The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 8/Epistles - Fourth Series/CVII Rakhal
CVII
To Swami Brahmananda
SRINAGAR, KASHMIR,
30th September, 1897
DEAR RAKHAL,
I received your affectionate letter and also the letter from the Math. I am leaving for the Punjab in two or three days. I have received the foreign mail. The following are my answers to Miss Noble's questions in her letter:
1. Nearly all the branches have been started, but the movement is only just
beginning.
2. Most of the monks are educated. Those that are not are also having
secular education. But above all, to do good, perfect unselfishness is
absolutely necessary. To ensure that, more attention is given to spiritual
exercises than to anything else.
3. Secular educators: We get mostly those who have already educated
themselves. What is needed is training them into our method and building up
of character. The training is to make them obedient and fearless; and the
method is to help the poor physically first and then work up to higher
regions of mentality.
Arts and Industries: This part of the programme alone cannot be begun for
want of funds. The simplest method to be worked upon at present is to induce
Indians to use their own produce and get markets for Indian artware etc. in
other countries. This should be done by persons who are not only not
middlemen themselves, but will devote the entire proceeds of this branch to
the benefit of the workmen.
4. Wandering from place to place will be necessary till "people come to
education". The religious character of the wandering monks will carry with
it a much greater weight than otherwise.
5. All castes are open to our influence. So long the highest only have been worked upon. But since the work department is in full operation in different famine-centres, we are influencing the lower classes more and more.
6. Nearly all the Hindus approve our work, only they are not used to
practical co-operation in such works.
7. Yes, from the very start we are making no distinction in our charities or other good works between the different religions of India.
Reply to Miss N. according to these hints.
See that there is no remissness whatever in the medical treatment of Yogen
— if necessary spend money by drawing on the capital. Did you go and meet
Bhavanath's wife?
If Brahmachari Hariprasanna can come, it will be very helpful. Mr. Sevier
has become very impatient about acquiring a house somewhere; it will be good
if something is done quickly about it! Hariprasanna is an engineer; so he
will be able to do something quickly about it. Also he understands better
about the suitability of places. They (the Seviers) like to have a place
somewhere near about Dehra Dun or Mussoorie; that is to say, the place must
not be too cold and must be habitable throughout the year. So send
Hariprasanna at once straight to Sj. Shyamapada Mukherjee, Medical Hall,
Ambala Cantonment. As soon as I go down to the Punjab, I shall send Mr.
Sevier along with him. I am returning (to the Math) in a trice after a tour
of the Punjab, Karachi, and then via Rajputana, not via Kathiawar and
Gujarat — to Nepal. Tulsi has gone to Madhya Bharat — is it for the
famine-relief work? . . .
My blessings and love to all. I have got the news that Kali has reached New
York; but he has not written any letter. Sturdy writes that his work had
increased so much that people were amazed — and a few persons have also
written me praising him highly. However, there is not so much difficulty in
America; the work will go on somehow or other. Send Shuddhananda and his
brother along with Hariprasanna. Of the party only Gupta and Achyut will
accompany me.
Yours affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA.