The International Helper Dewan* met together 14 June – 26 June 2022. During our gathering we received the latihan together and explored aspects of our kedjiwaan practice and developments within Subud. One of our focuses was looking toward the World Congress in Kalimantan. Through God’s guidance we were able to understand various needs and benefits for our Subud family which we wish to share with you:
● The content of the Congress is the opportunity to worship Almighty God as one.
● We felt the general Latihan should take place every other day, simultaneously if possible. If not, women should do Latihan first, followed by men. This is because of the special character of the place. It seems that every activity will have a deep feeling of worship.
● Bapak talk to be scheduled as a main part of the Congress programme, not as a separate activity.
● Saturdays and Sundays to be set aside for kedjiwaan and wings activities. There is the opportunity to feel the essence of God in every activity we undertake during Congress. Not only in the Latihan.
● The aim of Congress activities is for convergence, not separate and competing options. It is very important that we have one Congress and not many.
● Kalimantan is truly a special place. It is land selected by Bapak for the purpose of developing Subud activities and enterprises guided by God. It is correct that through the hosting of the World Congress, the attention of our organisation has a focus there at this time. There is an element of necessary *prihatin in the implementation of the Congress.
With love The Dewan of International Helpers
*Dewan – An Indonesian word meaning “council” – a word used when we are talking about a group: a group of helpers (the regional helper dewan) or the group of helpers and committee members (the national dewan)
*Prihatin – An intentional, worshipful practice of reducing a pleasure such as eating or sleeping; the Ramadan and Lenten fasts are examples
Changes for Regional and World Latihan
Changes to Regional Weekly call-in latihan
Subud California’s women regional helpers have announced that their weekly call-in latihans will continue but with this change: on thefirst Saturday of each month, the regional helpers will join the national helper latihan at 1pm PT, instead of hosting a regional call-in latihan at 10:30 am PT. Members in the Region are welcomed to join the national helpers latihan on the first Saturday, as well.
Note: Subud USA sends a message specifying the NH hosts and latihan phone numbers to be used each month.
In addition, the women helpers for Subud California plan to offer awareness testing following latihan on the 2nd Saturday of each month and topic testing on the 4th Saturday of each month, for those who wish to participate. The call-in number for the regional women’s latihan is: 605 313-4415 ; code: 529243#
The changes noted above are effective May 1, 2022.
Additional Times for World Latihan
The international helpers have greatly extended the schedule of world latihan, now offering two latihan times every weekend. The times for these in the Pacific time zone are at 10pm Saturday and 10am Sunday. Read more about this new weekly latihan HERE.
See the complete schedule for international latihan times as of April 2022 HERE.
Subud Australia’s Virtual Congress
by Laura Paterson
Follow the yellow brick road…Follow the rainbow over the stream…Follow the people who follow a dream…
As with Dorothy in ‘The Wizard of Oz’, our world is upended by a global tornado. A global disaster has transformed it into a new and strange place, into a world where nothing is as it had been or as it had appeared to be.
And as with Dorothy, everyone has been challenged to discover new and innovative ways of navigating this unprecedented and previously unimaginable environment.
One happy result of this has been that creativity and innovation have abounded. Zoom has entered the room. And the great island continent of Australia beckoned us to her with her 2021 Subud Australia National Congress.
Subud Australia made the bold decision to hold its 2021 National Congress by making full use of the new social paradigm and new technologies, in an innovative blend of zoom virtual reality and pre-recorded, beautifully curated content.
For the first time in the history of Subud Australia, their National Congress became a truly international event, easily accessible to Subud members around the world at the click of a link.
Family & friends gathered in small groups to participate from home
And so, without the cost of travel or accommodation or meals or services, Subud members everywhere had the most up-close and personal contact imaginable with our very warm and loving Australian brothers and sisters.
They extended to all of us the warmest possible welcome into their vibrant and immensely fulfilling group lives. I could not wait to take full advantage of this opportunity, so with the greatest excitement, I sent off for my access link.
I was immediately immersed in the warm bath of Subud love and harmony. As with any momentous Subud occasion, Subud Australia’s 2021 National Congress existed outside of time, showering everyone in the uniquely Subud glow of latihan love and harmony that we all are so blessed to receive.
Beginning Saturday, January 2nd, Subud Australia gave Subud members around the world a full week of an incredibly immersive Subud congress experience. Every day the Congress website overflowed with live virtual meetings and brilliantly curated recorded content.
Subud Australia National Chair, David Ohri, conducted the Opening Ceremony, which was simple, humble, and sincere. He was followed with moving performances by Audrey Longerhan, Frances Madden and Emmanuel Cahill. By the end of the ceremony, I was totally in love with all of my Australian brothers and sisters.
I felt total gratitude for their dedicated, loving and deeply harmonious spirit. For their total warmth and sincerity. For being always so gracious, with such generosity of spirit. For always proceeding with the utmost harmony, and total love and respect for each other.
The abundant offerings of pre-recorded content were presented with the greatest care, skill and competence. Every day, Subud members were treated to a rich smorgasbord of deeply satisfying experiences:
Tours of all the Australian Subud houses, showcasing beautiful and lovingly cared for properties, and introducing us to vibrant and loving and deeply harmonious Subud members.
Videos of deeply loved Subud members from the ‘Memories of Bapak’ series produced in the 1990’s by Subud New York member, Jerry Chalem
Historical, archival videos of past Subud World Congresses, including the unforgettable ‘Bapak’s Congress’ held in Cilandak in 1971.
Bapak talks. Every day, there was a new Bapak talk, lovingly chosen by Subud Australia National Helpers.
There were informative and inspiring presentations from MSF, Dharma Care, and the WSA Archives project. There was a delightful entertainment from the Northern New South Wales Group Men’s Choir. All of this content was presented on the brand new, gorgeous, shiny Subud Australia website.
The live closing event was on Saturday, January 9th. “A real highlight of recent in-person Australia Congresses has been ‘Culture Couch’, with dynamic duo Harris Smart and Roland Fraval.”
Some huge takeaways from this Congress…
Subud Australia is astonishingly multi-generational! The membership ranges from dedicated youth, to young working families, to mid-life experienced and dedicated members, to true wisdom-keepers, lifetime Subud members. They are our Subud sages. Very often, they also are the parents and grandparents of our young up-and-coming generations.
It was a special joy to witness the warmth and closeness and genuineness of these inter-generational bonds. To see babes-in-arms, with delightful toddlers and energetic children, all intermingling with the adults in their lives, who are at all of the varying life stages.
It also was very exciting to see how live and recorded events were interfaced into one seamless whole experience. What a great model, what a great prototype, for national and zonal and international congresses in the future.
For indeed, the future will be a very different place. Subud will be adapting to that, as will everything else that is going to survive and move into the new paradigm. Virtuality will be a huge underpinning of that new paradigm.
Subud Australia clearly is deeply committed to the emerging values of the new global social paradigm, most notably in the conduct of their outer, material lives. I take these values to be those that we always have cherished and espoused in Subud. That is the values of transparency and accountability, with emphasis always on clear, open, honest and harmonious communication.
The technologies of our new age will drive the necessity for the survival of any organization to be the manifestation of these values. Internet tools and platforms like email, Instagram, Facebook, Zoom, and WhatsApp will ensure that transactions and communications will be subject to awareness, understanding, and evaluation by the public. Increasingly, these technologies will ensure that leaders must adhere to the highest ethical standards.
For seven hours I witnessed Subud Australia’s National Council meeting being conducted with the utmost fiscal and organizational transparency and integrity. Every aspect of Subud Australia’s financial and administrative dealings was on the table.
Every item was examined, considered, and debated upon. Full resolution was achieved with the utmost harmony and respect. All this took place in real time and in full view and witness by every member who wished to attend.
One member who was present for every Council session was Nahum Harlap, Chairman of the World Subud Association. Nahum brought great vision and clarity to the meetings. This provided a very effective illustration of the great importance of there being continuous and ongoing communication and collaboration between the various entities and ‘levels’ of the Subud organization.
Nahum Harlap, WSA Chair (photo from the 2018 World Congress)
These societal and organizational values are being well absorbed into the entire Subud organization, up to and including the Muhammad Subuh Foundation. Subud members can follow the direction of their leadership with the utmost confidence. They can know that at all times the highest values of honesty, integrity, transparency, and accountability are being observed and maintained.
I followed the people who followed a dream. In doing so, I experienced the greatest possible satisfaction and happiness.
THANK YOU, SUBUD AUSTRALIA FOR YOUR 2021 VIRTUAL NATIONAL CONGRESS!!!
Launching the New Subud Archives Website
Professional archivist Daniela Moneta and her staff are making Subud records previously held in remote storage available to the membership on a secure website for Subud members only. The website offers a ‘living archive’ that members can readily access to learn more about the latihan and how it came into existence, as well as our own Subud USA history.
A letter from Daniela Moneta, WSA and Subud USA Archivist in Arizona
Subud California members, did you know that right next door in Phoenix, we have one of the five international archives designated by Bapak? This archive has documents, photographs, and personal accounts going back to 1958 when Bapak made his first trip to America. Here is an example from the collection:
Bapak at Disneyland May 1958. Left to right: Ismana, Bapak, Ibu Rahayu, Luthfi James, an unknown woman.
The second photo (below) shows a view from the front of the same unknown woman in the photo above (left of Ibu Siti Sumari). Do you know her name? Or, do you recognize the other woman (right of Ibu Siti Sumari?). If you can identify either person, please contact admin@wsaarchives.org. The quest to add information such as this to the archives is part of our mission!
Another item in the archive is a film by Peter Mark Richman of Bapak’s second trip to Disneyland in August 1963, while on Bapak’s 3rd World Journey.
Our newly launched archives website makes Subud material visible and available online and gives members access to records about our Subud history. You can watch films and interviews, read stories and see beautiful photographs on your laptop or via hook up to your TV screen. Now you can readily show some of the Memories of Bapak interviews and other films and videos at your local Subud center.
The website is available to Subud members only. If you would like to access it, send a request to admin@wsaarchives.org. If you have any questions about the archives and how you can help, please let us know.
A Social Enterprise Start-up
by Isaac Goff (originally posted in Subud Around the World, Jan 2019; updated Nov 2019)
In the interest of encouraging enterprise by Subud members, I’d like to share with you an outline of a Social Enterprise startup I am supporting.
Here in the USA, neurological and orthopedic surgeries using titanium cages, rods and screws are commonly done every day to correct spinal, neurological, and bone damage due to trauma or deterioration. These titanium bits are manufactured in the USA and Europe and are crazy costly. In Bolivia, the cost of these imported titanium bits & pieces is beyond the reach of the poor and they do without.
At the same time, in India, several factories manufacture these items to the same standards, using the same equipment and the same quality titanium, at a fraction of the cost. Juan Lorenzo Hinojosa, a non-practicing Subud member with whom I partner on Dharma’s Children’s Heart Repair Project, has formed a for-profit company in Bolivia and negotiated a sole distributorship for all of Bolivia with one of these Indian manufacturers.
The business plan is to make these available in Bolivia to the upper and middle classes at significantly reduced pricing and then, with the profits generated, make them available to the poor at no or reduced cost.
An overwhelming number of permits & licenses have now been acquired from the Bolivian equivalents of the FDA, Customs, State & Federal agencies, etc., with much time, effort and expense. With these permissions in hand, our first order has been placed and is en route to Bolivia. We are now in the process of hiring 2 medical technicians who will undergo training by a representative sent by the Indian manufacturer.
Sadly, Bolivia is suddenly in chaos due to a contested presidential election. Everything is in lockdown, rioting in the streets, and nothing is passing through customs. None the less, this will pass and we can get on with helping those in need and without means.
This enterprise is not unlike the Free Cataract Surgery Program I started in 2004 which you can read about here: <http://www.dharmasocialprojects.com/cataract.html>. Opportunities
like this abound throughout the world. We need only to look around us and act.
Reaching Across the Border to Mexico
by Mikail Collins, Project Director
The Tijuana Family Outreach Project supports 70 low-resource families in El Florido on the outskirts of Tijuana Mexico. The project provides community integration by building relationships with other neighbors and offers families some of the resources that they need.
We provide special events for Day of the Child, Easter, School Supply giveaway day & Christmas. We have also started a baking project so women can learn to bake cakes and have a way to earn some extra income. We also provide used clothing & household items. On the first Sunday of the month, we offer lunch with craft & games afterward. There is also a monthly nutrition class.
The program events are held in a donated location called Casa Martita after Martha, the woman who coordinates the program and owns the property. It is a shack with a large play area out back with swings, see-saws & a sandpit, plus a kitchen.
Martha has attracted a strong team of local volunteers who contribute to the success of the project and are dedicated to supporting their neighbors. There are also visits by counselors from the Counseling Department of the University of Baja California.
Funding comes from a yearly grant from Susila Dharma and from a variety of generous individuals. Read more about the project on SDUSA’s newsletter HERE. Make a donation to the Tijuana Family Outreach Project on Susila Dharma website HERE.
San Diego Center Partners with SICA
As a part of a local event called “Art Around Adams”, the Subud San Diego Center partnered with SICA to host their third “Artists and Friends” exhibit and sale on Saturday, June 1st, 2019.
It was a delightful afternoon of sunshine, music, and food, offering a variety of art by local artists at the Subud House. The exhibit attracted many of the visitors who came to the event, which was happening all along the street. Subud members Renata Reid and Susan Van Winkle displayed their work, along with others from the local community, and many other members of the center helped with setup and logistics.
Here are views of some of the wonderful art displayed for sale:
WSA Endowment Fund
As mandated by a World Congress Resolution passed unanimously by the forty-one member countries at the 15th Subud World Congress, Freiburg, 2018, a new permanent endowment fund has been launched to help support the operations of our World Subud Association (WSA). It is called the WSA Endowment Fund.
Why do we need an endowment fund for WSA?
For many years WSA has worked with a budget of $500,000. Unfortunately, in 2019 WSA has had to trim its budget to $288,000, just over half its historic budget, and curtail its work. This is because some truly generous donors (in the $25,000 to $100,000 range) can no longer sustain their level of contribution.
This WSA Endowment Fund is an investment, whose earnings can be used to help finance the annual budget of WSA, while the investment itself remains and continues to earn money for the next year’s budget.
If we have the courage to set a target of raising $1,000,000 in 2019, how can we reach this goal? 1000 people @ $1000 = $1,000,000 or 100 people @ $10,000 = $1,000,000. Even $100 from 1000 people is $100,000. Together, we can!
The need to help WSA raise money for its current annual budget has also been recognized. 10% of what is raised will be used to help fund the 2019 WSA budget. The remaining 90% will be added to the principal of the WSA Endowment Fund. Raising $1,000,000 will pour $100,000 into WSA’s current budget.
We hope everyone will contribute what they can, knowing that there is great strength in numbers. This is truly an international effort, which will show, in action, our unity, the theme of the Freiburg World Subud Congress.
Of 35 people asked during the last days of the Congress, all pledged to contribute. Enough of those pledges have materialized to grow this fund to over $30,000, so the WSA Endowment Fund is on its way!
WSA recognizes that it is your contributions, at all levels, that keep Subud alive and functioning – group, national, Susila Dharma, and all the rest. Do not stop or lessen any of your donations which keep the spirit of Subud flowing! But WSA’s work is also important for all of us, so please, if you can afford it, make a pledge to contribute to WSA. Then when you are able, send it in!
SA also would like to remind you to remember the Muhammad Subuh Foundation with bequests and other contributions. In fact, WSA is in discussion with MSF about the possibility of housing the WSA Endowment Fund with MSF.
In the US, contributions should go to Subud USA. Send a check, made out to “Subud USA”, clearly earmarked “WSA Endowment Fund”, to Subud USA National Office, 4216 Howard Road, Beltsville, MD 20705-2644
Please contact me with any questions or suggestions!
The Fruits of our Labour – We Humans
By Stefanie Brown, South Devon Group, Subud Britain
In July 2018, Emmanuel Williams (of Subud California) and I co-edited, contributed to, and produced a poetry anthology called WeHumans containing poems from 76 Subud members in 17 countries. We stated that proceeds would be donated to the Subud International Cultural Association (SICA). I am pleased to report that on 24 January 2019 we sent just under $400 to SICA.
SICA gave us funding for the project at the outset. I would like to share with you a letter received from Latifah Taormina, a former SICA Chair and outgoing SICA Board member, in response to mine. I had written to her to arrange to transfer the money and I said “A big thank you to SICA for funding our project in the first place. I’m so pleased we have been able to give you some money back, to help towards other cultural projects.” Here is what Latifah wrote:
Dearest Stefanie and Emmanuel, Thank you so very much for your good work. I want to especially thank you for something you said just now. Of all the grants that SICA has given to people for creative projects, yours is the first project to give back to SICA more than what you were given, and you are the first person to express such gratefulness to be able to help SICA give to other creative projects. I have tears in my eyes as I write this.
Thank you and Emmanuel for such a gift.
A long time ago, when SICA and SDIA were new, Salamah Pope asked Bapak, informally, what was the difference between the two, in terms of their mandate. Her translation of what Bapak said was “we do Susila Dharma to repair the mistakes of the past, and we do SICA to build a more HUMAN future.” You live up to the title of the anthology, We Humans. Thank you for being one. Thank you more than I can say. With love, Latifah
I reproduce this in the hope that more of us creative types will have a go at a project that could bring in funds for SICA, or that those who are not creative might feel moved to donate. You can do that at: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/ilovesica.
If you would like to buy a copy of We Humans and donate to SICA that way, whilst enjoying some excellent poetry(!), please go to www.lulu.com and search for either ‘We Humans’ or ‘Stefanie Brown’.
Thank you to SICA!
Stefanie Brown
South Devon Group
Subud Britain
Pick up the Slack!
Adapted from an article in SES USA and Raynard von Hahn
“Centerprise” is the name to describe a Subud center that has an enterprise integrated into the group’s activities. Often, the centerprise involves renting space in the group’s property. The funds generated may then be used to support that local center, the national organization, and WSA’s activities.
A NEW TOOL FOR COMMUNICATION
Raynard von Hahn initiated a new way for groups with centerprises to communicate and share information last year by establishing a private group for Subud Centerprises on Slack. Slack is a free collaboration application. Since the 2018 World Congress, this Centerprise group on Slack has taken root, and many groups that have enterprise operations around the world have already signed. With good reason; the amount of valuable information on the site is a real service to centerprise groups.
Interested? Subud Groups may join the Slack website by invitation only. This is to protect the confidentiality of the information on the site. If you think your group should subscribe, talk it over with the committee, and make a group decision to contact Raynard at rvh@genesislaw.ca.
A RESOURCE FOR ALL GROUPS
There are many useful documents available, as well as the opportunity to establish contacts with other centers for input and advice. The goal is to build up the Slack site so that it will be a resource for group chairpersons and hall managers to better run their group’s centerprises including: 1. Learn about other Subud centers and their centerprises 2. Share best practices (e.g., sample rental agreements, housing handbooks, etc.) 3. Connect with one another using the Workspace Directory. 4. Share useful experiences by uploading to the site.
Many California Centers are engaged in rental activities and could benefit from this new tool for sharing best practices within our Region and around the world.
The Bigfish Fund
This latihan we experience is amazing and powerful. We get quiet several times a day. We pause to reconnect and to feel the subtle vibration. After many years it has become part of us—an inseparable guide and comfort. Because this is not a material thing, it is hard to connect it to the material world of money. It is what they call priceless.
However, the latihan exists in a material world which does require some money. Not a lot, just a bit from everyone.
At the World Congress in Freiburg, we learned that the World Subud Association (WSA) is underfunded. Two hugely generous enterprises can no longer send funds as they have done for decades. A new way is needed to ensure that the work WSA does to support Subud everywhere in the world can continue. To meet this need, we have created the Bigfish Fund.
It is called Bigfish because each of us making a small donation is like many little sardines swimming in a tight formation like one giant fish. This is a program particularly suited to self-employed people or small business people, as it is a way to give back a little bit from their enterprise, and contribute to Subud.
Each one of us can pledge a monthly donation to this fund, choosing an amount of money that is truly comfortable (even if it is only four lattes worth a month). The money goes to a dedicated fund at Subud USA and is forwarded once a month to the WSA. You will get an email receipt every month from Subud USA. It comes in like clockwork.
This is easy, inexpensive and painless. It will take 10 minutes on the website https://www.bigfishfund.org/ to make a monthly pledge of whatever amount you can afford. If you can’t decide, start with a small amount—it can always be changed later.
All of us together can make a big difference to the world of Subud.
https://www.bigfishfund.org
Testing for the next World Congress
This article from the Subud Center in Central London’s newsletter, “A Good Reed” is about testing for the next World Congress in 2022:
So we sat in our seats, members behind the delegates watching the presentations from Colombia, Melbourne (Australia), and Kalimantan (Indonesia). The Colombian presentation showed Colombian culture, films of cities and wonderful scenery, it ended with a lively demonstration of music and dancing. That made us feel lovely and excited.
But, along comes the Australian offer, tempting us with a $1million input from the Australian government to meet at an amazing Conference Centre with all modern amenities. Who could resist that?
Finally, a young Indonesian stands up and speaks honestly about Kalimantan. Well, there would be 3 big halls for latihan, one in Palangkaraya, one already built, Rungan Sari, and one to be built in the Phase 2 Project. Well, it is Bapak’s dream after all. It will be handled by the new generation who showed their abilities at the Basara Youth Camp in December 2016, when Subud youth congregated from all over the Subud world. It seemed like Kalimantan felt a little lame with what they had to offer, after the very confident Australian presentation.
The International Helpers tested in front of us. They then left to discuss their receivings. The result was inconclusive. It was then decided that the IH’s should test which location would advance the growth of Subud most.
Many people were thinking the Australian offer is obviously what we should go for. Did anyone wonder why Subud would not choose a place where there was a Subud centre already, plus un-built plots owned by Subud members instead of enriching the Australian government?
The man in the next seat, one Lucas Reese, was more worried about the decision-making system. He stood up and questioned whether the decision was being made by the delegates or by the international helpers. What system are they using he asked? It was explained that it was up to the delegates to accept the advice of the International Helpers. It did have a feeling of relevance – a question which should be brought up at every World Congress to make everyone aware of the delicacy of the system being used which in bad times could be manipulated. There should always be someone present who can ask such a question.
The IHs then tested which area being offered in the presentations would promote the growth of Subud best. So, of course, Kalimantan which requires all in Subud to really put our shoulders to the wheel (and probably, nose to the grindstone), and get themselves and Subud off the ground, was found to be the best for the 16th World Subud Congress 2022.
Latifah Taormina and Isaac Goff honored at World Congress
Two members of Subud California were recognized for their contributions to Subud at the World Congress:
SICA honors Latifah Taormina
Latifah Taormina
The SICA Board honored Latifah Taormina with its lifetime achievement award. Latifah’s many contributions to Subud and the arts include her role as SICA President, 2010-2014, ongoing participation on the SICA Board, and launching SICA’s Poems for Peace® initiative that spread to 14 countries. After residing many years in Austin, TX, Latifah moved to Orange County, CA in recent years.
SESI honors Isaac Goff
Awards recognizing the commitment of entrepreneurs to supporting Subud’s social and human work were presented at the 2018 World Congress by Hadrian Fraval, outgoing chairman of SESI.
Isaac (center) with sons Sampson (left) and David (right)
Isaac Goff, the founder of Dharma Trading, which has supported social projects for many years. Through the proceeds of their business, Isaac and Renee Goff have helped thousands of children achieve a better life, through access to needed healthcare and education.
Isaac and Renee are longtime members of Subud CA at Marin. As they were unable to attend the Congress, Isaac sent a video message, which you can enjoy here.
The Subud Village Project: Building a Global Virtual Community
One of the most exciting things presented at 2018 World Congress was the plan to build a unified information technology (IT) platform for Subud.
WSA has created an Office for Information Technology, led by Sebastian Medina. Sebastian presented this compelling view of IT plans and recommendations to the delegates at the World Congress. This plan, includes support for a new, secure platform for the Subud Library.
The Subud CA App, under development by Ethan Harris (project manager) and Matthew Cooke (creative director), is aligned with this unified IT plan. It uses code consistent with WSA standards and will be hosted on the WSA server, ensuring security and integration with other Subud apps.
What is most critical now is to secure dedicated funding to build the unified IT environment. To this end, an ad-hoc group met in a corner of the Subud Village during Congress. They made a commitment to develop and roll out a global campaign to raise $200,000 for this mission. Inspired by the surroundings, they named it the Subud Village Project, because this integrated IT environment will truly be a virtual version of the wonderful space created at World Congress.
In a 24 hour frenzy of work, Matthew Cooke, Suzanna Dayne, Mardiyah Miller, Sahlan McKingley and Audrey Waclik developed the project website and created a brief video to launch the fundraising effort. The video was shown at the beginning of the SESI awards program and at the closing session to kick off the campaign. You can see it here.
The global fundraising campaign will be rolled out soon. However, you can start it off by making a donation now to help bring the Subud Village into being.
The team needs additional software developers as well as content, design, and communications support. If you would like to learn more about being part of the project, send a message to it@subud.org.
The ad hoc team currently includes:
From France: Sebastian Medina
From Indonesia: Suzanna Dayne, Sahlan McKingley, Mardiyah Miller, Audrey Waclik
From California: Matthew Cooke, Robert Mertens, Dennis Oliver, Elizabeth Trudell
From Argentina: Ethan Harris
How things Happen at World Congress: Synchronicity and Politics
A letter from Robert Mertens, Chair, Subud California
Hello California Brothers and Sisters,
Helena and I just returned from our Subud World Congress. I can summarize my experience in Freiburg as “2 weeks with a larger part of the rest of me”… a simmering, nutritious, human soup where my flavor mixed with 2,500 others in a unique kitchen.
Vivid Personal Experiences
My experiences at Congress were many. As one small but significant example: I wanted to meet up with Matthew Cooke, one of the many milling around in the huge conference center, and he walked right up to me in the next instant. Then, the two of us wanted to see Ethan Harris about connecting our California APP team to the larger world effort, and Ethan walked right up!
The next day, our meeting convened with Sebastian Medina (the WSA IT coordinator) started out with a small group at a table out of the way of the main traffic, but others who were to become part of an ad hoc team kept showing up spontaneously and sitting down.
Pledges of funds to support the global IT plan were immediately undertaken at the table, raising $1,800 to prime the pump for further cooperative effort. Within 24 hours, a logo, introductory video, and website for a global fundraising initiative were developed and then presented at the SESI awards ceremony (see related article).
Another seeming coincidence occurred in the “Bazaar” where members from around the world showed arts and crafts along the main hallway. Crafts from Venezuela were being shown by Venezuelan Subud members on the same table as my art, so I got a chance to meet with them personally and receive their gratitude for the food that Subud California has been sending them.
They told me that the first shipment of food arrived at their darkest moment and I was able to pass this information on to Henrietta Haines (who initiated and has been managing this effort during the last couple of years (see related article).
These are just two of a great many meaningful personal experiences that happened to me at Congress.
Witnessing the selection of the next chair of the World Subud Association
Now I’d like to focus on one event that seems to me to be especially meaningful from the perspective of Subud’s role in the future of the world.
We left a political scene in America where our government representatives are mostly picking sides to fight with each other daily, with one side and then the other temporarily ascendant. What I witnessed at our Congress was in marked contrast.
There were a dozen or so candidates from all over the world for the post of WSA chair. As is our custom, the women candidates were tested first with the women International Helpers receiving with them, while the men remained seated and witnessed. The situation was then reversed with the men.
Only one question was tested for each candidate, a general question: Show through your latihan, if xxx is able to perform the duties of WSA chair for the coming term”.
After we members and delegates from 50 countries witnessed the testing, the helpers huddled and emerged with a clear recommendation to the delegates that Nahum Harlap of Subud Perth in Australia (originally from Israel) be the next chair.
It was now time for the delegates from the 50 countries to decide whether to affirm the choice or not, with a vote. So Elias Dumit, the current chair, asked the delegates if they were ready to vote. A large majority were ready, but a significant and vocal minority were not.
It seemed that some of the delegates were questioning whether more testing should take place around various aspects of the job and each individual’s fit to what is needed in our next administration. Some delegates spoke up and said, “Let’s trust the helpers’ receiving.” Others said, “ It’s not a question of trusting the receiving, but fulfilling a duty to make the best choice.”
It was then asked if it was received that there were 2 or more candidates that were close to each other in their ability to do the job. The helpers replied that was not the case, Nahum was the clear choice.
There were still significant voices among the delegates who indicated that they were not yet ready to vote and a second question was tested before the assembly: For the growth and development of Subud is Nahum the correct person to serve as WSA chair.
The answer was clearly yes.
Nahum Harlap, WSA Chair
The delegates were asked again if they were ready to vote and they affirmed that they were. This time the vote was nearly unanimous to accept the helpers’ recommendation to approve Nahum as the new WSA chair and it was done.
There is still a significant belief that the process of choosing our officers is a work in progress. The helpers had decided to test only the “ability” of each candidate, agreeing among themselves that the word ability was meant to embrace all aspects of each individual’s “fit” for the job and meant to include not only practical skills but, for example, health, family situation and ability to harmonize with the new team, as well.
There was some difficulty among the helpers and delegates around the word “ability” because, when that word is translated into each language and culture, it can have very different meanings. For example; ability can mean just skill(s) and the outer aspects, while not addressing the inner feeling dimensions.
I spoke last week with a delegate and an international helper, who were witnessing and doing the testing respectively, to help clarify for me what I observed, and I learned a few interesting things.
There was some concern among the delegates that since Nahum had been active as an international helper, the helpers’ familiarity with him might have unconsciously skewed their testing in his favor.
In fact, the Greek delegation had entered a proposal (which they subsequently withdrew) that the international helpers receiving the test should not interpret their test for the delegates. Rather, the delegates should witness the testing and make their choice onlyfrom what they witnessed. The delegate that told me this noted that Greek culture was a foundation for our western tradition of democracy and found it interesting that Greece proposed this change.
I got some further clarification on the testing process from one of the international helpers. Each of the helpers doing testing had a clipboard to record their testing for each candidate. They decided, in advance, that each helper would record only “yes” or “no” in their receiving, and then they would tally only those results for each test.
At any rate, it seems clear to me that we have before us the continuing task of balancing and harmonizing our understandings of inner and outer reality across many world cultures.
Personally, I was elated from observing that the “outer” and “inner” both had voices in our electoral process, with the “outer” (delegate part) being more than just a rubber stamp for the “inner” (helper receiving part). Here is full list of the new WSA officers who will lead us for the next four years.
Hopefully, our process may be a harbinger of the next phase in world politics as well as in Subud.
Helena often has an eye for what we can do better when I am somewhat over the top in my generally optimistic view of what happened. She suggests that in the national pretesting, the helpers explore with the applicants, individually, their strengths and areas where each needs support.
To wrap up this brief letter, I’d like to share feelings and summarize meaning I brought back from Freiburg with a song, “Be Ready to Sail” by Claire Lynch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCAlD3oWfRA
and with a picture: Aurora (Angel at Dawn)
Love and Blessings to each of you,
Robert
The World of Subud, Zone by Zone
The main hub for participants at the World Congress in Freiburg was the Subud Village. At its entrance was the Piazza, with a busy coffee bar serving great espresso drinks, and tables and chairs always filled with people chatting, working, and hanging out. Surrounding this seating area were areas devoted to the activities of Subud in the world, as detailed in the map of the Subud Village, at right.
Curving along the one entire side of the Piazza was a mammoth display of infographics more than 120 feet long and 8 feet high, which offered information about the presence of Subud across the world. The photo below, taken from a vantage point located high above the coffee bar, shows the scale of this “Zone wall.”
At the left end of the display, a huge world map showed the Subud populations across the globe. You could see at a glance the number of active members in each country and see what countries were in each zone. It beautifully captured the full scope of Subud as a global organization.
Moving along to the right, one encountered a more detailed display for each of the nine Subud Zones. These infographics offered greetings in each zone’s local languages, a brief history about how Subud got started in those countries, where and when the zone had hosted past World Congresses, and when Bapak had visited. These displays were beautifully produced, with many photos and informative details. Even after multiple viewings, there was always something new to absorb.
These displays were was created by Suzanna Dayne and Mardiyah Miller, who collected information and photos from all the countries and distilled it so meaningfully. What a gift this was! It would be wonderful to find additional venues for this to be displayed in its entirety, to be seen by Subud members, so that many more can gain this perspective on our global community.
For more details on the concept and creation of the Subud Village as the core meeting space for the World Congress, go here
The Culture Compass
Wandering around the Subud Village at the 2018 World Congress in Freiburg provided something new to discover and enjoy at every turn. One of my favorite things to ponder each time I passed was a set of related displays about the “Subud Compass,” which came in several formats. The first component of this was a series of posters prominently placed along the main walkway, which highlighted this Bapak quote about the four stages Zat, Sifat, Asma and Af’al which together comprise “a sort of compass” for life.
However, if one wandered over to the adjacent section of the Subud Village devoted to activities of SICA, these four stages were presented in a different format which used the acronym IDEA, short for the four stages of Intention, Direction, Effort, and Achievement:
The view of the four key elements was then further expanded and specifically identified as a CULTURE COMPASS, as below. What I found to be most intriguing (and indeed illuminating) about this version is that this compass incorporates the Subud Wings and shows a way of thinking of them as integral parts of a whole:
This view of the compass suggested that by first knowing and appreciating your intention, then identifying your direction of service, using that direction to establish your creative effort or work, and achieving outcomes and results, each of us can attain well-being and balance in the world.
To me, this was a profound expression that the purposes of all four Subud wings can be manifested by each of us in a meaningful, essential and personal way. Creativity is found in every area of endeavor and culture is expressed through all kinds of work.
Sadly, I missed a presentation about the Culture Compass by SICA Chair Sebastian Flynn. I hope to read a summary or notes about his session to learn more about this view of the world and of Subud.
— Elizabeth Trudell
Visits from the International Helpers
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.
The Meaning of Charity
Submitted by Philip Lindstrom, Chair, Subud CA at Palo Alto
Subud Palo Alto and Susila Dharma USA sponsored a fundraising event for Susila Dharma humanitarian projects on September 23. The idea started with Palo Alto’s desire to hold an event which would engage the group with a better understanding of the causes that Susila Dharma supports, rather than simply writing a check.
Enjoying social time before dinner.
As it was our first venture into “fundraising”, we had second thoughts about how it would come together, but managed to pull through because we had already sent out the invitations! We were very pleased when we had 36 in attendance and participation from several other centers.
The event started with latihan, where the women tested the meaning of charity. This was followed by social time and a delicious Indonesian buffet.
After dinner, we enjoyed brief presentations on several initiatives including:
Aminah Herrman, Chair of SD USA, highlighted “Kitchen Gardens,” a project being managed through a group of schools in India in which students learn to grow food to supplement their families’ diet.
Mardiah Tarantino encouraged people to connect with the Elderberry project to visit and support our ageing Subud community
Mardiyah Tarantino (far right) talking about Elderberry
We raised $2,700 during the evening for Susila Dharma. To top it off, that amount is being matched by both the Palo Alto and Portland.
Aminah Herrman’s “Tree of Life,” sold at the auction, now graces the Subud Center in Santa Cruz.
The muscle behind the fundraising came from Benedict Herrman who led the Chinese auction. Many thanks to all who helped pull this off and special thanks to the Palo Alto organizing team including Alexandra Boyer, Doug and Lianne Card, Lalia Helmer, Irena Olender, Dennis and Manuel Oliver, Rifka Several, Elizabeth Trudell, and Humphrey Williams.
SDUSA would welcome an invitation from centers to come visit and give a similar presentation. We hope that this type of grassroots fundraiser social may inspire events in other Subud communities.
Lianne Card and Philip Lindstrom
Susila Dharma USA’s Vision and Work
The vision of Susila Dharma USA is a world where all people are held sacred, and able to live fulfilled and satisfying lives. This vision springs from our passionate belief that by empowering individuals, communities will be strengthened to create a better world for all.
SD USA supports 22 projects, seven within the United States, with others around the rest of the world. We work closely with the Susila Dharma International Association (SDIA), and partner with other Non-Governmental Organizations such as Oxfam, The United Nations and World Vision. You can learn more about our ground breaking, unique and exciting projects on our website, or our Facebook Page
The Women Worldwide Initiative (TWWI) leadership team in New York City.
TWWI empowers women and girls living in the poorest and most marginalized communities to strengthen their agency and improve their well-being. Read more…
