Interviewed by Halimah Martin and Halimah Collingwood

In this Interview,  nonagenarian, Oswald Lake, former CA Regional Chair and USA Chair, who is now part of Subud Santa Cruz, tells the story of how he came into Subud:

Asa and I spent two years in the desert in Eastern Washington at an Atomic Energy Plant. Our first child, Johnny, was born there.

After I got my regular Army commission, I realized that I had to make the decision to either keep the commission or keep Asa. And I always teased her: “I kept the wrong one.” I left the Army.

We didn’t want to go back to St. Louis so we moved to Santa Monica, California in 1952. We bought a house. Larry was born in Santa Monica. The house wasn’t right, so we bought a second house, later selling the first one. We did some remodeling. Johnny and I would go there on weekends and work on it. We finally moved in and William was born in February. In March of 1954, Johnny drowned in the swimming pool of a neighbor’s yard. We didn’t even know the pool was there because the house was up on top of the hill. So our number one son was gone. He was 2 ½ years old.

It affected both of us in different ways. For example, I was talking to an Episcopal priest in Santa Monica. I found out later that he had lost a child, too. I said, “How do you get over this?” He said, “You don’t. You get around it.” Wow! And I have used that (philosophy) in more situations. When I have a problem, I don’t try to get over the problem, I get around it.

Asa, on the other hand, was still looking for an answer to “why?” And she never really did get it, but she kept reading and searching and looking for some other source of religious…I don’t know what you call it.

A professor moved in next door to us. He taught at Santa Monica City College and had a wife and four kids. They were nice people. His name was Bill Jones. He was also searching. So Asa and Bill would yackety-yack back and forth: “Oh did you read this book…?” Asa and Bill had actually attended a couple of Gurdjieff meetings and decided that wasn’t for them. I babysat, and it wasn’t for me either. So Bill went to a Hollywood bookstore and asked if any new spiritual books had come in. He was told that they had a new book by John Bennett called Concerning Subud. Bill bought the book, read it, and almost screamed, “I found it!” He and Asa tried to find out where Subud was in Los Angeles and finally found it. This was in 1959. They got hold of Earl Robinson, the contact in Los Angeles.

In those days, probationers’ meetings were not held on a latihan night, they were held separately. So I babysat. I hadn’t read any of this book. Asa and Bill and a couple of others went to a place near downtown for the meeting. The rule in those days was if the wife wanted to be opened, the husband had to give his permission. While I’m reading in bed and the kids are asleep, Asa says, “Honey, I don’t care what you say, I’m going to join Subud.” I said, “You’re going to join what?” She gave me Concerning Subud. I threw it on the night table and there it sat.

I think the probationer meeting was every two weeks. Latihan was on Monday and Thursday. Later, on a Wednesday night, she said, “I signed you up for the next probationer meeting.”

Anyhoo, at that next meeting there were 5-6 people from our little area in Santa Monica, friends, and so forth. I had a station wagon so we took a load and went there with me driving. We walked into this empty house with a bunch of those hard wooden folding chairs and all kinds of people – I mean hippies, beatniks, who knows what – all kinds of people…strange. Pretty soon a man stood up wearing a suit and tie and started talking. That was Earl Robinson. Then, a woman stood up and talked. She was nicely dressed and she wasn’t a hippie – Mary Coddington.

Afterward, it was open for questions. People would stand up and answer the questions. There were members there, too. They had coffee and pamphlets, brochures and things you could buy. Husein Rofé’s book wasn’t out yet. There were 5 or 6 of us all walking out and Earl said to me, “What do you think about us?” I said, “I don’t know what in hell they are talking about.” He says, “Are you coming back?” I said, “Oh yes.” I got the answers to my questions and then I sat for two weeks between meetings. I read the book. I didn’t know what they were talking about. But I knew from within that it was important. So who got us into Subud? Asa did, or I did or what? I don’t know.

We were scheduled to be opened in three months. The group that was ahead of us got opened. When it was our turn, after three months, they said no, Bapak was coming back to the U.S. for a second trip. He was here in 1958 and he was coming back for a ’59 trip. It was decided we would be opened when Bapak was here. Poor Ibu (Sumari, Bapak’s wife). For years afterward, she’d say, “Oh Los Angeles – 200 people!” I don’t know if it was 200, but it was a large group. We’d collected people from various groups of probationers in different California locations over a period of 4-5 months.

They had to rent a bigger hall and they had scheduled us to be opened not all at once but in smaller groups on different nights. They gave us notice about when each of us would be opened. The trouble was, we had a carload of people from Santa Monica. So we all arrived on one day. This would be the first time we’d been around the latihan. We had never heard it.

There were 25-30 men waiting to be opened that night. Glasses off, shoes off, etc., and someone said “Stand up.” Someone said, “Begin.” I mean, I was quiet but what ensued was screaming, hollering, jumping all around me. It was a shock. I’d read Bennett’s book which describes what can happen in the latihan. I knew what was coming, but it was still a shock.

Bapak was there. We were opened by Bapak. Asa was opened that same night by Ibu. In fact, the membership card they gave out had two dates: 1) the date we were actually opened and 2) the date we were signed up to be opened. Whoever typed up the card didn’t know which of the two dates was correct.

That visit and all those openings marked the start of the Los Angeles group. There were other groups, too, maybe Long Beach. There were enough people to have another center but I forget where. San Francisco was the other big group in California and a few other smaller groups around. Then they decided to make California a corporation. All the groups were part of that corporation. And the name of it was “Subud.” I wasn’t in on the organization and structure at that time. This was before SNA (Subud North America).

When any other group wanted to be official – Subud NY, Subud Washington DC – they had to get our permission to use the word Subud. When Subud North America was formed, it had to get California’s permission. The period that I was chairman of Subud in California was when we changed the name to “Subud California.” And when I was chairman of SNA, we changed the name to Subud USA. This was initiated by Bapak, in about 1969. Mexico had grown and so had Subud in Canada. Originally, Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. made up Subud North America. Mexico and Canada each wanted their own national organization.

After latihan, we would hang out at the Olympian Hotel. When we started having corporate meetings, we’d get together with San Francisco and other groups. Sometimes we’d meet in Cambria, at the Cambria Pines, half way between the two big centers. There we’d meet and talk. When you get Subud people together, they can’t shut up!

With so many members having visited Puebla and other parts of Mexico for the 2014 World Congress, this history of Subud Mexico from its founding in 1957, including details of a number of visits by Bapak, will be of interest to many. It gives a fascinating glimpse into the spread of Subud throughout the world.

As witnessed and stated by Karimah Towle

The First Steps

1957, in Mexico City, was the beginning when a group of friends interested in the teachings of Gurdjieff as presented by Ouspensky and Dr. Maurice Nicol, decided to meet and work together in a formal way. This group was formed by Toby Joysmith, Edward Wygard, Wita Wygard, Pamela (Lydia) Duncan, Katherine (Melissa) Manjarrez, Juan Martinez del Cerro, and Josefina (Karimah) Towle. The idea was to try and carry out the practice of the exercises as recommended in the “Work” so as to reach a palpable result, in other words, spiritual development.

However, after a time of systematic reading, discussions, and practice, we realized this was insufficient since we had no guidance from an experienced trainer. It was then that Lydia suggested writing to a group led by Dr. Roles and see if someone could actually come and work directly with us. Lydia remembered that she was on very good terms with Stella Kent who had been left in charge of one of Dr. Nicol’s groups after his death. We agreed to write to her in London, asking her if she might consider coming to Mexico to coach us on the proper performance of the exercises and thereby arrive at an understanding of the essence of the “Work.” Stella agreed to come and stay for as long as we needed her.

It was decided to invite others to help meet the expense of her stay, including the boat journey. To this end, we invited Beban Dobbie, Jaime Ribas, Eleanor Lincoln, Peter Morris, and Pauline Guegnier. Subsequently, after each meeting, we decided to contribute a fixed amount to make a fund to defray the needed expenses of the journey and stay.

Meanwhile, we continued working as usual, but unexpectedly, we learnt about Subud through two magazine reports, Time and Paris Match. Both focused almost exclusively, on the “miraculous” cure experienced by Eva (Ilaina) Bartok, thanks to the “powers” of a “saint” or “guru” recently arrived from Indonesia called Pak Subuh –Muhammad Subuh Sumohadiwidjojo.

Almost at the same time, we received three introductory talks by John G. Bennett related to the meaning of Subud. They were the same as those he had given to groups interested in the development of the self, and who, at that time, were following the techniques of Gurdjieff. In that way, we were to learn that Pak Subuh, Bapak, had been the first to receive the latihan kedjiwaan from the Power of Almighty God and that he had become the channel through whom those wishing to experience the process of purification and development by means of the latihan, which allows every person to re-establish their connection with the power of Almighty God. It was in this manner that the Subud latihan spread both inside and outside Indonesia to give rise to what came to be known as the Subud Association.

Following almost immediately, we also received news from Stella Kent, telling us she had been opened in Subud and wanting to know if, in spite of that, we still wanted her to come to Mexico and give us guidance in the “Work” practice. Without the slightest hesitation, we accepted.

After Stella’s arrival in Mexico, in 1958, she made meanings of certain key concepts in the teachings of Ouspensky and Gurdjieff clear to us. She also spoke briefly about Subud. She suggested we get in touch with J. G. Bennett, in whose Centre at Coombe Springs Bapak was staying, and invite him to come over. With this idea in mind, more people were invited to join our group. Among those who came, was Drinda (Hosanna) Baron, Barbara and Eugenio Eibenschutz, Eric Guegnier, Mary and Chris King, and a good number from the Rodney Collin-Smith group, headed by Samuel Mancera.

Sometime before Bapak’s visit to Mexico, and as a result of our shared interest in the Subud experience through Bennet’s talks, Stella Kent first opened Wita Wygard, then Beban Dobbie, Eleanor Lincoln; Karimah Towle, Melissa Manjarrez; then Hosanna Baron and Pauline Guegnier. This happened during and near the end of 1958. I would like to add that both Lydia Duncan and Edward Wygard had already received the Subud contact in London.

In February 1959, John Bennett and his wife, Elizabeth, arrived in Mexico just before Bapak’s scheduled visit. They stayed in Eleanor Lincoln’s house. In preparation for Bennett’s visit, Toby Joysmith, then manager of the “Librería Británica (the British Bookshop), had invited numerous people from different “esoteric” groups and associations to attend the introductory talks about Subud which would be given by J. G. Bennett as an introduction to Bapak’s coming in March, 1959. After Bennett’s arrival, it became possible for the men who had been waiting, to receive the Subud opening. Those included were: Juan Martinez del Cerro, Peter Morris, Jaime Ribas, Eric Guegnier, Samuel Mancera, Toby Joysmith, Eugenio Eibenschutz and Chris King.

Soon afterwards, many other people who had completed the three-month waiting period and had received the appropriate information, received the latihan, including Paloma and Vicente de la Rosa, Anita Villarreal, Irene e Irma Matamoros, Leonor Martinez, Rosa Poy, Aurora Juarez, Luis Perez Maldonado, Francisco Struck, Juan Abel, Walter and Arcelia Brauer, Erika Brauer, Judith Forgrave, Norma (Halimah) Jacobs, Donald and Dorothy Cordry, Donald Campbell, plus a great many other people.

Bapak’s  First Visit

Finally, in 1959, I had the opportunity to meet Bapak in Mexico, D.F. when he arrived with his wife, Ibu Siti Sumari, his daughter Mbahju Rochanawati, Dr. Anwar Zakir and his wife, Ratna; all staying at the Wygard home. Bapak gave a few talks in the venue of the group in Campeche 1811 and others in a building located on Insurgentes avenue 400 inside a small auditorium. Both Bennett and Dr. Zakir translated from the Indonesian into English and then the translation into Spanish by Edward Wygard and Juan Martinez del Cerro.

When I met Bapak, what impressed me most was his unassuming bearing, his gentleness and affability, and his openness and good disposition towards all of us. His attitude was not that of a sage, a guru, or a special being. I remember that several people arrived to see him at Wita’s home and he answered their questions, though some were rather impertinent, with extreme seriousness and courtesy.

During his stay, about 1,000 people were opened, but only about 100 remained practicing regularly. Those first group latihans were quite violent, noisy and heavy.

Towards the end of his stay, Bapak authorized Wita Wygard and Peter (Albert) Morris to open new members, while the rest of us helpers should wait for six months before being authorized as openers. He also advised us to form a committee, consisting of a president, a secretary, and a treasurer in order to constitute the organizational side of the association.

In that same year, following his advice, the first committee was integrated with Edward Wygard as president. Subsequently, and up to 1971, that task fell to different members in turn: Samuel Mancera, Francisco Struck, Hosanna Baron, Juan Martinez del Cerro, Paloma de la Rosa, Arcelia Brauer, and Mashri Rodriguez.

The spiritual side was organized so as to provide information to those interested in learning about Subud. The helpers would take turns in giving the talks while the rest were present to complement and support. These were to be held once or twice a week and this arrangement allowed Beban Dobbie, secretary to note down in a notebook the names of those attending and those interested in receiving the opening.

Later in 1959, Bob Prestie, a Subud member from the US, had spoken about the latihan to some people in Durango (a state in Mexico) and he informed us about their wish to be opened. Therefore, Wita Wygard, Albert Morris and I traveled to that city in order to tell them about Subud and open those who so desired. There were about 10 men and 6 women.

It must be stressed that the active members of Subud in Mexico City had been deeply impressed because the latihan had touched them profoundly; their expectations apparently fulfilled. They asserted that their experience had been an intense one, never having experienced the like before. Nevertheless, with time, some gave up and stopped exercising, either because that first impact lost its edge or they discovered it was not what they were looking for.

Later on, the Mexico City group translated About Subud by J.G. Bennett and Bapak’s Susila Budhi Dharma, which were published thanks to Paloma de la Rosa who had connections with the Editorial Iztaccihuatl. Upon reading Bennett’s book, many people came inquiring about Subud.

Further Encounters

In 1963, after having already met Bapak personally, we received a second visit. This time he was accompanied by his wife, Ibu Siti Sumari, Mas Usman who was to translate into English, and his wife, Aminah. Eleanor Lincoln received them in her house where the brothers and sisters could consult Bapak about their personal problems. Indeed, many came.

On that occasion, there were about 80 members and among them already practicing for some time, were: Guadalupe (Virginia) Benitez, Esperanza (Leonor) Lopez, Jesus Hernandez, Lydia (Mariamah) Belmont, and Concepcion (Halimah) Lopez. Everyone came to listen to Bapak’s explanations and to participate in the latihan kedjiwaan, the women at Eleanor’s house, and the men at Albert’s. The latihans were particularly intense; the energy felt as great heat.

That same year, from the 8th to the 25th of July 1963, the Second Subud World Congress was held in Briarcliff, New York. I attended as a representative, being the group secretary, as well as Francisco Struck who was then our president. During the sessions, all those present were able to participate, not only the delegates. They questioned, gave opinions, manifested their doubts, etc. I translated everything which took place, word for word while Andres (Yara) Fernandez Gatica took it all down in shorthand which he later transcribed into a typewritten report which I handed in to Edward Wygard.

In the aforementioned congress, we had the opportunity of meeting members from other nations, like Varindra Vittachi, who was then elected, through testing, as the president of the World Subud Council (WSC), as well as Livingston Dodson as president of the International Subud Committee (ISC).

In 1965, the first National Subud Congress in Mexico was held in Puebla (Agua Azul) and was attended by Livingston Dodson. At this congress presided by Edward Wygard, who was both local as well as national president, Yara Fernandez Gatica was elected as the next national president.

Five years after his second visit in 1968, we received Bapak again accompanied by Ibu Siti Sumari, Aminah and Mas Usman, this time staying at Hosanna Baron’s house. Of the talks that Bapak gave us then, I especially remember the emphasis he placed on the importance of practicing the fast of Ramadan as it was a special time of the year when it was possible to receive experiences of a spiritual nature, which were not dependent on whether one belonged to a specific religion. He also tressed the benefits of fasting (prihatin) on Mondays and Thursdays.

On that same occasion, we were visited by several US members who declared that they had received that they should come as they would have a unique experience. And indeed, such an experience did occur…

Bapak was conducting a testing session with some brothers and sisters in the living room while Aminah and myself were making a cake in the kitchen. Suddenly, someone called Aminah, who left, but came back immediately, urging me to leave everything and follow her because Bapak was receiving. We rushed into the living room where many brothers and sisters were assembled. An intense energy filled the room and unexpectedly, he started praying and we all fell on our knees. Many started to weep, including Mas Usman who could no longer keep on speaking. I heard Bapak’s prayer: “Allah, Allah, Allah” and as he finished his prayer, he told us he had just taken us before God. Each on of us felt and saw something different. In that way, Lydia heard: “I am your Guide; I am the Way”; while Wita saw and heard Jesus Christ telling her that she was forgiven, adding “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

However, even after having had such a profound and significant experience, a number of brothers and sisters allowed other considerations to fill them with doubt, questioning what is received by means of the latihan and eventually give up its practice.

On three further occasions, Bapak again visited us. In 1969, also accompanied by Ibu Siti Sumari, Aminah and Mas Usman; another time in 1972, then with Ibu Mastuti, Ibu Rahayu, Tuti and Sharif Horthy who translated from Indonesian into English. On both these trips they stayed at Hosanna’s.

His last visit took place in 1977. Then Ibu Mastuti, Ibu Rahayu, Muti and Tuti, besides Sharif Horthy came with him. Viviana Lerma and Roberto Garcia organized their stay and all the activities which were staged at the Camino Real hotel. They also visited Luqman Ballesteros at his home as well as the Subud group in Puebla and Yara and Ramona’s home.

Before this last journey of Bapak’s to Mexico, the Subud brotherhood received Mas Prio Hartono who had been named ambassador to the Americas by Bapak at the end of the 1971 World Congress and in that same year he arrived, accompanied by his wife, Rukmiwati and his two youngest children, Harti and Sumitomo, and sharing in our daily lives. He visited all the existing groups, Ayotla, Mexico City, Puebla, some isolated members in Toluca. He gave talks and lived with different families, finally going to live at Hosanna’s. Mas Prio’s visit motivated many Subud members, especially the younger ones, helping them to have greater trust and conviction in their practice of the latihan. His wife, Rukmi, also opened herself to the female members sharing and aiding us in our practice.

In retrospect, considering those first years of Subud in Mexico and the impression made by Bapak, everyone agreed that Bapak was a special being. In those days, there was a great deal of effervescence, of enthusiasm and deep conviction. Nevertheless, through the years, they drew away. One of the reasons for their desertion mentioned quite openly was the creation of an organization, both administrative as well as spiritual. Many had joined because there were no structures, so that when Bapak suggested that these should be formed for the better working of Subud in the world, they left. Besides, the formation of “hierarchies” awoke envies, confrontations, in spite of the fact that if had been made quite clear that those who occupied the different positions were receiving the opportunity to serve and that the function in no way meant a superiority over the rest of the brotherhood; it represented a form of service and a way of achieving an end. Unfortunately, we allow ourselves to be influenced by those apparent differences in levels, added to the very human tendency to feel better than others.

Nonetheless, it can be affirmed that that situation notwithstanding, Subud has continued to renew itself, counting on members who have shown their constancy, a true reflection of their having found the way leading back to Almighty God through the practice of the latihan kedjiwaan, which reminds me of something I received soon after my opening in Subud, “I’m home. I’m home.”