In plain words
After returning to India, he entered the Congress and gave up his all for the country's freedom. However many hardships he faced, he never gave up his vow. His wife, Kasturibai, was a woman of great virtue. Even when Gandhi was in jail, she kept on with her works of service. Those very works of service kept protecting her in every way. Because of that service and the freedom struggle, separation would come between husband and wife. But whatever happened, Kasturibai would think, ‘This is for my own good.’ In this way, to those who render good service with good feeling, only good ever comes. At long last Bhārata gained its freedom. Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister. Another man, of good heart and wholly given to good service, was Subhash Chandra Bose. Freedom came to the country as the fruit of the labours of many such great souls, ready to sacrifice the body for the country.
But what we must seek is not mere independence; we must seek the rule of the ‘self’. That has to be won with the heart. This body is not ‘I’. It is only an instrument. With it we must do the work we have to do. Yoga comes through sacrifice. This is what the Veda said: “Not by action, not by progeny, not by wealth; by sacrifice alone have some attained immortality.” If we want immortality, we must take up sacrifice. Since we are born as human beings, we must offer our lives to God and, contemplating God, make our time fruitful. Then, let the body suffer what pains it may, they will not trouble us. It is only to teach you attachment to the Ātma that I am doing all this.
I shall give you a small example. When this body was in Bangalore, it fell in the bathroom. There in My room were students such as Satyajit and Achintya. They did Me a great deal of service. I told them, “I have no attachment to the body. However much you operate, however much you bandage it, or even if you cut this body to pieces, I have no connection with this body. This body is not ‘I’.” Still, as long as it lasts, I must do My work. I have no hardship of any kind. Many devotees weep, ‘Alas! Swami is walking like this! Who knows what pain there is!’