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Moving in that awareness, he was able to help people of all faiths and cultures free themselves from mental, psychological, and social boundary lines and plunge into the reality of their innermost being. After becoming one of the spiritual leaders of the Jains in India, he founded the Divine Knowledge Society and other social welfare and emergency relief organizations. “Salvation,” according to Gurudev, “comes when you forget about your own salvation and put yourself in the place of all living beings.”
Incapable of being limited by name or fame, by precedent or label, he was willing to be the first monk to break the ancient rules prohibiting travel by vehicle in order to accept the invitation of the Temple of Understanding to address the Second and Third Spiritual Summit Conferences, at Geneva in 1970, and at Harvard Divinity School in 1971. Subsequently, he accepted lecturing tours in Europe and Africa, and eventually he accepted many invitations to teach in America.
In 1971, Gurudev gave up the monastic life along with his position of authority in order to be free to live and carry his universal message to the larger family of humankind. viii
