108, There was nothing ... I am afraid
Ms. Henrietta Muller was a major contributor to the purchase of the land for the Belur Math. On 15th May 1899, the American Newspaper Nagautuck Daily News published an item quoting a Mumbai newspaper her as saying that she is face to face with the unavoidable conclusion that it is utterly rotten and corrupt from beginning to end and full of danger to the unhappy people who place their faith in it.
Ms. Henrietta Muller was a major contributor to the purchase of the land for the Belur Math. On 15th May 1899, the American Newspaper Nagautuck Daily News published an item quoting a Mumbai newspaper her as saying that she is face to face with the unavoidable conclusion that it is utterly rotten and corrupt from beginning to end and full of danger to the unhappy people who place their faith in it.
In this connection, pl see review #65 by clicking the label #65 or the following link: http://vivekanandayb.blogspot.com/search/label/%23065.
The report of the Mumbai Newspaper is not traceable. Swami Vivekananda did not reply to it. Around this period: On May 10, 1899 he wrote to Ms. Christina Greenstidel that his problem was bad assimilation of food and nervous exhaustion. He said that he was nervous. On June 21, 1899 he sailed to England from Calcutta. It is not clear, what happened to Ms. Muller (whether she left to England from Bombay itself or whether she was in India). There is no indication of Vivekananda of having enquiring about what happened to his principal donor.
IF THERE IS NOTHING, WHY AFRAID TO REPLY?
Swamiji wrote to Mrs. Ole Bull from Los Angeles, on Feb. 15, 1900.
"There was nothing of note inside the bundle of papers sent by Miss Müller. I did not write her, not knowing her address. Then again, I am afraid."
BLOGGER'S VIEW
It is not clear, what this bundle did contain. Though Swamiji took an excuse of not knowing the address of Miss Muller for not replying to her, why was he afraid of replying her?
Same day he wrote to Ms. Margaret Noble (Sister Nivedita):
"... There was a bundle of English newspapers from England with a line on the envelope expressing good wishes for me and signed, F.H.M. Nothing important was in those, however. I would have written a letter to Miss Müller, but I do not know the address; then I was afraid to frighten her ..."
BLOGGER'S VIEW
"F.H.M." refers to F Henrietta Muller. Why was Vivekananda afraid of frightening Ms. Muller? Why should he frighten her at all if there were nothing important in the bundle? Not knowing the address of Ms. Muller seems to be only a pretext for not replying.
OTHER RELEVANT THINGS WHICH MIGHT HAVE SPOILED THE THINGS
Swamiji wrote to Mr. E.T. Sturdy (Sanskrit scholar in London, who published Raja YOga in England) from New York in Nov. 1899 during second visit:
"... The next memory is of the house on St. George's Road — you and Miss Muller at the head. My poor brother was ill there and Miss Müller drove him away. ..."
The relevant period was around July 1896, in England (first visit). It is not clear why Miss Muller drove away Vivekananda's sick brother. If she were really cruel, she would not have stayed in India from 1897 to 1899 and helped in buying the Belur Math land.
Comments
It is very sad to see someone devote his entire time and energy to mudslinging the character of someone who died over a century ago. Even if it is admitted that Swami Vivekananda did not lead a great life (I am far from making that admission, please don't misunderstand), it seems that the only 'net' result that would be achieved by this carefully researched attempt at tarnishing this character is just contributing a few more negative ideas and thoughts to the minds of people who didn't have them. If your real intention is indeed to 'help' people and society rather than hurt, you are choosing the wrong way. Of course, if your intention is something negative, probably you are doing a good job.
If you read letters of Swami Vivekananda then these will be clear.
Ms. Mueller gave her interview to the Mumbai Newspaper in 1899. If anybody can trace out that Mumbai Newspaper and the interview, more truth will come out.
After the 1899 Mumbai newspaper interview, Ms. Muller does not appear to have returned to Swami Vivekananda. She remained in Theosophical Society. If you have any proof to the effect that she has returned to Vivekananda's fold, I welcome you.
"On 15th May 1899, the American Newspaper Nagautuck Daily News published an item quoting a Mumbai newspaper her as saying that she is face to face with the unavoidable conclusion that it is utterly rotten and corrupt from beginning to end and full of danger to the unhappy people who place their faith in it."
The Nagautuck Daily News of USA's report is sufficient to believe that Ms. Mueller is sure about her unavoidable conclusion. A copy of Mumbai newspaper would have helped to know the complete reasons for her conclusion. According to my study, I get a feeling (I may be wrong) Miss Mueller seems to have been disappointed with Swamiji's lavish spending, his eagerness to take on lease/purchase properties at Almora and other Himalayan Hill Stations. Miss Mueller has not changed her attitude later. She has not come back to Vivekananda-fold again. Swamiji was unable to face her either in person or through letters, to make the matter clear, nor did he refund her donation. Since then, he seems to have lost his touch even with Prof. Harrier.
Nowhere did I say that Swamiji was a bad guy. It is your perception.
Probably I may be the most foolish blogger.
In India, there is a legend about a "King and his divine clothes". In that story, till the child found that the king's clothes were not 'divine' but he was 'naked' , every citizen thought that the King was wearing 'divine clothes' . There are such 1.3 billion Citizens in India. They have a great role-model.
I am very much distressed that pseudo-Hindus do not read books fully. They are more interested in sloganeering. This will not help True Hinduism in any tangible manner.