Complex sentence: At their first meeting Donovan remembers that the Maharishi was "amiable but non-talkative" and during an awkward silence Lennon walked across the room and patted the Maharishi on the head, saying, "There's a good little guru" while the room erupted in laughter.
Split into simpler sentences: At their first meeting Donovan remembers that the Maharishi was "amiable but non-talkative". During an awkward period of silence Lennon walked across the room and patted the Maharishi on the head, saying, "There's a good little guru" and the room erupted in laughter.