Subodh narrated the following incident about Sri Ramakrishna’s last illness: “It was extremely difficult for the Master to talk. One day I said to him: ‘Sir, if you wish you can get well. Please cure yourself.’ The Master then asked me, ‘Do you really believe that?’ ‘Yes, I do believe that,’ I replied. ‘What you have said is true,’ the Master said. ‘But I shall not try to save this body, which is made out of flesh and bone, blood and marrow. Whatever is created is subject to destruction.’ Then he said to me, ‘Promise that you will never ask me this again.’ Thus the Master made me promise.” (Source: God Lived with Them)
One day Premananda expressed a desire to meet the famous yogi Balananda Brahmachari of Deoghar. When this news reached Balananda, he came to visit the swami. Observing Premananda’s physical condition, Balananda said: “Sir, if a monk does not have any attraction for his own body, it does not last. If you kindly bring a little attention to your body, it will be cured.” Premananda replied: “You see, I don’t have any attachment to this body. Now I look upon it like a rotten pumpkin, so my mind does not go to it at all.” While leaving Balananda said to the attendant, “His body will not last long.” (Source: God Lived with Them)