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News from London
By C. Richard Wright
Mr. Wright sends clippings from the London newspapers, and other reports of the Swami’s lectures, as follows:
Swami Yogananda, founder-president of Yogoda Sat-Sanga Society (International Self-Realization Fellowship), with its Headquarters at Los Angeles, California, U. S. A., and Ranchi, India, returned to London after his extensive tour of India and the Continent of Europe.
During his stay in London, the Swami addressed two public meetings at Caxton Hall, Westminster, one on Sept. 22, and the other on Sept. 23. The subjects for the lectures were: “Removing Fatigue at Will” and “Highest Technique of God-Contact.”
Kedarnath Das Gupta, founder and general secretary of the “World Fellowship of Faiths,” who knows intimately of the Swami’s work in America, and is at present in London, presided at the meetings. In introducing the Swami, he said: “The Swami first went to the United States 17 years ago as the delegate from India to the International Congress of Religious Liberals in Boston. The Americans were much interested in the message of the Mystic from the East, and as a result the first Yogoda Sat-Sanga Center was established in Boston.
“The Boston work grew rapidly and the Swami often had to go on lecture tours throughout the length and breadth of that subcontinent, addressing clubs, churches, societies, civic organizations, radio audiences, newspaper men, and universities on his system.
“The number of Self-Realization Fellowship students in America now runs into 150,000. By its non-sectarian message and simple technique of practical methods, harmonizing muscular with organic growth, this Teaching will, in the words of the late Luther Burbank, well known scientist, ‘come as near to bringing the millennium as any system of human training in history.’”
A reporter on a London, daily newspaper, the Star, describing the meetings, said: “I managed to squeeze into Caxton Hall before the overflow invaded the Press table. Hall, floor, and balconies were crammed. For an hour and a quarter attention was held with reverence. I have heard few equals of the Swami as an orator. There was not a syllable of rant or unintelligible metaphysics. His character acting of a socially-distracted lady trying to practice meditation as the Swami ordered, would have brought down any house. At the end of the 75 minutes, the Swami, apparently not the least bit fatigued, left the hall to address the overflow meeting in another hall.”
On the second day, the large auditorium of Caxton Hall was equally overcrowded and another overflow meeting had to be held in another hall, which was also filled to capacity. The Swami illustrated his lecture subject with practical demonstrations and held both audiences spellbound. The London Sunday Graphic described the meeting as follows: “In yesterday’s demonstration, the Swami proved that he can stop his heart beating for a brief period; can stop his pulse at will, or lower his blood pressure; can control his sense of touch or eliminate it entirely, and can switch the energy on or off from any part of his body.”
The British National Council of the World Fellowship of Faiths organized a meeting on Sept. 29th, at Whitefield’s Congregational Church, where the Swami spoke on “How Faith in Fellowship may Save Civilization.” The audience was highly appreciative of his message.
And still more clippings:
Swami Yogananda, metaphysician, poet, and world teacher, last night spoke at 8 p.m. to a very enthusiastic audience in Caxton Hall. The crowd was so great that part of it had to be transferred to the Windsor House Hall, which was also filled to capacity, and the Swami lectured there at 9:30 p.m. after finishing his lecture in Caxton Hall.
The lectures were preceded by a Tagore song and Rev. A. Porter of the Congregational Church spoke very highly of the practicality of Swami Yogananda’s work, which had materially benefited him. Among other things he said: “I took Swami’s teachings twelve years ago and in a short time I learned more than I received from the two Universities which I attended.”
Then the Swami was introduced by the famous organizer and founder of the “World Fellowship of Faiths,” Kedarnath Das Gupta, in the following words:
“No other Oriental lecturer has ever before filled two halls, and spoken in two places, on the same night, in London. I must go to Windsor House to keep the people together until the Swami finishes his lecture here to you in Caxton Hall and then goes there to lecture. I now have the pleasure to introduce to you the great teacher from India, Swami Yogananda.”
Amidst cheers and applause, the Swami came and delivered his lecture, which was very much appreciated by the large and distinguished audience, and ended in continuous applause and cheers until the Swami retired.
More excerpts from newspapers. One reporter said:
Paramount’s newsreel lads were busy with Swami Yogananda when I called Grosvenor House to inquire into the Yoga way to health and happiness. Swami Yogananda, with long black hair over his shoulders, lit up the room with his courteous smile and impressive dignity. He said: “I like the definiteness of the Western people. I have taken that from the West. Spirituality does not mean living in the clouds. Just as the Western people use physical mechanisms to make physical happiness, so the genuine Yogi Masters of India teach how to use mental mechanisms with a technique of concentration and meditation, in order to insure lasting happiness during all the ups and downs of life.”
Mr. Wright adds: The classes grew so large we were obliged to seek larger accommodations, which surprised everyone, optimists and pessimists alike, for the lecture season was not in sway at the time.
Next article: The spread of Self-Realization Fellowship (Yogoda Sat-Sanga) over the Earth. Excerpts from a special issue of Inner Culture, March 1937
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