In February 2018, International Helpers Suzanne Renna, Myriam Ramsey, Sjarifuddin Harris and Mahmud Nestman visited centers and groups across California. At many visits, they had an opportunity to share their experiences in conversation circles.
Although the details differed from site to site, the following notes, taken by Sylvia des Tombe during their visit the Palo Alto Center, represent common themes: their conversation with Ibu Rahayu, the forthcoming new helper’s book, visits in South America and plans for the World Congress.
Ibu Rahuyu
Their overall impression was amazement at how much Ibu loves and cares for us all. Even though she is frail (weighs less than 80 pounds!), she can be strong. At the celebration of 70 years of Subud in Indonesia, she was able to give a talk and test with members. She wants to attend the World Congress in Freiburg to be with her brothers and sisters in Subud. Every night she prays for many Subud members to give them her support. She is committed to Subud and in alignment with Bapak. (Apparently, the archives hold 40,000 letters received by Bapak and 20,000 for Ibu.) Now, she reiterates, it is better if local helpers answer the members’ questions.
What will happen to the leadership of Subud when Ibu passes away? Both Bapak and Ibu had very special spiritual experiences. After Bapak’s death, people implored Ibu to help out, so she did. But there is no one who has had analogous experiences. No one will step into her role.
Ibu would very much like for her office to continue to exist to help with research. Some talks and correspondence have not yet been codified. It would be good if those materials could be consulted and used for general guidance. Raymond Lee and Muti (may she rest in peace) did considerable work in this area. Sharif and Tuti have been tireless working on Bapak’s talks and helping make this second great resource (in addition to the latihan itself) available to us all in as accurate and fluently readable form as possible.
As for the conferring of names, Ibu said that the International Helpers can assist members with that (or local ones, or family members). It was mentioned that it’s not always necessary to have one’s “soul name;” what IS important is that the person likes the name.
Ibu said (reminiscent of JFK), “Subud members should not ask what Subud can do for them, but what they can do for Subud.” She said we need to build independence for members in life so they can be successful. Ibu asked that the IH’s work on the helpers’ book, so that it contains Bapak’s actual words and be clear and simple.
New Helper’s Book
The new helpers’ book, due out by Congress, is to be called Advice and Guidance for Bapak’s Helpers. The idea is that this book could actually be for anyone. Ibu said to the IH’s that most of the old book’s content was taken from podium translations, not from the final translations meticulously corrected for accuracy and republication.
Helpers’ groups have been asked for input, and, as a result, there will be some new chapters which are relevant to contemporary issues, such as harmony, crisis, mental illness, etc. The part about the application process has been reworked, based on how Bapak used to do it. Subud Publications International, Ibu’s office, Sharif, and Tuti all have been working on this.
Visits in South America
The IH’s visiting us reported that they had visited, over the four years of their term of service, the Subud groups in all the countries in North and South America (“Area 3”), with the exception of Venezuela. The speaker noted some differences between the Latin American groups and those here in the US: “Old” members there are in their 50’s; the younger members are the ones who get the older ones to join; people’s personal priorities are 1) God; 2) family; and 3) work. There is a different feeling there about the worship of God and its place in life. There is lots of energy. The young are open to many new things. Some Subud houses function as community centers for members: people are there all day and just come and go.
The IH’s worked hard to help resolve conflicts along their way. In Colombia, they visited 13 groups in 17 days! Their days start at 9 a.m. and sometimes do not finish until midnight or 1 a.m. Yet, somehow, they receive the strength to do the job. Bapak stressed that the effect of the latihan was what was important, the results. In the last year and a half, the helpers’ groups they have worked with have become more harmonious, and a lot of young members who had left have come back. There is an eagerness to serve Subud; for example, in Colombia, there were nineteen candidates for the national chair! Often, the IHs’ job is to help members/local helpers have a more active latihan.
The IH’s try not to work from their hearts and minds, but to receive and share their receiving. This provides a “safety net” for them. Then they test how God would have them be/what God would have them do as helpers.
The World Congress
The theme of the Congress will be Unity, and there are two architects who are charged with crafting the large space/spaces we will use to make it/them resonate with this message. Latif Vogel, a second-generation Subud architect, is one. The other is a specialist in exhibitions.
A central area will be called the “Subud Village.” There will be booths for all the wings, such as SICA and Susila Dharma, so they will not be separate from the main large areas (one warehouse for men’s latihan, one for women’s). There will be a “TED Talk Stage” which can accommodate more than 400 people at once, and another area which can seat 4,000. All spaces have windows.
The idea is for the latihan to be at the center, surrounded by various ways to it put into practice. Moving around the area will be like a journey, a chance to see the unity of all Subud activity. Meals will be served on long corridors. There will be diverse foods offered, and we can use “meal cards” to prepay. It is hoped that there will be 2,150 paying members who will attend the Congress. The idea is for the first 3 days to focus on welcoming activities and kejiwa’an; day 4 on elections; day 5 on tours; days 6-9 on subject-topics in circles; day 10 for official business, and the last two days for plans to put it all into practice.