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Volume 6 / Epistles - Second Series /
(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." "
— Those
who are the devotees of My devotees are My best devotees."
Yours affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA.