The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 6/Epistles - Second Series/XXXIII Sir
XXXIII[6]*
(Translated from Bengali)
57, RAMAKANTA BOSE'S STREET,
BAGHBAZAR, CALCUTTA,
26th May, 1890.
DEAR SIR,
I write this to you while caught in a vortex of many untoward circumstances
and great agitation of mind; with a prayer to Vishvanatha, please think of
the propriety and possibility, or otherwise, of all that I set forth below
and then oblige me greatly by a reply.
1. I already told you at the outset that I am Ramakrishna's slave, having
laid my body at his feet "with Til and Tulasi leaves", I cannot disregard
his behest. If it is in failure that that great sage laid down his life
after having attained to superhuman heights of Jnana, Bhakti, Love, and
powers, and after having practiced for forty years stern renunciation,
non-attachment, holiness, and great austerities, then where is there
anything for us to count on? So I am obliged to trust his words as the words
of one identified with truth.
2. Now his behest to me was that I should devote myself to the service of
the order of all-renouncing devotees founded by him, and in this I have to
persevere, come what may, being ready to take heaven, hell, salvation, or
anything that may happen to me.
3. His command was that his all-renouncing devotees should group themselves
together, and I am entrusted with seeing to this. Of course, it matters not
if any one of us goes out on visits to this place or that, but these shall
be but visits, while his own opinion was that absolute homeless wandering
suited him alone who was perfected to the highest point. Before that state,
it is proper to settle somewhere to dive down into practice. When all the
ideas of body and the like are dissolved of themselves, a person may then
pursue whatever state comes to him. Otherwise, it is baneful for a
practicing aspirant to be always wandering.
4. So in pursuance cf this his commandment, his group of Sannyasins are now
assembled in a dilapidated house at Baranagore, and two of his lay
disciples, Babu Suresh Chandra Mitra and Babu Balaram Bose, so long provided
for their food and house-rent.
5. For various reasons, the body of Bhagavan Ramakrishna had to be consigned
to fire. There is no doubt that this act was very blamable. The remains of
his ashes are now preserved, and if they be now properly enshrined somewhere
on the banks of the Ganga, I presume we shall be able in some measure to
expiate the sin lying on our head. These sacred remains, his seat, and his
picture are every day worshipped in our Math in proper form; and it is known
to you that a brother-disciple of mine, of Brahmin parentage, is occupied
day and night with the task. The expenses of the worship used also to be
borne by the two great souls mentioned above.
6. What greater regret can there be than this that no memorial could yet be
raised in this land of Bengal in the very neighbourhood of the place where
he lived his life of Sâdhanâ — he by whose birth the race of Bengalees has
been sanctified, the land of Bengal has become hallowed, he who came on
earth to save the Indians from the spell of the worldly glamour of Western
culture and who therefore chose most of his all-renouncing disciples from
university men?
7. The two gentlemen mentioned above had a strong desire to have some land
purchased on the banks of the Ganga and see the sacred remains enshrined on
it, with the disciples living there together; and Suresh Babu had offered a
sum of Rs. 1,000 for the purpose, promising to give more, but for some
inscrutable purpose of God he left this world yesternight! And the news of
Balaram Babu's death is already known to you.
8. Now there is no knowing as to where his disciples will stand with his sacred remains and his seat (and you know well, people here in Bengal are profuse in their professions, but do not stir out an inch in practice). The disciples are Sannyasins and are ready forthwith to depart anywhere their way may lie. But I, their servant, am in an agony of sufferings, and my heart is breaking to think that a small piece of land could not be had in which to install the remains of Bhagavan Ramakrishna.
9. It is impossible with a sum of Rs. 1,000 to secure land and raise a
temple near Calcutta. Some such land would at least cost about five to seven
thousands.
10. You remain now the only friend and patron of Shri Ramakrishna's disciples. In the NorthWestern Province great indeed is your fame, your position, and your circle of acquaintance. I request you to consider, if you feel like it, the propriety of your getting the affair through by raising subscriptions from well-to-do pious men known to you in your province. If you deem it proper to have some shelter erected on the bangs of the Ganga in Bengal for Bhagavan Ramakrishna's sacred remains and for his disciples, I shall with your leave report myself to you, and I have not the slightest qualm to beg from door to door for this noble cause, for the sake of my Lord and his children. Please give this proposal your best thoughts with prayers to Vishvanatha. To my mind, if all these sincere, educated, youthful Sannyasins of good birth fail to dive up to the ideals of Shri Ramakrishna owing to want of an abode and help, then alas for our country!
11. If you ask, "You are a Sannyasin, so why do you trouble over these
desires?" — I would then reply, I am Ramakrishna s servant, and I am willing
even to steal and rob, if by doing so I can perpetuate his name in the land
of his birth and Sâdhanâ (spiritual struggle) and help even a little his
disciples to practice his great ideals. I know you to be my closest in
kinship, and I lay my mind bare to you. I returned to Calcutta for this
reason. I had told you this before I left, and now I leave it to you to do
what you think best.
12. If you argue that it is better to have the plan carried out in some
place like Kashi, my point is, as I have told you, it would be the greatest
pity if the memorial shrine could not be raised in the land of his birth and
Sadhana! The condition of Bengal is pitiable. The people here cannot even
dream what renunciation truly means — luxury and sensuality have been so
much eating into the vitals of the race! May God send renunciation and
unworldliness into this land! They have here nothing to speak of, while the
people of the North-Western Province, specially the rich there as I believe,
have great zeal in noble causes like this. Please send me such reply as you
think best. Gangadhar has not yet arrived today, and may do so tomorrow. I
am so eager to see him again.
Please write to the address given above.
Yours etc.,
VIVEKANANDA.