VML-1/16/00

[Guest guest]

Many of them were trying to float in the air or pass through it. I

shall tell you a story which I heard from a great scholar in the

West. It was told him by a Governor of Ceylon who saw the

performance. A girl was brought forward and seated crosslegged upon a

stool made of sticks crossed. After she had been seated for a time,

the show-man began to take out, one after another, these cross-bars;

and wen all were taken out, the girl was left floating in the air.

The Governor thought there was some trick, so he drew his sword and

violently passed it under the girl; nothing was there. Now, what was

this? It was not magic or something extraordinary. That is the

peculiarity. No one in India would tell you that things like this do

not exist. To the Hindu it is a matter of course. You know what the

Hindus would often say when they have to fight their enemies- " Oh,

one of our Yogis will come and drive the whole lot out! " It is the

extreme belief of the race. What power is there in the hand or the

sword? The power is all in the spirit.

 

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Today we continue a lecture called THE POWERS OF THE MIND

 

Delivered at Los Angeles, California, January 8, 1900

 

This is a part of a daily study of the lectures and writings of Swami

Vivekananda. All lectures are sent out in sequenced form, as he spoke

them.

 

Please tell a friend about this Vivekananda Mailing list and study group.

To or send a message to sarada.