From Epistles-Second Series of Volume 6 of The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda
CXXXVI
(Translated from Bengali)
MURREE,
10th October, 1897.
MY DEAR AKHANDANANDA,
I am very glad to receive your letter. You need not make a big plan for the present, but do only what is possible under existing circumstances. Gradually the way will open to you. We must certainly have the orphanage, no hesitating in that. We must not leave the girls in the lurch either. But then we must have a lady superintendent for an orphanage of girls. I believe Mother will be a very good hand for that. Or engage for this task some aged widow of the village who has no issue. And there must be separate places for the boys and girls. Captain Sevier is ready to send you money to help in this. Nedou’s Hotel, Lahore — that is his address. If you write to him, write the words, “To wait arrival”, on the letter. I am soon going to Rawalpindi, tomorrow or the day after; then I visit Lahore and other places via Jammu, and return to Rajputana via Karachi etc.
I am doing well.
Yours,
VIVEKANANDA.
PS. You must admit Mohammedan boys, too, but never tamper with their religion. The only thing you will have to do is to make separate arrangements for their food etc., and teach them so that they may be moral, manly, and devoted to doing good to others. This indeed is religion.
Shelve your intricate philosophical speculations for the present. In our country we at present need manhood and kindness. ” [136_akhandananda_01.jpg] — The Lord is the Essence of unutterable love.” But instead of saying ” say, ” [136_akhandananda_03.jpg] — He is ever manifest as Love in all beings.” What other God — the creation of your mind — are you then going to worship! Let the Vedas, the Koran, the Puranas, and all scriptural lumber rest now for some time — let there be worship of the visible God of Love and Compassion in the country. All idea of separation is bondage, that of non-differentiation is Mukti. Let not the words of people dead-drunk with worldliness terrify you. ” [136_akhandananda_04.jpg] — Be fearless” “Ignore the ordinary critics as worms!” Admit boys of all religions — Hindu, Mohammedan, Christian, or anything; but begin rather gently — I mean, see that they get their food and drink a little separately, and teach them only the universal side of religion.
Be mad over this, and strike others with this madness! This life has no other end. Preach His name, let His teachings penetrate the world to the very bone. Never forget. Repeat this Mantra in your heart of hearts unceasingly, as you go the round of your daily duties.
Yours,