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he walked and meditated for so many years. In the pure meditative atmosphere, everyone has a chance to leave rut and routine behind, to drop the past, and catch a glimpse of the reality of Self. Far from familiar surroundings, they have a chance to spread their wings and sail beyond the horizon. They enjoy for a time "homelessness” which allows them to find their way to the real home, within themselves. Free from clinging to past and future, they look up into the golden pink of the sunpainted sky and every inch of themselves stretches to feel the poignancy of each moment. Objects take on a fresh glow. At night, a silver crescentof a moon hangs like a smile, like purity in the infinite space, and one says to oneself, “Here at last I can breathe. Here I am finding my meaning. Here I am revealing the sweet simplicity of life.”
When an Indian villager at Mt. Abu asked Gurudev, "Why did you go there?” Gurudev answered simply, “I went there to bring them here!” It is no wonder. For his students, a living experience replaces the old props, the attachments to name, nationality, concept, and creed. They return to America imbued with a greater sense of purpose, a deeper conviction in the reality of Self, a renewed love for all forms of life. They begin to share Gurudev's feeling that the whole universe is a friendly place, that everywhere can be home.
Many of them have opened their own centers where meditation, yoga, vegetarian nutrition, and the teachings of MahavTr can be taught and experienced.
Gurudev is one of the great indomitable spirits of our time whose vision and energy are inspiring human beings worldwide to awaken to what they are and to realize the gifts they have to contribute to their strife-torn world, and to the living beings with whom they share one planet. As Gurudev has said, “It is the need of the hour to unite in the bonds of friendship and understanding. It is now up to us whether we want to create the vibrations of love or hatred, of peace or war, of forgiveness or anger. At the time of our departure, the vibrations which we have created are going to accompany us. So let us give something noble to the universe, something which can ennoble our spirit with reverence for life and give hope to each other for our progress into evolution.”
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