SRINAGAR, KASHMIR,.
1897.
DEAR HARIPADA, My health has been very bad for the last nine months, and the heat made it still worse. So I have been wandering over the hills from place to place. Now I am in Kashmir. I have travelled far and wide, but I have never seen such a country. I shall soon leave for the Punjab and again go to work. From Sadananda I have heard all the news about you and continue to get it. I am sure to go to Karachi after visiting the Punjab. So we shall meet in person there.
With blessings,
CVI.
To Miss Josephine MacLeod
SRINAGAR, KASHMIR,.
30th September, 1897.
MY DEAR MISS MACLEOD, Come soon if you intend to come really. From November to the middle of February India is cool; after that it is hot. You will be able to see all you want within that time, but to see all takes years.
I am in a hurry; therefore excuse this hasty card. Kindly tender my love to Mrs. Bull and my good wishes and earnest thoughts for Goodwin"s speedy recovery. My love to Mother, to Alberta, to the baby, to Holister, and last, not the least, to Franky.
Yours in the Lord,
CVII.
To Swami Brahmananda
SRINAGAR, KASHMIR,.
30th September, 1897
DEAR RAKHAL, I received your affectionate letter and also the letter from the Math. I am leaving for the Punjab in two or three days. I have received the foreign mail. The following are my answers to Miss n.o.ble"s questions in her letter: 1. Nearly all the branches have been started, but the movement is only just beginning. 2. Most of the monks are educated. Those that are not are also having secular education. But above all, to do good, perfect unselfishness is absolutely necessary. To ensure that, more attention is given to spiritual exercises than to anything else.
3. Secular educators: We get mostly those who have already educated themselves. What is needed is training them into our method and building up of character. The training is to make them obedient and fearless; and the method is to help the poor physically first and then work up to higher regions of mentality.
Arts and Industries: This part of the programme alone cannot be begun for want of funds. The simplest method to be worked upon at present is to induce Indians to use their own produce and get markets for Indian artware etc. in other countries. This should be done by persons who are not only not middlemen themselves, but will devote the entire proceeds of this branch to the benefit of the workmen.
4. Wandering from place to place will be necessary till "people come to education". The religious character of the wandering monks will carry with it a much greater weight than otherwise. 5. All castes are open to our influence. So long the highest only have been worked upon. But since the work department is in full operation in different famine-centres, we are influencing the lower cla.s.ses more and more.
6. Nearly all the Hindus approve our work, only they are not used to practical co-operation in such works.
7. Yes, from the very start we are making no distinction in our charities or other good works between the different religions of India.
Reply to Miss N. according to these hints. See that there is no remissness whatever in the medical treatment of Yogen - if necessary spend money by drawing on the capital. Did you go and meet Bhavanath"s wife?
If Brahmachari Hariprasanna can come, it will be very helpful. Mr. Sevier has become very impatient about acquiring a house somewhere; it will be good if something is done quickly about it! Hariprasanna is an engineer; so he will be able to do something quickly about it. Also he understands better about the suitability of places. They (the Seviers) like to have a place somewhere near about Dehra Dun or Mussoorie; that is to say, the place must not be too cold and must be habitable throughout the year. So send Hariprasanna at once straight to Sj. Shyamapada Mukherjee, Medical Hall, Ambala Cantonment. As soon as I go down to the Punjab, I shall send Mr. Sevier along with him. I am returning (to the Math) in a trice after a tour of the Punjab, Karachi, and then via Rajputana, not via Kathiawar and Gujarat - to Nepal. Tulsi has gone to Madhya Bharat - is it for the famine-relief work? . . .
My blessings and love to all. I have got the news that Kali has reached New York; but he has not written any letter. St.u.r.dy writes that his work had increased so much that people were amazed - and a few persons have also written me praising him highly. However, there is not so much difficulty in America; the work will go on somehow or other. Send Shuddhananda and his brother along with Hariprasanna. Of the party only Gupta and Achyut will accompany me.
Yours affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA. * *.
CVIII.
(Translated from Bengali)
To Swami Ramakrishnananda
SRINAGAR, KASHMIR,.
30th September, 1897
MY DEAR SHASHI, Now I am returning from a visit to places in Kashmir. In a day or two I shall leave for the Punjab. As my health is now much better, I have decided to tour again in the same way as before. Not too much lecturing - one or two lectures, perhaps, in the Punjab, otherwise none. The people of our country have not yet offered me even as much as a pice for my travelling expenses - and to cap it all, to take with you a whole party, well, you can easily understand how troublesome it all is. It is also a matter of shame to have to draw upon only the English disciples. So, as before, I start out "with only a blanket". In this place there is no need for any person like Goodwin, as you can see.
A monk from Ceylon, P. C. Jinawar Vamar by name, has written to me among other things that he wants to visit India. Perhaps he is the same monk who comes of the Siamese royal family. His address is Wellawatta, Ceylon. If convenient, invite him to Madras. He believes in the Vedanta. It will not be so difficult to send him to other places from Madras. It is also good to have such a person in the Order. My love and blessings to you and all others.
Yours affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA.
PS. The Maharaja of Khetri is reaching Bombay on the 10th October. Don"t forget to present him an address of welcome.
V.