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Bombay. I saw firsthand how the Indian people welcomed. him back to their villages, homes, schools, and temples with garlands of flowers, sparkling eyes, and receptive hearts. When they saw us, fellow seekers along with them, meditating and absorbing the peace and wisdom and love of the divine presence we felt in their country, they understood and appreciated what Gurudev's coming to America has meant to us.
Friends from everywhere appeared to receive his blessing, some words of advice, a fresh insight. I heard one lovely Parsee woman in her eighties turn to him as she was leaving and say, “Really, Gurudev, I love you so." He took her two hands in his, smiled a radiant smile of love and blessing upon her, and told her simply, “Truly, it is you who are such a loving soul!”
A few fellow students gave me excellent advice, encouragement, and help at different stages. I would like to express my appreciation to Pramodaben. I would also like to thank Paul, our twelve-year old son, whomladmire, for doing the beautiful calligraphy, and his gifted and loving art teacher, Shirlee Brownell, who illustrated the jacket cover of this book.
My heart goes out to my family whose help has been a silent yet potent nurturing: to Henry and Fay Stein, my parents who gave me a head start in writing and who allowed me to be the contemplative nature that I am; to Allan, my husband, who was ever patient and understanding as he watched me give birth not only to this book, but also to myself in the course of the last six years; to Paul and Jill, our children who, in being the joyous and undemanding souls that they are, knew how to share their mom with the universe!
Actually, all of you have injected your living contact into the flow of this story. All have contributed to the fruition of this soul's quest and purpose. It is for these lives and for all life that a barefoot toddler born in the East and brought up in the simplest of lifestyles guided his feet over thirty thousand miles in India and across the seas to Europe, Africa, America and Canada.
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