enjoy it extremely. I had never seen anything so funny.
Yours affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA.
XXII
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
NEW YORK
28 June 1894
DEAR MOTHER,
Arrived safely two hours ago. Landsberg was waiting at the
station. Came to Dr. Guernsey's house. Nobody was there except a
servant. I took a bath and strolled with Landsberg to some
restaurant where I had a good meal. Then, I have just now returned
to Landsberg's rooms in the Theosophical Society and am writing
you this letter.
I haven't been to see my other friends yet. After a good and long
rest through the night I hope to see most of them tomorrow. My
Love to you all. By the by, somebody stepped on my umbrella on
board the train and broke its nose off.
Your affectionate son,
VIVEKANANDA.
PS - I have not settled myself. So as to direct letters to me,
they can be directed c/o Leon Landsberg, 144 Madison Ave., New
York.
XXIII
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
C/O LEON LANDSBERG
144 MADISON AVENUE
NEW YORK
1 July 1894
DEAR MOTHER,
Hope you are settled down in peace by this time. The babies are
doing well in Mudville (Kenosha, Wisconsin) - in their nunnery, I
am sure. It is very hot here, but now and then a breeze comes up
which cools it down. I am now with Miss [Mary A.] Phillips. Will
move off from here on Tuesday to another place.
Here I find a quotation from a speech by Sir Monier Williams,
professor of Sanskrit in the Oxford University. It is very strange
as coming from one who every day expects to see the whole of India
converted to Christianity. "And yet it is a remarkable
characteristic of Hinduism that it neither requires nor attempts
to make converts. Nor is it at present by any means decreasing in
numbers, nor is it being driven out of the field by two such
proselytizing religions as Mahomedanism [sic] and Christianity. On
the contrary, it is at present rapidly increasing. And far more
remarkable than this is that, it is all-receptive, all-embracing
and all-comprehensive. It claims to be the one religion of
humanity, of human nature, of the entire world. It cares not to
oppose the progress of Christianity nor of any other religion. For
it has no difficulty in including all other religions within its
all-embracing arms and ever-widening fold. And in real fact
Hinduism has something to offer which is suited to all minds. Its
very strength lies in its infinite adaptability to the infinite
diversity of human characters and human tendencies. It has its
highly spiritual and abstract side suited to the philosophical
higher classes. Its practical and concrete side suited to the man
of affairs and the man of the world. Its aesthetic and ceremonial
side suited to the man of poetic feeling and imagination. Its
quiescent and contemplative side suited to the man of peace and
lover of seclusion.
"Indeed, the Hindus were Spinozists 2,000 years before the birth
of Spinoza, Darwinians centuries before the birth of Darwin, and
evolutionists centuries before the doctrine of evolution had been
accepted by the Huxleys of our time, and before any word like
evolution existed in any language of the world."
This, as coming from one of the staunchest defenders of
Christianity, is wonderful indeed. But he seems to have got the
idea quite correct.
Now I am going to send up the orange coat today; as for the books
that came to me from Philadelphia, I do not think they are worthy
of being sent at all. I do not know what I am going to do next.
Patiently wait and resign myself unto His guidance - that is my
motto. My love to you all.
Your affectionate son,
VIVEKANANDA
XXIV
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
C/O DR. E. GUERNSEY
CEDAR LAWN, FISHKILL ON THE HUDSON
19 July 1894
DEAR MOTHER,
Your kind note reached me here yesterday evening. I am so glad to
hear the babies are enjoying. I got the Interior and am very glad
to see my friend Mazoomdar’s (Pratap Chandra Mazumdar.) book
spoken of so highly. Mazoomdar is a great and a good man and has
done much for his fellow beings.
It is a lovely summer place, this Cedar Lawn of the Guernseys.
Miss Guernsey has gone on a visit to Swampscott. I had also an
invitation there, but I thought [it] better to stay here in the
calm and silent place full of trees and with the beautiful Hudson
flowing by and mountain in the background.
I am very thankful for Miss Howe’s suggestion, and I am also
thinking of it. Most probably I will go to England very soon. But
between you and me, I am a sort of mystic and cannot move without
orders, and that has not come yet. Mr. [Charles M.] Higgins, a
rich young lawyer and inventor of Brooklyn, is arranging some
lectures for me. I have not settled whether I will stop for them
or not.
My eternal thanks to you for your kindness. My whole life cannot
repay my debt to you. (Original letter: your debt.) You may see
from the letter from Madras that there is not a word about
Narasimha. What can I do more? I did not get the cheque cashed
yet, for there was no necessity. Miss Phillips was very kind to
me. She is an old lady, about 50 or more. You need not feel any
worry about my being taken care of. The Lord always takes care of
His servants; and so long as I am really His servant and not the
world’s, I am very confident of getting everything that would be
good for me. The Guernseys love me very much, and there are many
families in New York and Brooklyn who would take the best care of
me.
I had a beautiful letter from Mr. Snell, saying that a
sudden change for the better has taken place in his fortunes and
offering me thrice the money I lent him as a contribution to my
work. And he also has beautiful letters from Dharmapala and others
from India. But, of course, I politely refused his repayment.
So far so good. I have seen Mr. [Walter Hines] Page, the editor of
the Forum here. He was so sorry not to get the article on
missionaries. But I have promised to write on other interesting
subjects. Hope I will have patience to do so.
I had a letter yesterday from Miss Harriet, (Mrs. Hale’s
daughter.) from which I learn that they are enjoying Kenosha (A
port in southwest Wisconsin, on Lake Michigan.) very much. Lord
bless you and yours, Mother Church, for ever and ever. I cannot
even express my gratitude to you.
As for me, you need not be troubled in the least. My whole life is
that of a vagabond - homeless, roving tramp; any fare, good or
bad, in any country, is good enough for me.
Yours ever in love and obedience,
SWAMI VIVEKANANDA
XXV
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS
23 July 1894
DEAR MOTHER
I think I have all your questions answered and you are in good
humour again.
I am enjoying this place very much; going to Greenacre today or
tomorrow and on our way back I intend to go to Annisquam, to Mrs.
Bagley's - I have written to her. Mrs. Breed (Mrs. Francis W.
Breed of Lynn, Massachusetts.) says, "You are very sensitive".
Now, I fortunately did not cash your check in New York. I
wanted to cash it here, when lo! you have not signed your name to
it. The Hindu is a dreamer no doubt, but when the Christian dreams
he dreams with a vengeance.
Do not be distressed. Somebody gave me plenty of money to move
about. I would be taken care of right along. I send herewith the
cheque back to you. I had a very beautiful letter from Miss Mary.
My love to them.
What is Father Pope doing? Is it very hot in Chicago? I do not
care for the heat of this country. It is nothing compared to our
India heat. I am doing splendidly. The other day I had the summer
cholera; and cramp, etc. came to pay their calls to me. We had
several hours nice talk and groans and then they departed.
I am on the whole doing very well. Has the meerschaum pipe reached
Chicago? I had nice yachting, nice sea bathing, and am
enjoying myself like a duck. Miss Guernsey went home just now. I
do not know what more to write.
Lord bless you all.
Affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA
XXVI
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
GREENACRE INN
ELIOT, MAINE
5 August 1894
DEAR MOTHER
I have received your letter and am very much ashamed at my bad
memory. I unfortunately forgot all about the cheque. Perhaps you
have come to know by this time of my being in Greenacre. I had a
very nice time here and am enjoying it immensely. In the fall I am
going to lecture in Brooklyn, New York. Yesterday I got news that
they have completed all the advertising there. I have an
invitation today from a friend in New York to go with him to some
mountains north of this state of Maine. I do not know whether I
will go or not. I am doing pretty well. Between lecturing,
teaching, picnicking and other excitements the time is flying
rapidly. I hope you are doing very well and that Father Pope is in
good trim. It is a very beautiful spot - this Greenacre - and [I]
have very nice company from Boston: Dr. Everett Hale, you
know, of Boston, and Mrs. Ole Bull, of Cambridge. I do not know
whether I will accept the invitation of my friend of New York or
not.
So far only this is sure, that I will go to lecture in New York
this coming fall. And Boston, of course, is a good field. The
people here are mostly from Boston and they all like me very much.
Are you having a good time, and Father Pope? Has your
house-painting been finished? The Babies, I am sure, are enjoying
their Mudville.
I am in no difficulty for money. I have plenty to eat and drink.
With my best love and gratitude to you and Father Pope and the
Babies.
Yours affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA
Excuse this hasty scrawl. The pen is very bad.
V.
The Harrison people sent me two "nasty standing" photos - that is
all I have out of them, when they ought to give me 40 minus the 10
or 15 I have got already!!!
V.
XXVII
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
GREENACRE INN
ELIOT, MAINE
8 August 1894
DEAR MOTHER
I have received the letter you sent over to me coming from India.
I am going to leave this place on Monday next for Plymouth
[Massachusetts], where the Free Religious Association is
holding its session. They will defray my expenses, of course.
I am all right, enjoying nice health, and the people here are very
kind and nice to me. Up to date I had no occasion to cash any
cheque as everything is going on smoothly. I have not heard
anything from the Babies. Hope they are doing well. You also had
nothing to write; however, I feel that you are doing well.
I would have gone over to another place, but Mr. Higginson's
invitation ought to be attended to. And Plymouth is the place
where the fathers of your country first landed. I want, therefore,
to see it.
I am all right. It is useless reiterating my love and gratitude to
you and yours - you know it all. May the Lord shower His choicest
blessings on you and yours.
This meeting is composed of the best professors of your country
and other people, so I must attend it; and then they would pay me.
I have not yet determined all my plans, only I am going to lecture
in New York this coming fall; every arrangement is complete for
that. They have printed advertisements at their own expense for
that and made everything ready.
Give my best love to the Babies, to Father Pope, and believe me
ever in gratitude and love,
Your Son,
VIVEKANANDA.
P.S. I am very much obliged to the sisters for asking me to tell
them if I want anything. I have no want anyway - I have everything
I require and more to spare.
"He never gives up His servants."
My thanks and gratitude eternal to the sisters for their kindness
in asking about my wants.
V.
XXVIII
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
C/O MRS. J. J. BAGLEY, ANNISQUAM
20 August 1894
DEAR MOTHER
Your letters just now reached me. I had some beautiful letters
from India. The letter from Ajit Singh (The Raja of Khetri, a very
devoted disciple of the Swami.) shows that the phonograph has not
reached yet, and it was dated 8th June. So I do not think it is
time yet to get an answer. I am not astonished at my friends'
asking Cook & Sons to hunt for me; I have not written for a
long time.
I have a letter from Madras which says they will soon send money
to Narasimha (Narasimhacharya. Vide the letter dated February 14,
1894.) - in fact, as soon as they get a reply to their letter
written to Narasimha. So kindly let Narasimha know it. The
photographs have not reached me - except two of Fishkill when I
was there last. Landsberg (Leon Landsberg. Vide the letter dated
June 28, 1894.) has kindly sent over the letters. From here I will
probably go over to Fishkill. The meerschaum was not sent
over by me direct, but I left it to the Guernseys. And they are a
lazy family in that respect.
I have beautiful letters from the sisters.
By the by, your missionaries try to make me a malcontent before
the English government in India, and the Lieutenant Governor of
Bengal in a recent speech hinted that the recent revival of
Hinduism was against the government. Lord bless the missionary.
Everything is fair in love and (religion?).
The word Shri means "of good fortune", "blessed", etc. Paramahamsa
is a title for a Sannyâsi who has reached the goal, i.e. realized
God. Neither am I blessed nor have I reached the goal; but they
are courteous, that is all. I will soon write to my brothers in
India. I am so lazy, and I cannot send over the newspaper nonsense
day after day.
I want a little quiet, but it is not the will of the Lord, it
seems. At Greenacre I had to talk on an average 7 to 8 hours a day
- that was rest, if it ever was. But it was of the Lord, and that
brings vigour along with it.
I have not much to write, and I do not remember anything of what I
said or did all these places over. So I hope to be excused.
I will be here a few days more at least, and therefore I think it
would be better to send over my mail here.
I have now almost become dizzy through the perusal of a heavy and
big mail, so excuse my hasty scrawl.
Ever affectionately yours,
SWAMI VIVEKANANDA.
XXIX
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
ANNISQUAM
23 August 1894
DEAR MOTHER
The photographs reached safely yesterday. I cannot tell exactly
whether Harrison ought to give me more or not. They had sent only
two to me at Fishkill - not the pose I ordered, though.
Narasimha has perhaps got his passage by this time. He will get it
soon, whether his family gives him the money or not. I have
written to my friends in Madras to look to it, and they write me
they will.
I would be very glad if he becomes a Christian or Mohammedan or
any religion that suits him; but I am afraid for some time to come
none will suit our friend. Only if he becomes a Christian he will
have a chance to marry again, even in India - the Christians there
permitting it. I am so sorry to learn that it is the "bondage of
heathen India" that, after all, was the cause of all this
mischief. We learn as we live. So we were all this time ignorantly
and blindly blaming our much suffering, persecuted, saintly friend
Narasimha, while all the fault was really owing to the "bondage of
heathen India"!!!!
But to give the devil his due, this heathen India has been
supplying him with money to go on a spree again and again. And
this time too "heathen India" will [take] or already has taken our
"enlightened" and persecuted friend from out of his present
scrape, and not "Christian America"!! Mrs. Smith's plan is not bad
after all - to turn Narasimha into a missionary of Christ. But
unfortunately for the world, many and many a time the flag of
Christ has been entrusted to such hands. But I would beg to add
that he will then be only a missionary of Smithian American
Christianity, not Christ's. Arrant humbug! That thing to preach
Lord Jesus!!! Is He in want of men to uphold His banner? Pooh! the
very idea is revolting. Do good to India indeed! Thank your
charity and call back your dog - as the tramp said. Keep such good
workers for America. The Hindus will have a quarantine against all
such [outcasting] to protect their society. I heartily advise
Narasimha to become a Christian - I beg your pardon, a convert to
Americanism - because I am sure such a jewel is unsaleable in poor
India. He is welcome to anything that will fetch a price. I know
the gentleman whom you name perfectly well, and you may give him
any information about me you like. I do not care for sending
scraps and getting a boom for me. And these friends from
India bother me enough for newspaper nonsense. They are very
devoted, faithful and holy friends. I have not much of these
scraps now. After a long search I found a bit in a Boston
Transcript. I send it over to you. This public life is such
a botheration. I am nearly daft.
Where to fly? In India I have become horribly public - crowds will
follow me and take my life out. I got an Indian letter from
Landsberg. Every ounce of fame can only be bought at the cost of a
pound of peace and holiness. I never thought of that before. I
have become entirely disgusted with this blazoning. I am disgusted
with myself. Lord will show me the way to peace and purity. Why,
Mother, I confess to you: no man can live in an atmosphere of
public life, even in religion, without the devil of competition
now and then thrusting his head into the serenity of his heart.
Those who are trained to preach a doctrine never feel it, for they
never knew religion. But those that are after God, and not after
the world, feel at once that every bit of name and fame is at the
cost of their purity. It is so much gone from that ideal of
perfect unselfishness, perfect disregard of gain or name or fame.
Lord help me. Pray for me, Mother. I am very much disgusted with
myself. Oh, why the world be so that one cannot do anything
without putting himself to the front; why cannot one act hidden
and unseen and unnoticed? The world has not gone one step beyond
idolatry yet. They cannot act from ideas, they cannot be led by
ideas. But they want the person, the man. And any man that wants
to do something must pay the penalty - no hope. This nonsense of
the world. Shiva, Shiva, Shiva.
By the by, I have got such a beautiful edition of Thomas à Kempis.
How I love that old monk. He caught a wonderful glimpse of the
"behind the veil" - few ever got such. My, that is religion. No
humbug of the world. No shilly-shallying, tall talk, conjecture -
I presume, I believe, I think. How I would like to go out of this
piece of painted humbug they call the beautiful world with Thomas
à Kempis - beyond, beyond, which can only be felt, never
expressed.
That is religion. Mother, there is God. There all the saints,
prophets and incarnations meet. Beyond the Babel of Bibles and
Vedas, creeds and crafts, dupes and doctrines - where is all
light, all love, where the miasma of this earth can never reach.
Ah! who will take me thither? Do you sympathize with me, Mother?
My soul is groaning now under the hundred sorts of bondage I am
placing on it. Whose India? Who cares? Everything is His. What are
we? Is He dead? Is He sleeping? He, without whose command a leaf
does not fall, a heart does not beat, who is nearer to me than my
own self. It is bosh and nonsense - to do good or do bad or do
fuzz. We do nothing. We are not. The world is not. He is, He is.
Only He is. None else is. He is.
Om, the one without a second. He in me, I in Him. I am like a bit
of glass in an ocean of light. I am not, I am not. He is, He is,
He is.
Om, the one without a second.
Yours ever affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA.
XXX
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
ANNISQUAM
DATE DO NOT KNOW
[Postmarked: August 28, 1894]
DEAR MOTHER
I have been for three days at Magnolia. Magnolia is one of the
most fashionable and beautiful seaside resorts of this part. I
think the scenery is better than that of Annisquam. The rocks
there are very beautiful, and the forests run down to the very
edge of the water. There is a very beautiful pine forest. A lady
of Chicago and her daughter, Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Sawyer, were the
friends that invited me up there. They had also arranged a lecture
for me, out of which I got $43. I met a good many Boston people -
Mrs. Smith Junior, who said she knows Harriet, and Mrs. Smith the
elder, [who] knows you well.
In Boston the other day I met a Unitarian clergyman who said he
lives next to you in Chicago. I have unfortunately forgotten his
name. Mrs. Smith is a very nice lady and treated me with all
courtesy. Mrs. Bagley is kind as ever, and I will have to remain
here a few days more, I am afraid. Prof. Wright and I are having a
good time. Prof. Bradley of Evanston has gone home. If you
ever meet him at Evanston, give him my best love and regards. He
is really a spiritual man.
I do not find anything more to write.
Some unknown friend has sent me from New York a fountain pen. So I
am writing with it to test it. It is working very smoothly and
nicely as you can judge from the writing. Perhaps Narasimha's
difficulties have been settled by this time, and "heathen India"
has helped him out yet, I hope.
What is Father Pope doing? What the Babies are doing and where are
they? What news of our Sam? Hope he is prospering. Kindly
give him my best love. Where is Mother Temple now?
Well, after all, I could fill up two pages. Yes, there was a Miss
Barn (?) who said she met me at your house. She is a young lady of
Chicago.
Magnolia is a good bathing place and I had two baths in the sea. A
large concourse of men and women go to bathe there every day - the
most part men. And strange, women do not give up their coat of
mail even while bathing. That is how these mailclad she-warriors
of America have got the superiority over men.
Our Sanskrit poets lavish all the power of expression they have
upon the soft body of women - the Sanskrit word for women is
"Komala", the soft body; but the mailclad ones of this country are
"armadillas", I think. You cannot imagine how ludicrous it appears
to a foreigner who never saw it before. Shiva, Shiva.
Now Narasimha's Mrs. Smith does not torture you anymore with
letters, I hope. Did I tell you I met your friend Mrs. H. O.
Quarry at Swampscott? - she can swamp a house for all that, not to
speak of a cott - and that I met there the woman that pulls by the
nose Mr. Pullman? And I also heard there the best American
singer, (Miss Emma Thursby.) they said - she sang beautifully; she
sang "Bye Baby Bye". I am having a very, very good time all the
time, Lord be praised.
I have written to India not to bother me with constant letters.
Why, when I am travelling in India nobody writes to me. Why should
they spend all their superfluous energy in scrawling letters to me
in America? My whole life is to be that of a wanderer - here or
there or anywhere. I am in no hurry. I had a foolish plan in my
head unworthy of a Sannyasin. I have given it up now and mean to
take life easy. No indecent hurry. Don't you see, Mother Church?
You must always remember, Mother Church, that I cannot settle down
even at the North Pole, that wander about I must - that is my vow,
my religion. So India or North Pole or South Pole - don't care
where. Last two years I have been travelling among races whose
language even I cannot speak. "I have neither father nor mother
nor brothers nor sisters nor friends nor foes, nor home nor
country - a traveller in the way of eternity, asking no other
help, seeking no other help but God."
Yours ever affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA.
XXXI
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
[GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS]
4 September 1894
DEAR MOTHER
The bundle was the report of the meeting. Hope you will succeed in
publishing some in the Chicago papers.
Here is a letter from Dewanji to you which will explain his
sending a pamphlet to Mr. Hale. The rugs are coming. When
they come, take them in, even paying the duty if any. I will pay
it to you afterwards. I have plenty of money, more than $150 in
pocket. Will get more tonight. Here are some newspaper clippings,
and an Indian Mirror I will send later on. Some have been sent to
Mr. Barrows; don't hope he will give them publicity. Now for
your Mrs. Bartlett.
I am in haste. [Will] write more with the clippings. Write to me
always, kind Mother - I become very anxious when I do not hear
from you. Write, whether I reply sharp or not.
Your son,
VIVEKANANDA
XXXII
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
ANNISQUAM
5 September 1894
DEAR MOTHER
The news of the arrival of the phonograph from Khetri has not come
yet. But I am not anxious, because I just now got another letter
from India wherein there is no mention of the photographs I sent,
showing that parcels reach later than letters.
Herewith I send you an autograph letter of H.H. the Maharaja of
Mysore, the chief Hindu king in India. You may see on the map
[that] his territory occupies a very large portion of southern
India.
I am very glad that he is slowly being gained over to my side. If
he wills, he can set all my plans to work in five days. He has an
income of $150 million dollars; think of that.
May Jagadamba [the Mother of the Universe] turn his mind towards
the good work. He says he quite appreciates my good words - they
were about my plans for educating the poor. Hope he will soon show
it in material shape.
My love to all. Why the babies do not prattle?
Your son,
VIVEKANANDA
XXXIII
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
HOTEL BELLEVUE, EUROPEAN PLAN
BEACON STREET, BOSTON
12 September 1894
DEAR MOTHER
I hope you will immediately send me over the little scrap from the
Indian Mirror about my Detroit lectures which I sent you.
Yours,
VIVEKANANDA
XXXIV
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
HOTEL BELLEVUE
BEACON STREET, BOSTON
13 September 1894
DEAR MOTHER
Your very kind note came just now. I was suffering for the last
few days from cold and fever. I am all right now. I am glad all
the papers reached you safe. The newspaper clippings are with Mrs.
Bagley; only a copy has been sent over to you. By the by, Mrs.
Bagley becomes jealous if I send away everything to you. That is
between you and me. The Indian Mirror is with Prof. Wright,
and he will send it over to you. There is yet no news of the
phonograph. Wait one week more and then we will enquire. If you
see a letter with the Khetri stamp, then surely the news is
coming. I do not smoke one third as much as I used to when Father
Pope's eternal box was ready and open day and night. Haridasbhai
is to be addressed as Shri only. On the envelope, Dewan Bahadoor
ought to be written, as that is a title. Perhaps the note from the
Maharaja of Mysore has reached you by this time.
I will remain a few days yet in Boston and the vicinity. The bank
book is in the bank. We did not take it out, but the cheque book
is with me. I am going to write out my thoughts on religion; in
that, no missionaries have any place. I am going to lecture in New
York in autumn, but I like teaching small circles better, and
there will be enough of that in Boston.
The rugs I wanted to be sent from India; and they will come from
Punjab, where the best rugs are made.
I had a beautiful letter from Sister Mary. (Mary Hale.)
Narasimha must have got money or passage by this time, and his
people have taken care to send him Thomas Cook's passage from
place to place. I think he is gone now.
I do not think the Lord will allow his servant to be inflated with
vanity at the appreciation of his countrymen. I am glad that they
appreciate me - not for my sake, but that I am firmly persuaded
that a man is never improved by abuse but by praise, and so with
nations. Think how much of abuse has been quite unnecessarily
hurled at the head of my devoted, poor country, and for what? They
never injured the Christians or their religion or their preachers.
They have always been friendly to all. So you see, Mother, every
good word a foreign nation says to them has such an amount of
power for good in India. The American appreciation of my humble
work here has really done a good deal of benefit to them. Send a
good word, a good thought - at least to the down-trodden,
vilified, poor millions of India instead of abusing them day and
night. That is what I beg of every nation. Help them if you can;
if you cannot, at least cease from abusing them.
I did not see any impropriety in the bathing places at the
seashore, but only vanity in some: in those that went into water
with their corsets on, that was all.
I have not got any copy of the Inter-Ocean yet. (A leading Chicago
newspaper.)
With my love to Father Pope, babies, and to you, I remain
Your obedient son,
VIVEKANANDA
XXXV
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
HOTEL BELLEVUE
BEACON STREET , BOSTON
19 September 1894
DEAR MOTHER
The huge packet received. It was a few pamphlets sent over to me
from my monastery in Calcutta. No news at all about the
phonograph. I think it is high time we make them inquire into it.
The two volumes of Todd's [Tod's] history of Rajasthan have been
presented to me by Mrs. Potter Palmer. I have asked her to send it
over to your care. The babies will like reading it very much, and
after they finish I will send it over with my Sanskrit books to
Calcutta.
I did not ask you to send me the typewritten news clippings at
all, but a little slip I sent over some time ago from the Indian
Mirror. Perhaps it did not reach you at all. You need not send the
typewritten thing at all.
I do not require any clothes here; there are plenty of them. I am
taking good care of my cuffs and collars, etc.
I have more clothes than are necessary. Very soon I will have to
disburse myself of half of them at least.
I will write to you before I go to India. I am not flying off
without giving you due intimation.
Yours,
VIVEKANANDA
P.S. - My love to Babies and Father Pope.
XXXVI
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
HOTEL BELLEVUE
BEACON STREET, BOSTON
24 September 1894
DEAR MOTHER,
I have not heard from you a long while. I am still in Boston and
will be a few days more.
I am afraid the phonograph has not reached India at all, or
something is the matter with it. Kindly ask Mr. -- to inquire. The
receipt is with you on which they will enquire.
Ever affectionately yours,
VIVEKANANDA
XXXVII
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
HOTEL BELLEVUE
BEACON STREET, BOSTON
27 September 1894
DEAR MOTHER
The bundles all came safely. One was newspapers from India. The
other was the short sketch of my Master published by Mr. Mazumdar
long ago. In the latter bundle there are two sextos or pamphlets.
One, my Master's sketch; the other, a short extract to show how
what Mr. [Keshab] Chandra Sen and [Pratap Chandra] Mazumdar
preached as their "New Dispensation" was stolen from my Master's
life. The latter therefore you need not distribute, but I hope you
will distribute my Master's life to many good people.
I beg you to send some to Mrs. Guernsey, Fishkill on the Hudson,
N.Y.; Mrs. Arthur Smith and Mrs. [Miss Mary A.] Phillips, 19 West
38th Street, New York (both); to Mrs. Bagley, Annisquam, Mass.;
and Prof. J. Wright, Professor of Greek, Harvard, Mass.
The newspapers - you may do whatever you like, and I hope you will
send any newspaper scrap you get about me to India.
Yours etc.,
VIVEKANANDA
XXXVIII
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
C/O MRS. OLE BULL
168 BRATTLE STREET
CAMBRIDGE, MASS.
5 October 1894
DEAR MOTHER,
I have not heard from you for long. Have you received the huge
packages I sent over to you? Have you heard anything about the
phonograph from the express office?
I will be with Mrs. Ole Bull a few days, and then I go to New York
to Mrs. Guernsey's.
Yours ever affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA
XXXIX
To Mrs. G. W. Hale
C/O MRS. OLE BULL
RIVERVIEW, 168 BRATTLE STREET
CAMBRIDGE, MASS.
[Postmarked: Oct. 10, 1894, 4:30 a.m.]
DEAR MOTHER,
Received two letters from you and a large number from India but
none from Khetri.
I am sorry the sisters have got bad colds and more sorry for your
getting worried over it. Nothing can make a Christian worry. I
hope Narasimha will be a good boy this time forth. Sister Mary is
coming to Boston - good. I am going off from here tomorrow to
Baltimore. I had enough to pay all my expenses here; and since I
am living with Mrs. Bull, there is no expense. She is a rich and
highly cultured lady. She has given me $500 for my work or
anything I like. As I am not going west very soon, I will have a
bank account here in Boston. From Philadelphia I go to Washington,
and then I will run between New York and Boston. So I do not think
I will be able to see you, except perhaps Sister Mary. I want so
very much that Mary will see Mrs. Bull and others of my friends
here. I have the fat of the land as usual, and my dinner is
cooking very well both here and in India. Do not make it public,
Mother - that is between you and me and the babies - and do not
worry yourself about anything. All things come to him that waits.
I am going to send the greater part of the money I have got to
India and then money will come faster. I have always found that
the faster I spend, the faster it comes. Nature abhors a vacuum. I
am in very good spirits, only you must not stop keeping me
informed about yourself, Babies and Father Pope from time to time.
Perhaps you remember the two letters that came from Mysore - I
want one of those envelopes with the Mysore King's seal on the
outside to be sent to Miss Phillips, 19 West 38th Street, New
York.
I cannot go to New York now nor to Chicago, although I had a
number of invitations and offers from both the places. I must see
now the capital and the other cities. I am in His Hands. If Miss
Mary be in Boston, sometime I may hope to see her.
I am glad that Narasimha was never fast - hope he will never be.
From India they always write me to come, come, come. They do not
know the secret. I am acting more from here than I will ever do
from there.
Kindly send my letters to this address and they will reach me safe
wherever I be. This will be one of my homes when I am in Boston.
Lord bless you all, dear Mother.
Yours ever affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA
XL
To Mrs. Ole Bull
1123 SAINT PAUL STREET, BALTIMORE,
17 October 1894.
DEAR MRS. BULL,
I could not find time earlier to write you - I was so incessantly
knocking about. We had a nice meeting last Sunday at Baltimore and
[are] going to have one more next Sunday. Of course, they do not
financially help me a bit; but as I promised to help them and like
the idea, I speak for them.
In the letters you sent over from India was an address sent over
to me from Calcutta by my fellow citizens for my work here and a
number of newspaper cuttings. I will send them on to you later.
Yesterday I went to see Washington and met Mrs. Colville and Miss
Young, who were very kind to me.
I am going to speak at Washington again and then will go over to
Philadelphia and from there to New York.
Your affectionate Son,
VIVEKANANDA.
XLI
To Miss Emma Thursby
[WASHINGTON, D.C.
26 October 1894]
DEAR MISS THURSBY,
I received your kind note and the introductory letters. I will
make it a point to see the ladies and hope to be benefitted much
by it.
I had a beautiful letter from Mr. Flagg. I am soon coming to
N.Y. where I hope to see you.
With my deepest love and gratitude,
I remain yours faithfully,
VIVEKANANDA