Sacramento Center Report, November 2016

LATIHAN ADDRESS: 1827 Markston Road, Sacramento, CA 95825

LATIHAN SCHEDULE

Women, Wednesday 7:00pm; Saturday 10am
Men, Wednesday 7:00pm; Saturday 11am
Simultaneous, 2^nd Saturday each month 10am
Helper/Committee, 1^st Monday each month 7pm
Active members: Women 15; Men 11

ACTIVE WOMEN HELPERS: Melinda Michaels, Halima Taylor, Francesca Wright

ACTIVE MEN HELPERS: Martin Almanzan, Lucas Hess, Uriel Michael Hardwin, Theodore Salisbury

NATIONAL HELPER: Benedict Herrman

COMMITTEE

Chairman Aminah Herrman
Secretary Kathleen Taylor
Treasurer Lucas Hess
Co-Treasurer Melinda Michaels
Librarian Theodore Salisbury
Property Mgr. Farah Robbins-Hess

GROUP ACTIVITIES

1^ST Saturday of the month, Men and Women Group Testing following latihan
2^nd Saturday of the month, Kedjiwaan meeting following latihan
3^rd Saturday of the month, Center meeting following latihan
4^th Saturday of the month, Birthday potluck following latihan

Group participation for events fluctuates, but they are generally well attended.

Earlier this month, Martin and Laura Almanzan hosted a Sunday breakfast for anyone who wished to come. They were both satisfied with the event and hope others in the group would be stirred to take a turn and sponsor a breakfast.

Our women members held a retreat at Francesca’s home this month and found it very rewarding.

Aminah Herrman and anyone interested are going to be coloring mandalas on October 29^th. Material will be provided, lunch is pot luck.

There are two significant activities planned, but neither has dates as yet. Malama MacNeil is coming to present a method to increase and maintain cooperative behavior. We will also be holding a Center Retreat in the near future, something we have done frequently over the years and had good results from doing it.

We are currently working on filling out the National Census for 2017

THINGS ACCOMPLISHED THIS QUARTER

DUPLEX: A new fence installed on South Side of the property. This was a joint venture with the adjoining property owner who paid for half the cost and contributed work. A new AC unit was installed in the 1841 unit. The old unit trashed its bearings.

We have begun the process of paying off the duplex mortgage to the Region early. We expect to have that completed in early 2022.

HALL: The tree and bushes in front of the building were removed as well as all the old broken concrete where the tree roots had invaded. The tree had begun to crack the building’s foundation. Both the play structure and wooden fort in the back of the building were repaired and made safe for children.

A new wireless fire alarm system is being installed on Nov. 14^th, replacing the AT&T service. We also added a new wireless phone system in the yurt. Both changes will result in reduced operating costs.

A new interior surface in the children’s bathroom was installed, replacing some that had deteriorated due to age.

A new doorbell system was also installed after the failure of the current one.

FINANCIALS

Our tenant continues to provide us with a steady income. Our donations fluctuate month to month but we meet our stated obligation of $450.00 per month to the Region plus insurance and an additional $329.00 per month payment to the duplex to help pay off its loan. While we currently only have $1,100.00 in savings, we expect that figure to increase substantially over the next two years.

Submitted by: Hamilton Chaffee, Regional Council Representative, Sacramento

Palo Alto Center Report – November 2016

Submitted by Dennis Oliver

Latihan location: 330 Melville, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Membership and Latihan

The group has approximately 35 active members. Latihan gatherings occur on:

Saturday at 10:30am: Men 8-10; women 8-10
Monday at 8:00pm: Men 6-8; women 3-5
Thursday at 8:00 pm: Men 8-10; women 3-6

Committee

Philip Lindstrom, Chair
Manuel Oliver, Treasurer
Sylvia des Tombe, Secretary
Paul Garth, Vice-Chair
Dennis Oliver, Rental Coordinator and Regional Councilor

Life of the Center

The Dewan meets monthly for latihan and a meeting about needs, planning for activities and kejiwaan, work required for the house and more. This is central to the ongoing cohesion of the group.
The electrical work to increase the capacity of the kitchen has been completed allowing the group to host events with a larger number of plugin appliances. The work came in under budget at $1,300.
Kedjiwan and testing events were held on April 3, May 1, and June 4.
There was a Ramadan observation and celebration of Bapak’s birthday on June 18 at the home of Lalia and Hamilton Helmer.
The October Regional Council meeting and Connections event at Seven Circles was attended by Doug and Lianne Card, Dennis Oliver, Elizabeth Trudell, Manuel Oliver, Philip Lindstrom and Alexandra Boyer.
Sylvia des Tombe has been offering a Spanish class to Subud Brothers and Sisters on selected Saturdays after the usual morning Latihan. Contact Sylvia for further details.
The group made a donation of $450 to the Los Angles Center in September, to support painting the exterior.
The group made a donation of $1000 to the Subud Voice newsletter in October, which included significant contributions from members, matched by center funds.

Upcoming Events

A Holiday event is in the planning stage.
Members of the Palo Alto group will make a visit to the Marin group on December 18 to share the latihan, food and conviviality.
A general group meeting will be held sometime in (probably) January to review the Palo Alto group’s goals and objectives in the next year.

Financial Status

Rental income continues to be solid. Average monthly income for 2016, including member pledges and rental is stable. The rental space is well booked but with the normal seasonal and market variations.
The Palo Alto dewan voted to increase the group’s monthly pledge to the Region from $500 to $750.

Santa Cruz Center Report – November 2016

By Robin Hammar, Chair

3800 Old San Jose Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95073

(831) 476-3020

Latihan Schedule:

Men’s and Women’s Latihan: Wednesday & Sunday

Wednesday: Quiet time 7:15 PM, Latihan starts at 7:30 PM

Sunday: Quiet time 9:45 AM. Latihan starts at 10:00 AM

ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP

33 Active members: 17 women, 16 men
We have had 2 openings in Santa Cruz within the last 6 months. 1 woman, 1 man.
We have suffered 2 deceased this year; 1 man & 1 woman.

Active Women Helpers: We currently have 4 active woman helpers.

Active Men Helpers: We currently have 3 active men helpers. 1 honorary helper is available, but not formally active.

Committee: SC’s Committee consists of Robin Hammar Chair & Counselor (new), Raina Snyder Treasurer (new), Ralph Davila and Rachmat Martin are our Co-Rental Coordinators, Rachmat is also is our Maintenance Consultant infrastructure steward.

Helper/Committee Dewan Meeting: We usually have several committee meetings a year, or one may be called to handle any pressing issue. These usually take place after our Sunday Latihan. Meetings are usually supported by all regular core members.

Group Culture: We enjoy a core group of 10-12 long time Subud people who have many years’ experience in the latihan and Subud and are the real regulars at latihan. These take their responsibilities seriously. Radiant joy is usually the atmosphere after a Latihan here in Santa Cruz.

This year we have lost (in death) two long time Subud friends; Christie Maurer and Oswald Lake. The losses have been striking; however, the following unity consoling and loving. We have a trickle of inquiries and candidates that become aware of Subud with several each year deciding to be opened. Our group is fun loving and usually host several gatherings through the year at our house.

We occasionally sponsor a regional meeting and enjoy our regional helpers when scheduled. Our Subud group always relies on testing when an unclear issue arises, Bapak’s written guidance and of course, our membership experience, many who were here when Bapak was. Our members are interesting and creative gardeners, singers, therapists, performance artists, community activists with an accent on unity, Spirituality, life preservation and healthy Earth interests. Our people, facilities, and resources are used to enhance and build community here in Santa Cruz. In our meetings and gatherings we always banter around different ideas to enhance this priority.

Facility:

Our building is the evolution of the original Mt. School built in stages beginning in 1893. It is in sound shape. The grounds are minimally landscaped. Our entry foyer and stage/kitchen area are in long-delayed need of repair, restoration or completion. Details include floor replacement in the foyer, drywall texturing, paint, and trim in both areas. We need to raise funds for this and have hoped for some matching funds from the Region to preserve and enhance this special historic regional property purchased in 1973. A plan will be brought to the regional council soon.

A member volunteer has for 9 months looked-after the gardening and grounds and supervised occasional hired help, but she (Holly Rice) and her husband Jeff Stone are moving to Grass Valley this month. We will need to source another solution for this. A few times a year, Holly would organize a few members who were willing to share in potting projects, tidying up and caring for the House. We will miss this very experienced expertise.

We employ a house cleaner to maintain a clean presentable facility for ourselves and renters.

Finances:

Subud Santa Cruz is financially sound and has consistently paid all expenses and contribution commitments to the region on time. (Note: this is historically true for many decades, with the only exception of the one year in which all rentals of the space were canceled due to building renovation) Currently, our rental business is strong with multiple, repeat clients. It is competitive relative to the local facility market and demand for space continues to grow.

We are aware & concerned regarding payments that are in arrears (this was due to inability to rent our property for events while construction repairs). A motion to transfer arrears payments to the backend of our loan is being formulated for action by the Region.

San Diego Center Report – Nov. 2016

From Stephen Kelly, Committee Chair

Latihan Address: 3521 Adams Avenue, San Diego, CA 92116

Men’s and Women’s Latihan Schedule:

Monday (Men)

Quiet time 7:45 PM, Latihan starts at 8:00 PM

Thursday (Men and Women)

Quiet time 7:45 PM, Latihan starts at 8:00 PM

Saturday (Men and Women)

Quiet time 10:30 AM, Latihan starts at 10:45 AM

MEMBERSHIP

48 Active members: 24 women, 25 men
About 25 members attend Latihan at least once a week and financially contribute to the Center.
1 woman and 1 man have been opened since the our May 2016 report.
2 current applicants – one man, one woman – openings pending

Helpers:

Ruben Andrews, Simon Andrews, Rachman Palmer, Halim Berrier, Ishman Clarke

Susan Van Winkle, Safiah Dhada, Renata Reid, Athena Solbeck-Robel

Committee:

Chair/Treasurer: Stephen Kelly

Vice Chair: Matthew Spivey

Secretary: Patti Garcia

Meetings: We will be having a member’s meeting in early December, 2016 to review and test the chair position.

What’s New:

Our 2 new women helpers!

New members:

Makeda Cheatom, Executive Director and Founder of the WorldBeat Cultural Center. View her CV at http://www.worldbeatcenter.org/about-us/people

Manual Cachan

Births: Theodora, beautiful baby girl born to Elena and Rachman Schionning

We moved the Monday and Thursday Latihan times forward ½ hour because members coming from North County were experiencing heavy traffic. It has worked because Thursday night Latihans are now well-attended, especially by women. We are seeing several women who were not attending regularly resume regular attendance. We’re grateful to the International, National and Regional Helpers for visiting us in August and helping us restore harmony to the group.

Facility:

We completed the foundation renovation and have installed a new roof and drain thanks to the Region’s loan and the guidance of the Property Management Committee and also Luqman Katz who reviewed our plans. Click here for details about the roof.

Finances:

We are up to date on our insurance payments, current loan payments and pledge to the Region and meeting all center operating costs. The Taoist Tai Chi Society of the United States has returned to rent the hall for occasional classes and we have secured a monthly weekend workshop rental from the San Diego Creative Weaver’s Guild starting in the new year.

Tijuana Family Outreach

Mikail Collins continues to head up programs for poor families in Tijuana – supported by Susila Dharma and both Subud members and members from the Quaker Church of which Mikail is a member. Recent activities include a Day of the Dead celebration where children received gifts and the start-up of cooking and baking classes for women which it is hoped will lead to an enterprise for the participants.

Supplies for the Underserved Children of LA’s Schools

By Hamidatun Karapetian

Poverty is a reality with which many families contend. When I began the Inner City School Project in October 2011, the unemployment rate in Los Angeles was 12%. At that time, of the more than 50,000 homeless people countywide, 6,066 were under the age of 18. Currently, 4.8% of school children in California are homeless. (see details). Years of budget cuts have eliminated the use of school buses for field trips for LA’s children, let alone supplies once considered core to learning such as pencils, paper, and textbooks. Just recently, I heard that the Los Angeles Unified School District has told schools to plan for how they could cut their budgets again by 30%. That is not good news for schools!

As a veteran teacher, a publisher of books for educational use, and a mother of four children, I have always valued education and keep it in mind when I consider how I can contribute to positive growth in areas in which I live. Through the latihan has come my inspiration for many of my life’s projects, and my current endeavor to bring supplies to inner city school children is no exception. One day, I remembered a school at which I had substituted years ago, and I called the principal to see if her students needed school supplies. She was surprised but admitted that, yes, of course, they did. They needed pencils; boxes and boxes of pencils. After that, I identified three further schools in the inner city, each surrounded by missions, drug addicts, and prostitutes. I called each of them and found each as surprised as the first and each as in need of supplies.

Although these supplies are clearly necessary, education is not just about books and pencils, it is also about basic survival. Without clothes and food, no child can learn. The Inner City School Project has grown over the last 5 years. It is now serving two Early Childhood Centers (in downtown Los Angeles and South Central Los Angeles) plus a kindergarten near the Early Childhood Center downtown.

These children are from 2 to 5 years old and the parents are predominantly Hispanic. The majority of their families are below 70% of the state median income for a family, with most living on less than $10,000 a year, working 1 to 3 jobs, if they can get one. Most are single parent homes, usually a single mom with a few kids. The principal at one of the Early Childhood Centers said one mother sews buttons on for a factory and is paid 10 cents a button!

I now have a grant from Susila Dharma as well as 501c3 non-profit status. I seek donations of books, new clothes and shoes, art and school supplies, as well as food, such as dry beans, pasta and rice. Donations are tax-deductible and we will send for your taxes.

Cash donations are welcome and the Facebook page with a Pay Pal donation button to make it easy! I paid for an ad for 2 days, communicating with 2000 people about the project. I posted on my daughter’s Facebook page, suggesting her friends might like to knit winter hats for kids or buy a child’s t-shirt for the project when they are in a store like Target. Anyone else can do that too!

I also communicate with my local Subud group, asking for donations – in-kind and monetary – and I collect these generous gifts, spending the monetary donations on supplies that have to be purchased from stores and then delivered.

This project can function in Subud groups across the country, as there are poor people and underfunded schools in any variety of communities nationwide. Again, my process began with calling schools in my area and asking them to identify supplies that they need – both for academics and for the personal needs of highly disadvantaged students.

If you would like to donate funds to this effort, please go to Pay Pal on Facebook or write checks to Inner City Schools Project and mail to Hamidatun Karapetian, 5438 Village Green, Los Angeles, CA 90016. If you would like to donate something specific, please write to me at hamidatun1969@gmail.com to let me know what you would like to donate.

The Inner City School Project is enlivening schools and individuals. Thanks to all who have contributed thus far. I encourage those of you who are so inclined and able to do so in the future. It feels deeply rewarding to enact philanthropy at this level: to clearly impact the daily lives of children, growing and learning in schools close by.

Early Days at Subud Sacramento

by Mark Penwell

When Helissa and I arrived in Sacramento in August of 1967, Subud Sacramento consisted of three men and three women. Latihan was held in the home of Ernie and Maulina Pendergast in a small room upstairs. Ernie and Maulina were an elderly couple who had been involved in the Gurdjieff movement. They were in Combe Springs, England when Bapak was invited there by John Bennett, who was the leader of a large Gurdjieff group there. As I recall, this became the first introduction of Subud outside of Southeast Asia, and Ernie and Maulina were opened then.

Right after Combe Springs, Bapak went on the first of his many world tours, preceded by John Bennett to prepare for Bapak’s visits. San Francisco was an obvious place for Bapak to visit, but after that, he came to Sacramento. So Bennett came, then Bapak, after which about a hundred people were opened here in Sacramento. However, by the time Helissa and I arrived, most had moved on.

The two other men in Sacramento didn’t come regularly and eventually disappeared. For about a year or more, it was just Ernie and I, and the three women and Helissa. Eventually some Subud members from other places moved to Sacramento. At one point when we had about 12 members, it became difficult to do the latihan in that small room. Ernie had been a member of the Odd Fellows Fraternal Order in Sacramento who owned a very large, multi-storied building in the downtown area. The Odd Fellows organization was no longer active, but they were renting rooms and halls in the building. Ernie still knew the person in charge of that, so we worked out a deal for the group to rent two of the halls twice a week. We did latihan there for many years.

We didn’t, during that time, function as a Subud Center in the manner of having a committee, business meetings, etc. I collected the donations and paid the rent. Helissa and I went to Council Meetings and Congresses. We also visited the San Francisco, Marin, and Berkeley groups often, and got to know their members. Because of that, some moved to Sacramento, having learned that we now had a “group” instead of just a couple people, and a large place to do latihan. In addition, Sacramento was much more affordable than the Bay Area.

In 1987, the Odd Fellows had to sell the building and we ended up in a small, prefab building at a park that was just an open room. We had to have simultaneous latihans, since there was no place for people to wait while others did latihan. There was a floor to ceiling curtain that could be pulled across to divide the room, but the men and women could hear each other during latihan, and this disturbed some.

In 1994, someone found a building in East Sacramento that belonged to an Interfaith organization that had a large room for latihan and a smaller one where people could wait. While we were at the Interfaith building, we began having meetings discussing the possibility of finding a building of our own. We had a small but stable membership, and it seemed like the next logical step to take.

Next installment: Sacramento finds a house

About the author: Mark Penwell was opened in Sacramento in 1967 and is still part of the Center. He became a helper in 1975. Over the years he served as treasurer, vice chairman and chairman of the group. He and his wife Helissa attended many National and Regional Congresses, as well as two International Congresses: Cilandak in 1971 and Toronto in 1979. He still attends latihan once a week, but became inactive as a helper in 2004 upon retiring from his career as a school psychologist.

Ibu Rahayu’s Message to the National Kejiwaan meeting in Oslo

At the request of the national helpers, Ibu Rahayu’s message to attendees of the national kejiwaan meeting in Oslo was distributed to all Subud USA members. Please read the disclaimer below before opening this message:

The document you are about to access is for viewing by Subud members only (and are subject to copyright). You are politely reminded not to modify, reproduce, copy, display, or distribute all or part of these documents in any form or through any medium without the prior consent of the copyright owner. To request such consent, please contact wsa.secretary@subud.org

Bapak and Ibu Rahayu have previously explained that their talks were received and provided to suit the needs and capacity of the relevant audience. Bapak and Ibu Rahayu have also explained that their talks and writings are guidance, advice and clarifications rather than rules.

Ibu Rahayu’s Message to the National Kejiwaan meeting in Oslo

Protected: Regional Council Minutes, 8/21/16

SICA’s Poems for Peace® Comes to LA

On September 24th, the Yes Salon hosted Poems for Peace ~ LA, a collaborative, interactive celebration of the UN’s International Day of Peace.

“Poems live in our music, our holy books and in our hearts’ says Lael Belove, founder of YES Salon and director of SICA’s Poems for Peace project in Los Angeles. “Poems for Peace allows diverse communities to explore and celebrate what peace means to each of us—to open our hearts through the arts.”

This follows in the footsteps of SICA’s launch of Poems for Peace® in Austin, which became a global initiative and inspired a city-wide celebration of Peace Day reaching over a million people. The launch in LA has also inspired growing and committed partnerships for peace dedicated to getting the city of Los Angeles to formally adopt this initiative to spark citywide engagement in Peace Day.

Festivities included:

Interactive improvisational theatre games led by Ed Greenberg, (Chicago’s the Second City and Laughter for a Change), with members of the musical improv group Robot Teammate and the Accidental Party
Poetic penlight performances by Susan Sims Hillbrand, Artist In Residence for USC IGM Art Gallery,
Didgeridoo “Call to Peace” by David Sonnenschein, Amity Foundation poets and artists,
Acclaimed voiceover actress Martitia Powell-Palmer, poet/founder of The Reacher’s Club
Ronisha Hayden, a poet from The Art of Autism
Robin Borakove in her very Fairie Queen of Peace persona
JD Payza sharing the Hip Hop Declaration of Peace
A screening of Poets for Global Justice founder Dr. Drew Dellinger reading his poem “Hieroglyphic Stairway”.

The International Day of Peace, a.k.a. “Peace Day,” was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981. The first Peace Day was celebrated in September 1982. In 2001, the UN fixed the date of Peace Day as the 21st of September each year. Since then, communities around the world, particularly in the US, have expanded the celebration which begins on 9/11 and continues through the week of September 21. The UN International Day of Peace calls on the people of the world to reaffirm their commitment to living in harmony as members of a single human family.

About Yes Salon International

YES is an acronym for Your Essential Self. YES collaborates with many groups in hosting a wide range of live interactive community cultural events, each focusing on a response to the question, “What are you saying YES to?” YES Salon believes that we change the world for the better one YES at a time. The theme for this year’s September event is Say YES to Peace.

About Subud International Cultural Association (SICA)

The Subud International Cultural Association (SICA) is a nonprofit organization providing programs and services to individuals and organizations working in the fields of art, culture, and creativity for the development of human values across all fields of human endeavor. SICA believes the development of individual talent is critical to building love and respect among people everywhere. SICA, which has a constituency in almost 90 countries, is an active member of the International Coalition of NGOs for Peace jointly led by Peace One Day and Interpeace, a partner organization of the Charter for Compassion, and Americans for the Arts. Poems for Peace® website: http://www.poems-for-peace.org/

Featured Art – November 2016

New Roof for San Diego

San Diego has completed a series of key renovation projects for their Center, starting with new skylights (as reported in Dec 2015 issue), foundation repair (as reported in the Sept 2016 issue) and now with installation of a new roof and drain, for which they had financial assistance through a loan from the Region. They give thanks for the guidance of the Regional Property Management Committee and also Luqman Katz who reviewed the plans. They look forward to being dry for the rainy season!

New roof in progress, working around the skylights

roof-finished-2016 — New roof completed, October 2016

The Early Days of Subud San Diego: 1966-1970

By Ruben Andrews

August 1966: There was a Monday/Thursday evening Latihan in Balboa Park in the House of Friendship which was upstairs from the Cafe Del Rey Morro. The group was composed of several older folks: Herbert and Jeanie Gregg, Patricia Novlan, Anne Blackburn, Richard Simons, Rainer Gartenmen and a growing group of young people.

It was the Summer of Love and Psychedelics. Young men and women, mostly under 25 years old, lined the hallway, waiting outside the Latihan. After the Latihan, Rainer Gartenmen would meet with the men. Rainer would ask in his thick German accent, “Dos anyvone ‘ave any quvestions?” When no one spoke up, Rainer would say, “Vell, if you did ‘ave a quvestion, it might be dis.” And he would proceed to ask and answer his own question.

Soon, the Latihan moved high in an upstairs corner of the House of Hospitality, a huge exhibition hall in Balboa Park where there were often dog shows, flower shows and the occasional Bonzai Plant Show. The Latihan was held in two rooms off a balcony overlooking the exhibit floor. The muffled sounds of the Latihan were audible to the exhibitioners below. We wondered if the Latihan had an influence on the activities below and we joked conversely, that the Bonzai Plant Show might stunt our growth.

The group was growing. Having opened a window of perception to the spiritual, many young people became interested in Subud because of an experience with drugs. Leonard Enos brought many of his circle of friends from the nearby town of Jamul. Mark Frye and Sherill East chanced upon a 33 rpm record in the Thrifty Drugs record bin of Steve Allen’s interview with John Bennett discussing Subud and the 6^th dimension. Friends brought friends. There were about a half dozen older members and 50 young, newly opened members.

The Helper in the Men’s group was Herbert Gregg. Then Harris Nelson and Mark Frye were appointed. The women helpers were Rohanna Novlan, Anne Blackburn, Jeanie Gregg and a newly appointed Diana Frye.

Dan Andrews was selected Chairman. An initial meeting was planned and Herb and Jeanie Gregg offered their house in National City. Herb commented that he believed the new members were not serious and would not come. Despite this prediction, the committee mailed postcards and to Herb’s surprise, nearly 60 people crowded into his house.

Misconceptions thrived. Many of us knew that following the path of drugs would lead to darkness. One member, CJ, said that Latihan would save him from any condition and behavior. Another member told him this was an error and he must correct his own behavior to experience any progress. Despite this advice, CJ’s room became filled with his oil paintings – canvases depicting human bodies and skeletons burning in fields of red, orange and yellow flames. He died shortly after.

Though many of us had our own experiences, we were not completely without external guidance. Nurdin Young appeared from Santa Barbara. His calm, quiet manner provided an indication of what authentic progress and receiving might be. Lucas (Latif) Marotti arrived after the 1967 Tokyo World Congress with stories of Subud in Asia and Indonesia. Luqman Glascow came to San Diego during Ramadan in December 1968 and instructed us how to practice the fast. As he was explaining the discipline required, he passed a drinking fountain, bent over and took a drink. “OOOPS! Oh well! One slip-up, first day.” In 1968, Bapak came to the Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica and some, having no idea what to expect, took this opportunity to see Bapak.

The older men members soon left and new members came. Herbert and Jeanie Gregg moved to Ashland, Oregon. Jayana and Laura Emory came from Salt Lake City. Steven Schriber, a professor at San Diego State University, and his friend Herbert and their riend, Carol (Celeste) Serrian, were opened.

After Latihan, some of us would have coffee and chat at the International House of Pancakes on 4th and Washington where Jeanie, the waitress, would take our complicated orders and join the conversation. Occasionally, there would be a picnic on the grass in Balboa Park where families with youngsters would throw the football and aura Emery would lead a sing-a-long on the guitar.

By 1970, the group had moved to a shingle and wood frame cottage on 6th and Pennsylvania. It was built as a small meeting hall – probably in the 1920’s. There was one large room, a small stage, one bathroom and a small kitchen. A soundproof wall was added for simultaneous Latihans. Hernando and Hadjah Garcia came from Mexico City with Halima Jacobs and their one year old, Ricardo. Luquman and Halimah Clark came from Morocco, where he was stationed in the military.

Though not always the case, Subud San Diego generally enjoyed a place apart, where controversy passed by without effect and people came to visit, recover and regenerate. In 1970, Leonard Enos published “Key to the American Psilocybin Mushroom”, a how-to-book on growing hallucinogenic mushrooms. The last chapter took a radical departure as an introduction to Subud. This caused a stir. The National Helpers were concerned that readers would get the wrong idea. The men helpers were asked to intervene. Mark Frye and Ruben Andrews met with Leonard and he readily agreed to refer any inquiries to the National Helpers – and that was the end of that! to be continued….

Possibilities Shared at Connections Gathering

During the Connections Gathering in Badger, CA on October 9th, 2016, Robert Mertens held a sharing circle at which he invited everyone present to declare a possibility for themselves which might contribute to the health of Subud.

Some of the possibilities declared created points of connection, either within the room or in subsequent conversations, which are noted in italics. The possibilities fell into several categories, as grouped here:

Connect Subud to Communities

Lael Belove: Bring Subud culture into the world through a SICA-sponsored peace day in cities around the world, making SICA a face for inner and outer peace in the world and opening hearts through the arts.

Marwan LoMele: As individuals, volunteer for local projects that matter to our local communities, such as mitigating impact of drought on local forests.

Joshua Horst: Provide family and community with wholesome, natural and nutritious food developed in a sacred manner. Rahman asked if Joshua is open to teaching young people how to do this, and he answered yes

Act Courageously

Elna Cooke: Find the courage to combine her talent for fashion and desire to support sustainability to work on a project which is both infused with the latihan and of benefit to the larger community.

Mary Wold: Meet the challenge of holding the Subud USA Chair role with courage and allow that courage to inform action with lightness and joy

Sulfiati Harris: Find ways at our gatherings to specifically work on developing courage. Have courage to see something to the end and have courage to send the latihan out and let it flow. The visit of the wider Subud community has helped bring the SJV group together. “It helped those of us in the group to see ourselves in a new way and respect our own group more.” The conversation “allowed me to communicate my vision and passion for what I am doing and allowed others to express respect and appreciation for that work, which was healing for me.”

3. Support Older Subud Members

Arthur Barrett: Facilitate access to latihan for elderly members by finding spaces for latihan at senior communities which can also be open to any Subud members. Develop a national ombudsman to develop a network of such locations for latihan throughout the US. Mary suggested contacting Mardiyah Tarantino to connect this with the Elderberry project.

Joshua Horst: There may be a possibility to create a place for elderly Subud members in the Badger area. Young people are being encouraged to have courage to be themselves at Camp Badger.

4. Strengthen Subud Centers

Briana Breen: By the summer, Subud Marin will be the host location for people celebrating meaningful events in their lives, including events for Subud Members. She recommends that centers engage Leo Horthy for a visioning activity to generate inspiration and bring groups together. The Marin Center might be a location for a future Poems for Peace Day event for Marin County

Rahman Schionning: Find a place in Orange County where there can be a regular latihan

Farah Hess: As more possibilities come forward, the healthier our centers will be and more able to develop enterprises and wake up the world by being visible.

5. Develop New Connections

Susannah Rosenthal: Enable Subud members to find each other and connect re new projects by: 1) creating a directory of all Subud Centers in the world with an efficient mechanism for collecting Center information and 2) creating an app for access to Subud expertize, drawing on LinkedIn for content.

Dennis Oliver: support growth and access to the latihan by releasing an app which will show the time for latihan in all centers, as a way for isolated members and elders to align themselves with latihan with various groups.

Lael Belove: Pando Populus is a grove of trees which share a common root. All possibilities have the potential for interconnectedness, and we support each other by acting to make connections. Subud members and groups can play “the Game” as a way to get in touch with possibilities. Lael has been invited to bring the Game to Marin

6. Develop through Latihan

Bustami Pollard: In LA, something has changed as the helpers have the willingness to share and talk about the latihan. The growth of Subud is within all of us, helpers and members, if we have the willingness to share the latihan.

Sjarifuddin Harris: Discern our choice of action by receiving what to do rather than by thinking about it. Find ways to “scramble the mind” to break the log jam of logic.

7. Encourage Harmony

Meldan Heaslip: declared the possibility of working toward harmony and encouraging others to do so.

Hasan MacNeil: Each possibility expressed energizes and harmonizes with the others. We understand and value a harmony with the world that includes those who suffer or are without, and increasingly experience harmony with all that is.

Malama MacNeil: Use “The Way of Council” as a tool for developing harmony, among Subud members, in our presence in communities around us, and with non-human lives. A Way of Council session was held later in the day where participants shared about the aspects they value in the communities they participate in. SICA USA has provided funding for Malama to travel to CA centers who invite her to hold the Way of Council and plans to hold Council in Sacramento are under consideration.

This conversation built on the possibilities declared at a sharing circle held during the Subud CA Regional Congress in May 2016 as captured here.

Peace and Courage – what good is one without the other?

by Hani’a Hummingbird Hototo

I am still angry with you…

You must give me another chance, Peace. I’m not who I once was. Besides, anger does not suit you. Never has.

Do not be chide with me, you haven’t the right. If I could not trust you before, why should I trust you now?

Because I’m different now.

That is hard for me to imagine…

I know, I know… please forgive the folly of my youth. Painful lessons have I learned from my mistake. Most painful is losing your trust.

I needed you. You failed me. And –well you know what happened. The situation now is awful because of you.

Yes, I own it. It’s my fault, all of it. But it can be fixed. I –I mean we can fix it. It can be right again.

We? Have I not heard this before…

I’m telling you I’m different.

Oh? How so? All I hear is talk. All I have ever heard from you is talk. Where will you be when it is time to act?

I will be at your side. You’re right, Peace, talk was all I had, but I’ve been given something much more… I need the chance to prove it. I have what can help you establish what is Just and put the situation right. It is so important that you trust me now.

Establish what is Just? Is it not too late? The situation is a disaster! Even if we were to work together, considering you have changed and can be trusted… It still would not be enough. Do you not remember? Because of your foolishness, Hope has left… What can any of us do without Hope?

She will return. When Hope feels us working together she will return.

What makes you think such?

Truth. Truth has told me.

You dare lie about Truth?!

I do not lie. I cannot lie anymore. Truth has touched me… has changed me.

Do not blaspheme… Why would Truth…

Careful you do not blaspheme. Who can say what Truth will or will not do. Listen, please… Truth has come to me… Not because of me, but because of Truth Itself. It is Truth that will put the situation right… Through you and I working together …It is Truth that will send Hope again and Faith and also Love…

You betrayed Love!!

I did, I did… I do not deny… But I have been reconciled with Love! Truth brought me before Mercy who has washed away my sins, assigned Repentance to watch over me, and has sent me to you. I would not have come otherwise. I am different now. I have even been given a new name. By Truth’s decree, I now am to be known as Courage.

Courage…

Yes.

Perhaps… you have changed. I am willing to believe it so… Still, the situation is so dire… Is there really a chance, Courage? Can what is Just really be established against these odds? It seems impossible. …Doubt overwhelms me…

Doubt suits you less than anger, Peace. Of course, there is a chance else, I would not have been sent to you. I was wont to ask of Truth the outcome but was forbidden… This understanding, however, was given: You are Peace; I am Courage; where one goes the other must ever follow. Whatever chance there is of success depends in equal measure upon our togetherness and our Remembrance of Truth… Being always true …to what is Just …and one another. Though you could not before, upon my very life you can trust me now, Peace, for I know without you, my life is vain: insignificant and void of purpose. And supporting you in the establishment of what is Just is forevermore my purpose…

Archive: November, 2016