Let me first apologize for being away for so long. I was not only neck deep but head deep in work. We had a Diwali Party and for the first time with staff performances. I took the opportunity to read my two poems, after many years in front of audience. Of course that's not an excuse but not having your own PC at home also can make a hell lot of difference.
So here we are with the Leons and today let's be with Mrs. Emily Leon, Swamiji's one more American mother! As the American food was less spicy, she thought He may find it bland. When asked whether He wanted anything special or didn't wish to eat anything, He said,"No , I'll take whatever you have." It seems Sri Ramakrishna had told Him that He should accept whatever as per the tradition. So he ate what the Leons ate.
Mrs. Leon used to make the salad dressing at the table as a ceremony and in that one of the ingredient was the Tabasco Sauce. Once she handed Him the bottle and said, "You might like a drop or two of this on your meat, Swami." He sprinkled it with such lavish hand that every one gasped and said, "You can't do that, it is terribly hot!" at this He laughed and ate it with such enjoyment that a special bottle of the sauce was always put at his place after that.
When he began to give lectures, people offered him money for the work he hoped to do in India. He had no purse. So he used to tie it up in a handkerchief and bring it back - like a proud little boy!- pour it into Emily Leon's lap to keep for him. She made him learn the different coins and to stack them up neatly and to count them. She made him write down the amount each time, and she deposited it in her bank for him. He was overwhelmed by the generosity of his audience who seemed so happy to give help to people they had never seen.
Once he said to her that he had had the greatest temptation of his life in America. She liked to tease him a bit and said, "Who is she, Swami?" He burst out laughing and said "Oh, it is not a lady, it is Organization!" He explained how the followers of Ramakrishna had all gone out alone and when they reached a village, would just quietly sit under a tree and wait for those in trouble to come to consult them. But in the States he saw how much could be accomplished by organizing work. Yet he was doubtful about just what type of organization would be acceptable to the Indian character and he gave a great deal of thought and study how to adapt what seemed good to him in our Western World to the best advantage of his own people.
He had this slight but delightful Irish brogue i.e. accent to his English speech( i love this word brogue and in my first ever lecture on these volumes i said Spanish borgue instead of Irish brogue). Mr. Leon once said to him, "You know, when I hear you speaking from the next room, I'd say I had a very cultivated Irish gentleman staying with me because of your accent." Swami was perfectly amazed. He said, "Nobody ever said that before!" Then he thought it over and said, "You know, my favorite professor in India was an Irish gentleman, a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin. I went to all his lectures and saw him a great deal. So probably, not being used to speaking English then, I unconsciously copied his accent."
Are you not feeling really Haaaaappy when you are reading this? Certain sentences i haven't changed so as to not to disturb the original beauty of Marie Loise Burke's language.
Well, tomorrow let's meet Swamiji with Cornelia's mother.
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