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To Sister Christine
The Math, Belur, Dist. Howrah,
23rd January 1902.
My dear Christine,
By this time you must have settled your plans. Don't worry, however, on my account. I only want to see you rested and well rested, wherever you be.
Excuse this rather long delay in writing. Owing to various reasons I could not, but [was] mentally sending you good wishes all along.
Miss [Josephine] MacLeod has arrived with her Japanese friends: Mr. Okakura [Kakuzo], a professor of art, and Mr. Hori, a Brahmacharin. The latter has come to India to study Sanskrit and English. The former came to see India, the Motherland of Japanese culture and art. Well, Mrs. [Ole] Bull and Nivedita are also expected in a few days. As it seems now, this whole party is going to Japan--minus Nivedita. She remains here to work.
Now, I am going to try my hand in Japan and, if possible, in China. Oh, how I wish you were coming with Nivedita to make one of the party to Japan! Yet, do not put yourself to unnecessary trouble for that. There is Japan, and there is the U.S., after all, where we meet. You will only break yourself in trying to "hustle up". No Hurry, No Worry. I am rather anxious in not hearing from you for weeks. I pray you are not ill, anyway.
To Mother have I given you over. She protects Her own, ever and ever, I have no fear.
With all love and blessings,
Vivekananda.
To Miss Josephine MacLeod
GOPAL LAL VILLA, BENARAS CANTONMENT
7th Feb. 1902.
MY DEAR JOE —
We have safely reached Benaras, and Mr. Okakura [Kakuzo] has already done Benaras. He goes to see Sarnath (the old Buddhistic place) today and starts on his tour tomorrow.
He has asked Niranjan [Swami Niranjanananda] to accompany him and he has consented.
Kanay [Nirbhayananda] has supplied him with everything he asked for — and he asks me also to send you the accounts. This, on the other page.
I hope Nivedita and Mrs. [Ole] Bull have safely arrived. I am rather better than at Buddha Gaya. This house is nice — well furnished and has a good many rooms and parlours. There is a big garden all round and beautiful roses — and gigantic trees. It is rather cooler here than at Gaya. There was no hitch to our friends being admitted into the chief temple and [allowed to] touch the Sign of Shiva and to worship. The Buddhists, it seems, are always admitted.
With all love and welcome to Mrs. Bull and Nivedita — if they have arrived — and all to you,
VIVEKANANDA
(“P.” stands for pie-s, twelve of them making one Anna (As.) and sixteen annas making one rupee (Rs.).)
To Swami Swarupananda
GOPAL LAL VILLA,
BENARES (VARANASI) CANTONMENT,
9th February, 1902.
MY DEAR SWARUP(ÂNANDA),
. . . In answer to Châru's letter, tell him to study the Brahma-Sutras himself. What does he mean by the Brahma-Sutras containing references to Buddhism? He means the Bhâshyas, of course, or rather ought to mean, and Shankara was only the last Bhâshyakâra (commentator). There are references, though in Buddhistic literature, to Vedanta, and the Mahâyâna school of Buddhism is even Advaitistic. Why does Amara Singha, a Buddhist, give as one of the names of Buddha — Advayavâdi ? Charu writes, the word Brahman does not occur in the Upanishads! Quelle bêtise!
I hold the Mahayana to be the older of the two schools of Buddhism.
The theory of Mâyâ is as old as the Rik-Samhitâ. The Shvetâshvatara Upanishad contains the word "Maya" which is developed out of Prakriti. I hold that Upanishad to be at least older than Buddhism.
I have had much light of late about Buddhism, and I am ready to prove:
(1) That Shiva-worship, in various forms, antedated the Buddhists, that the Buddhists tried to get hold of the sacred places of the Shaivas but, failing in that, made new places in the precincts just as you find now at Bodh-Gayâ and Sârnâth (Varanasi).
(2) The story in the Agni Purâna about Gayâsura does not refer to Buddha at all — as Dr. Rajendralal will have it — but simply to a pre-existing story.
(3) That Buddha went to live on Gayâshirsha mountain proves the pre-existence of the place.
(4) Gaya was a place of ancestor-worship already, and the footprint-worship the Buddhists copied from the Hindus.
(5) About Varanasi, even the oldest records go to prove it as the great place of Shiva-worship; etc., etc.
Many are the new facts I have gathered in Bodh-Gaya and from Buddhist literature. Tell Charu to read for himself, and not be swayed by foolish opinions.
I am rather well here, in Varanasi, and if I go on improving in this way, it will be a great gain.
A total revolution has occurred in my mind about the relation of Buddhism and Neo-Hinduism. I may not live to work out the glimpses, but I shall leave the lines of work indicated, and you and your brethren will have to work it out.
Yours with all blessings and love,
VIVEKANANDA.
To Mrs. Ole Bull
Gopal Lal Villa
Benares (Varanasi) Cantonment
10th February, 1902
Welcome to India once more, dear mother and daughter. A copy of a Madras journal that I received through the kindness of Joe delighted me exceedingly, as the reception Nivedita had in Madras was for the good of both Nivedita and Madras. Her speech was indeed beautiful.
I hope you are resting well after your long journey, and so is Nivedita. I wish it so much that you should go for a few hours to a few villages west of Calcutta to see the old Bengali structures made of wood, bamboo, cane, mica, and grass.
These are the bungalows, most artistic. Alas! the name is travestied nowadays by every pigsty appropriating the name.
In old days a man who built a palace still built a bungalow for the reception of guests. The art is dying out. I wish I could build the whole of Nivedita's School in that style. Yet it is good to see a few that yet remained, at least one.
Brahmananda will arrange for it, and you have only to take a journey of a few hours.
Mr. Okakura has started on his short tour. He intends to visit Agra, Gwalior, Ajanta, Ellora, Chittore, Udaipur, Jaipur, and Delhi.
A very well-educated rich young man of Varanasi, with whose father we had a long-standing friendship, came back to this city yesterday. He is especially interested in art, and spending purposely a lot of money in his attempts to revive dying Indian arts. He came to see me only a few hours after Mr. Okakura left. He is just the man to show him artistic India (i.e. what little is left), and I am sure he will be much benefited by Okakura's suggestions. Okakura just found a common terracotta water-vessel here used by the servants. The shape and the embossed work on it simply charmed him, but as it is common earthenware and would not bear the journey, he left a request with me to have it reproduced in brass. I was at my wit's end as to what to do. My young friend comes a few hours after, and not only undertakes to have it done, but offers to show a few hundreds of embossed designs in terracotta infinitely superior to the one Okakura fancied.
He also offers to show us old painting in that wonderful old style. Only one family is left in Varanasi who can paint after the old style yet. One of them has painted a whole hunting scene on a pea, perfect in detail and action!
I hope Okakura will come to this city on his return and be this gentleman's guest and see a bit of what is left.
Niranjan has gone with Mr. Okakura, and as he is a Japanese, they don't object to his going into any temple. It seems that the Tibetans and the other Northern Buddhists have been coming here to worship Shiva all along.
They allowed him to touch the sign of Shiva and worship. Mrs. Annie Besant tried once, but, poor woman, although she bared her feet, put on a Sari, and humiliated herself to the dust before the priests, she was not admitted even into the compound of the temple. The Buddhists are not considered non-Hindus in any of our great temples. My plans are not settled; I may shift from this place very soon.Shivananda and the boys send you all their welcome, regards, and love.
I am, as ever, your most affectionate son
Vivekananda
To Sister Nivedita
BENARES (VARANASI),
12th February, 1902.
May all powers come unto you! (Sister Nivedita) May Mother Herself be your hands and mind! It is immense power — irresistible — that I pray for you, and, if possible, along with it infinite peace. . . .
If there was any truth in Shri Ramakrishna, may He take you into His leading, even as He did me, nay, a thousand times more!
VIVEKANANDA.
To Swami Brahmananda
(Translated from Bengali)
GOPAL LAL VILLA,
BENARES (VARANASI) CANTONMENT,
12th February 1902.
MY DEAR RAKHAL,
I was glad to get all the detailed news from your letter. Regarding Nivedita's School, I have written to her what I have to say. My opinion is that she should do what she considers to be best.
Don't ask my opinion on any other matter either. That makes me lose my temper. Just do that work for me — that is all. Send money, for at present only a few rupees are left.
Kanai (Nirbhayananda) lives on Mâdhukari (Cooked food obtained by begging from several houses.), does his Japa at the bathing ghat, and comes and sleeps here at night; Nyedâ does a poor man's work and comes and sleeps here at night. "Uncle" and Niranjan have gone to Agra. I may get their letter today.
Continue doing your work as the Lord guides. Why bother about the opinion of this man and that? My love to all.
Yours affectionately.
VIVEKANANDA
To Mrs. Alice (Shanti) Hansbrough
Benaras
14 Feb. 1902
My dear Mrs. Hansbrough,
I am eternally indebted to you for what you did for me in the past, and infinitely more now for what you are doing for Turiyananda.
A gloom came over the Math when news reached Calcutta of his severe illness. Now, I hope, he has recovered completely, and I will be so glad to get the news from you.
It seems the American climate does not suit him. In that case it will be better for him to come over to India whenever he thinks fit.
In all probability I am going to Japan in a month or two. Ramakrishnananda accompanies me. Turiyananda may come over to Japan and I go to America. "Mother" knows best, however, and we obey.
I am just now in Benaras for a few days. All letters should, however, be addressed to the Belur Math.
Kindly convey my best love to Turiyananda and to yourself, the holy family and the other friends.
Ever yours in the Lord,
Vivekananda
PS. Let Turiyananda take rest all the time now. He must not work at all till I reach Japan or America.
To Miss Josephine MacLeod
GOPAL LAL VILLA
BENARAS CANTONMENT
14 February 1902.
DEAR JOE —
I received a note yesterday from Mr. Okakura [Kakuzo]. They have seen Agra on their way to Gwalior. They must be there now.
The wire he sent to Japan was to Mr. [Tokuno] Oda to come immediately. There was a work. "Six" in it also.
It is quite cool here even now — and will remain so for this month at least. Is it getting warm in Calcutta?
I hope Mrs. [Ole] Bull and Nivedita are getting well rested after that tremendous journey.
I am so so.
The boys all send love.
Ever Yours with love and blessings,
VIVEKANANDA.
To Swami Brahmananda
(Translated from Bengali)
GOPAL LAL VILLA,
BENARES (VARANASI) CANTONMENT,
18th February, 1902.
MY DEAR RAKHAL,
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 (Ram Chandra Datta, a disciple of Shri Ramakrishna)? 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" (Mr. Okakura was emdearingly so called. "Kura" approximating to "Khurhâ" in Bengali which means uncle; Swamiji out of fun calls him uncle.) 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.
To Swami Brahmananda
(Translated from Bengali)
GOPAL LAL VILLA,
BENARES (VARANASI) CANTONMENT,
21st February, 1902.
MY DEAR RAKHAL,
I received a letter from you just now. If mother and grandmother desire to come, send them over. It is better to get away from Calcutta now when the season of plague is on. There is wide-spread plague in Allahabad; I do not know if it will spread to Varanasi this time . . . . Tell Mrs. Bull from me that a tour to Ellora and other places involves a difficult journey, and it is now very hot. Her body is so tired that it is not proper to go on a tour at present. It is several days since I received a letter from "Uncle" (Mr. Okakura was emdearingly so called. "Kura" approximating to "Khurhâ" in Bengali which means uncle; Swamiji out of fun calls him uncle.). The last news was that he had gone to Ajanta. Mahant also has not replied, perhaps he will do so with the reply to Raja Pyari Mohan's letter. . . .
Write me in detail about the matter of the Nepal Minister. Give my special love and blessings to Mrs. Bull, Miss MacLeod, and all others. My love and greetings to you, Baburam (Swami Premananda), and all others. Has Gopal Dada (Swami Advaitananda) got the letter? Kindly look after the goat a bit.
Yours affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA.
PS. All the boys here send you their respectful salutations.
To Swami Brahmananda
(Translated from Bengali)
GOPAL LAL VILLA,
BENARES (VARANASI) CANTONMENT,
24th February, 1902.
This morning I got a small American parcel sent by you. (Swami Brahmananda) I have received no letter, neither the registered one you refer to nor any other. Whether the Nepalese gentleman came and what happened — I have not been able to know anything at all about it. To write a simple letter so much trouble and so much delay! . . . Now I shall be relieved if I get the accounts. That also I get who knows after how many months! . . .
Yours affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA
To Sister Nivedita
GOPAL LAL VILLA,
BENARAS CANTONMENT,
4th March 1902.
MY DEAR MARGO [MARGOT],
It is night now, and I can hardly sit up or write, yet still feel duty bound to write to you this letter, fearing lest it becomes my last, it may put others to trouble.
My condition is not at all serious, but it may become [so] any time; and I don't know what is meant by a low fever that almost never leaves me and the difficulty of breathing.
Well, I sent Christina [Greenstidel] £100 from Mrs. [Charlotte] Sevier for a travel to India, as she lost her mother at that time. Her last letter informs me that she sails on February 15th. In that case, her reaching India is very near. I expect, of course, some information as to the port and steamer next week. In case I pass away, which I would like very much to do in this city of Shiva, do you open her letters directed to me, receive the girl, and send her back home. If she has no money to go back, give her a passage — even if you have to beg.
I have spent the little money I brought from Europe in feeding my mother and paying her debts. What little remains I cannot touch, as that is the expense for the pending lawsuit.
In case I rally, I will inform you of the time of her arrival, and, in that case, you will have to see that she comes in safe to some station in Bareilly, where I [will] meet her. And she is to be the guest of Mrs. [Charlotte] Sevier. I am also going to take another chance in Almora.
Ramakrishnananda came a few weeks before I came away, and the first thing he did was to lay down at my feet 400 Rs. he had collected in so many years of hard work!!! It was the first time such a thing has happened in my life. I can scarcely suppress my tears. Oh, Mother!! Mother! There is not all gratitude, all love, all manliness dead!!! And, dear child, one is enough — one seed is enough to reforest the world.
Well, that money is in deposit in the Math. I never mean to touch a penny of that. When I asked Ramakrishnananda to give that money to his people, he replied he did not care a hang to give to anybody except me and was only sorry he could scrape that little in four years! Well, if I pass away, see that 400 Rs. is paid back — every rupee to him. Lord bless you and Ramakrishnananda.
I am quite satisfied with my work. To have left two true souls is beyond the ambition of the greatest.
Ever your loving father,
VIVEKANANDA.
To Sister Christine
The Math, Belur,
Dist. Howrah, Bengal,
30th March 1902.
My dear Christine,
You know how welcome you are--I need not express it. This is a land where expressions are studiously subdued. Margot [Sister Nivedita] and Joe [Miss Josephine MacLeod] have already written and made arrangements at Bombay. I expect and wait for you here in Calcutta. I wish I could be in Bombay to receive you, but all our wishes are not to be fulfilled.
Come over straight; only take great, great care of the heat by protecting the back of the head.
The trains here are not so safe as in your country, so have a little care of your things during night travel.
If you feel tired, take rest in Bombay. Mrs. [Ole] Bull, Joe and Margot are anxiously awaiting you, and so is
Vivekananda.
To Mrs. Ole Bull
[The Math, P.O. Belur, Howrah,
March (?) 1902]
Dear Mother,
I am glad Chinnu has arrived. Any hour you like will suit [me] for your coming tomorrow. But it is ferocious heat here from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
I would, therefore, suggest that you start after breakfast and remain the day here and have some Bengalee fish lunch, and go back in the evening.
I insist on your taking a cab here and back. A cab to come and go costs quite as much or less than a boat, and there is no change [of transportation]. If the cabby does not understand Belur, tell him to go to a place two miles south of Bally. He must know Bally, and then let him ask his way to the Math.
One such drenching and capsizing experience as Mr. Okakura [Kakuzo] had the other day will unsettle your nerves for days; and we expect such rough weather every evening this month. The land route is nearer, easier, and cheaper from where you are. I have also instructed your servant, the bearer of the letter.
Ever your Son,
Vivekananda.
To Miss Josephine MacLeod
THE MATH
2nd April 1902
MY DEAR JOE —
The telegram is already gone, and I expect you will fill all arrangements there.
The Dak bungalows en route to Mayavati provide no food, nor have they cooks.
Provisions have to be taken at Kathgodam and arrangements made.
If you find any difficulty, go straight to Almora and make your arrangements at leisure. The Dak bungalows on the way to Almora provide food and in Almora there is a nice Dak bungalow.
Hoping everything will come your way, as it always does — (except Grandpa's health).
Yours affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA
I like Mr. [Tokuno] Oda much — he means business.
V.
To Josephine MacLeod
THE MATH,
21st April, 1902.
DEAR JOE,
It seems the plan of going to Japan seems to have come to nought. Mrs. Bull is gone, you are going. I am not sufficiently acquainted with the Japanese.
Sadananda has accompanied the Japanese to Nepal along with Kanai. Christine could not start earlier, as Margot could not go till the end of this month.
I am getting on splendidly, they say, but yet very weak and no water to drink. Anyhow the chemical analysis shows a great improvement. The swelling about the feet and the complaints have all disappeared.
Give my infinite love to Lady Betty and Mr. Leggett, to Alberta and Holly — the baby has my blessings from before birth and will have for ever.
How did you like Mayavati? Write me a line about it.
With everlasting love,
VIVEKANANDA.
To Sister Christine
The Math, Belur,
Dist. Howrah,
15th May 1902.
My dear Christine,
So glad to learn you like Mayavati. The heat here has come in earnest, and no rain. I drink very little water though.
I have given up all idea of going to Mayavati or Almora. I bear the heat well, but the rains here are to be avoided. I will remove [myself] to somewhere else then.
No news from Calcutta. I am in a hurry. Write me the details of whatever you see or feel there--about men and things.
Yours with all love,
Vivekananda.
To Mme. Emma Calv?
[This letter of condolence was written upon the death of Mme. Calv's father and enclosed in a letter to Miss Josephine Mac-Leod.]
The Math, Belur
Howrah District
Bengal, India
the 15th May 1902
My dear Mademoiselle,
With great sorrow I learn the sad bereavement that has come upon you.
These blows must come upon us all. They are in the nature of things, yet they are so hard to bear.
The force of association makes out of this unreal world a reality; and the longer the company, the more real seems the shadow. But the day comes when the unreal goes to the unreal, and, ah, how sad to bear.
Yet that which is real, the Soul, is ever with us, omnipresent. Blessed is the person who has seen the real in this world of vanishing shadows.
I hope, dear Mademoiselle, you have greatly improved in health since our last meeting in Egypt.
May the Lord always shower His choicest blessings on you is the everlasting prayer of
Vivekananda
To Josephine MacLeod
THE MATH,
BELUR, HOWRAH,
15th May, 1902.
DEAR JOE,
I send you the letter to Madame Calvé.
. . .
I am somewhat better, but of course far from what I expected. A great idea of quiet has come upon me. I am going to retire for good — no more work for me. If possible, I will revert to my old days of begging.
All blessings attend you, Joe; you have been a good angel to me.
With everlasting love,
VIVEKANANDA
To Sister Christine
The Math, Belur, Dist. Howrah,
27th May 1902.
My dear Christine,
I am sorry I could not visit the mountains this time. My health, though not improved as much as I [had] wished, is not bad. The liver has been benefited--[that] is a great gain. The rains will commence very soon in the hills. So it is useless for me to take all the trouble of that terrible route.
I am so happy to learn the mountains are doing you good. Eat a lot, sleep as much as you can, and get plump. Stuff yourself till you get plump or you burst.
So the place did not suit Mr. Okakura [Kakuzo]--why? There must have been something to annoy him very much that he left the place so abruptly. Did he not like the scenery? Was it not sublime enough for him? Or the Japanese do not like sublimity at all? They only like beauty.
One of the boys writes that the little boy is getting disobedient etc. Mrs. Sevier wants me to take him down. So I do. I have asked Sadananda and another monk (whom I want for work here) to go to Almora and wait for the monsoon, and when it breaks, to come down.
If you feel you are becoming the least burdensome to Mrs. Sevier, write me immediately. It would be a sin to put further pressure on her--she does so much for me. However, she likes you very much and writes that you look be-au-ti-ful in saris
.I have just now two kids and three lambs added to the family. There was one more kid, but he got himself drowned in the yellow fish tank. How is Margot? Is she still there, or gone away with Mr. Okakura? How is she pulling on with the boys?
What do you do the whole day? How do you pass the day? Write me all details, and frequently; but do not expect long letters from me often.
Give my love to Mrs. Sevier, to Margot and the rest, and you may take a few spoonfuls, if you like,
with only this,
Vivekananda.
PS--Have an eye on the little chap. The boys are already jealous of him. They did spoil another boy that way before.
V.
To Sister Christine
The Math, Belur, Dist. Howrah,
14th June 1902.
My dear Christine,
Your letters had to wait a few days, as I was out of town in a village. 175 Well, many thanks for all the information I got. Mr. Okakura [Kakuzo] has been to the Math, but I was away. He will be in Calcutta a few weeks more and then goes to Bombay. He intends taking a house near the city to learn intimately the customs of Bengalees. I am so glad to learn Margo's [Sister Nivedita's] intention to stop at Mayavati longer. She really requires good rest, and she had none in Europe, I am sure of that. If she were amenable to my advice as of old, I would take away every book and every scrap of paper from her, make her walk some, eat a lot and sleep a lot more. As to talking, I would have the merriest conversation all the while.
I have a beautiful letter from Mrs. Sevier, and [am] so happy to learn that she loves you more and more. But plumpness is the criterion, mon amie [my friend], for a' [all] that.
So there was a great flutter in our dovecote owing to my letters, but things must have assumed their old form by this time. The boy, my nephew, is going to be sometime yet in the Ashrama; make him talk English with a good accent--do. No foreign language can be learnt properly unless you talk in it from childhood.
Mr. Bose 176 is still there, I hope; and you must have liked him immensely. He is a man, a brick. Tender him my best regards, will you?
Have you any water in the lakes now? Do you get the snows clearer? It has been raining all through this summer here. We had very few burning days, only a number of stuffy ones. Our rains also have nearly set in. In a week the deluge will commence in earnest.
As for me, I am much stronger than before; and when seven miles of jolting in a bullock-cart and railway travel of thirty-four miles did not bring back the dropsy to the feet, I am sure it is not going to return.
But anyway, it is the Math that suits me best just now.
With all love,
Vivekananda.
To Mrs. Ole Bull
The Math
14th June, 1902
Dear Dhira Mata,
. . . In my opinion, a race must first cultivate a great respect for motherhood, through the sanctification and inviolability of marriage, before it can attain to the ideal of perfect chastity. The Roman Catholics and the Hindus, holding marriage sacred and inviolate, have produced great chaste men and women of immense power. To the Arab, marriage is a contract or a forceful possession, to be dissolved at will, and we do not find there the development of the idea of the virgin or the Brahmacharin. Modern Buddhism--having fallen among races who had not yet come up to the evolution of marriage--has made a travesty of monasticism. So until there is developed in Japan a great and sacred ideal about marriage (apart from mutual attraction and love), I do not see how there can be great monks and nuns. As you have come to see that the glory of life is chastity, so my eyes also have been opened to the necessity of this great sanctification for the vast majority, in order that a few lifelong chaste powers may be produced. . . .
I wanted to write many things, but the flesh is weak . . . "Whosoever worships me, for whatsoever desire, I meet him with that." . . .
Vivekananda
To Sister Christine
The Math, Belur, Dist. Howrah,
15th June 1902.
Dear Christine,
Just now received your note. I am quite easy in my mind so long [as] you live with Mrs. [Charlotte] Sevier at Mayavati. You know, anxiety is one thing I must avoid to recover. I will be very anxious if you are in Calcutta, at Baghbazar. I am slowly recovering. Stay with Mrs. Sevier as long as you can. Don't come down with Margot [Sister Nivedita].
With love,
Vivekananda.
To Sister Christine
The Math, Belur, Dist. Howrah,
21st June 1902.
My dear Christine,
You have not the least cause to be anxious. I am getting on anyhow and am quite strong. As to diet, I find I have to restrict myself and not follow the prescription of my doctor to eat anything I like. The pills continue, however. Will you ask the boys if they can get "Amalaki" [Emblic myrobalan] fruits in the place now? We cannot get them in the plains now. They are rather sour and puckery eaten raw; but make marmalade of whole [ones]--delicious. Then they are the best things for fermentation I ever get.
No anxiety on the score of Marie Louise's 177 arrival in Calcutta. She has not yet made any noise.
Things go on the same. I am trying to go to Monghyr--a place near Calcutta and said to be very salubrious.
We will think of your coming to Baghbazar after Nivedita has fairly started; till then keep quiet and lay on food.
With all love to yourself, the boys and Mother [Mrs. Charlotte Sevier],
Vivekananda.
PS--I am laying on adipose tissues fast--especially about the abdominal regions: "It is fearful to see!"
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