Letters

54 W. 33
New York
16th May ’95
Dear Mother,
Your kind note duly reached. The books have arrived safe and more are coming. The Sanskrit books pay no duty, being classics. I expect a big package from Khetri. The big packet was from the Raja of Khetri, sending me an address from a meeting held of Rajput nobility at Mount Abu, for my work in this country.
I do not know whether I will be able to come over to Chicago or not. I am trying to get a free pass; in case I succeed I will come, else not. Financially this winter’s work was no success at all–I could barely keep myself up–but spiritually very great. I am going to the Thousand Islands for the summer to visit a friend and some of my pupils will be there.
I have got plenty of books now to read from India, and I will be quite engaged this summer.
The Khetri package will not arrive soon, so kindly make arrangements that it will be received during your absence if you go away. [There] will have to be paid a heavy duty for [it,] I am afraid.
Mrs. [Florence] Adams brought me the love from the [Hale] Sisters on her way to Europe. She started this morning. A large package of books also I expect soon. The original Upanishads–there is no duty on them.
I have had some trouble with my stomach; hope it will be over in a few days.
With love to all, I am ever your affectionate Son,
Vivekananda

To Alasinga Perumal

c/o Miss Philips,
19 West 38th Street,
New York
28th May, 1895.
Dear Alasinga,
Herewith I send a hundred dollars or £ 20-8-7 in English money. Hope this will go just a little in starting your paper. Hoping to do more by and by.
I remain, ever yours, with blessings,
Vivekananda.
PS. Reply immediately to it C/o the above address. New York will be my headquarters henceforth.
I have succeeded in doing something in this country at last.
V.

 

To Mrs. Ole Bull

New York
The 28th May ’95
Dear Mother,
Your last kind letter to hand. This week will be the last of my classes. I am going next Tuesday with Mr. Leggett to Maine. He has a fine lake and a forest there. I will be two or three weeks there. 91 Thence I go to the Thousand Islands. Also I have an invitation to speak at a parliament of religions at Toronto, Canada, on July 18th. I will go there from Thousand Islands and return back.
So far everything is going on well with me.
Ever your grateful son,
Vivekananda
P.S. My regards and love to your daughter and pray for her speedy recovery.
V.

54 W. 33 NEW YORK,
May, 1895.
DEAR __,
Since writing to you my pupils have come round me with help, and the classes will go on nicely now no doubt.
I was so glad at it because teaching has become a part of my life, as necessary to my life as eating or breathing.

Yours,

VIVEKANANDA.

PS. I saw a lot of things about __ in an English paper, the Borderland. __ is doing good work in India, making the Hindus, very much to appreciate their own religion. . . . I do not find any scholarship in __’s writing, . . . nor do I find any spirituality whatever. However Godspeed to anyone who wants to do good to the world.

How easily this world can be duped by humbugs and what a mass of fraud has gathered over the devoted head of poor humanity since the dawn of civilisation.

54 West 33rd Street, New York
May, 1895, Thursday
Dear Mrs. Bull,
The classes are going on; but I am sorry to say, though the attendance is large, it does not even pay enough to cover the rent. I will try this week and then give up.
I am going this summer to the Thousand Islands to Miss Dutcher’s, one of my students. The different books on Vedanta are now being sent over to me from India. I expect to write a book in English on the Vedanta Philosophy in its three stages when I am at Thousand Islands, and I may go to Greenacre later on. Miss Farmer wants me to lecture there this summer.
I am rather busy just now in writing a promised article for the Press Association on Immortality.
Yours,
Vivekananda

4th June ’95
Dear Mother,
Today I leave New York at 5 p.m. by steamer with Mr. Leggett.
The classes were closed on Saturday last [June 1] and so far the work has been very successful, no small part of which is due to you.
Ever praying for you and yours,
I am ever your faithful Son,
Vivekananda
P.S. I will acquaint you with my whereabouts as soon as I know it myself.

Percy, New Hampshire
7th June, 1895
Dear Mrs. Bull,
I am here at last with Mr. Leggett. This is one of the most beautiful spots I have ever seen. Imagine a lake, surrounded with hills covered with a huge forest, with nobody but ourselves. So lovely, so quiet, so restful! And you may imagine how glad I am to be here after the bustle of cities.
It gives me a new lease of life to be here. I go into the forest alone and read my Gita and am quite happy. I will leave this place in about ten days and go to the Thousand Island Park. I will meditate by the hour there and be all alone to myself. The very idea is ennobling.
Vivekananda

(Written on birch bark)

PERCY N. H.,
17 June, 1895.
DEAR SISTER,
Going tomorrow to the Thousand Islands care Miss Dutcher’s, Thousand Island Park, N.Y. Where are you now? Where will you all be in summer? I have a chance of going to Europe in August, I will come to see you before I go. So write to me. Also I expect books and letters from India. Kindly send them care Miss Phillips, 19 W. 38th Street, N.Y. This is the bark in which all holy writings are written in India. So I write Sanskrit: May the husband of Uma (Shiva) protect you always.
May you all be blessed ever and ever.

VIVEKANANDA.

19 W. 38TH ST.,
NEW YORK
June [May] 28, ’95
DR. PAUL CARUS, LA SALLE, ILL.

DEAR SIR,

I am just now in receipt of your letter and will be very happy to join the religions Congress at Toronto. Only, as you are well aware of, the financial means of a “Bhikshu” (A Hindu or Buddhist monk.) are very limited. I will be only too glad to do anything in my power to help you and wait further particulars and directions.

Hoping to hear from you soon and thanking you very much for your great sympathy with Buddhistic India.

I remain ever fraternally your,

VIVEKANANDA

54 West 33rd Street, New York
June, 1895
Dear Mrs. Bull,
I have just arrived home. The trip did me good, and I enjoyed the country and the hills, and especially Mr. Leggett’s country-house in New York State. Poor Landsberg has gone from this house. Neither has he left one his address. May the Lord bless Landsberg wherever he goes! He is one of the few sincere souls I have had the privilege in this life to come across.
All is for good. All conjunctions are for subsequent disjunction. I hope I shall be perfectly able to work alone. The less help from men, the more from the Lord! Just now I received a letter from an Englishman in London who had lived in India in the Himalayas with two of my brethren. He asks me to come to London.
Yours,
Vivekananda

19 W., 38 ST.,
NEW YORK, 1895.
DEAR ALASINGA,

. . . Meddle not with so-called social reform, for there cannot be any reform without spiritual reform first. Who told you that I want social reform? Not I. Preach the Lord — say neither good nor bad about the superstitions and diets. Do not lose heart, do not lose faith in your Guru, do not lose faith in God. So long as you possess these three, nothing can harm you, my child. I am growing stronger every day. Work on, my brave boys.

Ever yours with blessings,

VIVEKANANDA.

19 W. 38TH ST.,
NEW YORK
DEAR FRIEND,
I received your last duly, and as I had a previous arrangement to come to Europe by the end of this August, I take your invitation as a Divine Call.
“Truth alone triumphs, not untruth. Through truth alone lies the way to Devayâna (the way to the gods).” Those who think that a little sugar-coating of untruth helps the spread of truth are mistaken and will find in the long run that a single drop of poison poisons the whole mass. . . . The man who is pure, and who dares, does all things. May the Lord ever protect you from illusion and delusion! I am ever ready to work with you, and the Lord will send us friends by the hundred, if only we be our own friends first. “The Atman alone is the friend of the Atman.”
Europe has always been the source of social, and Asia of spiritual power; and the whole history of the world is the tale of the varying combinations of those two powers. Slowly a new leaf is being turned in the story of humanity. The signs of this are everywhere. Hundreds of new plans will be created and destroyed. Only the fit will survive. And what but the true and the good is the fit?

Yours etc.,

VIVEKANANDA.