The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 8/Epistles - Fourth Series/LXVIII Blessed and Beloved
LXVIII
To Mr. E. T. Sturdy
228 WEST 39TH STREET,
NEW YORK,
16th January, 1896.
BLESSED AND BELOVED,
Many many thanks for the books. The Sankhya Karika is a very good book, and
the Kurma Purana, though I do not find in it all expected, has a few verses
on Yoga. The words dropped in my last letter were Yoga-Sutra, which I am
translating with notes from various authorities. I want to incorporate the
chapter in Kurma Purana in my notes. I have very enthusiastic accounts of
your classes from Miss MacLeod. Mr. Galsworthy seems to be very much
interested now.
I have begun my Sunday lectures here and also the classes. Both are very
enthusiastically received. I make them all free and take up a collection to
pay the hall etc. Last Sunday's lecture was very much appreciated and is in
the press. I shall send you a few copies next week. It was the outline of
our work.
As my friends have engaged a stenographer (Goodwin), all these class lessons
and public lectures are taken down. I intend to send you a copy of each.
They may suggest you some ideas.
My great want here is a strong man like you, possessing intellect, and
ability, and love. In this nation of universal education, all seem to melt
down into a mediocrity, and the few able are weighed down by the eternal
money-making.
I have a chance of getting a piece of land in the country, and some buildings on it, plenty of trees and a river, to serve as a summer meditation resort. That, of course, requires a committee to look after it in my absence, as also the handling of money and printing and other matters.
I have separated myself entirely from money questions, yet without it the
movement cannot go on. So necessarily I have to make over everything
executive to a committee, which will look after these things in my absence.
Steady work is not in the line of the Americans. The only way they work, is
in a herd. So let them have it. As to the teaching part, my friends will go
over this country from place to place, each one independent, and let them
form independent circles. That is the easiest way to spread. Then, when
there will be sufficient strength, we shall have yearly gatherings to
concentrate our energies.
The committee is entirely executive and it is confined to New York alone. .
. .
Ever yours with love and blessings,
VIVEKANANDA.