Salutation to Bhagavan Ramakrishna!_x000d_ 1895_x000d_ {original in Bengali}_x000d_ Dear Rakhal {Brahmananda},_x000d_ I have now got lots of newspapers etc., and you need not send any more. Let the movement now confine itself to India. . . . _x000d_ It isn't much use getting up a sensation every day. But avail yourselves of this stir that is rife all over the country, and scatter yourselves in all quarters. In other words, try to start branches at different places. Let it not be an empty sound merely. You must join the Madrasis and start associations etc., at different places. What about the magazine which I heard was going to be started? Why are you nervous about conducting it? . . . Come? Do something heroic! Brother, what if you do not attain Mukti, what if you suffer damnation a few times? Is the saying untrue?--_x000d_ "{Sanskrit}_x000d_ --There are some saints who full of holiness in thought, word, and deed, please the whole world by their numerous beneficent acts, and who develop their own hearts by magnifying an atom of virtue in others as if it were as great as a mountain" (Bhartrihari, Nitishataka )._x000d_ What if you don't get Mukti? What childish prattle! Lord! They say even the venom of a snake loses its power by firmly denying it. Isn't it true? What queer humility is this to say, "I know nothing!" "I am nothing!" This is pseudo-renunciation and mock-modesty, I tell you. Off with such a self-debasing spirit! "If I do not know, who on earth does!" What have you been doing so long if you now plead ignorance? These are the words of an atheist--the humility of a vagabond wretch. We can do everything, and will do everything! He who is fortunate enough will heroically join us, letting the worthless mew like cats from their corner. A saint writes, "Well, you have had enough of blazoning. Now come back home." I would have called him a man if he could build a house and call me. Ten years' experience of such things has made me wiser. I am no more to be duped by words. Let him who has courage in his mind and love in his heart come with me. I want none else. Through Mother's grace, single-handed I am worth a hundred thousand now and will be worth two millions. . . . There is no certainty about my going back to India. I shall have to lead a wandering life there also, as I am dong here. But here one lives in the company of scholars, and there one must live among fools--there is this difference as of the poles. People of this country organise and work, while our undertakings all come to dust clashing against laziness--miscalled "renunciation"--and jealousy, etc. __writes me big letters now and then, half of which I cannot decipher, which is a blessing to me. For a great part of the news is of the following description--that in such and such a place such and such a man was speaking ill of me, and that he, being unable to bear the same, had a quarrel with him, and so forth. Many thanks for his kind defence of me. But what seriously hinders me from listening to what particular people may be saying about me is--"{Sanskrit}--Time is short, but the obstacles are many." . . . _x000d_ An organised society is wanted. Let Shashi look to the household management, Sanyal take charge of money matters and marketing, and Sharat act as secretary, that is, carry on correspondence etc. Make a permanent centre--it is no use making random efforts as you are doing now. Do you see my point? I have quite a heap of newspapers, now I want you to do something. If you can build a Math, I shall say you are heroes; otherwise you are nothing. Consult the Madras people when you work. They have a great capacity for work. Celebrate this year's Shri Ramakrishna festival with such eclat as to make it a record. The less the feeding propaganda is, the better. It is enough if you distribute Prasada in earthen cups to the devotees standing in rows. . . . _x000d_ I am going to write a very short sketch of Shri Ramakrishna's life in English, which I shall send you. Have it printed and translated into Bengali and sell it at the festival--people do not read books that are distributed free. Fix some nominal price. Have the festival done with great pomp. . . . _x000d_ You must have an all-sided intellect to do efficient work. In any towns or villages you may visit, start an association wherever you find a number of people revering Shri Ramakrishna. Have you travelled through so many villages all for nothing? We must slowly absorb the Hari-Sabhas and such other associations. Well, I cannot tell you all--if I could but get another demon like me! The Lord will supply me everything in time. . . . If one has got power, one must manifest it in action. . . . Off with your ideas of Mukti and Bhakti! There is only one way in the world, "{Sanskrit}", "{Sanskrit}"--"The good live for others alone", "The wise man should sacrifice himself for others". I can secure my own good only by doing you good. There is no other way, none whatsoever. . . . You are God, I am God, and man is God. It is this God manifested through humanity who is doing everything in this world. Is there a different God sitting high up somewhere? To work, therefore!_x000d_ Bimala has sent me a book written by Shashi (Sanyal). . . . From a perusal of that work Bimala has come to know that all the people of this world are impure and that they are by their very nature debarred from having a jot of religion; that only the handful of Brahmins that are in India have the sole right to it, and among these again, Shashi (Sanyal) and Bimala are the sun and moon, so to speak. Bravo! What a powerful religion indeed! In Bengal specially, that sort of religion is very easy to practise. There is no easier way than that. The whole truth about austerities and spiritual exercises is, in a nutshell, that I am pure and all the rest are impure! A beastly, demoniac, hellish religion this! If the American people are unfit for religion, if it is improper to preach religion here, why then ask their help? . . . What can remedy such a disease? Well, tell Shashi (Sanyal) to go to Malabar. The Raja there has taken his subjects' land and offered it at the feet of Brahmins. There are big monasteries in every village where sumptuous dinners are given, supplemented by presents in cash. . . . There is no harm in touching the non-Brahmin classes when it serves one's purpose; and when you have done with it, you bathe, for the non-Brahmins are as a class unholy and must never be touched on other occasions! Monks and Sannyasins and Brahmins of a certain type have thrown the country into ruin. Intent all the while on theft and wickedness, these pose as preachers of religion! They will take gifts from the people and at the same time cry, "Don't touch me!" And what great things they have been doing!--"If a potato happens to touch a brinjal, how long will the universe last before it is deluged?" "If they do not apply earth a dozen times to clean their hands, will fourteen generations of ancestors go to hell, or twenty-four?"--For intricate problems like these they have been finding out scientific explanations for the last two thousand years--while one fourth of the people are starving. A girl of eight is married to a man of thirty, and the parents are jubilant over it. . . . And if anyone protests against it, the plea is put forward, "Our religion is being overturned." What sort of religion have they who want to see their girls becoming mothers before they attain puberty even and offer scientific explanations for it? Many, again, lay the blame at the door of the Mohammedans. They are to blame, indeed! Just read the Grihya-Sutras through and see what is given as the marriageable age of a girl. . . . There it is expressly stated that a girl must be married before attaining puberty. The entire Grihya-Sutras enjoin this. And in the Vedic Ashvamedha sacrifice worse things would be done. . . . All the Brahmanas mention them, and all the commentators admit them to be true. How can you deny them?_x000d_ What I mean by mentioning all this is that there were many good things in the ancient times, but there were bad things too. The good things are to be retained, but the India that is to be, the future India, must be much greater than ancient India. From the day Shri Ramakrishna was born dates the growth of modern India and of the Golden Age. And you are the agents to bring about this Golden Age. To work, with this conviction of heart!_x000d_ Hence, when you call Shri Ramakrishna an Incarnation and in the same breath plead your ignorance unhesitatingly, I say, "You are false to the backbone!" If Ramakrishna Paramahamsa be true, you also are true. But you must show it. . . . In you all there is tremendous power. The atheist has nothing but rubbish in him. Those who are believers are heroes. They will manifest tremendous power. The world will be swept before them. "Sympathy and help to the poor"; "Man is God, he is Narayana"; "In Atman there is no distinction of male or female, of Brahmin or Kshatriya, and the like"; "All is Narayana from the Creator down to a clump of grass." The worm is less manifested, the Creator more manifested. Every action that helps a being manifest its divine nature more and more is good , every action that retards it is evil ._x000d_ The only way of getting our divine nature manifested is by helping others to do the same._x000d_ If there is inequality in nature, still there must be equal chance for all--or if greater for some and for some less--the weaker should be given more chance than the strong._x000d_ In other words, a Brahmin is not so much in need of education as a Chandala. If the son of a Brahmin needs one teacher, that of a Chandala needs ten. For greater help must be given to him whom nature has not endowed with an acute intellect from birth. It is a madman who carries coals to Newcastle. The poor, the downtrodden, the ignorant, let these be your God._x000d_ A dreadful slough is in front of you--take care; many fall into it and die. The slough is this, that the present religion of the Hindus is not in the Vedas, nor in the Puranas, nor in Bhakti, nor in Mukti--religion has entered into the cooking-pot. The present religion of the Hindus is neither the path of knowledge nor that of reason--it is "Don't-touchism". "Don't touch me!" "Don't touch me!"--that exhausts its description. See that you do not lose your lives in this dire irreligion of "Don't-touchism". Must the teaching, "{Sanskrit}--Looking upon all beings as your own self"--be confined to books alone? How will they grant salvation who cannot feed a hungry mouth with a crumb of bread? How will those who become impure at the mere breath of others purify others? Don't-touchism is a form of mental disease. Beware! All expansion is life, all contraction is death. All love is expansion, all selfishness is contraction. Love is therefore the only law of life. He who loves lives, he who is selfish is dying. Therefore love for love's sake, because it is the only law of life, just as you breathe to live. This is the secret of selfless love, selfless action and the rest. . . . Try to help Shashi (Sanyal) if you can, in any way. He is a very good and pious man, but of a narrow heart. It does not fall to the lot of all to feel for the misery of others. Good Lord! Of all Incarnations Lord Chaitanya was the greatest, but he was comparatively lacking in knowledge; in the Ramakrishna Incarnation there is knowledge, devotion and love--infinite knowledge, infinite love, infinite work, infinite compassion for all beings. You have not yet been able to understand him. "{Sanskrit}--Even after hearing about Him, most people do not understand Him." What the whole Hindu race has thought in ages, he lived in one life. His life is the living commentary to the Vedas of all nations. People will come to know him by degrees. My old watchword--struggle, struggle up to light! Onward!_x000d_ Yours in service,_x000d_ Vivekananda

U.S.A._x000d_ (Beginning of?) 1895_x000d_ {original in Bengali}_x000d_ My Dear Shashi {Ramakrishnananda},_x000d_ Yesterday I received a letter from you in which there was a smattering of news, but nothing in detail. I am much better now. Through the grace of the Lord I am proof against the severe cold for this year. Oh, the terrible cold! But these people keep all down through scientific knowledge. Every house has its cellar underground, in which there is a big boiler whence steam is made to course day and night through every room. This keeps all the rooms warm, but it has one defect, that while it is summer indoors, it is 30 to 40 degrees below zero outside! Most of the rich people of this country make for Europe during the winter, which is comparatively warm._x000d_ Now, let me give you some instructions. This letter is meant for you. Please go through these instructions once a day and act up to them. I have got Sarada's letter--he is doing good work--but now we want organisation. To him, Brother Tarak, and others please give my special love and blessings. The reason why I give you these few instructions is that there is an organising power in you--the Lord has made this known to me--but it is not yet fully developed. Through His blessings it will soon be. That you never lose your centre of gravity is an evidence of this, but it must be both intensive and extensive._x000d_ 1. All the Shastras hold that the threefold misery that there is in this world is not natural, hence it is removable._x000d_ 2. In the Buddha Incarnation the Lord says that the root of the Adhibhautika misery, or misery arising from other terrestrial beings, is the formation of classes (Jati); in other words, every form of class-distinction, whether based on birth, or acquirements, or wealth is at the bottom of this misery. In the Atman there is no distinction of sex, or Varna or Ashrama, or anything of the kind, and as mud cannot be washed away by mud, it is likewise impossible to bring about oneness by means of separative ideas._x000d_ 3. In the Krishna Incarnation He says that the root of all sorts of misery is Avidya (Nescience) and that selfless work purifies the mind. But "{Sanskrit}--Even sages are bewildered to decide what is work and what is no-work" (Gita)._x000d_ 4. Only that kind of work which develops our spirituality is work. Whatever fosters materiality is no-work._x000d_ 5. Therefore work and no-work must be regulated by a person's aptitude, his country, and his age._x000d_ 6. Works such as sacrifices were suited to the olden times but are not for the modern times._x000d_ 7. From the date that the Ramakrishna Incarnation was born, has sprung the Satya-Yuga (Golden Age). . . . _x000d_ 8. In this Incarnation atheistic ideas . . . Will be destroyed by the sword of Jnana (knowledge), and the whole world will be unified by means of Bhakti (devotion) and Prema (Divine Love). Moreover, in this Incarnation, Rajas, or the desire for name and fame etc., is altogether absent. In other words, blessed is he who acts up to His teachings; whether he accepts Him or not, does not matter._x000d_ 9. The founders of different sects, in the ancient or modern times, have not been in the wrong. They have done well, but they must do better. Well--better--best._x000d_ 10. Therefore we must take all up where they are, that is, we must lead them on to higher and higher ideals, without upsetting their own chosen attitude. As to social conditions, those that prevail now are good, but they shall be better--best._x000d_ 11. There is no chance for the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved. It is not possible for a bird to fly on only one wing._x000d_ 12. Hence, in the Ramakrishna Incarnation, the acceptance of a woman as the Guru, hence His practising in the woman's garb and frame of mind, hence too His preaching the motherhood of women as representations of the Divine Mother._x000d_ 13. Hence it is that my first endeavour is to start a Math for women. This Math shall be the origin of Gargis and Maitreyis, and women of even higher attainments than these. . . . _x000d_ 14. No great work can be achieved by humbug. It is through love, a passion for truth, and tremendous energy, that all undertakings are accomplished. {Sanskrit}--Therefore, manifest your manhood._x000d_ 15. There is no need for quarrel or dispute with anybody. Give your message and leave others to their own thoughts. "{Sanskrit}--Truth alone triumphs, not falsehood." {Sanskrit}--Why then fight? _x000d_ . . . Combine seriousness with childlike naivete . Live in harmony with all. Give up all idea of egoism, and entertain no sectarian views. Useless wrangling is a great sin._x000d_ . . . From Sarada's letter I came to know that N__ Ghosh has compared me with Jesus Christ, and the like. That kind of thing may pass muster in our country, but if you send such comments here in print, there is a chance of my being insulted! I mean, I do not like to hamper anybody's freedom of thought--am I a missionary? If Kali has not sent those papers to this country, tell him not to do it. Only the Address will do, I do not want the proceedings. Now many respectable ladies and gentlemen of this country hold me in reverence. The missionaries and others of that ilk have tried their utmost to put me down, but finding it useless have now become quiet. Every undertaking must pass through a lot of obstacles. Truth triumphs if only one pursues a peaceful course. I have no need to reply to what a Mr. Hudson has spoken against me. In the first place, it is unnecessary, and secondly, I shall be bringing myself down to the level of people of Mr. Hudson's type. Are you mad? Shall I fight from here with one Mr. Hudson? Through the Lord's grace, people who are far above Mr. Hudson in rank listen to me with veneration. Please do not send any more papers. Let all that go on in India, it will do no harm. For the Lord's work at one time there was need for that kind of newspaper blazoning. When that is done, there is no more need for it. . . . It is one of the attendant evils of name and fame that you can't have anything private. . . . Before you begin any undertaking, pray to Shri Ramakrishna, and he will show you the right way. We want a big plot of land to begin with, then building and all will come. Slowly our Math is going to raise itself, don't worry about it. . . . _x000d_ Kali and all others have done good work. Give my love and best wishes to all. Work in unison with the people of Madras, and let someone or other amongst you go there at intervals. Give up for ever the desire for name and fame and power. While I am on earth, Shri Ramakrishna is working through me. So long as you believe in this there is no danger of any evil for you._x000d_ The Ramakrishna Punthi (Life of Shri Ramakrishna in Bengali verse) that Akshaya has sent is very good, but there is no glorification of the Shakti at the opening which is a great defect. Tell him to remedy it in the second edition. Always bear this in mind that we are now standing before the gaze of the world, and that people are watching every one of our actions and utterances. Remember this and work._x000d_ . . . Be on the look-out for a site for our Math. . . . If it be at some little distance from Calcutta, no harm. Wherever we shall build our Math, there we shall have a stir made. Very glad to learn about Mahim Chakravarty. The Andes have turned into the holy Gaya, I see! Where is he? Please give him, Sj. Bijoy Goswami, and our other friends my cordial greetings. . . . To beat an opponent one needs a sword and buckler, so carefully learn English and Sanskrit. Kali's English is getting nicer every day, while that of Sarada is deteriorating. Tell Sarada to give up the flowery style. It is extremely difficult to write a flowery style in a foreign tongue. Please convey to him a hundred thousand bravos from me! There's a hero indeed. . . . Well done, all of you! Bravo, lads! The beginning is excellent. Go on in that way. If the adder of jealousy does not come in, there is no fear! {Sanskrit}--Cheer up! "{Sanskrit}--Those who serve My devotees are My best devotees." Have all of you a little grave bearing. I am not writing any book on Hinduism at present. But I am jotting down my thoughts. Every religion is an expression, a language to express the same truth, and we must speak to each in his own language. That Sarada has grasped this, is all right. It will be time enough to look to Hinduism later on. Do you think people in this country would be much attracted if I talk of Hinduism?--The very name of narrowness in ideas will scare them away! The real thing is--the Religion taught by Shri Ramakrishna, let the Hindus call it Hinduism--and others call it in their own way. Only you must proceed slowly. "{Sanskrit}--One must make journeys slowly." Give my blessings to Dinanath, the new recruit. I have very little time to write--always lecture, lecture, lecture. Purity, Patience, Perseverance. . . . You must ask those numerous people who are now paying heed to Shri Ramakrishna's teachings, to help you pecuniarily to a certain extent. How can the Math be maintained unless they help you? You must not be shy of making this plain to all. . . . _x000d_ There is no gain in hastening my return from this country. In the first place, a little sound made here will resound there a great deal. Then, the people of this country are immensely rich and are bold enough to pay. While the people of our country have neither money nor the least bit of boldness._x000d_ You will know everything by degrees. Was Shri Ramakrishna the Saviour of India merely? It is this narrow idea that has brought about India's ruin, and her welfare is an impossibility so long as this is not rooted out. Had I the money I would send each one of you to travel all over the world. No great idea can have a place in the heart unless one steps out of his little corner. It will be verified in time. Every great achievement is done slowly. Such is the Lord's will. . . . Why didn't any of you write about Daksha and Harish? I shall be glad to know if you watch their whereabouts. That Sanyal is feeling miserable is because his mind is not yet pure like the water of the Ganga. It is not yet selfless, but will be in time. He will have no misery if he can give up the little crookedness and be straight-forward. My special loving greetings to Rakhal and Hari. Take great care of them. . . . Never forget that Rakhal was the special object of Shri Ramakrishna's love. Let nothing daunt you. Who on earth has the power to snub us so long as the Lord favours us? Even if you are at your last breath, be not afraid. Work on with the intrepidity of a lion but, at the same time with the tenderness of a flower. Let this year's Shri Ramakrishna festival be celebrated in great pomp. Let the feeding be quite ordinary--Prasada being distributed in earthen plates among the devotees standing in rows. There should be readings from Shri Ramakrishna's Life. Place books like the Vedas and the Vedanta together and perform Arati before them. . . . Avoid issuing invitation cards of the old style. "{Sanskrit}--With Bhagavan Shri Ramakrishna's blessings and our great esteem we have the pleasure to invite you." Write some such line, and then write that to defray the expenses of Shri Ramakrishna's Birthday Festival and those of the maintenance of the Math, you want his assistance. That if he likes, he may kindly send the money to such and such, at such and such address, and so on. Also add a page in English. The term "Lord Ramakrishna" has no meaning. You must give it up. Write "Bhagavan" in English characters, and add a line or two in English:_x000d_ _x000d_ THE ANNIVERSARY OF BHAGAVAN SHRI RAMAKRISHNA_x000d_ Sir, we have great pleasure in inviting you to join us in celebrating the ___th anniversary of Bhagavan Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. For the celebration of this great occasion and for the maintenance of the Alambazar Math funds are absolutely necessary. If you think that the cause is worthy of your sympathy, we shall be very grateful to receive your contribution to the great work._x000d_ Yours obediently,_x000d_ (Name)_x000d_ If you get more than enough money, spend only a little of it and keep the surplus as a reserve fund to defray your expenses. On the plea of offering the food to the Lord, do not make everybody wait till he is sick, to have a stale and unsavoury dinner. Have two filters made and use that filtered water for both cooking and drinking purposes. Boil the water before filtering. If you do this, you will never more hear of malaria. Keep a strict eye on everybody's health. If you can give up lying on the floor--in other words, if you can get the money to do it, it will be excellent indeed. Dirty clothes are the chief cause of disease. . . . About the food offering, let me tell you that only a little Payasanna (milk-rice with sugar) will do. He used to love that alone. It is true that the worship-room is a help to many, but it is no use indulging in Rajasika and Tamasika food. Let the ceremonials give place to a certain extent to a little study of the Gita or the Upanishads or other sacred books. What I mean is this--let there be as little materialism as possible, with the maximum of spirituality. . . . Did Shri Ramakrishna come for this or that particular individual, or for the world at large? If the latter, then you must present him in such a light that the whole world may understand him. . . . You must not identify yourselves with any life of his written by anybody nor give your sanction to any . There is no danger so long as such books do not come out associated with our name. . . . "Say yea, yea, to all and stick to your own."_x000d_ . . . A thousand thanks to Mahendra Babu for his kindly helping us. He is a very liberal-hearted man. . . . About Sanyal, he will attain the highest good by doing his bit of work attentively, that is, by simply serving Shri Ramakrishna's children. . . . Brother Tarak is doing very good work. Bravo! Well done! That is what we want. Let me see all of you shoot like so many meteors! What is Gangadhar doing? Some Zemindars in Rajputana respect him. Tell him to get some money from them as Bhiksha; then he is a man. . . . _x000d_ Just now I read Akshaya's book. Give him a hundred thousand hearty embraces from me. Through his pen Shri Ramakrishna is manifesting himself. Blessed is Akshaya! Let him recite that Punthi before all. He must recite it before all in the Festival. If the work be too large, let him read extracts of it. Well, I do not find a single irrelevant word in it. I cannot tell in words the joy I have experienced by reading his book. Try all of you to give the book an extensive sale. Then ask Akshaya to go from village to village to preach. Well done Akshaya! He is doing his work. Go from village to village and proclaim to all Shri Ramakrishna's teachings, can there be a more blessed lot than this? I tell you, Akshaya's book and Akshaya himself must electrify the masses. Dear, dear, Akshaya, I bless you with all my heart, my dear brother. May the Lord sit in your tongue! Go and spread his teachings from door to door. There is no need whatever of your becoming a Sannyasin. . . . Akshaya is the future apostle for the masses of Bengal. Take great care of Akshaya; his faith and devotion have borne fruit._x000d_ Ask Akshaya to write these few points in the third section of his book, "The Propagation of the Faith"._x000d_ 1. Whatever the Vedas, the Vedanta, and all other Incarnations have done in the past, Shri Ramakrishna lived to practise in the course of a single life._x000d_ 2. One cannot understand the Vedas, the Vedanta, the Incarnations, and so forth, without understanding his life. For he was the explanation._x000d_ 3. From the very date that he was born, has sprung the Satya-Yuga (Golden Age). Henceforth there is an end to all sorts of distinctions, and everyone down to the Chandala will be a sharer in the Divine Love. The distinction between man and woman, between the rich and the poor, the literate and illiterate, Brahmins and Chandalas--he lived to root out all. And he was the harbinger of Peace--the separation between Hindus and Mohammedans, between Hindus and Christians, all are now things of the past. That fight about distinctions that there was, belonged to another era. In this Satya-Yuga the tidal wave of Shri Ramakrishna's Love has unified all._x000d_ Tell him to expand these ideas and write them in his own style._x000d_ Whoever--man or woman--will worship Shri Ramakrishna, be he or she ever so low, will be then and there converted into the very highest. Another thing, the Motherhood of God is prominent in this Incarnation. He used to dress himself as a woman--he was, as it were, our Mother--and we must likewise look upon all women as the reflections of the Mother. In India there are two great evils. Trampling on the women, and grinding the poor through caste restrictions. He was the Saviour of women, Saviour of the masses, Saviour of all, high and low. And let Akshaya introduce his worship in every home--Brahmin or Chandala, man or woman--everyone has the right to worship him. Whoever will worship him only with devotion shall be blessed for ever._x000d_ Tell him to write in this strain. Never mind anything--the Lord will be at his side._x000d_ Yours affectionately,_x000d_ Vivekananda_x000d_ PS. . . . Ask Sanyal to send me a copy each of the Narada and Shandilya Sutras , and one of the Yogavasishtha , that has been translated in Calcutta. I want the English translation of the last, not a Bengali edition. . . .

U.S.A._x000d_ (End of?) 1895_x000d_ {original in Bengali}_x000d_ My Dear Rakhal {Brahmananda},_x000d_ Just now I got your letter and was glad to go through it. No matter whether there is any work done in India or not, the real work lies here. I do not want anybody to come over now. On my return to India I shall train a few men, and after that there will be no danger for them in the West. Yes, it was of Gunanidhi that I wrote. Give my special love and blessings to Hari Singh and others. Never take part in quarrels and disputes. Who on earth possesses the power to put the Raja of Khetri down?--The Divine Mother is at his elbow! I have received Kali's letter too. It will be very good indeed if you can start a centre in Kashmir. Wherever you can, open a centre. . . . Now I have laid the foundations firm here and in England, and nobody has the power to shake them. New York is in a commotion this year. Next year will come the turn of London. Even big giants will give way, who counts your pigmies! Gird up your loins and set yourselves to work! We must throw the world into convulsions with our triumphal shouts. This is but the beginning, my boy. Do you think there are men in our country, it is a Golgotha ! There is some chance if you can impart education to the masses. Is there a greater strength than that of Knowledge? Can you give them education? Name me the country where rich men ever helped anybody! In all countries it is the middle classes that do all great works. How long will it take to raise the money? Where are the men ? Are there any in our country? Our countrymen are boys, and we must treat them as such. . . . There are some few religious and philosophical books left--the remnants of the mansion that has been burnt down; take them with you, quick and come over to this country. . . . _x000d_ Never fear! The Divine Mother is helping me! This year such work is going to be turned out that you will be struck dumb to hear of it!_x000d_ What fear! Whom to fear! Steel your hearts and set yourselves to work!_x000d_ Yours affectionately,_x000d_ Vivekananda_x000d_ PS. Sarada is talking of bringing out a Bengali magazine. Help it with all your might. It is not a bad idea. You must not throw cold water on anybody's project. Give up criticism altogether. Help all as long as you find they are doing all right, and in cases where they seem to be going wrong, show them their mistakes gently. It is criticising each other that is at the root of all mischief. That is the chief factor in breaking down organisations. . . .

Swamiji may not have stayed with the Hale family during these January weeks in Chicago. In a passage that seems to apply to this period, Miss Cornelia Conger, granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Lyon, with whom he had stayed during the days of the Parliament of Religions, writes in her reminiscences:" When Swamiji returned to Chicago a year or so later [after 1893] to give lectures,…. He only stayed with us for a short time. He knew he could teach better if he lived in his own regime of fond and of many hours for meditation. It also left him free to receive many who came to him for help. So my grandmother helped him find a simple but comfortable little flat, but I do not recall that I ever saw it.

If this passage pertains to January of 1895 (and there seems to be no other time to which it could reasonably apply), then here one finds the beginning of Swamiji's new, independent way of work.

Meanwhile, plans were being made in New York for his coming classes and parlor lectures by two groups of his friends. First, there was the infant Vedanta Society, which he had founded in November of the previous year and which, as far as can be understood, consisted of officers only. Who its president was, we do not know, but possibly it was Mr. Charles M. Higgins of Brooklyn, who was much interested in Swamiji's work.* Its vice-president was Dr. Edward G. Day, of whom we know at present regrettably little; its secretary was Miss Mary Phillips, at whose home in New York Swamiji had given a lecture in the spring of 1894; and its treasurer, there is ample reason to believe, was Mr. Walter Goodyear, a young man from New Jersey.** This Society, inexperienced and nebulous, was trying to make arrangements for Swamiji's regular classes. As for his parlor lectures, these were to a large extent in the hands of Miss Emma Thursby, the famous concert singer, whom Swamiji had known for many months, and her friend Miss Sarah Farmer, founder of the Greenacre Religious Conferences, which he had attended the previous summer. Both Miss Thursby and Miss Farmer were close friends of Mrs. Bull, who, though living in Cambridge, seems to have been a guiding spirit behind the New York scenes and also, at times, a presence on its stage.

* For more about Mr. Charles M. Higgins see Prophetic Mission-2, chapter thirteen, section one._x000d_ _x000d_ ** For a discussion of the beginnings of the New York Vedanta Society, see chapters five and seven of this book.

In her middle forties in 1895 (she had been far younger than her world renowned husband), Sara Chapman Bull was a charming, wealthy, and idealistic woman, well known for her grace as a hostess and for her Cambridge salons, at which she brought together writers, philosophers, musicians, social thinkers, and anyone else she deemed worthy people who were set upon reforming the world, and others who were simply trying to make it more livable. She herself belonged to the latter group, giving in an unobtrusive, gracious, and somewhat vague way whatever support she could-financial, social, and moral-to anyone with noble thoughts and the gift of expressing them well. She had first met Swamiji in Boston in the spring of 1894 and had come to know him better at Greenacre in the summer of that year. In October she had invited him for a week or so of rest at her spacious home in Cambridge, where house guests abounded, and in December she had asked him to participate in the month long lecture series which she was sponsoring in memory of her mother and which she thought of as a sort of miniature Greenacre Conference. She was much impressed by his teachings and his personality and was anxious to help his work in any way she could. He and others kept her informed of the plans afoot in New York. "The New York course for me is nearly ready;" he had written to her from Chicago on January 3, "but I do not wish to fix the dates until Miss Thursby comes to New York. As such Miss Phillips who is a friend of Miss Thursby's and who is arranging the New York course for me will act with Miss Thursby in case she wants to get up something in New York. And on January 15 Swamiji's disciple Leon Landsberg wrote from New York, "Miss Thursby expects here Miss Farmer, with whom she will arrange for group meetings"that is, for parlor lectures.

One does not know what well-meaning plans the Vedanta Society was making for Swamiji's work, but whatever they were, they proved, according to Leon Landsberg, to be "a miserable failure. Shortly after his return from Chicago, Swamiji took matters into his own hands. He asked Landsberg to rent some rooms where regular classes could be held, and forthwith Landsberg did so.

Leon Landsberg, a bachelor in his early forties, a Russian Jew by birth, European by culture and education, and American by citizenship, was a year later described by a newspaper reporter as being "of medium height, possessed of a shock of curly hair and a pair of eyes in which the fire of the true fanatic undoubtedly burns."8 He had first met Swamiji in May of 1894 at Miss Mary Phillips's parlor lecture-the second talk Swamiji had ever given in New York City. Whether Landsberg, who had been at the time a Theosophist and was on the staff of the New York Tribune, had attended the lecture out of personal interest or on a newspaper assignment, we do not know, but whatever had brought him there, his meeting with Swamiji had been for him a galvanizing event. In his own words, written to Mrs. Bull a year later:

. . . At last I had found the ideal vainly sought for during all my past, an object worthy of pursuit, an aim to work for and bestow upon its realization all the stored up energy of years of inactivity. He became to me an object of divine worship.

Landsberg soon became a brahmacharin disciple of Swamiji's and thenceforth, as he was to write to Mrs. Bull in February of 1895, "made it a rule not to have more than two suits of clothing, which is even too much for a Brahmacharin, who care not for the things of this world. The second suit had no doubt been purchased on Swamiji's insistence. Sending his disciple the necessary money, Swamiji had written to him on September 13, 1894 "Forgive me, but I have the right, as your Guru, to advise you, and I insist that you buy some clothes for yourself, as the want of them stands in the may of your doing anything in this country. Once you have a start, you may dress in whatever way you like. People do not object. You need not thank me, for this is only [the Guru's] duty.

With characteristic intensity, Landsberg now took over the burden of the practical details of Swamiji's New York work and became, for a time, his right hand man.

Swamiji Paid a surprise visit to Hale family at Chicago on new year's day. Stayed in his own rented flat for most of the 3 weeks [1-18]. Conducted classes everyday.

It was in Chicago, however, that Swamiji opened the year of 1895. To what must have been the unutterable delight of the Hale family, who loved him as their own, he had given them "a little surprise by dropping in on New Year's day," un announced and straight from the East Coast. He stayed in Chicago for almost three weeks, a period of which virtually nothing had been known until the recent discovery of the following letter written to his friend Miss Emma Thursby. From it we gather a little information about what appears to have been a very active time.

541 Dearborn Avenue,_x000d_ Chicago_x000d_ 3rd January, 1895_x000d_ Dear Mrs. Bull,_x000d_ I lectured at Brooklyn last Sunday. Mrs. Higgins gave a little reception the evening I arrived, and some of the prominent members of the Ethical Society including Dr. Jain [Janes] were there. Some of them thought that such Oriental religious subjects will not interest the Brooklyn public._x000d_ But the lecture, through the blessings of the Lord, proved a tremendous success. About 800 of the elite of Brooklyn were present, and the very gentlemen who thought it would not prove a success are trying for organising a series in Brooklyn. The New York course for me is nearly ready, but I do not wish to fix the dates until Miss Thursby comes to New York. As such Miss Phillips who is a friend of Miss Thursby's and who is arranging the New York course for me will act with Miss Thursby in case she wants to get up something in New York._x000d_ I owe much to the Hale family and I thought to give them a little surprise by dropping in on New Year's day. I am trying to get a new gown here. The old gown is here, but it is so shrunken by constant washings that it is unfit to wear in public. I am almost confident of finding the exact thing in Chicago._x000d_ I hope your father is all right by this time._x000d_ With my love to Miss Farmer, Mr. and Mrs. Gibbons, and the rest of the holy family, I am ever yours,_x000d_ Affectionately,_x000d_ Vivekananda _x000d_ PS. I saw Miss Couring at Brooklyn. She was as kind as ever. Give her my love if you write her soon.

In a letter to Mrs. Bull dated January 3, 1895, Swamiji wrote of the success of his first lecture in Brooklyn: "Some [of the prominent members of the Ethical Society] thought that much Oriental religious subjects will not interest the Brooklyn public. But the lecture through the blessings of the Lord proved a tremendous success. About 800 of the elite of Brooklyn were present and the very gentlemen who thought it would not prove a success are trying for organizing a series in Brooklyn.

A PLAN OF WORK FOR INDIA _x000d_ _x000d_ It is with a heart full of love, gratitude, and trust that I take up my pen to write to you. Let me tell you first, that you are one of the few men that I have met in my life who are thorough in their convictions. You have a whole-souled possession of a wonderful combination of feeling and knowledge, and withal a practical ability to bring ideas into realised forms. Above all, you are sincere, and as such I confide to you some of my ideas._x000d_ The work has begun well in India, and it should not only be kept up, but pushed on with the greatest vigour. Now or never is the time. After taking a far and wide view of things, my mind has now been concentrated on the following plan. First, it would be well to open a Theological College in Madras, and then gradually extend its scope, to give a thorough education to young men in the Vedas and the different Bhashyas and philosophies, including a knowledge of the other religions of the world. At the same time a paper in English and the vernacular should be started as an organ of the College._x000d_ This is the first step to be taken, and huge things grow out of small undertakings. Madras just now is following the golden mean by appreciating both the ancient and modern phases of life._x000d_ I fully agree with the educated classes in India that a thorough overhauling of society is necessary. But how to do it? The destructive plans of reformers have failed. My plan is this. We have not done badly in the past, certainly not. Our society is not bad but good, only I want it to be better still. Not from error to truth, nor from bad to good, but from truth to higher truth, from good to better, best. I tell my countrymen that so far they have done well--now is the time to do better._x000d_ Now, take the case of caste--in Sanskrit, Jati, i.e. species. Now, this is the first idea of creation. Variation (Vichitrata), that is to say Jati, means creation. "I am One, I become many" (various Vedas). Unity is before creation, diversity is creation. Now if this diversity stops, creation will be destroyed. So long as any species is vigorous and active, it must throw out varieties. When it ceases or is stopped from breeding varieties, it dies. Now the original idea of Jati was this freedom of the individual to express his nature, his Prakriti, his Jati,his caste; and so it remained for thousands of years. Not even in the latest books is inter-dining prohibited; nor in any of the older books is inter-marriage forbidden. Then what was the cause of India's downfall?--the giving up of this idea of caste. As Gita says, with the extinction of caste the world will be destroyed. Now does it seem true that with the stoppage of these variations the world will be destroyed? The present caste is not the real Jati, but a hindrance to its progress. It really has prevented the free action of Jati, i.e. caste or variation. Any crystallised custom or privilege or hereditary class in any shape really prevents caste (Jati) from having its full sway; and whenever any nation ceases to produce this immense variety, it must die. Therefore what I have to tell you, my countrymen, is this, that India fell because you prevented and abolished caste. Every frozen aristocracy or privileged class is a blow to caste and is not-caste. Let Jati have its sway; break down every barrier in the way of caste, and we shall rise. Now look at Europe. When it succeeded in giving free scope to caste and took away most of the barriers that stood in the way of individuals, each developing his caste--Europe rose. In America, there is the best scope for caste (real Jati) to develop, and so the people are great. Every Hindu knows that astrologers try to fix the caste of every boy or girl as soon as he or she is born. That is the real caste--the individuality, and Jyotisha (astrology) recognises that. And we can only rise by giving it full sway again. This variety does not mean inequality, nor any special privilege._x000d_ This is my method--to show the Hindus that they have to give up nothing, but only to move on in the line laid down by the sages and shake off their inertia, the result of centuries of servitude. Of course, we had to stop advancing during the Mohammedan tyranny, for then it was not a question of progress but of life and death. Now that that pressure has gone, we must move forward, not on the lines of destruction directed by renegades and missionaries, but along our own line, our own road. Everything is hideous because the building is unfinished. We had to stop building during centuries of oppression. Now finish the building and everything will look beautiful in its own place. This is all my plan. I am thoroughly convinced of this. Each nation has a main current in life; in India it is religion. Make it strong and the waters on either side must move along with it. This is one phase of my line of thought. In time, I hope to bring them all out, but at present I find I have a mission in this country also. Moreover, I expect help in this country and from here alone. But up to date I could not do anything except spreading my ideas. Now I want that a similar attempt be made in India._x000d_ I do not know when I shall go over to India. I obey the leading of the Lord. I am in His hands._x000d_ "In this world in search of wealth, Thou art, O Lord, the greatest jewel I have found. I sacrifice myself unto Thee."_x000d_ "In search of some one to love, Thou art the One Beloved I have found. I sacrifice myself unto Thee." (Yajurveda Samhita)._x000d_ May the Lord bless you for ever and ever!

U.S.A._x000d_ 12th January, 1895_x000d_ Dear Alasinga,_x000d_ I am sorry you still continue to send me pamphlets and newspapers, which I have written you several times not to do. I have no time to peruse them and take notice of them. Please send them no more. I do not care a fig for what the missionaries or the Theosophists say about me. Let them do as they please. The very taking notice of them will be to give them importance. Besides, you know, the missionaries only abuse and never argue._x000d_ Now know once and for all that I do not care for name or fame, or any humbug of that type. I want to preach my ideas for the good of the world. You have done a great work; but so far as it goes, it has only given me name and fame. My life is more precious than spending it in getting the admiration of the world. I have no time for such foolery. What work have you done in the way of advancing the ideas and organising in India? None, none, none !_x000d_ An organisation that will teach the Hindus mutual help and appreciation is absolutely necessary. Five thousand people attended that meeting that was held in Calcutta, and hundreds did the same in other places, to express an appreciation of my work here--well and good! But if you asked them each to give an anna, would they do it? The whole national character is one of childish dependence. They are all ready to enjoy food if it is brought to their mouth, and even some want it pushed down. . . . You do not deserve to live if you cannot help yourselves. . . ._x000d_ I have given up at present my plan for the education of the masses. It will come by degrees. What I now want is a band of fiery missionaries. We must have a College in Madras to teach comparative religions, Sanskrit, the different schools of Vedanta, and some European languages; we must have a press, and papers printed in English and in the vernaculars. When this is done, then I shall know that you have accomplished something. Let the nation show that they are ready to do. If you cannot do anything of the kind in India, then let me alone. I have a message to give, let me give it to the people who appreciate it and who will work it out. What care I who takes it? "He who doeth the will of my Father," is my own. . . ._x000d_ My name should not be made prominent; it is my ideas that I want to see realised. The disciples of all the prophets have always inextricably mixed up the ideas of the Master with the person, and at last killed the ideas for the person. The disciples of Shri Ramakrishna must guard against doing the same thing. Work for the idea, not the person. The Lord bless you._x000d_ Yours ever with blessings,_x000d_ Vivekananda

228 W. 39, New York,_x000d_ 17th Jan., 1895_x000d_ {original in Bengali}_x000d_ Dear Sarada {Swami Trigunatita},_x000d_ Your two letters are to hand, as also the two of Ramdayal Babu. I have got the bill of lading; but it will be long before the goods arrive. Unless one arranges for the prompt despatch of goods they take about six months to come. It is four months since Haramohan wrote that the Rudraksha beads and Kusha mats had been despatched, but there is no news of their whereabouts yet. The thing is, when the goods reach England, the agent of the company here gives me notice; and about a month later, the goods arrive. I received your bill of lading about three weeks ago, but no sign of the notice! Only the goods sent by Raja of Khetri arrive quickly. Most probably he spends a lot of money for them. However it is a matter of congratulation that goods do arrive without fail in this region of Patala, at the other end of the globe. I shall let you know as soon as the goods come. Now keep quiet for at least three months._x000d_ Now is the time for you to apply yourself to start the magazine. Tell Ramdayal Babu that though the gentleman of whom he speaks be a competent person, I am not in a position to have anybody in America at present. . . . What about your article on Tibet? When it is published in the Mirror, send me a copy. . . . Come, here is a task for you, conduct that magazine. Thrust it on people and make them subscribe to it, and don't be afraid. What work do you expect from men of little hearts?--Nothing in the world! You must have an iron will if you would cross the ocean. You must be strong enough to pierce mountains. I am coming next winter. We shall set the world on fire--let those who will, join us and be blessed, and those that won't come, will lag behind for ever and ever; let them do so. You gird up your loins and keep yourself ready. . . . Never mind anything! In your lips and hands the Goddess of Learning will make Her seat; the Lord of infinite power will be seated on your chest; you will do works that will strike the world with wonder. By the bye, can't you shorten your name a bit, my boy? What a long, long name--a single name enough to fill a volume! Well, you hear people say that the Lord's name keeps away death! It is not the simple name Hari, mind you. It is those deep and sonorous names, such as {Sanskrit} (Destroyer of Agha, Bhaga, and Naraka) {Sanskrit} (Subduer of the pride of Tripura, demon of the "three cities"), and {Sanskrit} (Giver of infinite and endless blessings), and so forth--that put to rout King Death and his whole party. Won't it look nice if you simplify yours a little? But it is too late, I am afraid, as it has already been abroad. But, believe me, it is a world-entrancing, death-defying name that you have got! _x000d_ Yours affectionately,_x000d_ Vivekananda_x000d_ PS. Throw the whole of Bengal and, for the matter of that, the whole of India into convulsion! Start centres at different places. The Bhagavata has reached me--a very nice edition indeed; but people of this country have not the least inclination for studying Sanskrit; hence there is very little hope for its sale. There may be a little in England, for there many are interested in the study of Sanskrit. Give my special thanks to the editor. I hope his noble attempt will meet with complete success. I shall try my best to push his book here. I have sent his prospectus to different places. Tell Ramdayal Babu that a flourishing trade can be set on foot with England and America in Mung Dal, Arhar Dal, etc. Dal soup will have a go if properly introduced. There will be a good demand for these things if they be sent from house to house, in small packets, with directions for cooking on them and a depot started for storing a quantity of them. Similarly Badis too will have a good market. We want an enterprising spirit. Nothing is done by leading idle lives. If anyone forms a company and exports Indian goods here and into England, it will be a good trade. But they are a lazy set, enamoured of child marriage and nothing else.

To Miss Emma Thursby_x000d_ Chicago_x000d_ 541 Dearborn Avenue_x000d_ 17 January 1895_x000d_ Dear Miss Thursby,_x000d_ I am very sorry to learn about the passing on of Mr. Thorp. Mrs. Bull must have felt it deeply. Still he has passed on after a good and useful life. All is for the best.I have been lecturing every day to a class in Mrs. Adams's rooms at the Auditorium. Today I also lecture there and in the Evening to a class of Miss Josephine Locke's at the Plaza Hotel._x000d_ Have you seen Mrs. Peake in New York? She is lecturing to a class at Mrs. Guernsey's._x000d_ Miss Locke is as kind as usual. She is enamoured of Mrs. Peake as are many of Miss Locke's friends, you will be glad to learn._x000d_ Mrs. Peake has made a very favourable impression on Chicago. So she does wherever she goes._x000d_ Mrs. Adams invited me to an organ concert in the Audito rium. She is so good and kind to me. Lord bless her._x000d_ I have not seen Mr. Young, nor, I am afraid, [will] I have time to see [him,] as I start for New York on Friday next._x000d_ I will hear him once in New York._x000d_ I was so busy here these two weeks._x000d_ I have got a new scarlet coat but can get no orange here._x000d_ Ever with blessings,_x000d_ Your brother,_x000d_ Vivekananda

* The Mrs. Adams whom Swamiji mentioned in his letter of January 17, 1895, was Florence Adams, wife of Milward Adams, house manager of the Opera House in Chicago. (See Burke, Swami Vivekananda in the West: New Discoveries, His Prophetic Mission Part Tow [henceforth called Prophetic Mission—2], chapter twelve, section four.)_x000d_ Miss Josephine Locke, mentioned in the same letter by Swamiji, was Director of Art in the Public Schools of Chicago._x000d_ Mrs. Peake was an itinerant teacher of metaphysics, holding classes in various large cities of the United States. In July of 1897, the Theosophist magazine would run the following notice: “Mrs. Peake, pupil of Vivekananda, has had classes and lectures here [in Chicago] this Winter. She is able.”