The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 6/Epistles - Second Series/LXXIII Brother Disciples
LXXIII[6]*
(Translated from Bengali)
U.S.A.,
(Summer of?) 1895.
MY DEAR—, (Brother-disciples at the Math.)
The books that Sanyal sent have arrived. I forgot to mention this. Please
inform him about it.
Let me write down something for you all:
1. Know partiality to be the chief cause of all evil. That is to say, if you
show towards any one more love than towards somebody else, rest assured, you
will be sowing the seeds of future troubles.
2. If anybody comes to you to speak ill of any of his brothers, refuse to
listen to him in toto. It is a great sin to listen even. In that lies the
germ of future troubles.
3. Moreover, bear with everyone's shortcomings. Forgive offences by the
million. And if you love all unselfishly, all will by degrees come to love
one another. As soon as they fully understand that the interests of one
depend upon those of others, everyone of them will give up jealousy. To do
something conjointly is not in our very national character. Therefore you
must try to inaugurate that spirit with the utmost care, and wait patiently.
To tell you the truth, I do not find among you any distinction of great or
small: everyone has the capacity to manifest, in times of need, the highest
energy. I see it. Look for instance how Shashi will remain always constant
to his spot; his steadfastness is a great foundation-rock. How successfully
Kali and Jogen brought about the Town Hall meeting; it was indeed a
momentous task! Niranjan has done much work in Ceylon and elsewhere. How
extensively has Sarada travelled and sown seeds of gigantic future works!
Whenever I think of the wonderful renunciation of Hari, about his steadiness
of intellect and forbearance, I get a new access of strength! In Tulasi,
Gupta, Baburam, Sharat, to mention a few, in every one of you there is
tremendous energy. If you still entertain any doubt as to Shri Ramakrishna's
being a jewel-expert, what then is the difference between you and a madman!
Behold, hundreds of men and women of this country are beginning to worship
our Lord as the greatest of all Avataras! Steady! Every great work is done
slowly. ...
He is at the helm, what fear! You are all of infinite strength — how long does it take you to keep off petty jealousy or egoistic ideas! The moment such propensity comes, resign yourselves to the Lord! Just make over your body and mind to His work, and all troubles will be at an end for ever.
There will not be room enough, I see, in the house where you are at present living. A commodious building is needed. That is to say, you need not huddle together in one room. If possible, not more than two should live in the same room. There should be a big hall, where the books may be kept.
Every morning there should be a little reading from the scriptures, which
Kali and others may superintend by turns. In the evening there should be
another class, with a little practice in meditation and Sankirtanas etc. You
may divide the work, and set apart one day for Yoga, a day for Bhakti,
another for Jnâna, and so forth: It will be excellent if you fix a routine
like this, so that outside people also may join in the evening classes. And
every Sunday, from ten in the morning up till night, there should be a
continuous succession of classes and Sankirtanas etc. That is for the
public. If you take the trouble to continue this kind of routine work for
some time, it will gradually make itself easy and smooth. There should be no
smoking in that hall, for which another place must be set apart. If you can
take trouble to bring about this state of things by degrees, I shall think a
great advance is made.
What about a certain magazine that Haramohan was trying to publish? If you can manage to start one, it will indeed be nice.
Yours affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA.