Feedback on the Gathering

With such a radically new approach to holding a Gathering, it was vital to get feedback from participants on their experience. The first chart below shows that nearly 90% rated the experience as 4 or 5 on a scale where five is “terrific”.

High attendance at latihan and entertainment is no surprise, but it is wonderful that so many people attended the Annual General Meeting on Saturday afternoon.

The team was eager to get personal perspectives about the experience of a virtual event, and there was lots of inspiring feedback to this next and final question, confirming that attendees experienced a strong connection with the inner and with each other.

If participating in the Gathering brought inner peace and outer joy, please briefly describe:

1. Good ice breaker and start to congress with Bapak Talk Friday evening
2. Wonderful for me to participate and connect with Subud brothers and sisters! A joy to share and hear the stories of others in Chit Chat and Sharing Circle! There was so much warmth, love, and caring in the Gathering. My heart smiled throughout. Having entertainment by members was very special for me.
3. Yes, in the testing I really did feel the inner peace. I am still working on the outer joy!
4. I enjoyed the congress very much, and appreciate being invited from outside the region.
5. A wonderful feeling with many people both individually and as part of the overall Subud community,
6. Even when I was not actually participating in the calls etc., for me, the whole weekend was infused with the intention brought about by this event.
7. It was so great to see everyone and hear each other again. What you created was so deeply rewarding. I am so grateful to all of you who put this project together. It was so needed at this time. It connected us all just as if we were together in person. I felt the latihan and the love and joy between us all.
8. On the men’s side, the testing about this was for me the highlight of the gathering. The helpers allowed the receiving to go on for just the right amount of time. Not too short, just right. And they repeated the questions twice and were really clear. It was a wonderful receiving.
9. Wonderful and sad to see and hear from our brothers and sisters when we cannot be in person now. However, hearing Subud stories gave me joy. This has always been my VERY favorite part of coming to a gathering.
10. By the Grace of God, and it was good to see my sisters and brothers
11. Yes, it did. The AGM portion was short, but enough was reported to give me a good picture of what was going on – so I felt informed and in contact on an outer level. The kejiwaan portion with workshop choices satisfied my inner. Finally, the entertainment and sharing circle helped me feel connected socially. Wonderful opportunities provided!
12. I was happy to feel a greater sense of connection than I have felt in several months. This was a wonderful thing.
13. It was just enjoyable to do latihan with other women and fun to see faces I haven’t seen in a long time.
14. Good to hear and learn about the region.
15. Bapak talk and latihan was very good. The comedic performances were fun!
16. My heart was joyful to share latihan with my sisters on Sat. morning.
17. I enjoyed the entertainment and very much appreciated everyone’s efforts and talent.
18. It felt good to test and to reconfirm that letting the Latihan flow thru me is what is needed at this time.
19. GREAT latihans, as deep and moving as if we had been together!!!
20. I liked seeing the different people in SUBUD speaking about their centers and entertaining. It seemed kind of homey which I think made SUBUD seem more like a community.
21. Less than in person, perhaps, much more than no Gathering at all!
22. It was a happiness for me to see and hear everyone.
23. Wonderful gathering – only sorry I had to work and couldn’t attend most of it! Lots of inner peace and outer joy – a very good theme for these troubled times.
24. I enjoyed the Latihans which made me feel right at home with my Subud brothers.
25. It strengthened the inner peace I have felt all during this crisis by doing the Latihan, and it brought joy to see Subud members I haven’t seen for a while, and listen to their contributions at the end. Oh! And I can’t forget the fabulous job the team did with the Memorial. I don’t know who chose Afternoon of a Fawn, but it was perfect! 🎵
26. Seeing and interacting with many brothers and sisters after so long. Strong latihans and testing.
27. The latihan meant connecting with the theme of inner peace and feeling the expansion of joy. The entertainment and Sunday Sharing circle was Joy personified.
28. The business meeting was clear, went mostly smoothly, no distractions (people leaving to get coffee!! like at a normal congress), the sound was good and it was very peaceful. The entertainment was brilliant though a little jerky with videos, but brought a lot of joy and humor. Although there wasn’t the intensity of feeling and spirituality as at an in-person meeting, I did feel very touched and grateful (and tearful) to be there. I had a wonderful time and look forward to another such meeting.
29. This was my first ever gathering after being opened in July of this year. My Subud experience has been 90% virtual due to the pandemic, with latihans being done with masks and distanced. I had a wonderful time and felt I got to know everyone there even if I wasn’t physically there. This brought me lots of joy!
30. So wonderful to connect and see my sisters and brothers on chill n chat. Good to hear what other Subud groups are doing.
31. It was very comforting to connect with everyone, and feel the love that is shared within this group
32. The awareness testing on inner joy and how God would have me experience it was profound. According to what I received, inner joy needs to be shared with others and that enhances the feeling. I felt that to be a lesson for me.
33. loved seeing familiar faces. I did latihan at home without calling in, and receiving was strong without the distraction of tinny audio through a phone. The clear brevity of the reports with respect and compliance with the time limits were a real cause of joy. In future, couldn’t all business be conducted that way? Loved the remote appearance by National Committee. Just think of all the money saved by not having to travel!! Made me joyful that we didn’t contribute to the carbon footprint by flying in from all over. I wonder if we could do more Virtual Congresses and, once Covid is resolved, supplement with smaller quarterly gatherings so we can still be together.
34. I felt connected and felt a sense of loss when the sharing circle was completed.
35. So wonderful to attend and feel the presence of my brothers and sisters. Due to illness, virtual congresses may be the only way I have contact on a regional level in the future.
36. It would be sad if a member doesn’t already have this – so the point should simply be to socially share what one already has 🙂
37. Wonderful to hear Bapak’s gambang music and singing. So good to see faces of sisters and brothers.
38. It really worked like a proper Congress. It did bring our energies together to give us all a boost. It was wonderful to see and hear our sisters and brothers even though it wasn’t in person. Most important the latihans were strong and revitalizing. I did long distance latihans, no call-ins except for one where I wanted to participate in the test questions.
39. Renewed feeling of closeness with everyone we saw. Impressed by the continuing dedication of the committee and helpers to enrich our Subud experience. Very much appreciate the latihan at home simultaneously with others in the region. And joyful entertainment!!
40. I can’t say the Congress brought me inner peace & outer joy but there were certainly moments of both of those.
41. Organized really well. Fluid, interesting, and fun. However, nothing like being together in Presence.
42. It reaffirmed my faith in God and diligence in the Latihan.
43. Testing on Saturday afternoon was especially fulfilling
44. Yes–it did just that. Coming back to the world since then has been somewhat unpleasant. The whole thing just felt very powerful, to the extent that when I returned to the world later that night and the next morning, the contrast to the low-ness of this life was just very apparent. I also realized at that point that there really was something that we have been given that lifts us up. The comments at the very end of Sunday’s meetings were a return to the low-ness for me, as members overtook the discussion and, in all unawares, overlooked others who were trying to speak. I became aware that listening to Bapak during that Friday night session was very important in lifting us up. I greatly valued experiencing that.
45. The latihans brought inner peace, so nice as a helper to participate without having to time :). Outer joy: not sure, but definitely gratitude for our Subud community, and for the opportunity to join this event. Thank you!
46. Gave me a much needed social connection and update on how California is doing, as well as the entire Zone 7
47. It felt very nice and peaceful to listen to Bapak talk and do latihan with sisters across California. On the outside, so lovely to see brothers and sisters could catch up with each other.
48. The latihan was present, as bountiful as ever. Purification too!
49. Great feelings of connections and I had strong latihans. I LOVED seeing the faces of people that I haven’t seen in a while!
50. It is good to be in community. Even though the Latihan is a private communication between me and the Almighty, we are a collective, we are One, we are individuals and we are a collective, a community. Both things are necessary and we must support both!
51. The testing I did on Saturday afternoon regarding finding my inner talent for work-related purposes was the highlight of the entire congress for me.
52. It gave us hope and inspiration and helped strengthen our connection and feelings of joy. An antidote to depression!!
53. Yes, I couldn’t stop smiling….out of sheer joy in seeing all of you again !!
54. Felt a deep connection with brothers and sisters. Afterward, I felt the familiar sadness at the end as we leave the bubble of the shared space and return to our own worlds.
55. It was wonderful to be part of this event. The committee, helpers were sincere and present. The latihan, testing, and conference aspects were nourishing. Attending the Gathering brought my “inner peace and outer joy”. Thank you
56. Yes ~ especially testing and seeing Brothers and Sisters who are in other groups~
57. The Latihan and testing helped me to feel freer from the looming tyranny we face.