The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 6/Epistles - Second Series/LXIII Shashi
LXIII
(Translated from Bengali)
U.S.A.,
11th April, 1895.
MY DEAR SHASHI,
. . . You write that you have recovered from your illness; but you must
henceforth be very careful. Late dinners or unwholesome food, or living in a
stinking place may bring on a relapse, and make it hard to escape the
clutches of malaria. First of all you should hire a small garden-house — you
may get one for thirty or forty rupees. Secondly, see that cooking and
drinking water be filtered — a bamboo filter of a big size will do. Water is
the cause of all sorts of disease. It is not the clearness or dirtiness of
water, but its being full of disease germs, that causes disease. Let the
water be boiled and filtered. You must all pay attention to your health
first. A cook, a servant, clean beds, and timely meals — these are
absolutely necessary. Please see that all these suggestions be carried out
in toto. . . . The success of your undertakings depends wholly upon your
mutual love. There is no good in store so long as malice and jealousy and
egotism will prevail. ... Kali's pamphlet is very well written and has no
exaggerations. Know that talking ill of others in private is a sin. You must
wholly avoid it. Many things may occur to the mind, but it gradually makes a
mountain of a molehill if you try to express them. Everything is ended if
you forgive and forget. It is welcome news that Shri Ramakrishna's festival
was celebrated with great éclat. You must try so that there is a muster of a
hundred thousand people next year. Put your energies together to start a
magazine. Shyness won't do any more.... He who has infinite patience and
infinite energy at his back, will alone succeed. You must pay special
attention to study. Do you understand? You must not huddle together too many
fools. I shall be glad if you bring together a few real men. Why, I don't
hear even a single one opening his lips. You distributed sweets at the
festival, and there was singing by some parties, mostly idlers. True, but I
don't hear what spiritual food you have given. So long as that nil admirari
attitude is not gone, you will not be able to do anything, and none of you
will have courage. Bullies are always cowards.
Take up everyone with sympathy, whether he believes in Shri Ramakrishna or not. If anybody comes to you for vain dispute, politely withdraw yourselves. ... You must express your sympathy with people of all sects. When these cardinal virtues will be manifested in you, then only you will be able to work with great energy. Otherwise, mere taking the name of the Guru will not do. However, there is no doubt that this year's festival has been a great success, and you deserve special thanks for it; but you must push forward, do you see? What is Sharat doing? Never shall you be able to know anything if you persist in pleading ignorance. ... We want something of a higher tone — that will appeal to the intellect of the learned. It won't do merely to get up musical parties and all that. Not only will this festival be his memorial, but also the central union of an intense propaganda of his doctrines. ... All will come in good time. But at times I fret and stamp like a leashed hound. Onward and forward, my old watchword. I am doing well. No use going back to India in a hurry. Summon all your energies and set yourselves to work heart and soul; that will really be heroic.
Yours affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA.