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Showing posts from November 16, 2011

Plenty of money is required to maintain poor Swami

Mr. E.T. Sturdy (sanskrit scholar in England) was writing to Mrs. Ole Bull (whom Vivekananda called Mother), from London on 16th April 1899. Context: Swamiji was going to England and United States on his second visit for medical treatment and making some quick bucks. Sturdy was worried about the money to be mobilised for maintaining Swamiji in England. "Two" in his letter refers to Vivekananda and his assistant Turiyananda. "Old experience" in his letter refers to Swamiji's first stay in England as Sturdy's guest. You can see another blog post of mine here itself where Swamiji blamed sturdy that he did not give cigars. ...My position here is this-I know from old experience that as soon as the Swami arrives here, plenty of money will be needed. There will be two to arrange expenses for. Turiyananda I have already agreed to send on to U.S.A. when the time comes. He will probably require some outfitting also. The same applies to Swami. He may elect suddenly

Reducing smoking to nothingness is not in his hands

Ms. Josephine MacLeod wrote to Mrs. Bull on 23rd Sep. 1899. (Both were disciples of Swami Vivekananda). Context: Swamiji was in United States for the second time, to undergo some medical treatment and make some quick bucks by lecturing. By that time there were doubts in the minds of some British and American women about Swamiji's habits. Josephine Macleod, Mrs. Bull, Margot (Nivedita), Mrs. Leggett et al were exceptions. This letter speaks about Doctor Helmer's opinion about Vivekananda's health. The doctor is very clear. The reference to Swamiji shooting blue clay pigeons, was probably about shooting of clay pigeons in the Casino owned by Mr. Leggett who was hosting Vivekananda, at Ridgely Manners. ...The two McKindley girls came yesterday. Since which time Swamiji has been bubbling over with boyishness-Dr. Helmer came at 6-&. by 7 we knew that Swamiji's trouble is curable-a spreading of the spine causes the kidney trouble-& though his heart & kidney ar