XII Sir

(Translated from Bengali )

BARANAGORE, CALCUTTA,
13th Dec., 1889.

DEAR SIR,

I have all particulars from your letter; and from Rakhal’s which followed, I came to know of your meeting. I have received the pamphlet written by you. A kind of scientific Advaitism has been spreading in Europe ever since the theory of the conservation of energy was discovered, but all that is Parinâmavâda, evolution by real modification. It is good you have shown the difference between this and Shankara’s Vivartavâda (progressive manifestation by unreal superimposition). I can’t appreciate your citing Spencer’s parody on the German transcendentalists; he himself is fed much on their doles. It is doubtful whether your opponent Gough understands his Hegel sufficiently. Anyway, your rejoinder is very pointed and thrashing. 

Yours etc.,

VIVEKANANDA.

1. Letters I - IV, VI - XIV, XVl - XXII, XXIV - XXVI, XXIX, XXXI - XXXIII and CXXlV are translated from Bengali letters written to Pramadadas Mitra of Varanasi, an orthodox Hindu, for whose profound erudition and piety Swamiji had the highest regard. These letters are most interesting being written (except the last) at a time when, after his Master’s passing away, Swamiji was leading a wandering monk’s life. In the early days he used to sign his name as Narendranath, though his now famous name, Vivekananda, is printed in all these pages for easy comprehension.