To Sister Christine
[Postmarked: Saas-Fee]
Switzerland
5th August 1896
Blessed and Beloved,
Surrounded on all sides by eternal snow peaks, sitting on the grass in a beautiful wood, my thoughts go to those I love–
so I write.
I am in Switzerland–constantly on the move–getting a much needed rest. It is a miniature Himalayas, and has the same effect of raising the mind up to the Self and driving away all earthly feelings and ties. I am intensely enjoying it. I feel so, so uplifted. I cannot write, but I wish you will have the same for ever–when your feet do not want, as it were, to touch the material earth–when the soul finds itself floating, as it were, in an ocean of spirituality.
Prof. Max Muller has written in the Nineteenth Century an article on my Master. Read it if you can–August number.I hope you are enjoying this beautiful summer and are perfectly rested after hard work.
My love to all. Blessings to all.
Yours ever with love and blessings,
Vivekananda
P.S. A few Alpine flowers growing almost in the midst of eternal snow I send you, praying that you may attain spiritual hardihood amidst all snows and ice of this life.
V.
C/O. E. T. STURDY, ESQ.,
High View, Caversham, Reading,
5th August, 1896.
DEAR SAHJI, (Lala Badri Sah. The letter was actually written from Switzerland.)
Many thanks for your kind greetings. I have an inquiry to make; if you kindly forward me the information I seek, I would be much obliged.
I want to start a Math at Almora or near Almora rather. I have heard that there was a certain Mr. Ramsay who lived in a bungalow near Almora and that he had a garden round his bungalow. Can’t it be bought? What is the price? If not to be bought, can it be rented?
Do you know of any suitable place near Almora where I can build my monastery with a garden etc.? I would rather like to have a hill all to myself.
Hoping to get an early reply, I remain, with blessings and love to you and all the rest of my friends in Almora,
VIVEKANANDA
To Mr. E. T. Sturdy
GRAND HOTEL,
VALAIS,
SWITZERLAND.
BLESSED AND BELOVED,
. . . I am reading a little, starving a good deal, and practising a good deal more. The strolls in the woods are simply delicious. We are now situated under three huge glaciers, and the scenery is very beautiful.
By the by, whatever scruples I may have had as to the Swiss-lake origin of the Aryans have been taken clean off my mind. The Swiss is a Tartar minus a pigtail. . . .
Yours ever affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA
SWITZERLAND,
5th August, 1896.
BLESSED AND BELOVED,
A letter came this morning from Prof. Max Müller telling me that the article of Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa has been published in The XIX Century August number. Have you read it? He asked my opinion about it. Not having seen it yet, I can’t write anything to him. If you have it, kindly send it to me. Also The Brahmavadin, if any have arrived. Max Müller wants to know about our plans . . . and again about the magazine. He promises a good deal of help and is ready to write a book on Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
I think it is better that you should directly correspond with him about the magazine etc. You will see from his letter which I shall send you as soon as I have replied (after reading The XIX Century) that he is very much pleased with our movement and is ready to help it as much as he can. . . .
Yours with blessings and love,
VIVEKANANDA.
PS. I hope you will consider well the plan for the big magazine. Some money can be raised in America, and we can keep the magazine all to ourselves at the same time. I intend to write to America on hearing about the plan you and Prof. Max Muller decide upon. “A great tree is to be taken refuge in, when it has both fruits and shade. If, however, we do not get the fruit, who prevents our enjoyment of the shade?” So ought great attempts to be made, is the moral.
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