Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda: Vol 8 Part 60

I tried to play golf the other day; I do not think it difficult at all - only it requires good practice. You never went to Philadelphia to visit your golfing friends? What are your plans? What do you intend to do the rest of your life? Have you thought out any work? Write me a long letter, will you? I saw a lady in the streets of Naples as I was pa.s.sing, going along with three others, must be Americans, so like you that I was almost going to speak to her; when I came near I saw my mistake. Good-bye for the present. Write sharp. . . .

Ever your affectionate brother,

VIVEKANANDA. *.

CXLIV.

To Miss Mary Hale

RIDGELY MANOR,.

3rd October, 1899.

MY DEAR MARY, Thanks for your very kind words. I am much better now and growing so every day. Mrs. Bull and her daughter are expected today or tomorrow. We hope thus to have another spell of good time - you are having yours all the time, of course. I am glad you are going to Philadelphia, but not so much now as then - when the millionaire was on the horizon. With all love,

Ever your affectionate brother,

VIVEKANANDA. *.

CXLV.

To Miss Mary Hale

RIDGELY MANOR,.

30th October, 1899.

MY DEAR OPTIMIST, I received your letter and am thankful that something has come to force optimistic laissez faire into action. Your questions have tapped the very source of pessimism, however. British rule in modern India has only one redeeming feature, though unconscious; it has brought India out once more on the stage of the world; it has forced upon it the contact of the outside world. If it had been done with an eye to the good of the people concerned, as circ.u.mstances favoured j.a.pan with, the results could have been more wonderful for India. No good can be done when the main idea is blood-sucking. On the whole the old regime was better for the people, as it did not take away everything they had, and there was some justice, some liberty.

A few hundred, modernised, half-educated, and denationalised men are all the show of modern English India - nothing else. The Hindus were 600 million in number according to Ferishta, the Mohammedan historian, in the 12th century - now less than 200 million.

In spite of the centuries of anarchy that reigned during the struggles of the English to conquer, the terrible ma.s.sacre the English perpetrated in 1857 and 1858, and the still more terrible famines that have become the inevitable consequence of British rule (there never is a famine in a native state) and that take off millions, there has been a good increase of population, but not yet what it was when the country was entirely independent - that is, before the Mohammedan rule. Indian labour and produce can support five times as many people as there are now in India with comfort, if the whole thing is not taken off from them.

This is the state of things - even education will no more be permitted to spread; freedom of the press stopped already, (of course we have been disarmed long ago), the bit of self-government granted to them for some years is being quickly taken off. We are watching what next! For writing a few words of innocent criticism, men are being hurried to transportation for life, others imprisoned without any trial; and n.o.body knows when his head will be off.

There has been a reign of terror in India for some years. English soldiers are killing our men and outraging our women - only to be sent home with pa.s.sage and pension at our expense. We are in a terrible gloom - where is the Lord? Mary, you can afford to be optimistic, can I? Suppose you simply publish this letter - the law just pa.s.sed in India will allow the English Government in India to drag me from here to India and kill me without trial. And I know all your Christian governments will only rejoice, because we are heathens. Shall I also go to sleep and become optimistic? Nero was the greatest optimistic person! They don't think it worth while to write these terrible things as news items even! If necessary, the news agent of Reuter gives the exactly opposite news fabricated to order! Heathen-murdering is only a legitimate pastime for the Christians! Your missionaries go to preach G.o.d and dare not speak a word of truth for fear of the English, who will kick them out the next day.

All property and lands granted by the previous governments for supporting education have been swallowed up, and the present Government spends even less than Russia in education. And what education?

The least show of originality is throttled. Mary, it is hopeless with us, unless there really is a G.o.d who is the father of all, who is not afraid of the strong to protect the weak, and who is not bribed by wealth. Is there such a G.o.d? Time will show.

Well, I think I am coming to Chicago in a few weeks and talk of things fully! Don't quote your authority. With all love, ever your brother, PS. As for religious sects - the Brahmo Samaj, the Arya Samaj, and other sects have been useless mixtures; they were only voices of apology to our English masters to allow us to live! We have started a new India - a growth - waiting to see what comes. We believe in new ideas only when the nation wants them, and what will be true for us. The test of truth for this Brahmo Samaj is "what our masters approve"; with us, what the Indian reasoning and experience approves. The struggle has begun - not between the Brahmo Samaj and us, for they are gone already, but a harder, deeper, and more terrible one.

VIVEKANANDA.

V.

CXLVI.

To Mr. E. T. St.u.r.dy C/ O F. LEGGETT ESQ., RIDGELY MANOR, ULSTER COUNTY, N.Y. MY DEAR St.u.r.dY, Your last letter reached me after knocking about a little through insufficient address. It is quite probable that very much of your criticism is just and correct. It is also possible that some day you may find that all this springs from your dislike of certain persons, and I was the scapegoat.

There need be no bitterness, however, on that account, as I don't think I ever posed for anything but what I am. Nor is it ever possible for me to do so, as an hour's contact is enough to make everybody see through my smoking, bad temper, etc. "Every meeting must have a separation" - this is the nature of things. I carry no feeling of disappointment even. I hope you will have no bitterness. It is Karma that brings us together, and Karma separates.

I know how shy you are, and how loath to wound others' feelings. I perfectly understand months of torture in your mind when you have been struggling to work with people who were so different from your ideal. I could not guess it before at all, else I could have saved you a good deal of unnecessary mental trouble. It is Karma again.

The accounts were not submitted before, as the work is not yet finished; and I thought of submitting to my donor a complete account when the whole thing was finished. The work was begun only last year, as we had to wait for funds a long time, and my method is never to ask but wait for voluntary help.

I follow the same idea in all my work, as I am so conscious of my nature being positively displeasing to many, and wait till somebody wants me. I hold myself ready also to depart at a moment's notice. In the matter of departure thus, I never feel bad about it or think much of it, as, in the constant roving life I lead, I am constantly doing it. Only so sorry, I trouble others without wishing it. Will you kindly send over if there is any mail for me at your address?

May all blessings attend you and yours for ever and ever will be the constant prayer of

VIVEKANANDA. *.

CXLVII To Mrs. Ole Bull C/O E. GUERNSEY, M.D., THE MADRID, 180 W. 59,

15th November, 1899.

MY DEAR MRS. BULL,.

After all I decide to come to Cambridge just now. I must finish the stories I began. The first one I don't think was given back to me by Margo. My clothes will be ready the day after tomorrow, and then I shall be ready to start; only my fear is, it will be for the whole winter a place for becoming nervous and not for quieting of nerves, with constant parties and lectures. Well, perhaps you can give me a room somewhere, where I can hide myself from all the goings on in the place. Again I am so nervous of going to a place where indirectly the Indian Math will be. The very name of these Math people is enough to frighten me. And they are determined to kill with these letters etc.

Anyhow, I come as soon as I have my clothes - this week. You need not come to New York for my sake. If you have business of your own, that is another matter. I had a very kind invitation from Mrs. Wheeler of Montclair. Before I start for Boston, I will have a turn-in in Montclair for a few hours at least.

I am much better and am all right; nothing the matter with me except my worry, and now I am sure to throw that all overboard. Only one thing I want - and I am afraid I cannot get it of you - there should be no communication about me in your letters to India even indirect. I want to hide for a time or for all time. How I curse the day that brought me celebrity!

With all love,

VIVEKANANDA. *.