Subud
Subud
Subud does not regard itself as a religion and is open to any adult above 17 years of age. As such, members may or may not have religious affiliation.
It was introduced to the west in 1954 with the help of Husein Rofé and others such as John G. Bennett and those affiliated with the Gurdjieff Foundation in the United Kingdom (from 1957 onwards). Subud has since spread to over 70 countries throughout the world, with a current worldwide membership of about 10,000.
Pak Subuh (Pak is Indonesian for father) first traveled outside of Indonesia when he was invited to go to England by Rofé and others to open people who were interested in the latihan kejiwaan. From England he was invited to other countries and this first world journey lasted a total of 14 months before he returned to Indonesia.
Subsequently, Pak Subuh made many more journeys around the world to meet with members. Wherever he went, he gave talks and explained about the latihan kejiwaan as well as many other things of a spiritual nature. Outside of Subud, all these things talked about may be regarded as the "Teachings of Subud" or "Teachings of Muhammad Subuh". But Pak Subuh sees the present age as an age of "reality", an age that demands evidence and proof as men no longer just believe in words. He claimed that Subud is not a new teaching or religion but only that the latihan kejiwaan itself is the "proof" that man is looking for, proof about what is written in religion as well as what he himself talked about.
Practices
The Latihan Kejiwaan - according to Muhammad Subuh
- Main article: Latihan
After Muhammad Subuh received his spiritual experiences (see the history section below), he was able to initiate (open) others into an involuntary spiritual exercise. A person who was opened by Muhammad Subuh could also open others (respectfully with permission) so that these others too could receive and practice the spiritual exercise. This is how Subud has spread upto the present and it is how the latihan still can be passed on even after the death of Muhammad Subuh in 1987.
Muhammad Subuh gave many talks and it may be said he repeated himself many times on certain topics throughout the years from the 1950's till 1980's. One of the repeating theme is that of the latihan kejiwan of Subud.
What he said is that the latihan kejiwaan is a Worship of God, a direct receiving of the Grace of God for the present time, a direct receiving from God Himself without the need of any intermediary to act on God's behalf or to approve things on God's behalf. Each will receive in the latihan what is the correct way for the person himself ("customized", so to say, by God Himself for the person).
The main purpose of the latihan is a "spiritual purification". Only when man is purified can he understand his true destiny or God's Will for man and that this purification can only come from God when man surrenders to God with sincerity, patience and acceptance. It seems from the talks that Muhammad Subuh said man generally cannot purify himself simply through his wish alone. But true spiritual purification is only from the Grace of God and the latihan kejiwaan is a Grace from God for this age when men want proof about God.
Opening
The latihan of a person begins after he has been initiated or opened in Subud. The opening is literally the person's first latihan and it is a specially arranged latihan for the new member alone accompanied by one or more other "experienced" members called helpers who are authorized to initiate new members.The opening, as with the normal group latihan, is done in an empty room or hall with sufficient space. The member is asked to simply stand in the middle of the room and relax with the other helpers standing and facing him. A simple terse opening statement is read out to the member that generally acknowledge that the member has agreed to be initiated into the Subud exercise. Then one of the helpers would say "Start" or something like "Please relax and surrender to God. Start". The opening last for about half an hour, the same as in the normal group latihan.
Latihan
For twice a week members go to their local centers to participate in the group latihan which lasts for about half an hour or more. Men and women practice the latihan separately. Members who come early may sit quietly in the hall and quieten themselves. When it is time for the latihan to start, and when everyone is ready, a helper would begin the latihan simply by saying "Please stand up. Begin" or just "Begin". About half and hour later, the same helper may just say "Finish" to signal the end of the latihan.The way to do the latihan is just to "relax" and "feel free" (what Pak Subuh used to advise), to surrender to God and follow "what arises from within". One is not to pay attention to others in the room, each of whom is doing his or her own latihan.
The latihan manifestations of different members are generally different but there are some movements fairly common to most members. Nearly all find that they make involuntary physical movements, movements that come without a person's intention and as long as the person do not resist and is willing to follow the "inner prompting".
The type of movements are often similar to what people normally do like different manner of walking, running, jumping or even dancing. Very often, physical movements are accompanied by "vocal movements" or simply making sounds, talking, "talking in tongue", singing, saying prayers aloud or even shouting, groaning, crying, laughing.
Pak Subuh explained that these physical manifestation of spontaneous movements is a result of the inner self (jiwa) of the person being awaken by the Power of God when the person surrenders to God when he receives the latihan kejiwaan. Very often the latihan is accompanied by a "tangible" inner vibration whenever one quietens the heart and mind. It is explained that all these things felt and experienced in the latihan kejiwaan have the effect of spiritual purification and cleansing and that these are matters which are not suitable as subject of investigation by the normal human intellect.
According to Pak Subuh, the idea of people not directing their own worship, but leaving it to God or a higher power, is not exclusive to Subud. For example, he pointed to the original form of worship of the Quakers, at the time when they stood and freely moved and vocalized. However, he also cautioned that various practices, which might appear to the casual observer to be the same as the latihan, are actually different.
Once a person is opened to the latihan, it permanently becomes a part of the person's being. Whenever the person quietens the heart and mind, the latihan will be felt to be "there" within the person usually manifesting as an inner vibration. It may be because of this that Pak Subuh introduced a three months waiting period for those wishing to join Subud.
Although the latihan can be practiced individually at home, Subud members are encouraged to attend the group latihan. After some practice, members may add a third weekly latihan at home.
Testing
Testing is a distinctive aspect of the latihan in which the latihan is directed toward receiving an answer or knowledge to a particular issue. A question or request for clarification is posed, and then the Subud member performs latihan such that guidance or direction may be received. The original word for "testing" used by Muhammad Subud was "terimah" which is Indonesian for "receiving". Many people who have been practicing the latihan for some time claim to be able to recognize indications or intuitions from their inner feeling in response to some question put forward.Such indications may take various forms including sounds, visions, vibrations and spontaneous physical movements similar to (but often more intense than) those in the usual latihan. However, Pak Subuh said these indications may defy intellectual analysis and that the receiving may be obscured or biased by the mental or emotional attitude of those present. Testing should be taken as a tool to clarify issues in the present, and can lead to confusion if applied as fortune-telling. Nevertheless, many Subud members find benefit from testing in terms of resolving issues. Deeper understanding may improve almost any problem, but does not offer a magic formula.
Testing is used to select "helpers" and committee members across the World Subud Association. Pak Subuh's book "Susila Budhi Dharma" cites examples of situations in which this "receiving" or "testing" may be useful in the process of training one's self in terms of putting the latihan into practice.
(The first time "testing" was called by that name was in 1957 by John Bennett. Therefore throughout the book "Susila Budhi Dharma", which was written in 1952, testing is always referred to as "feeling" or "receiving".)
Fasting
Individual Subud members often voluntarily engage in fasting as Pak Subuh recommended. Often, members who fast observe the Muslim fast of Ramadan as Pak Subuh did mention it was alright for non-muslim Subud members to also observe the Ramadan fast. Lent fasting had also been recommended.The recommendation to fast in Subud may be in following the Javanese "prihatin", an abstinence from food and pleasures as a spiritual practice.
Although fasting in Subud is not obligatory, Pak Subuh did mention its importance for Subud members - that the latihan kejiwaan by itself is only like the 'skin' or outer covering and fasting fills the 'latihan vessel' of a person with inner 'content'.
Rules
Subud has few rules, if any. Pak Subuh provided advice and guidance in his talks ostensibly to provide direction to members as their latihan deepens. A couple of important practices that might be called ‘rules’ in relation to the latihan include: men and women do not do latihan together, and non-members may not attend the latihan meetings without first receiving the contact (referred to as the "opening").A teaching or religion?
- Main article: Subud and religion
Is Subud a new religion or is Subud a new teaching?
This may be examined either from the Subud viewpoint or from the outside.
Subud is less than a hundred years old and is still in its early stage of development and has not made noticeable influence in the world as to draw headline attention and comments.
Outside of Subud
After Subud spread to the West in the late 1950's, Pak Subuh made many journeys around the world and wherever he went, he gave talks. The subject matter of his talks may be summarized as latihan, kejiwaan, worship and God - the Grace of God, the lathan kejiwaan as a receiving from Almighty God, men's inner selves being "awaken" by the Power of God, and other matters that naturally fall within the ambit of religion and spirituality like "seven levels of life forces", the spiritual cosmology with seven levels from the lowest material (satanic) level to the highest "Ilofi" ('Holy Spirit') level. As such, these talks may be said to be "The Teachings of Muhammad Subuh" which could also be perceived as the teachings of Subud as members are expected to subscribe to what the spiritual leader said.In the West, governments are basically tolerant even of new religions and Subud is able to have registered national centers officially affiliated to the world organisation.
In the Muslim world, the only country where Subud is officially registered is Indonesia. Most Indonesians would consider Subud as one of Javanese mystical movements (kebatinan).
The only pronouncement of note so far is a fairly recent ruling by the Vatican that Catholics may not join Subud. This may be taken as an indirect pronouncement that Subud is viewed as a new religion by the Vatican.
Within Subud
The official view of Subud is that it is a spiritual association, not a new religion. Members are free to practice whatever religion they choose or not to practice any. Muhammad Subuh himself was explicitly clear that he only introduced the latihan kejiwaan which is also a "technique" with which the inner-self may learn to use to guide man towards realizing his highest destiny.If Subud were a religion the only practice is the latihan kejiwaan and not any conscious effort by members to live a life according to anything said by Muhammad Subuh. Also, no member is taught how to do the latihan in any prescribed manner by any other member. Neither is there any religious curriculum nor people appointed to implement any.
It is conceivable for a member to just walk in and out of a Subud center twice a week for half an hour repeating it for years without interacting with other members and without being stopped. Of course, such a behaviour is unlikely.
History
Pak Subuh explained (in talks to Subud members given beginning in the 1940s) that in 1925 he was taking a late-night walk, when he had an unexpected and unusual experience. Suddenly he found himself enveloped in a brilliant light, and looked up to see what looked like the sun falling directly onto his body. His whole body trembled, and he thought that he was having a heart attack. He went directly home, lay down on his bed, and prepared to die. He felt that if it was his time to die, he could not fight it, so he surrendered himself to God completely.
Instead of dying, however, he was moved from within, impelled, to stand up and perform movements similar to his normal Muslim prayer routine. This seemed very strange to him because he was not moving through his own volition; but rather he was compelled or guided by what he interpreted as the power of God. This same kind of experience happened to him for a few hours each night over a period of approximately 1000 days during which period he slept little but was still able to continue working full-time. He experienced a kind of "inner teaching" where he was given to understand a variety of things spontaneously.
As these experiences proceeded, Pak Subuh explained, he gained insight into people and situations that he did not possess before. He was able to spontaneously "receive" or know things through this guidance. Around 1933, he reports that he received that if other people were physically near him while he was in a state of latihan, that this experience would begin in them also (such an initiation is now usually called "the opening"). Although only a young man in his early 30's, Pak Subuh's reputation as someone with spiritual insight spread, and many people came to him to be opened. These in turn could "open" others. This is how Subud eventually spread around the world.
In Jakarta, Husein Rofé, an English linguist who had been living in Indonesia since 1950, met Pak Subuh. Rofé had been searching for a spiritual path and became the first non-Indonesian to be opened to the latihan. Subud moved outside of Indonesia when Rofé attended a religious congress in Japan in 1954. This was where Subud spread first, and then later to Hong Kong and Cyprus. In 1957, Rofé (who was now in London) suggested that Pak Subuh be invited to Britain. Pak Subuh accepted and came to visit the home of John G. Bennett in Coombe Springs. It was at this time that many UK followers of G. I. Gurdjieff were initiated into Subud (including Bennett himself, though he later felt Subud to be inadequate). Over the next 14 months Pak Subuh visited many countries before returning to Indonesia.
Ascension To The Highest Heaven
Muhammad Subuh wrote in his autobiography that, about the year 1932, he had a visionary visit to the highest heaven, the "Seventh Heaven".One night he felt drowsy and went to lay down in bed. Instead of falling asleep, he felt himself "lengthen, widen and expand into a sphere" and then entered a great space. He saw a group of stars far away and was told that it was the universe he had left behind. He then traveled at great speed through a great expanse and beyond were "mountain-like cones of light, seven of them, one stacked upon another". He described how he entered the cones of light one after another until he entered the seventh, the last. Then he returned back to earth and saw what looked like stars in the sky but later realized they were the lights of Semarang, the hometown where he lived. He even tarried a little over the rooftop of his own house trying to lift up some roof tiles with his fingers but instead found himself inside his own room. It was about the time of Subuh or dawn.
There is no doubt in his description that Muhammad Subuh implied the seventh cone of light represents the highest heaven. It could therefore be inferred that he claimed to have reached a destination not lesser than the destination which the Prophet Muhammad of Islam reached in Isra Mi'raj, The Ascension.
It was likely because of this description of his ascension to the highest heaven that Muhammad Subuh insisted that his autobiography be published only after his death though it was completed much earlier.
The Last Chance
Pak Subuh noted that man nowadays has made great progress in using his mind and because of this, man does not easily belief in words and teachings but rather demands proof in all things. Man's mind can be a source of "darkness" when the thinking and imaginations work without restraint and become the master and man himself thus made a slave of the workings of his own mind. The mind, which gives great power, is now also a source of an inner suffering within man.Pak Subuh said that the state of disquiet and disturbance characteristic of the present world is a reflection of the disturbance that is the common state of the heart of man when his mind is powerful but easily swayed by influences from the low impulses (Indonesian "nafsu"), like greed and hatred - the "heat" within the heart of man. He said Subud is a "last chance for mankind" - only when more people receive the latihan, when the "heat" within man have been "dispelled" through the Power of God (like the morning dew disappearing with the sun's ray), that the course of mankind may go towards a state with greater peace and harmony, a state more on terms with the Will of God.
The name "Subud"
The name "Subud" is an acronym that stands for three Javanese words of Sanskrit derivation, Susila Budhi Dharma.What these words mean depends on whether referring to :
- * the original Sanskrit root word meaning.
- * definitions in a modern Indonesian language dictionary.
- * the explanation and definition given by the founder of Subud in his talks to members.
These three meanings are somewhat different from one another. The following is an exact quotation from The Basis and Aim of Subud , published by Subud Publications International since 1969, as an authorized translation of the words by the founder of Subud:
"Susila means: the good character of man in accordance with the Will of Almighty God..
"Budhi means: the force of the inner self within man.
"Dharma means: surrender, trust and sincerity towards Almighty God.
"This is the symbol of a person who has a calm and peaceful inner feeling and who is able to receive the contact with the Great Holy Life Force"
"As the spiritual training (latihan kedjiwaan) of Subud is free from the influence of the passions, desires and thinking, and is truly awakened by the Power of Almighty God, the aim of Subud is naturally toward perfection of character according to the Will of the One Who awakens it, namely: Almighty God."
"It is also necessary to explain that Subud is neither a kind of religion nor a teaching, but is a spiritual experience awakened by the Power of God leading to spiritual reality free from the influence of the passions, desires and thinking."
Symbol
The Subud symbol was envisioned by Pak Subuh in 1959. The design consists of seven concentric circles and seven spokes, which represent seven levels of life forces as well as the great life forces that connect them. Each circle grows wider the further out from the center and each spoke narrows as it comes to the center. The space between the circles remains constant as the circles move out. The symbol is often printed in black and white when color printing is not available. When colors are used, usually the circles and spokes are gold and the background is dark blue to black. However, the symbol is also sometimes shown as blue on white or white on blue.
The World Subud Association has registered this design, as well as the name "Subud", as a trade or service mark in several countries.
Association
Members who wish to perform some type of organizational responsibility in Subud can function as a committee member or a helper. Each responsibility can be performed at the local, regional, national, and international level. Members often move from one responsibility to another, as needed.
The broadest organizational responsibility rests with the World Subud Association, which meets at a World Congress every four years and consists of the Subud World Council, Subud representatives from each country as well as members who wish to participate. The headquarters of the international organization moves to a different country every four years.
Helpers
- ''Main article: Helper (Subud)
Each level of the association has members called "helpers" whose role is to coordinate the timing of group latihan, witnessing the opening of new members and speaking to those interested in the Subud latihan.
Helpers are usually selected from members who are willing to perform the helper's duty and, ideally, they should be the more experienced and mature among the members. But in no way does it mean a helper is more 'spiritually' advanced than a member who is not a helper.
Helpers exist at the local, regional (in some countries), national and international levels. Helpers' geographical status relates to the regional or national supportive duties they are expected to provide – otherwise, there are no geographical restrictions on where a helper is considered to be a helper. A local helper from London who travels to Jakarta, for example, will be seen as a helper there, and can do testing or open new members in the same way as any Indonesian helper.
There are (at this time) 18 international helpers - nine men and nine women. Three men and three women are assigned to each of the three areas in Subud:
- *Area I covers Zones 1 & 2 (Australasia and Asia)
- *Area II covers Zones 3, 4, 5, and 6 (Europe and Africa)
- *Area III covers Zones 7, 8 & 9 (the Americas)
The international helpers are members of the World Subud Council. They serve a four year term from World Congress to World Congress. There is no distinction in "rank" between local, national, or international helpers. Being a helper is seen not as a talent but as a capacity.
Ibu Rahayu
Ibu Siti Rahayu Wiryohudoyo, Pak Subuh's eldest daughter, is designated as Subud's 'spiritual guide', the same phrase that Pak Subuh used to describe himself. Some time after Pak Subuh's death, Siti Rahayu informed the Subud membership that she had had a dream in which she met Pak Subuh, and in the course of this dream he made it clear that he designated her as his successor. She made frequent statements to the effect that fewer requests should be made of her as she is getting on in age. Subud members hold her in high regard and give her the respect as due to one who is noble and spiritually enlightened. She is often asked to receive for members new names although she encourages members to receive these for themselves.Committees
Each Subud group is governed by a committee including a chairperson, vice-chair, treasurer, secretary, etc. This committee is tasked with making sure there is a place to do group latihan, with communications, budgeting, and supporting the mutual efforts of members at the local group. A similar structure functions at the regional (in certain countries), national, zonal and international level.
The international executive team is the International Subud Committee (ISC). Apart from ensuring international communication, publishing, budgeting, archives, support of affiliates, etc., it organizes a World Congress every four years. The chairperson of ISC sits on the World Subud Council.
For purposes of a practical organizational structure, the Subud association is divided into nine multinational zones, more or less as follows:
- *Zones 1 & 2 -- Australasia and Asia
- *Zone 3 -- includes 8 countries of western Europe
- *Zone 4 -- central and eastern European countries
- *Zones 5 & 6 -- Francophone and Anglophone African countries, respectively
- *Zone 7 -- USA, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Jamaica, Surinam, and the Caribbean
- *Zone 8 -- the upper part of South America
- *Zone 9 -- the lower part of South America
Each Zone has its own four representatives that are the voting members on the World Subud Council. They also serve a four year term like helpers. They are selected at Zone Meetings.
A chairperson for the World Subud Association serves a four-year term from one World Congress to the next, and is also the chairperson of the World Subud Council. The World Subud Council is responsible to ensuring that decisions made at World Congress are carried through.
Affiliations
Subud affiliations (sometimes called ‘Wings’) are technically independent but have overlapping boards of trustees. These are subsidiary organizations that focus on specific projects, often at a national or international level and include activities such as the:
- *Susila Dharma International Association (SDI or SDIA) -- humanitarian projects
- *Subud International Cultural Association (SICA) -- networking cultural activities
- *Subud Enterprise Services International (SES or SESI) -- networks between entrepreneurial activities
- *Subud Youth Association (SYA) -- networks among younger Subud members
Some chairpersons of these affiliations also sit on the World Subud Council and serve a four-year term.
In addition to the above affiliations, a foundation has been set up to preserve Pak Subuh's legacy, with a primary emphasis on helping groups acquire their own latihan premises. It is the
- *Muhammad Subuh Foundation (MSF)
Its chairperson reports to the World Subud Council.
Enterprises
Occasionally Subud members find a common interest or share compatible talents and join together to form an enterprise. The size of an enterprise or company can vary greatly. There are several national enterprises as well as international enterprises. Pak Subuh encouraged Subud members to put into practice what they gained from their latihan and to create enterprises that could provide opportunities for members to work in harmony. Many enterprises donate a portion of their after tax profits to the Subud Association at different levels.
Membership
Anyone over the age of 17 may join Subud regardless of religious affiliation. Except in unusual circumstances, there is a waiting period of three months before a person is finally initiated into the latihan. This waiting period is for the benefit of the applicant and ensures that there is no misunderstanding about the applicant's wish to join Subud.There is no regular collection of any money for any purpose in Subud. Any money collections are normally straight contributions towards the cost of maintaining meeting places for the latihan.
Notes
References
*- *
- Mulder, Niels Mysticism & everyday life in contemporary Java : cultural persistence and change Singapore : Singapore University Press, c1978
- Sumohadiwidjojo, M. S. "Autobiography" ISBN 1869822072, Subud Publications International (March 1990)
- The International Helpers, "On the Subud Way" ISBN 0975749706, (c) The World Subud Association (WSA) 2005
- . ISBN 0791423980.
External links
- www.subud.org Official site
- www.subud.net Official members' site
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Last updated on Wednesday October 08, 2008 at 10:25:36 PDT (GMT -0700)
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