To Mrs. Ole Bull
54 W. 33rd Street, New York
25th April, 1895
Dear Mrs. Bull,
The day before yesterday I received a kind note from Miss Farmer including a cheque for a hundred dollars for the Barbar House lectures. She is coming to New York next Saturday. I will of course tell her to put my name in her circulars; and what is more, I cannot go to Greenacre now; I have arranged to go to the Thousand Islands, wherever that may be. There is a cottage belonging to Miss Dutcher, one of my students, and a few of us will be there in rest and peace and seclusion. I want to manufacture a few “Yogis” out of the materials of the classes, and a busy farm like Greenacre is the last place for that, while the other is quite out of the way, and none of the curiosity-seekers will dare go there.
I am very glad that Miss Hamlin took down the names of the 130 persons who come to the Jnana-Yoga class. There are 50 more who come to the Wednesday Yoga class and about 50 more to the Monday class. Mr. Landsberg had all the names; and they will come anyhow, names or no names. . . . If they do not, others will, and so it will go on–the Lord be praised.
Taking down names and giving notices is a big task, no doubt, and I am very thankful to both of them for doing that for me. But I am thoroughly persuaded that it is laziness on my part, and therefore immoral, to depend on others, and always evil comes out of laziness. So henceforth I will do it all myself. . . .
However, I will be only too glad to take in any one of Miss Hamlin’s “right sort of persons”, but unfortunately for me, not one such has as yet turned up. It is the duty of the teacher always to turn the “right sort” out of the most “unrighteous sort” of persons. After all, though I am very, very grateful to the young lady, Miss Hamlin, for the great hope and encouragement she gave me of introducing me to the “right sort of New Yorkers” and for the practical help she has given me, I think I had better do my little work with my own hands. . . .
I am only glad that you have such a great opinion about Miss Hamlin. I for one am glad to know that you will help her, for she requires it. But, mother, through the mercy of Ramakrishna, my instinct “sizes up” almost infallibly a human face as soon as I see it, and the result is this: you may do anything you please with my affairs, I will not even murmur ;–I will be only too glad to take Miss Farmer’s advice, in spite of ghosts and spooks. Behind the spooks I see a heart of immense love, only covered with a thin film of laudable ambition–even that is bound to vanish in a few years. Even I will allow Landsberg to “monkey” with my affairs from time to time; but here I put a full stop. Help from any other persons besides these frightens me. That is all I can say. Not only for the help you have given me, but from my instinct (or, as I call it, inspiration of my Master ), I regard you as my mother and will always abide by any advice you may have for me–but only personally . When you select a medium, I will beg leave to exercise my choice. That is all.
Herewith I send the English gentleman’s letter. I have made a few notes on the margin to explain Hindustani words.
Your obedient son,
Vivekananda
[New York
April 25, 1895]
Dear Mother,
I was away a long time in the country. Came back day before yesterday.
I think the summer coat is in Chicago. If so, will you kindly send it over c/o Miss Phillips, 19 W. 38 Str., New York? It is getting hot here every day.
I will remain in New York till the end of May, at least.
Hoping you are all in perfect health. I remain yours truly,
Vivekananda
54 W. 33 NEW YORK,
25th April, 1895.
DEAR BROTHER,
I was away in the Catskill mountains and it was almost impossible to get a letter regularly posted from where I was — so accept my apology for the delay in offering you my most heartfelt thanks for your letter in the “Eagle”.
It was so scholarly, truthful and noble and withal so permeated with your natural universal love for the good and true everywhere. It is a great work to bring this world into a spirit of sympathy with each other but it should be done no doubt when such brave souls as you still hold your own. Lord help you ever and ever my brother and may you live long to carry on the mighty work you and your society has undertaken.
With my gratitude and love to you and to the members of the Ethical Society.
I remain Yours ever truly,
VIVEKANANDA.
Leave A Comment