Swami Subodhananda was born on 8 November 1867.
“One can see God as one sees two persons talking together or walking. But one should call on God from the bottom of one’s heart. Pray and cry for Him. Demand His vision from Him as children demand toys from their parents with loud cries. Remove all worldly desires from the mind. Always remember: I have a Mother and I am Her son…Those who shall attain spiritual experience will feel comfortable with my ideas and teachings…He who has faith in me, has faith in God; and, again, he who does not have faith in me, does not have faith in God either.”
(Sri Ramakrishna to Swami Subodhananda, p. 537, The God Lived With Them)
One night at Belur Math, Vivekananda was meditating in his room; Brahmananda and Subodhananda were sleeping in the next room. When Swamiji finished his meditation, he woke up Subodhananda and asked if he would mind bringing him a pipe to smoke. Subodhananda did so, and Vivekananda was so pleased that he exclaimed impulsively, “Any boon you ask for shall be granted!” “What could I possibly ask for?” said Subodhananda. “The Master gave us everything.” But Brahmananda said, “No, khoka, ask for something.” So Subodhananda considered carefully and then said, “Grant me this – that I may never, for the rest of my life, miss my daily cup of tea.”
(p.546-7, The God Lived with Them)