From Epistles – First Series of Volume 5 of The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda

(Translated from Bengali)

Gopal Lal Villa,
Benares (Varanasi) Cantonment,
18th February, 1902.

My Dear Rakhal, (Swami Brahmananda.)

You must have received by this time my letter of yesterday containing an acknowledgment of the money. The main object of this letter is to write about —— . You should go and meet him as soon as you get this letter. . . . Get a competent doctor and have the disease diagnosed properly. Now where is Vishnu Mohini, the eldest daughter of Ram Babu?[1] She has recently been widowed. . . .

Anxiety is worse than the disease. Give a little money — whatever is needed. If in this hell of a world one can bring a little joy and peace even for a day into the heart of a single person, that much alone is true; this I have learnt after suffering all my life; all else is mere moonshine. . . .

Reply very soon. “Uncle”[2] and Niranjan have written a letter from Gwalior. . . Here it is now becoming hot gradually. This place was cooler than Bodh-Gaya. . . . I was very pleased to hear that the Saraswati-Puja was celebrated by Nivedita with great success. If she wants to open the school soon, let her do so. Readings from the sacred books, worship, study — see that all these are being maintained. My love to all.

Yours affectionately,

Vivekananda.


Notes

  1. Ram Chandra Datta, a disciple of Shri Ramakrishna.
  2. Mr. Okakura was endearingly so called. “Kura” approximating to “Khurhâ” in Bengali which means uncle ; Swamiji out of fun calls him uncle