Acharya Prashant responds to a question regarding a verse from the Isha Upanishad which encourages one to desire a life of a hundred years while performing actions, without being tainted by them. The questioner contrasts this with the lives of great men like Swami Vivekananda and Adi Shankaracharya, who passed away at a young age, and asks why they did not seem to follow this teaching. Acharya Prashant clarifies that the Rishi's intent is to live for a hundred years while performing actions without being attached to their fruits. The desire for a long life is not for the sake of living itself, as age is merely a number. The Rishi encourages a long life because, for an ordinary person, a significant amount of time is required to attain liberation (Mukti). The sole purpose of life is to get rid of the ego-tendency (aham-vritti) and nature (Prakriti), allowing the ego to merge into Brahman. This goal is difficult for most, as the ego is constantly surrounded by the attractions, repulsions, and attachments of Maya and the three Gunas of Prakriti. A long life provides an extended opportunity to fulfill this purpose, not to enjoy worldly pleasures. He then explains the distinction between 'sadhya' (the end or goal) and 'sadhan' (the means). Liberation is the 'sadhya', while time or age is the 'sadhan'. Since liberation is a great goal, one is encouraged to have an abundance of the means, hence the desire for a hundred years. However, the goal is always more important than the means. If a situation arises where one must choose between the goal and the means, the goal must be chosen. For great men like Swami Vivekananda and Adi Shankaracharya, their goal was their own liberation and the welfare of the world. Their means was their body and their lifespan. When faced with a choice, they prioritized their mission over their physical well-being, sacrificing their bodies for their cause. This is not suicide but a supreme sacrifice and the right choice. Acharya Prashant concludes that their tireless and continuous work for their mission took a toll on their bodies. It is not that they were unwilling to live long, but they would not compromise their great mission for the sake of their health. This dedication, even at the cost of their own lives, is a testament to their greatness. The notion that a realized person must be physically healthy and live a long life is a misconception. When one dedicates everything, including their body, to a supreme goal, the body, being a mere instrument of nature, will eventually break down.
