二十七 阿拉辛迦
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中文
二十七
美利坚合众国，
一八九四年。
亲爱的阿拉辛伽：
且听一则古老的故事。一个懒散的流浪汉沿路信步而行，见一位老人坐在自家门口，便停下来向他打听某处的所在。"某某村庄距此有多远？"他问道。老人一言不发。那人将问题重复了数遍，仍得不到任何回应。旅人感到厌倦，转身欲离去。老人这才起身说道："某某村庄距此只有一英里。""什么！"流浪汉说，"我先前问您时，您为何不答？""因为那时，"老人说，"您看起来犹豫不决、漫不经心，毫无出发的认真劲头；但如今您是真正振作起来要动身了，才有资格得到答案。"
我的孩子，您会记住这个故事吗？去投入工作吧，其余的自会随之而来："凡不依仗任何他物、唯以我为依归者，我供给他一切所需"（《薄伽梵歌》第九章第二十二节）。此非虚言。
……当前，这项工作应以传法和服务为主线。选定一处聚会之所，每周举行一次共修，诵读奥义书（Upanishads）及其注疏，如此循序渐进地学习与工作。只要您肯全力以赴，一切终将到来。……
现在，去工作吧！G. G.的性情偏于情感型，而您头脑冷静；因此二人携手合作，一同投入其中——这不过是个开始。每个民族都必须自我拯救；我们不可依赖来自美国的资金来复兴印度教，那不过是一种幻想。拥有一个中心至关重要；请尝试在马德拉斯这样的大城市中寻得这样一处场所，并由此向四面八方辐射出鲜活的力量。从小处起步，先从几位在家传教者开始；假以时日，自会有人全身心投入这一事业。不要试图成为一个掌权者——能善加服务者，方为最佳的领导。至死忠贞。我们所追求的工作——我们不求财富、名声与荣誉。……要勇敢。……尽力在马德拉斯的民众中筹募资金，然后着手起步。……做到完全无私，您必定会成功。……在不失去工作独立性的前提下，对上级保持应有的尊重。和谐合作。……我的孩子们必须随时准备好，必要时纵身跳入火中，以完成他们的使命。现在，工作，工作，工作！我们日后再停下来交流心得。要有耐心、恒心与纯洁。
我眼下并未撰写任何关于印度教的著作，不过是随手记录一些思想片段。我也不知是否会将它们付梓出版。书中有什么呢？世间已充斥太多愚妄之物。若您能创办一份以吠檀多（Vedanta）为旨归的杂志，将大有裨益于我们的目标。要积极进取；不要批评他人。传达您的讯息，传授您所当传授的，到此为止。其余的，主自知晓。……
请勿再寄报纸给我，因为我向来不理会传教士对我的批评；正因如此，公众对我的评价在此地反而更为有利。
……若您们真是我的孩子，便会无所畏惧，绝不退缩。你们将如狮子一般。我们必须唤醒印度，唤醒整个世界。绝无懦弱。我不接受任何退缩之言。明白了吗？至死忠贞！……此中秘诀在于对导师（Guru）的虔信（Bhakti）——对导师至死不渝的信仰！你们拥有这种信仰吗？我全心相信你们拥有，你们也知道我对你们充满信心——所以去工作吧。你们必定会成功。我的祈祷与祝福将追随你们的每一步。和谐合作。对所有人保持耐心。每个人都承蒙我的爱。我在注视着你们。前进！前进！这不过是个开始。你们知道吗，我在此地所做的微小工作，在印度却激起了巨大的回响，所以我不会急于返回。我的意图是在此做出某种永久性的成就，为此我正日复一日地工作。我在美国民众中日益赢得信任。……拓展你们的胸怀与抱负，宽广如天地。研习梵文，尤其是吠陀（Vedas）吠檀多的三部注疏（Bhāshyas）。做好准备，因为我对未来有诸多规划。努力成为一位能打动人心的演说者。以电一般的力量感召众人。只要你们有信仰，一切自会到来。告诉基迪，告诉所有在那里的孩子们。假以时日，他们将成就令世界震惊的伟业。振作精神，投入工作。让我看到你们做成的事情。为我建一座寺庙、一个印刷厂、一份刊物、一个安身之所。若你们无法在马德拉斯为我建一个家，我又能往何处归？感召众人，筹募资金，弘扬法道。忠于你们的使命。迄今为止，你们的表现令人欣慰，继续前行，并且做得愈来愈好。
……不要与人争斗；不要与任何人为敌。若杰克和约翰皈依了基督教，我们又何须在意？让他们追随适合自己的宗教。你们为何要介入纷争？以宽容的心接纳每个人的各种见解。耐心、纯洁与坚忍，终将致胜。
您的，
辨喜（Vivekananda）敬上。
English
XXVII
U. S. A.,
1894.
Dear Alasinga,
Listen to an old story. A lazy tramp sauntering along the road saw an old man sitting at the door of his house and stopped to inquire of him the whereabouts of a certain place. "How far is such and such a village?" he asked. The old man remained silent. The man repeated his query several times. Still there was no answer. Disgusted at this, the traveller turned to go away. The old man then stood up and said, "The village of — is only a mile from here." "What!" said the tramp, "Why did you not speak when I asked you before?" "Because then", said the old man, "you seemed so halting and careless about proceeding, but now you are starting off in good earnest, and you have a right to an answer."
Will you remember this story, my son? Go to work, the rest will come: "Whosoever not trusting in anything else but Me, rests on Me, I supply him with everything he needs" (Gitâ, IX. 22). This is no dream.
. . . The work should be in the line of preaching and serving, at the present time. Choose a place of meeting where you can assemble every week holding a service and reading the Upanishads with the commentaries, and so slowly go on learning and working. Every thing will come to you if you put your shoulders to the wheel. . .
Now, go to work! G. G.'s nature is of the emotional type, you have a level head; so work together; plunge in; this is only the beginning. Every nation must save itself; we must not depend upon funds from America for the revival of Hinduism, for that is a delusion. To have a centre is a great thing; try to secure such a place in a large town like Madras, end go on radiating a living force in all directions. Begin slowly. Start with a few lay missionaries; gradually others will come who will devote their whole lives to the work. Do not try to be a ruler. He is the best ruler who can serve well. Be true unto death. The work we want — we do not seek wealth, name or fame. . . . Be brave. . . . Endeavour to interest the people of Madras in collecting funds for the purpose, and then make a beginning. . . . Be perfectly unselfish and you will be sure to succeed. . . . Without losing the independence in work, show all regards to your superiors. Work in harmony. . . . My children must be ready to jump into fire, if needed, to accomplish their work. Now work, work, work! We will stop and compare notes later on. Have patience, perseverance, and purity.
I am writing no book on Hinduism just now. I am simply jotting down my thoughts. I do not know if I shall publish them. What is in books? The world is too full of foolish things already. If you could start a magazine on Vedantic lines, it would further our object. Be positive; do not criticise others. Give your message, teach what you have to teach, and there stop. The Lord knows the rest. . . .
Do not send me any more newspapers, as I do not notice the missionary criticisms on myself; and here the public estimation of me is better for that reason.
. . . If you are really my children, you will fear nothing, stop at nothing. You will be like lions. We must rouse India and the whole world. No cowardice. I will take no nay. Do you understand? Be true unto death! . . . The secret of this is Guru-Bhakti — faith in the Guru unto death! Have you that? I believe with all my heart that you have, and you know that I have confidence in you — so go to work. You must succeed. My prayers and benedictions follow every step you take. Work in harmony. Be patient with everybody. Every one has my love. I am watching you. Onward! Onward! This is just the beginning. My little work here makes a big echo in India, do you know? So I shall not return there in a hurry. My intention is to do something permanent here, and with that object I am working day by day. I am every day gaining the confidence of the American people. . . . Expand your hearts and hopes, as wide as the world. Study Sanskrit, especially the three Bhâshyas (commentaries) on the Vedanta. Be ready, for I have many plans for the future. Try to be a magnetic speaker. Electrify the people. Everything will come to you if you have faith. So tell Kidi, in fact, tell all my children there. In time they will do great things at which the world will wonder. Take heart and work. Show me something you have done. Show me a temple, a press, a paper, a home for me. Where shall I come to if you cannot make a home for me in Madras? Electrify people. Raise funds and preach. Be true to your mission. Thus far you promise well, so go on and do better and better still.
. . .Do not fight with people; do not antagonise anyone. Why should we mind if Jack and John become Christians? Let them follow whatever religion suits them. Why should you mix in controversies? Bear with the various opinions of everybody. Patience, purity, and perseverance will prevail.
Yours etc.,
Vivekananda.
文本来自Wikisource公共领域。原版由阿德瓦伊塔修道院出版。