The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 6/Epistles - Second Series/CXXV Shuddhananda
CXXV
(Translated from Sanskrit)
ALMORA,
1st June, 1897.
DEAR SHUDDHANANDA,
Glad to know from your letter that all are doing well there, and to go
through the news in detail. I too am in better health; the rest you will
know from Dr. Shashi Bhushan. Let the teaching go on for the present in the
method revised by Brahmananda, and if any changes ar needed in future, have
them done. But it should never be lost sight of that this must be done with
the consent of all.
I am now living in a garden belonging to a merchant situated a little to the
north of Almora. Before me are the snow-peaks of the Himalayas looking, in
the reflection of the sun, like a mass of silver, a delight to the heart. By
taking free air, regular diet, and plenty of exercise, I have grown strong
and healthy in body. But I hear the Yogananda is very ill. I am inviting him
to come here But then, he fears the mountain air and water. I wrote to him
today, saying, "Stay in this garden for some day' and if you find your
illness shows no improvement, you may go to Calcutta." He will do as he
pleases.
At Almora, every evening Achyutananda gathers the people together and reads
to them the Gita and other Shâstras. Many residents of the town, as also
soldiers from the cantonment, come there daily. I learn also that he is
appreciated by all.
The Bengali interpretation that you have given of the Shloka
interpretation in question is this: "When (the land) is flooded with water,
what is the use of drinking water?" If the law of nature be such that when a
land is flooded with water, drinking it is useless, that through certain air
passages or through any other recondite way people's thirst may be allayed,
then only can this novel interpretation be relevant, otherwise not. It is
Shankara whom you should follow. Or you may explain it in this way: As, even
when whole tracts are flooded with water, small pools are also of great use
to the thirsty (that is to say, just a little water suffices him, and he
says, as it were, "Let the vast sheet of water be, even a little of water
will satisfy my object."), of identical use are the whole Vedas to a learned
Brahmin. As even when the land is overflooded, one's concern lies in
drinking the water and no more, so in all the Vedas illumination alone is
the concern.
Here is another interpretation which hits better the meaning the author
wishes to convey: Even when the land is overflooded, it is only that water
which is drinkable and salutary, that people seek for, and no other kind.
There are various kinds of water, which differ in quality and properties —
even though the land be flooded over — according to the differences in
property of their substratum, the soil. Likewise a skilful Brahmin, too,
will, for the quenching of the worldly thirst, choose from that sea of words
known as the Vedas, which is flooded over with diverse courses of knowledge,
that which alone will be of potence to lead to liberation. And it is the
knowledge of the Brahman which will do this.
With blessing and good wishes.
Yours,
VIVEKANANDA.