During the Master’s final days at Cossipore Garden House, Subodh spent much time in service to Sri Ramakrishna. Just before the death of the Master, Subodh asked to be blessed so that he could realize God. Sri Ramakrishna patted him on the back three times and said “Yes, yes, you will realize God. And in the future many people will learn from you.”
After the death of Sri Ramakrishna, Subodh began to wander around India, which included many travels and pilgrimages accompanied by his brother disciple, Rakhal, later to become Swami Brahmananda. Throughout the many hardships of his travels, during times of privation, lack, and danger, he always experienced the protection and grace of Sri Ramakrishna. He had seen and experienced the bliss that comes with renunciation and so made his final break with conventional life by taking monastic vows at the new Ramakrishna Monastery at Baranagore. He then became known as Swami Subodhananda.
At first, he refused to associate with women. Swamiji suggested that he see all women as manifestations of the Divine Mother. From that point on, Subodh would address all women as Mother or Mayi.
With the return of Swami Vivekananda from the West, a new phase of service to humanity began for the newly formed Order, and Swami Vivekananda placed much responsibility on the shoulders of Swami Subodhananda. There was great affection between Swamiji and Swami Subodhananda. If Swamiji needed to be roused out of an inward or serious mood to attend to a matter, it was Subodh who was asked by his brother monks to intercede and break Swamiji’s contemplation. He would also help the young monks and offer advice and guidance. Swamiji put Subodh in charge of the management of the monastery, and he was also among the first group of trustees of Belur Math and later appointed its treasurer.
Subodh was also called to lead many of the relief efforts undertaken throughout India. This was in keeping with his loving and compassionate nature. The suffering of others touched him deeply, and the joy he felt in serving others radiated from his being, bringing much comfort to the distressed that he served. His example of spirited service also inspired those around him to rally behind Swamiji’s vision of service to God in man.
Subodh’s unassuming nature hid the greatness of his spiritual illumination. He was reluctant to give initiation until Holy Mother said, “Why does Khoka not initiate people? As long as the Master’s disciples are alive, the people should receive their grace.” And so Subodh began to initiate devotees privately. One disciple asked for spiritual instruction and was told, “I don’t know about all these things. You see, I am a Khoka. I have given you what I have received from the Master, what I have known from my own experience, and what has kept me in a blissful state. Please control your mind and practice japa and meditation.” To another disciple he said, “Pray to God sincerely, then you will see. Sincere prayer means to tell the Lord your pain and your problems with tears in your eyes. Ask Him for faith and devotion. Always remember that you are a companion of Sri Ramakrishna’s companion. Make your mind strong.” In regard to a question about japa he answered, “All power belongs to God. If anyone repeats the mantra, he will definitely get the result. For instance, when the farmer sows seeds, no matter whether they are placed in the ground straight or upside down, they shoot up all the same. He is everything — it is He who gives pain, and again He gives peace. One can overcome all obstacles by repeating the mantra.”
His life of continual service finally took its toll on his health. As his body deteriorated Subodh said to one of his attendants, “Swami Shivananda was telling me, ‘I pray to the Master that you get well and live many more years.’ But I don’t want to live anymore. I had a dream in the early morning the other day. I saw that I left my body. I saw Swamis, Brahmananda, Premananda, and Yogananda. But I did not see Swamiji. I asked them, please tell me, where is Swamiji? They replied, ‘He is not here. He is far above — absorbed in God.’ It does not matter if he is far away, I am going to him. Saying so, I left to find him. Then my sleep broke. I experienced tremendous joy there. They are living in a blissful city. It is hard to come back from there. All pain and suffering are here, in this world.”
Towards the end he had his attendants read to him from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, and the Upanishads. An hour before his death he said that he could see Sri Ramakrishna before him. His final words were “My last prayer is that the blessings of the Master be always on the Order.”
Bibliography:
- They Lived with God, by Swami Chetanananda, Vedanta Society of St. Louis
- http://rkmfiji.org/swami-subodhananda/
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subodhananda