On May 4th and 5th, approximately 50 helpers assembled at the Los Angeles Subud Center for a weekend of renewal and learning, The event, planned by the Subud California Regional Helpers, was simply organized and very successful. Several National Helpers joined in this event and brought additional depth and perspective to the gathering.
The center piece of the retreat was a remarkable video of a talk given by Ibu Rahayu (14 PAM 2, March 15, 2014, where she provided an abundance of guidance for helpers in dealing with issues in contemporary Subud. Many of her points were then taken up in small circles. Some of these were receiving circles, some were testing groups and still others, discussion groups.
The event provided a deeper understanding of many points to Subud practice that are not always well understood or explained by helpers. Many felt that these clarifications were very useful and, in some cases, enlightening. The Regional Helpers urge participants to share these with their respective groups and centers. To read the talk, click here, (password is subudca), or view the video in the Subud library.
One new Regional Helper was tested in on that weekend and we welcome Bustami Pollard to the new term beginning in August.
- The event was supported in Los Angeles that weekend by many members of that group; and led by Elna Cook and Hamidatun Karapetian.
Individual Regional and National Helper impressions:
“There seemed to be a confluence of many elements at this gathering, as if the various themes of helper work treated that weekend were emphasized and re-emphasized in all groups of helpers without any direction on the part of anyone there – everything was being received and understanding was fresh and vibrant. The whole event was an affirmation of the correctness of good Subud practices as spoken of by Ibu Rahayu in her talk, I found myself in wonder and gratitude most of the weekend.”
—Sanderson Morgan, Regional Helper
“The weekend seemed to be meaningful for everyone I spoke with. The themes I kept hearing and discussed especially in my small group was in response to Ibu Rahayu’s talk.
What she had to say about people with mental illnesses or “weaknesses” needing at times to stop doing latihan, possibly seek help; that latihan can amplify difficulties for some; much discussion about people in groups who need some kind of intervention and our need to understand what it means to have courage and how to be with those in turmoil, etc.
I am sure there is a lot more, but I was involved with others in personal testing and a discussion with our dewan about some other concerns.
You, the California Regional Helpers, were a beautiful working dewan, and I am continuously appreciative of how well you work together and how well the weekend unfolded because of that.”
—Aminah Herrmann, National Helper
“To me the weekend was really filled with love and respect for each other. Everyone listened to each other on a deep level. We began by asking to be in touch with that place of deep surrender within each of us and to feel our soul/jiwa from that place. The highlight was indeed Ibu Rahayu’s talk. We spread out around the TV to listen and came and went as needed, enjoying that wondrous feeling of watching her talk together. This took us deeply to where we were able to cover various issues in our smaller receiving circles. In the circle I was in we looked at suffering in the world, a very complex issue. We seemed to receive that if we could each put aside our self-interests in our Subud work the latihan could even end wars in the world. Wow. Suzanne Renna was in that circle with me and her experience with having done these receiving circles was essential. As to carrying forth the weekend experience into our local groups I received in a test, “Do local helper latihans. At least once a month.” So here’s to frequent kedjiwan days on a local level. With love and respect,”
—Deanna Foster, Regional Helper
