Highlights of the Subud California Virtual Gathering

by Laura Paterson

“So your work is needed, each one themselves, and each must support the whole, so that the whole may succeed and become as one unit.” –Bapak Muhammad Subuh, Swanwick, July 9, 1977 SWK 

Subud California made Subud world history on August 7-9, 2020. When it became apparent that convening an in-person Regional Gathering would be a distant happy memory, the Gathering Team pivoted on a dime and zoomed into the future.

Dennis Oliver, Elizabeth Trudell, Rifka Several, Henry Couden, Halimah Collingwood, the Regional Committee, and Haryanti & Luke Jones as the key “IT specialists” fused their talents and experience into a paradigm-shifting event, matching the demands of our continuously evolving reality.

This first Subud Virtual Gathering exceeded all expectations, including size of attendance. More than 200 Subud members, including some from all around the Subud world, embraced the new technology and joined in, experiencing the deep latihans, inspiring testing, and warm personal connections that have characterized these cherished annual events from the very beginning days of Subud. Thanks to the harmony, dedication and hard work of the Subud California Regional Helpers, nothing was lost to the members of the wide spiritual experience of a Regional Gathering. 

Friday evening opened with a half-hour of Bapak Songs and Prayers – what bliss once again to hear Bapak singing and praying and playing the gambang.  It was a beginning to fill everyone attending with the all-enveloping joy and warmth of a large Subud gathering.  Harlan Gleeson, Subud California Regional Helper, then offered a warm welcome to members, which was followed by a recording of a talk given by Bapak in Marin County in 1977. The event closed with an informal Meet ’n’ Greet in the Zoom space.

Saturday started with latihan and testing, with the Regional Helpers providing deep, quiet, and harmonious support for profoundly satisfying latihan and testing experiences for all participating. 

On Saturday afternoon, the Subud California Annual General Meeting (AGM) took place, chaired brilliantly by Rifka Several.  It was deeply reassuring to see that, in spite of the COVID-havoc rampaging through society at large, Subud affairs were being handled with enormous responsibility, professionalism, and calm, harmonious teamwork.  For this, the Region is greatly indebted to the careful and caring stewardship of the Regional Executive Committee and Council, as well as of the Committees of each of the Regional Groups and Centers.

The AGM was opened with prayers being offered by the Regional Helpers, followed by brief reports by various Subud entities, and was run as a very tight ship indeed, with 5 minute limits. The first person to go down to the gong was none other than our esteemed Regional Chair!  The Academy Awards have never been so well disciplined as was Subud California’s AGM. All that was missing was the orchestra! (see a more detailed report on the AGM HERE).

Following the AGM, the latihan included choices for three break-out testing sessions each for both men and women. In addition to the testing breakouts, there was also the option to participate in a concurrent “Chill & Chat” session in the Zoom meeting space for informal conversation.

Saturday evening saw the highly anticipated ‘Saturday Night Lockdown Live,” conceived and produced by Halimah Collingwood. A wonderful time was had by all! (see more details on the entertainment HERE). 

Sunday morning started with latihan, followed by a brief memorial for members who have transitioned during the past year, and a final Sharing Circle. A real sense of sharing and community was felt by everyone who participated (see more details in the sharing circle HERE). 

Following are my thoughts and observations about this very successful and ground-breaking Subud California Virtual Gathering:

1.  The COVID-19 pandemic has created the necessity for an ongoing whole new paradigm for enabling human connectivity.
2. Subud California has created a prototype that can be used to advantage by any other Subud entity faced with the necessity of planning a virtual gathering.
3. There is a real vibrancy of inner and outer life and a real love and harmony evident throughout the membership.
4. Subud organizational committee and helper functionality is mature, professional, dedicated and effective.

These observations all serve to create a real confidence that Subud will withstand the crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic and emerge from it with everything about the structure, as it was created by Bapak, intact and able to flourish far into the future.