'Why, we shall sell if necessary the land which has just been purchased for the
monastery. We are sannyasins; we must be ready to sleep under the trees and live on
alms as we did before. Must we care for the monastery and possessions when by
disposing of them we could relieve thousands of helpless people suffering before our
own eyes?' Fortunately this extreme step was not necessary; the public gave him
money for the relief work.
The Swami worked hard to assuage the suffering of the afflicted people. Their love and
admiration for him knew no bounds as they saw this practical application of Vedanta at
a time of human need.
The plague having been brought under control, the Swami left Calcutta for Nainital on
May 11, accompanied by, among others, his Western disciples. From there the party
went to Almora where they met the Seviers. During this tour the Swami never ceased
instructing his disciples. For his Western companions it was a rare opportunity to learn
Indian history, religion, and philosophy direct from one who was an incarnation of the
spirit of India. Some of the talks the Swami gave were recorded by Sister Nivedita in
her charming book Notes of Some Wanderings with the Swami Vivekananda.
In Almora the Swami received news of the deaths of Pavhari Baba and Mr. Goodwin.
He had been closely drawn to the former during his days of wandering. Goodwin died
on June 2. Hearing of this irreparable loss, the Swami exclaimed in bitter grief, 'My
right hand is gone!' To Goodwin's mother he wrote a letter of condolence in which he
said: 'The debt of gratitude I owe him can never be repaid, and those who think they
have been helped by any thought of mine ought to know that almost every word of it
was published through the untiring and most unselfish exertions of Mr. Goodwin. In
him I have lost a friend true as steel, a disciple of never-failing devotion, a worker who
knew not what tiring was, and the world is less rich by the passing away of one of
those few who are born, as it were, to live only for others.'
The Swami also sent her the following poem, which he had written in memory of
Goodwin, bearing witness to the affection of the teacher for the disciple:
REQUIESCAT IN PACE
Speed forth, O soul! upon thy star-strewn path;
Speed, blissful one! where thought is ever free,
Where time and space no longer mist the view;
Eternal peace and blessings be with thee!
Thy service true, complete thy sacrifice;
Thy home the heart of love transcendent find!
Remembrance sweet, that kills all space and time,
Like altar roses, fill thy place behind!
Thy bonds are broke, thy quest in bliss is found,
And one with That which comes as death and life,
Thou helpful one! unselfish e'er on earth,