July 13, 2026
Swami Sivananda's physical energy, mental energy and stamina enabled Him, at the age of 67, to go round the whole of India, to undertake an intensive two month tour. This was a super-human achievement. All this was due to the regular practice of pranayama and asanas and a well-regulated life.This still may not solve some problems. We may be practising all the yoga asanas, we may be eating excellent food, but look at our faces - something that was seen in Swamiji's face is missing. Radiance and extraordinary attractiveness were there, however ill Swami Sivananda's body was. I am speaking not only of the ordinary little influenza, I am talking of when he was at death's door with a bout of typhoid.
He had been confined to bed for about 20 days. He was not used to that, so one day he told some of us, "Ah, I think I am alright now. Take me to the verandah so that I can see the Ganges and the Himalayas." We literally had to lift Him off the bed, He could not walk. We brought Him outside and He sat in His easy chair'.
If you looked at His face then, it was as though there was nothing wrong with Him. He was radiant, beautiful, laughing and joking with us all. After an hour or so, He asked to go back to bed. He planted both His feet on the floor and said, "Wait, I will try to get up myself." He lifted himself off, then collapsed back into the chair. Probably you and I would have had a heart attack - "Oh, what has happened to me? Twenty years ago I was so strong." Regret, remorse, despair, depression. But there was no hint of that. As He collapsed He started laughing, "Oh! The legs have lost their strength." It had nothing to do with Him - the legs had lost their strength. That is an extraordinary feature where even an aging body does not dampen the spirit.
It is not the pain that is painful. but the inner resistance of 'Why should it happen to me?'