The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 6/Epistles - Second Series/LXXII Akhandananada
LXXII
(Translated from Bengali)
C/O E. T. STURDY, ESQ.,
HIGH VIEW, CAVERSHAM,
1895.
BELOVED AKHANDANANDA,
I am glad to go through the contents of your letter. Your idea is grand but
our nation is totally lacking in the faculty of organisation. It is this one
drawback which produces all sorts of evil. We are altogether averse to
making a common cause for anything. The first requisite for organisation is
obedience. I do a little bit of work when I feel so disposed, and then let
it go to the dogs — this kind of work is of no avail. We must have plodding
industry and perseverance. Keep a regular correspondence, I mean, make it a
point to write to me every month, or twice a month, what work you are doing
and what has been its outcome. We want here (in England) a Sannyasin
well-versed in English and Sanskrit. I shall soon go to America again, and
he is to work here in my absence. Except Sharat and Shashi — I find no one
else for this task. I have sent money to Sharat and written to him to start
at once. I have requested Rajaji that his Bombay agent may help Sharat in
embarking. I forgot to write — but if you can take the trouble to do it,
please send through Sharat a bag of Mung, gram, and Arhar Dâl, also a little
of the spice called Methi. Please convey my love to Pundit Narayan Das, Mr.
Shankar Lal, Ojhaji, Doctor, and all. Do you think you can get the medicine
for Gopi's eyes here? — Everywhere you find patent medicines, which are all
humbug. Please give my blessings to him and to the other boys. Yajneshwar
has founded a certain society at Meerut and wants to work conjointly with
us. By the bye, he has got a certain paper too; send Kali there, and let him
start a Meerut centre, if he can and, try to have a paper in Hindi. I shall
help a little now and then. I shall send some money when Kali goes to Meerut
and reports to me exactly how matters stand. Try to open a centre at Ajmer.
... Pundit Agnihotri has started some society at Saharanpur. They wrote my a
letter. Please keep in correspondence with them. Live on friendly terms with
all. Work! Work! Go on opening centres in this way. We have them already in
Calcutta and Madras, and it will be excellent if you can start new ones at
Meerut and Ajmer. Go on slowly starting centres at different places like
that. Here all my letters etc., are to be addressed in care of E. T. Sturdy,
Esq., High View, Caversham, Reading, England, and those for America, C/o
Miss Phillips, 19 W. 38 Street, New York. By degrees we must spread the
world over. The first thing needed is obedience. You must be ready to plunge
into fire — then will work be done. ... Form societies dike that at
different villages in Rajputana. There you have a hint.
Yours affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA.