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helpful to Pramoda. Once in a while Gurudev would teach me some prdndydma, some yoga, some meditation." Simply by spending mornings with him in this casual way, Heidi absorbed the gems of his philosophy as naturally as a child absorbs the culture of his family. She accompanied him also whenever he gave talks to the Indian community in Chicago.
Early in 1972, Gurudev accepted an invitation from various religious leaders to preside over a large interfaith meeting to be held on Chowpatty Beach. At the same time, he took the opportunity to share with the students and trustees of the Divine Knowledge Society the clear purpose of his mission and the various decisions he had made. With his characteristic straightforwardness, compassion, and balance, he spoke to them. Those who had objected to his traveling abroad and who were shocked to learn of his marriage calmed down. They realized that it was a best occasion for the rest of the world to be exposed to ahimsā and to be guided in the way of reverence for life. Once they saw through his eyes, their demands on him subsided and their hearts began to melt again with love and understanding.
He arranged for others to take over his work and to supervise the ongoing projects requiring the Divine Knowledge Society's sponsorship and other organizations' help. Later, by means of a long open letter which was published in the newspapers, he let the public know that he had resigned from his post and had moved into a new life as a universal and free human being to share the message of non-violence across the oceans and around the earth.
Before Gurudev had left for India, he and Pramoda had agreed to move to New York after the birth of their child and to accept Elizabeth Cattell's open invitation to live with her in Manhattan. Rajeev was born on January 26, coinciding with the twenty-fifth anniversary oMndia's independence. When he was six weeks old, Pramoda flew with him to New York. They were greeted at the airport by Elizabeth who was delighted to offer her home and her heart to young mother and son. Together they awaited the return of Gurudev.
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