No eloquence rose to my lips; speechlessly I stood
before the assemblage. After an endurance contest lasting ten
minutes, the audience realized my predicament and began to laugh.
[Illustration: I stand on the dais before one of my classes
in America. This class of a thousand yoga students was held in
Washington, D.C.--see dc.jpg]
The situation was not funny to me at the moment; indignantly I sent
a silent prayer to Master.
"You CAN! Speak!" His voice sounded instantly within my consciousness.
My thoughts fell at once into a friendly relation with the English
language. Forty-five minutes later the audience was still attentive.
The talk won me a number of invitations to lecture later before
various groups in America.
I never could remember, afterward, a word that I had spoken. By
discreet inquiry I learned from a number of passengers: "You gave
an inspiring lecture in stirring and correct English." At this
delightful news I humbly thanked my guru for his timely help,
realizing anew that he was ever with me, setting at naught all
barriers of time and space.
Once in awhile, during the remainder of the ocean trip, I experienced
a few apprehensive twinges about the coming English-lecture ordeal
at the Boston congress.
"Lord," I prayed, "please let my inspiration be Thyself, and not
again the laughter-bombs of the audience!"
THE CITY OF SPARTA docked near Boston in late September.
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