The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 5/Epistles - First Series/XLIII Alasinga
XLIII
U. S. A.,
1st July, 1895.
Dear Alasinga,
I received your missionary book and the Ramnad photos. I have written to the
Raja as well as the Dewan at Mysore. The missionary pamphlet must have
reached here long ago, as the Ramabai circle controversy with Dr. Janes
savoured of it, it seems. Now you need not be afraid of anything. There is
one misstatement in that pamphlet. I never went to a big hotel in this
country, and very few times to any other. At Baltimore, the small hotels,
being ignorant, would not take in a black man, thinking him a negro. So my
host, Dr. Vrooman, had to take me to a larger one, because they knew the
difference between a negro and a foreigner. Let me tell you, Alasinga, that
you have to defend yourselves. Why do you behave like babies? If anybody
attacks your religion, why cannot, you defend it? As for me, you need not be
afraid, I have more friends than enemies here, and in this country one-third
are Christians, and only a small number of the educated care about the
missionaries. Again, the very fact of the missionaries being against
anything makes the educated like it. They are less of a power here now, and
are becoming less so every day. If their attacks pain you, why do you behave
like a petulant child and refer to me? . . . Cowardice is no virtue.
Here I have already got a respectable following. Next year I will organise
it on a working basis, and then the work will be carried on. And when I am
off to India, I have friends who will back me here and help me in India too;
so you need not fear. So long as you shriek at the missionary attempts and
jump without being able to do anything, I laugh at you; you are little
dollies, that is what you are. . . . What can Swami do for old babies!!
I know, my son, I shall have to come and manufacture men out of you. I know
that India is only inhabited by women and eunuchs. So do not fret. I will
have to get means to work there. I do not put myself in the hands of
imbeciles. You need not worry, do what little you can. I have to work alone
from top to bottom. . . . "This Âtman (Self) is not to be reached by
cowards." You need not be afraid for me. The Lord is with me, you defend
yourselves only and show me you can do that; and I will be satisfied. Don't
bother me any more with what any one says about me. I am not waiting to hear
any fool's judgment of me. You babies, great results are attained only by
great patience, great courage, and great attempts. . . . Kidi's mind is
taking periodic somersaults, I am afraid. . . .
The brave alone do great things, not the cowards. Know once for all, you
faithless ones, that I am in the hands of the Lord. So long as I am pure and
His servant, not a hair of my head will be touched. . . . Do something for
the nation, then they will help you, then the nation will be with you. Be
brave, be brave! Man dies but once. My disciples must not be cowards.
Ever yours with love,
Vivekananda.