Swami Vivekananda Letter

LONDON,

13th December, 1896.

DEAR MADAM, (An American lady.)

We have only to grasp the idea of gradation of morality and

everything becomes clear.

Renunciation — non-resistance — non-destructiveness — are

the ideals to be attained through less and less worldliness, less

and less resistance, less and less destructiveness. Keep the

ideal in view and work towards it. None can live in the world

without resistance, without destruction, without desire. The

world has not come to that state yet when the ideal can be

realised in society.

The progress of the world through all its evils making it fit for

the ideals, slowly but surely. The majority will have to go on

with this slow growth — the exceptional ones will have to get

out to realise the idea in the present state of things.

Doing the duty of the time is the best way, and if it is done

only as a duty, it does not make us attached.

Music is the highest art and, to those who understand is

the highest worship.

We must try our best to destroy ignorance and evil. Only

we have to learn that evil is destroyed by the growth of

good.

(Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Vol. V, Pg. No. 125)

Yours faithfully,

VIVEKANANDA.