Archive: June, 2023

Remembering Luzita Davila

NOTE: you can leave your own remembrance in the comment box at the end of this post

by Ramsay Davila

My Mom had been battling cancer for a number of years now. Her journey with cancer can only be described as utterly graceful. Somehow, she escaped the pain and suffering that goes along with this horrible disease.

Most people aren’t aware that my mom had this amazing ability and strength to be there for people in their dying days. A number of people died in my house as a child, people who are sick and needed support. Other times she would fly across country to be with people who are alone, people who she hadn’t seen in years and years. I always thought my mom was doing this because she had some sort of fear of dying alone, and she was trying to use karma to head your bets. I was completely wrong. My mom is not afraid of death. She chose to discontinue cancer treatments, even though they could’ve extended her life. She had seen so many friends struggle with different cancer treatments and decided she wanted nothing to do with it. My mom is karma was to not die alone, but die without pain and suffering with the most grace I ever thought imaginable. She was with her kids at her passing.

My mom‘s name Luzita, translates to “little light”. That could not be more of an understatement. There was nothing little about the light my mom brought. She brought warmth and comfort to everyone around her. She was an amazing mother and wife to dad of 52 years. We lost a good egg. You’ll be missed, mom.

By Halimah Collingwood

For nearly 60 years, Luzita Davila and I were the best of friends. We met in the music scene of the Bay Area in the mid-1960s. She was this happy, smiling, friendly genuine spark of Life that was at every music concert, party or gathering where she would light up the room. My boyfriend at the time and I moved in with her in a tiny funky one-bedroom house in Larkspur, a small town in Marin County. She always had her friends from Santa Cruz visiting and going to, you guessed it, parties. When it was just the two of us living in the house, we were like sisters of the Spirit, ready to be on the go…somewhere.

I had already joined Subud when we met and when a job took her to New York City, I knew she was going to need something to keep her sane. I gave her the phone number of a helper I knew there and soon she was an applicant. I’ll never forget the first time I saw her after she was opened. She came to visit me on my houseboat in Sausalito. I went to the door at her knock, threw it open and there was this Light in front of me – her smile was so bright, her eyes twinkling and I fell in love with her all over again. My feelings were so deep, I knew that I would die for her to save her life.

We met up again in 1970 at Skymont just before Bapak’s visit. She was dating Ralph and they became a couple while there. I went to Indonesia after Bapak left and then the UK, but we continued to write (real letters) and keep abreast of the happenings of our lives.

I wasn’t able to attend her double wedding with the MacNeils at Skymont but I was there for their first child’s birth. My dear Godson, Hartwell, was born in their tiny cabin in September of 1971, surrounded by her Subud sisters and her Subud midwife. I distinctly remember Ann Holiday saying after two hours of pushing, “If you don’t have your baby now, I’m going to take you to the hospital.” He popped out shortly after that!!

In 1983 when my family moved from the UK to the US, we stayed with Ralph and Luzita for 10 days while we decided where to go to find our new home. My sons, three and five, who had lived their first years in a village of 100 people in Scotland without any nearby friends, were overjoyed to be living with four Davila children and with the many Gleeson kids next door. Our lives were bound together forever.

When Luzita was a National Helper, she traveled around the country, making close friends wherever she went. Everyone loved her. She was everyone’s best friend. I remember going to Subud meetings and gatherings and spending very little time with her because she had to catch up with this lady or have lunch with someone else. I once told her that I was jealous because she never made a point to be with me. She was surprised because we were so close that she thought we’d always be there together. Ever after that she was conscientious to spend time with me at each event.

Over the years, Luzita helped many women transition to their new life, giving her all to those people she loved and who deeply loved her. I once told her I wanted her to be my death doula when it was my time. Little did I know that it would be me who was one of her close friends at her side to say good-bye.

“We’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when, but I know we’ll meet again some sunny day!”

Entertainment Night at the Gathering

Is there ever an Entertainment Night at a Congress or Subud event that starts on time? Well, at the San Damiano Retreat Center, it was as close as you will ever get. A beautiful dance by our regional helper, Helena Mertens set the tone for the evening, with an improvised song from Sofia Madden backing her.

Gospel songs from our sister, Hosanna Bauer from Sonoma filled the Chapel with the power and lyricality her voice – we especially loved it when she included the audience, providing tambourines for the seven who raised their hands. Thank God they could keep a beat.

Halimah Collingwood, the MC and organizer of the night, and Melissa Joy, her understudy, kept the audience laughing with spontaneous silliness but also some astute and timely jokes, quips and sarcasm including when Philip Lindstrom played his Woodstock red guitar singing several songs from Mexico. Only if you were there would you remember Halimah saying, “Or even in Spanish.” You’ll have to ask a friend the meaning of that remark.

We had excellent poetry from Emmanuel Williams, Raina Snyder and Leanna Harrison, finger-picking from Reynold Weissinger, songs from Stephanie Ferreira, and also Lucas who, it was said, traveled all the way from England to sing for us. Damon Hyldreth shared his Subud joining and Sculpture calling story which is always worth remembering.

The final burst of energy was a “growing-up in Subud” tale from Hamid Martin. Moving or gliding across the stage with occasional physical theatre drama, we all laughed when he referred to the audience as, “people who look like you guys” — again, you had to be there. Ending the night was a well-known Hawaiian farewell song with the words written large enough for us all to sing along with Hosanna Bauer.

Another wonderful evening of Joy, Laughter and Love shared by our Subud members came to an end. Just remember, you MUST come to Congress next year. It can only get better.

Sara Couden Sings Locally this Summer

Sara Couden, daughter of Henry and Priscilla Couden, is performing at several events this summer:

– With West Edge Opera as Ottavia in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea: 22 July at 8pm, July 23 at 3pm, and August 3 at 8pm, at the Scottish Rite Center, 1546 Lakeside, Oakland.
– With Lamplighters as Castiscià (Katisha) in Il Ducato (The Mikado set in Renaissance Italy): August 12 & 13, Mountain View Performing Arts Center; August 19 & 20; San Francisco Yerba Buena; August 26 & 2, Walnut Creek Lesher Center.

Reflections on the 2023 Regional Gathering

Subud members came together over the Memorial Day weekend for latihan and fellowship. The team, led by Chair Meldan Heaslip, offered a delightful and restorative experience for all. A big thank you to Meldan, and to all the team members who enabled it to happen. Reports from several attendees, below, give a sense of setting and flow.

by Sanderson Morgan

Approximately 150 California Subud members and a few from other regions in the United States, met at the Franciscan San Damiano retreat center in Danville, California May 25 – 29, 2023. The center is situated in the mountains above Danville and surrounded by an Oak forest and an abundance of native plants of which many are still in bloom.

San Damiano itself is modeled after northern Mediterranean architecture with tiled roofs and a large inner arched courtyard filled with gardens. The guest rooms are within this area and there are many surrounding woodland trails along with views of Mt. Diablo to the east.

There were six scheduled latihans over the weekend, frequent testing sessions, workshops and communal meals. There were many opportunities for deep receivings, inner work and, for many, new ways to see their own lives going forward. The weather was ideal, the company was good and all enjoyed many reunions.

by Sylvia des Tombe

From Friday the 26th until after lunch on Monday the 29th of June, many of us attended the 2023 California Regional Subud Gathering. It took place in Danville, California, at a retreat named in honor of Saint Damian, a faithful follower of Saint Francis of Assisi.

It was an ideal location, as there were ample meeting halls for our latihans and times when we wanted to be all together, and there were medium-sized places for workshops and testing. Everywhere there were gardens and fountains, places to sit outside, and the bedrooms were spartan but definitely adequate for our needs (and reasonable for our pocketbooks).

We started by hearing the names of everyone on Friday night at the gathering after dinner, and a highlight was the Saturday night entertainment, where we witnessed and enjoyed poetry, music and even birdsong.

When people used to ask Bapak about doing latihan on their own, he would answer that each of us was like a light bulb, and when there were many lightbulbs shining all together, that was the best. We experienced many latihans together, and there is little more wonderful than having people of different nationalities and religions worshiping peacefully side by side! Best of all, we had a chance to receive in the latihan what ‘gifts’ we were bringing to the gathering and which we were receiving.

Saint Damian, after whom our retreat was named, was a martyr saint. He lived with his brother in Cilicia, southern Turkey, between the third and fourth centuries. He and his brother were doctors who treated the sick without asking payment, and both died as martyrs during the persecution of Emperor Diocletian. Their cult had immediate diffusion, in part, because several people who had invoked them experienced miraculous cures. They are always depicted together, with containers of drugs and medical instruments. They are invoked against the plague, glandular inflammation, kidney problems, gall stones and distemper. They are the protectors of doctors, surgeons, dentists, pharmacists, midwives, barbers and hairdressers.

by Haryanti Jones

The venue is beautiful! The cold weather didn’t stop us from hanging outside and doing hikes around the property. And, the fact that it’s a worshipping place makes it even better! The space of the venue is perfect for the size (the number of people) of the gathering. The food was delicious. They provide gluten free and vegan food for people who have special diets. How wonderful!

We had sharing circles and an entertainment night, but we didn’t have a Bapak Talk. Bapak left us with so many talks to help us to understand better about kejiwaan. Something to include next time!

The helpers were very helpful during latihans and testings. We were blessed to have them all at the gathering. The local, regional, and national helpers were very kind, helpful, and accommodating.

Subud women enjoy a light moment together during the Gathering.

Annual General Meeting

Reports on Regional Finances and an initiative to update our Bylaws plus Center reports made at the Annual General Meeting held at San Damiano during the Gathering are available HERE.