The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 5/Epistles - First Series/LXXIV Honoured Madam
LXXIV
ॐ तत् सत्
Rose Bank,
The Maharaja Of Burdwan'S House,
Darjeeling,
6th April, 1897.
Honoured Madam,[1]
I feel much obliged for the Bhârati sent by you, and consider myself
fortunate that the cause, to which my humble life has been dedicated, has
been able to win the approbation off highly talented ladies like you.
In this battle of life, men are rare who encourage the initiator off new
thought, not to speak of women who would offer him encouragement,
particularly in our unfortunate land. It is therefore that the approbation
of an educated Bengali lady is more valuable than the loud applause of all
the men of India.
May the Lord grant that many women like you be born in this country, and
devote their lives to the betterment of their motherland!
I have something to say in regard to the article you have written about me
in the Bharati. It is this. It has been for the good of India that religious
preaching in the West has been and will be done. It has ever been my
conviction that we shall not be able to rise unless the Western people come
to our help. In this country no appreciation of merit can yet be found, no
financial strength, and what is most lamentable of all, there is not a bit
of practicality.
There are many things to be done, but means are wanting in this country. We
have brains, but no hands. We have the doctrine of Vedanta, but we have not
the power to reduce it into practice. In our books there is the doctrine of
universal equality, but in work we make great distinctions. It was in India
that unselfish and disinterested work of the most exalted type was preached
but in practice we are awfully cruel, awfully heartless — unable to think of
anything besides our own mass-of-flesh bodies.
Yet it is only through the present state of things that it is possible to
proceed to work. There is no other way. Every one has the power to judge of
good end evil, but he is the hero who undaunted by the waves of Samsâra —
which is full of errors, delusions, and miseries — with one hand wipes the
tears, and with the other, unshaken, shows the path of deliverance. On the
one hand there is the conservative society, like a mass of inert matter; on
the other the restless, impatient, fire-darting reformer; the way to good
lies between the two. I heard in Japan that it was the belief of the girls
of that country that their dolls would be animated if they were loved with
all their heart. The Japanese girl never breaks her doll. O you of great
fortune! I too believe that India will awake again if anyone could love with
all his heart the people of the country — bereft of the grace of affluence,
of blasted fortune, their discretion totally lost, downtrodden,
ever-starved, quarrelsome, and envious. Then only will India awake, when
hundreds of large-hearted men and women, giving up all desires of enjoying
the luxuries of life, will long and exert themselves to their utmost for the
well-being of the millions of their countrymen who are gradually sinking
lower and lower in the vortex of destitution and ignorance. I have
experienced even in my insignificant life that good motives, sincerity, and
infinite love can conquer the world. One single soul possessed of these
virtues can destroy the dark designs of millions of hypocrites and brutes.
My going to the West again is yet uncertain; if I go, know that too will be
for India. Where is the strength of men in this country? Where is the
strength of money? Many men and women of the West are ready to do good to
India by serving even the lowest Chandâlas, in the Indian way, and through
the Indian religion. How many such are there in this country? And financial
strength! To meet the expenses or my reception, the people of Calcutta made
me deliver a lecture and sold tickets! . . . I do not blame nor censure
anybody for this, I only want to show that our well-being is impossible
without men and money coming from the West.
Ever grateful and ever praying to the Lord for your welfare,
Vivekananda.
- Notes
- ↑ Shrimati Sarala Ghoshal — Editor, Bharati