The British Empire with all its evils is the greatest machine that ever existed for the
dissemination of ideas. I mean to put my ideas in the centre of this machine, and it will
spread them all over the world. Of course, all great work is slow and the difficulties are
too many, especially as we Hindus are a conquered race. Yet that is the very reason
why it is bound to work, for spiritual ideals have always come from the downtrodden.
The downtrodden Jews overwhelmed the Roman Empire with their spiritual ideals.
You will be pleased to learn that I am also learning my lesson every day in patience
and above all in sympathy. I think I am beginning to see the Divine even inside the
bullying Anglo-Indians. I think I am slowly approaching to that state when I would be
able to love the very 'Devil' himself, if there were any.
Though Swami Vivekananda himself spoke highly of the effect of his teachings in
England, he did not start any organized work there as he did in the United States of
America. From his letters and conversations one learns that he was growing weary of
the world. Though he was at the peak of his success as far as public activity was
concerned, he began to feel a longing for the peace that comes from total absorption in
the Supreme Spirit. He sensed that his earthly mission was over. On August 23, 1896,
he wrote to a friend, from Lucerne:
'I have begun the work, let others work it out. So you see, to set the work going I had
to defile myself by touching money and property for a time. Now I am sure my part of
the work has been done, and I have no more interest in Vedanta or any philosophy in
the world or in the work itself. I am getting ready to depart, to return no more to this
hell, this world.... Even its religious utility is beginning to pall on me.... These works
and doing good, and so forth, are just a little exercise to cleanse the mind. I have had
enough of it.' He was losing interest even in the American programme, which he
himself had organized.
In the letter quoted above, the Swami wrote: 'If New York or Boston or any other place
in the U.S. needs Vedanta teachers, they must receive them, keep them, and provide for
them. As for me, I am as good as retired. I have played my part in the world.' To
Swami Abhedananda he confided one day, about this time, that he was going to live for
five or six years at the most. The brother disciple said in protest that he was a young
man and that he should not think of death. 'But,' Vivekananda said, 'you are a fool; you
do not understand. My soul is getting bigger and bigger every day; the body can hardly
contain it. Any day it may burst this cage of flesh and bone!'
The world was leaving him. The string of the kite by which it was fastened to earth
was breaking.
The reader may recall that Sri Ramakrishna spoke of Vivekananda as a free soul whom
he had dragged down from the realm of the Absolute to help him in his mission on
earth. A temporary veil, necessary for physical embodiment and work, was put on this
soul so that it might dwell in the world to help men in their search for spiritual