We Live in Eternity and They in Time

On 25th as per the earlier given schedule we know that Swamiji was going to speak on 'Shri Khrisna and His Message.' Spelling of Khrisna is as per the Newpaper advertisement. The lecture was to start at 30PM at the Union Square Hall and one Mr. Hugo Hertzer would sing the offertory in the beginning.

Everything before the lecture took place as per announced except the lecture. Mr. Allan memoirs say -

"At 3 p.m.Swami was not there. We waited and wondered what to do, and concluded that we must just wait."

But Mr. Allan was now the head usher of Swami's lectures so instead of waiting he walked from the hall to the corner of Post and Powell streets. He looked up and down the street,  waited but saw no sign of Swamiji and returned to the hall. This he did several times.

It was somethinf after his fourth or fifth trip to the corner that he saw Swamiji walking slowly up the Powell Street in his own composed and majestic rhythm. The time was then 3.30 p.m. But Mr. Allan's difficulties were not over. He further writes -"I met him at the corner of Post Street and walked with him towards the Hall."  Then Mr. Allan said, "Swami, don't you know you're late? The audience has been waiting." To which Swamiji replied -

"Mr. Allan, I am never late. I have all the time in the world. All time is mine."

 "Well, Swami, the audience may not feel the same as you do."   But Swamiji just went on with his same leisurely pace.

 "On the way we had to pass a shoe - shine stand and when Swami saw that, and saw that the shoe - shiner was idle, he decided to have his shoes shined. Did I not silently fidget, remembering the people who had come to hear the lecture! But all my fidgeting did no good. Well, at last, Swami got on the platform and was introduced to that audience, which had more or less patiently waited for him."

Once the similar incidence had taken place with one reporter named Miss Partington. During the interview she said, "I must go, I have to catch a train."  Swamiji smiled and said, " This is like all Americans, you must catch this car or that train always. Is there not another, later?"

and Ms. Partington says, " I had a glimpse of all Eternity in His utter restfulness. But I did not attempt to explain the Occidental conception to this child of Orient. As the Swami says, What have we in exchange? We Live in Eternity and you in Time."

It is most likely that while fidgeting at the shoe - shine stand, Mr. Allan might have had had "a glimpse of all eternity in the Swami's utter restfulness" as Miss Partington had!

But in a few minutes almost he became overpoweringly aware of the vastness of Swamiji's being. He says, "It was when I introduced him at that lecture, that I felt like a pigmy and saw him as an immense giant. After this experience I could not bring myself to stand beside him again, but always thereafter made my introduction from the foot of the platform."