The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 6/Epistles - Second Series/XCVII Sarada
XCVII
(Translated from Bengali)
NEW YORK,
14th April, 1896.
DEAR SARADA,
Glad to hear everything in your letter. I have got news that Sharat arrived
safe. I am in receipt of your letter and the copy of the Indian Mirror. Your
contribution is good, go on writing regularly. ... It is very easy to search
for faults, but the characteristic of a saint lies in looking for merits —
never forget this. ... You need a little business faculty. ... Now what you
want is organisation — that requires strict obedience and division of
labour. I shall write out everything in every particular from England, for
which I start tomorrow. I am determined to make you decent workers
thoroughly organised. ...
The term "Friend" can be used with all. In the English language you have not
that sort of cringing politeness common in Bengali, and such Bengali terms
translated into English become ridiculous. That Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was
God — and all that sort of thing — has no go in countries like this. M— has
a tendency to put that stuff down everybody's throat, but that will make our
movement a little sect. You keep aloof from such attempts; at the same time,
if people worship him as God, no harm. Neither encourage nor discourage. The
masses will always have the person, the higher ones the principle; we want
both. But principles are universal, not persons. Therefore stick to the
principles he taught, let people think whatever they like of his person. ...
Truce to all quarrels and jealousies and bigotry! These will spoil
everything. "But many that are first shall be last; and the last first." "
devotees."
Yours affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA.