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love. This, he knew, was everyone's hidden quest; behind the pursuit of pleasure and happiness was this cry for peace.
But the majority of mankind were not able to experience it. They were still suffering from vindictiveness, violence, and revenge in even the smallest details of their daily lives. As a result, they were unknowingly perpetuating war and violence in the world. In his clear state of awareness, Gurudev saw that what he had been sharing with his fellow countrymen, he had the capacity to share with all. There was no need to limit this universal teaching to one nation. He felt ready to respond fully to the need he perceived in the world at large. Through his example and inspiration, people would move toward ending the subtle forms of violence to which they had grown accustomed. They would see new options to living, new choices and alternatives to competition, conflict, and war. With understanding, they would find that a state of reverence could be a way of life for them, and an expression of their inmost reality.
At the same time, as an outcome of Gurudev's own joy, balance, and peace, his sharing would be as nourishing for him as for those whom he would meet. It would serve as a means for him to continue to evolve and meet the challenges of life by using the gift of his power of communication.
Without creating any unnecessary commotion or public controversy, Gurudev made a decision. Inwardly, he renounced his high position and post, and detached himself from the monkhood. By his actions people would come to know his decision. The first thing he planned to do the following summer was to visit the many Jains living in Africa who had been waiting for years for Gurudev to accept their invitation. They had even asked him to settle among them and become their spiritual leader. Previously, the time had not been ripe. Now Gurudev knew that the time had come. He also decided to accept an invitation to attend the World Vegetarian Congress to be held in September of 1971 in The Hague.
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