॥
In plain words
Thirty years ago, when I went to Bombay, Dr. Alreja came and sat in that crowd; suddenly he had a ‘heart attack’ and fell down. At once I came down from the stage, went to him, put my hand on his heart and rubbed it. They carried him out on a stretcher. Having come to Puttaparthi then, he did not go back again. He stays right here and serves. “My dear! You have reached 90 years. You cannot climb the steps, you cannot walk. So go to the hospital by car,” I told him. At this, he: “Swami! So long as the car called the body that You gave me is sound, I will do my work. I need no other car,” he said. Even now he goes to the hospital only on foot.
Thinking of God and serving God bestow long life
In our Prasanthi Nilayam there was formerly a devotee named Seshagiri Rao. He had served as a high officer. We appointed him to offer the ārati. He was strong for 100 years. After he passed away, Kishtappa came. Every day he would come walking, offer the ārati, and walk back again. He too lived 101 years.
There was another devotee named Surayya. He was a man of Venkatagiri, a brahmacārī. He was six feet three inches tall. At night, when I was lying down, he would softly open the door, come in and press my feet. “My feet don't ache, Surayya!” At my words, he: “Swami! You have no ache, but if I do not press Your feet, I have an ache,” he would say. So as not to put him to trouble, I would pretend to be asleep. Seeing me close my eyes, he would go away. He lived 100 years; he served until his last day. Karunyananda too lived 100 years. Kasturi was one who should have gone long ago. But because he came to Prasanthi Nilayam, he lived 90 years.
All who came here and served have lived long. What is the reason? Thinking of God and serving God, nothing else. These alone bestow long life. In this world a great many people do exercises and drink tonics.