Chapter 1

The Preface tells us that Goodwin had two unmarried sisters. He had filled seven notebooks with Swami Vivekananda’s words. These were sent by Alasinga Perumal and others to the mother, Mrs. Goodwin, who, unable to decipher the shorthand, destroyed them. Sister Nivedita attempted to trace the family but could not. In London a woman in nurse’s uniform used to take down Swamiji’s lectures in shorthand. Who she was or where she lived no one knows. Mohendra is going to do his best; he has not put in his own opinions or feelings [in this portion of the book]; he records here what little he can recall.

Chapter I

Mr. Sturdy had met Swami Shivananda at Almora, as a result of which he invited Swami Vivekananda to come to London. Swamiji did not do much work in the visit of 1895 because he was so tired from the American work. Mohendra arrived a week later than Swami Saradananda in that year. Someone told Mohendra that Sturdy was going to rent the house of Lady Margesson who was to be away for several months. Two Swamis, Miss Muller and Goodwin moved into it. Mohendra refers to Miss Muller as “old.” He was living in another town at the time. On meeting Swamiji Mohendra noticed many changes in his appearance and his voice. When expressing certain feelings his left hand would clench and release by turns. A friend of theirs from Madras, also in London then, said the same. “Naren has a new power and presence.” After staying a few weeks in the Margesson house at 63 St. George’s Road, Swamiji took Swami Saradananda and Mohendra with him on a visit to Miss Muller’s home in Maidenhead
[It was called “The Meads.”] A complete description is given of the house and yard. There was also a sort of arbor in which Miss Muller and Swamiji often sat for afternoon tea. One day when the news arrived of the death of Swami Brahmananda’s small son, Swamiji was visibly affected for some time. About Dharmapala of Ceylon he said, “He was a mere representative, with no particular learning. He went there with only one lecture prepared. When I saw how little he knew, I wondered what to do: ‘Well, Buddha is one of our avatars,’ I thought, and girding my loins began myself to tell the people about Buddha.”
    One day at 3 p.m. Mr. and Mrs. Sturdy arrived on two bicycles, sat and talked about the London plans, rent etc. They decided to forward money themselves in hope of recovering some later. Miss Muller wore a “man’s” suit, in the fashion of London at the time. Swami Vivekananda always followed the custom of speaking in the language understood by all present. A conversation took place between him and Miss Muller: Swamiji said, “I will have a lot of difficult work to do in this life. Compared with last time, there is much more to be done.”
    Miss Muller: “One feels like working for some time, but then it becomes troublesome; can a person go on working for a very long time?”
But Swamiji seriously and firmly replied, “This time I will work up to the very last moment.” Later he said, “In a previous life I was born as Buddha.” Although Miss Muller probably was not much impressed at this, the remark made the other two listeners wonderstruck. He said other things about his past births, in an excited manner. Then his eyes twinkled and he made fun of it all.
    Miss Muller had a peevish disposition and could not get along with anyone.
    Resuming the topic, Swamiji said, “Well I have just begun my work; in America I have just raised one or two waves; a tidal wave must be raised. Society must be turned upside down. The world must be given a new civilization. The world will understand what Power is and why I have come. Compared with the power I showed last time, it will be tremendous.”
    Swami Saradananda put up with many difficulties in Western food and ways: he felt pinched and bound by Western clothes and manners. Mohendra knew it. Before Swami Vivekananda, Swami Saradananda was circumspect. Miss Muller was a vegetarian [and was in charge of the housekeeping].