The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 5/Epistles - First Series/XIV Alasinga
XIV
U. S. A,
21st September, 1894.
Dear Alasinga,
. . . I have been continuously travelling from place to place and working
incessantly, giving lectures, holding classes, etc.
I have not been able to write yet for my proposed book. Perhaps I may be
able to take it in hand later on. I have made some nice friends here amongst
the liberal people, and a few amongst the orthodox. I hope to return soon to
India — I have had enough of this country and especially as too much work is
making me nervous. The giving of too many public lectures and constant hurry
have brought on this nervousness. I do not care for this busy, meaningless,
money-making life. So you see, I will soon return. Of course, there is a
growing section with whom I am very popular, and who will like to have me
here all the time. But I think I have had enough of newspaper blazoning and
humbugging of a public life. I do not care the least for it. . . .
There is no hope for money for our project here. It is useless to hope. No
large number of men in any country do good out of mere sympathy. The few who
really give money in the Christian lands often do so through priestcraft and
fear of hell. So it is as in our Bengali proverb, "Kill a cow and make a
pair of shoes out of the leather and give them in charity to a Brahmana". So
it is here, and so everywhere; and then, the Westerners are miserly in
comparison to our race. I sincerely believe that the Asians are the most
charitable race in the world, only they are very poor.
I am going to live for a few months in New York. That city is the head,
hand, and purse of the country. Of course, Boston is called the Brahmanical
city, and here in America there are hundreds of thousands that sympathise
with me. . . . The New York people are very open. I will see what can be
done there, as I have some very influential friends. After all, I am getting
disgusted with this lecturing business. It will take a long time for the
Westerners to understand the higher spirituality, Everything is £. s. d. to
them. If a religion brings them money or health or beauty or long life, they
will all flock to it, otherwise not. . . .
Give to Balaji, G. G., and all of our friends my best love.
Yours with everlasting love,
Vivekananda.