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Gurudev asked, “Without thinking? Why?”
He answered, “Here four million disciples you have. Such a high post you hold. You are living such a glorious life and you have so many friends. You are going to Geneva for what? Who knows you? You will repent. I am not in a position to give you advice, but I felt it, so I hope you will listen to an old man's advice. You are going to the land where there are strangers."
Gurudev smiled, “Thank you for your advice. They are strangers to you but they are friends to me.”
"They are friends? You have not gone to Switzerland. You have walked for all these years as a monk. Here in India you have never crossed the ocean.”
Gurudev explained, “You don't need to cross the ocean to make friends. Friendship isn't in crossing the ocean; friendship is in consciousness. If you are a friend to yourself, you are a friend to all. To me, there are no strangers anywhere in the world. I see everywhere friends. But thank you for telling me what was on your mind. Some day, I think you too will be glad that I decided to take this step.”
March 29,1970 was the epoch-making day in which Gurudev became the first Jain monk to put on shoes (rubber sandals) and travel in a vehicle (van and plane) to go to the West. An ocean of people came to Birla Krida Kendra to hear his last talk before departing for the airport. Mr. Bharade, Speaker of the House of Legislature, hosted the gathering. In his send-off speech, he expressed his joy that Gurudev was to become an ambassador of the spiritual wealth of the East.
After Gurudev's talk, it was clear that hordes of people were going to try and prevent their leader from stepping foot into the van and going forward to the West. The crowd started shouting. Mr. Bharade's police escorts invited extra help to cordone off the building. Gurudev remained in his loving and balanced mood. He turned to his close disciples who were standing with him: Shantilal Zatakia and Nirmalabehn Zatakia, Kantilal Nahlchand, Rikhabhchand Sanavi, Kumari Vatsala Amin, and Mahabanoo Kotwal, and said, “Come, let us confront them. They will not do any harm.”
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