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DECEMBER 2007

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OneWorld in SecondLife

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Anuradha Vittachi, daughter of Varindra Vittachi, hasdevoted her life to working on issues of global justice andsustainability. Now her organisation, OneWorld, haslaunched an innovative social networking site to tackleclimate change as part of the internet virtual experience‘Second Life’…

OneWorld, the interna-tional network for globaljustice, is launching asocial networking spacefor climate change thatwill act as a ‘ClimateFacebook’ to inspire peo-ple to take action to pro-tect the planet.

OneWorld is an internation-al not-for-profit network forglobal justice, with 13 cen-tres around the world. Itsnews and information por-tal, OneWorld.net, waslaunched in London in 1995and was the world’s firstportal on human rights andsustainable development.

It draws upon its world-wide network of over3,500 organisations thatshare global justice val-ues to produce 13 news editions in arange of languages.

OneWorld also carries out projects in theglobal south, innovating media for socialgood – e.g. a phone-based Q&A systemsupporting impoverished farmers in India,e-learning for girls and boys in Nigeria, andSMS texts on mobile phones to link blue-col-lar jobseekers in Kenya with employers.

‘OneClimate.net is a mass collaborationspace dedicated to global citizens gather-ing and distributing solutions to climatechange,’ says Anuradha Vittachi, co-founder ofOneWorld and instigator of its climate initiative.’It showswhat people and organisations all over the world aredoing, and offers a response to the question, ‘Why shouldI go green if no one else is?’

OneWorld is known for innovating media platforms foreradicating poverty – like OneWorld.net, the world’s firstportal on global justice.

Vittachi points out that climate change is set to be the

greatest creator of poverty and suffering the world hasever known, undermining the good work done by devel-opment workers for decades.

No Global Justice without Climate Justice‘There can be no global jus-tice,’ she says, ‘without cli-mate justice. Do we reallywant to be the generationthat ended life as we know itfor hundreds of millions ofpeople?’

OneClimate.net is support-ed by Cisco Systems. AdrianGodfrey, Director ofCorporate Affairs at Cisco,says: ‘We are del ighted t o b e s u p p o r t i n gOneClimate.net as a globalinitiative that brings togetherCisco’s commitment totackle climate change andto utilising the power of thehuman network to make adifference.’

OneClimate.net links directlythrough to OneClimateIsland, built by OneWorldwithin the 3D virtual world ofSecond Life. Since opening

to the public in June 2003, Second Life hasgrown explosively and today includes 100universities, including Harvard andEdinburgh.

Second Life is created by Linden Lab, a com-pany founded by Philip Rosedale to create anew form of shared 3D experience. Sinceopening to the public in 2003, Second Lifehas grown explosively and today is inhabitedby more than eight million people fromaround the globe. For more information visit: http://secondlife.com

OneClimate Island was soft-launched by

CALIFORNIA FIRESAccording to reports from Subud USA no membershave been harmed, nor property lost, in the recentterrible fires in California. Some members had to beevacuated from their homes at various times and allhave suffered from the effects of intense air pollution.Our hearts go out to them...

Climate change isset to be the

greatest creatorof poverty andsuffering the

world has everknown

•

A screen grab from One World Island showing an ‘avatar’ (an online representation of oneself) experimenting with power output

from a windmill

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•

OneWorld on 16 September 2006. ‘OneWorld was the firstNGO to use Second Life for dealing with serious global jus-tice issues, as well as creating its first space devoted sole-ly to tackling climate change,’ says Peter Armstrong,OneWorld co-founder and Innovations Director.

‘It will come into its own when the United Nations meetson December 3-14 to hold its Climate Summit. We will beopening a virtual window on events in Bali for anyone inthe world who can access Second Life. But unlike its RealLife equivalent - and appropriately for a climate changeconference - it will produce no travel-related carbonemissions.’

To find out more and link to the OneClimate Island, go to:www.oneclimate.net

For further information contact Anuradha Vittachi onanuradha@oneworld.org

Amalijah Thompson, WSA Archive Coordinator, writes withurgency about issues in the archives. She warns us thatdigital technology alone is not sufficient for storing thematerial, and more controversially suggests making theSubud Archives a separate entity from WSA/ISC…

Brothers and sisters, in my capacity as the WSA ArchiveCoordinator, I would like to draw your attention to the sit-uation we face at the moment in finding solutions to a sus-tainable future for our archival resources.

In the time of the prophets Abraham, Moses, Jesusand Muhammad, technology was not as sophisti-cated as it is today. We have a sense of what hap-pened in those times, but not a lot of proof. DidJesus really marry Mary Magdelene, have a childand live out his life in France... .we know not.

When the latihan came into this world, technol-ogy had advanced to the point that Bapak wasable to travel freely around the world and thissame technology enabled the words given by AlmightyGod to help us understand the latihan kejiwaan to berecorded, as it happened, during those journeys.

Due to the dedication and hard work of Faisal Sillem, allthose recordings except for a very few, have been col-lected, coded, identified and copyrighted to not onlyprotect them for the future, but to make them accessibletoday and to aid their remaining as closeto what was originally received as human-ly possible.

As well as the audio recordings, we havefilms, photographs and other items thatdocument all the aspects of the develop-ment of Subud.

DIgital alone is not enoughThe situation we face at the moment isvery different, in that all this material is dis-appearing very quickly. I think many peo-ple have the impression that because dig-ital copies have been made of somematerial, we can sit back and relax andstill expect future generations will be able

to safely access their heritage.

Digital records are a wonderful aid to providing accessand provision of information. However, there is no sub-stantiated evidence globally, that digital records are sta-ble or viable enough, at this point in time, to be consid-ered as a stand alone format for long term preservation ofarchive material - especially material which has so muchsignificance for ALL of mankind!

Current global archival knowledge based on years ofresearch and practice working with all kinds of materialand formats, confirms absolutely that we cannot rely ononly one format to preserve valuable records.

In particular we cannot rely solely on digital technology,which is still unstable and difficult to control. We are in realdanger of losing, not only considerable knowledge glob-ally but, from our perspective, having the proof and fullcontext of how the latihan came into the world and thegift and grace of Bapak’s talks, suddenly wiped off theface of the earth.

This is not something to be passed over lightly and weneed to manage our resources in ways that take thesechanges into account.

A clearer understanding of how to manage the problemThe problems with digital technology have been under-stood for a long time and what has emerged recentlyfrom my observation is a much a clearer understanding ofhow to manage the problems.

We don’t have the long time spans we had when wedealt with analogue material, film and paperrecords. These are all very stable formats. Digitalmaterial needs to be managed much more care-fully, because the software and hardwarechanges take place much more quickly.

Whereas we could leave a reel to reel audiorecording on a shelf in reasonable conditions for50 years and still be able to play the recording atgood quality, the same does not apply to CDs,

DVDs or hard drives, or any of the multitude of other dig-ital formats available and being used all over the world,all of which become obsolete very quickly.

Information can disappear just by pushing the wrong buttonor, through not managing migration of material to new for-mats with the care, expertise and understanding needed toensure that the data remains the same as the original.

If we consider that digital technology isthe easy solution to all archival, knowl-edge, and information managementproblems, I don’t believe our descen-dants will forgive us lightly when they areunable to access the evidence andrecords of how Subud developed, or beable to hear Bapak’s voice and the con-tent of the talks, as we have had the priv-ilege and Grace of hearing them.

Nor is digital technology cheaper. There isproof and evidence to support what isnow common knowledge about the truecost of managing these technologicalchanges. We need a different kind of

Quo Vadis the Archives?

All this material is

disappearingvery quickly

WSA Archives Co-ordinatorAmalijah Thompson

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management system and, to be really paying attentionto what we are doing and how we are doing it. We needto build a management system which will live beyond usindividually and the jobs we have in Subud.

A new approach to managing archivesI feel that it is unreasonable to expect the members of ISCand WSC to be informed at the level required when theydo not have time to read the thorough reports providedand, at the same time be expected or able, with realintegrity to make decisions which go beyond currentcash-flow problems and all the other issues we and theyface in managing Subud affairs on a day to day basis.

Managing resources which are as potentially valuable tomankind as our archives are, need to be managed witha dedicated fund, with substantial long term planningand, with the commitment of not only every one of us butof a dedicated board of trustees/management. Thisboard could possibly be affiliated to MSF, reporting toWSC and WSA at regular intervals.

If we make decisions right now, which are not properlyresearched and not based on the real archival practice,knowledge and expertise that exists, we need to understandand be ready to face the consequences of those decisions.

Archival practice is designed to provide services to awide range of users and it’s designed to protect valuablematerial for as long as possible. It isn’t designed to gatherhuge amounts of useless material for no good reason, orto keep it for no good reason.

It’s designed to collect only the records which have themost value historically, legally, informational and toenable those assets to be used and accessed safely, sothat not only do we preserve information into the future,we can enjoy the benefits today.

It takes into account the need to migrate and transfermaterial from one medium to another, and there arestandards that need to be applied to those processes forthem to be viable and for the information to remainaccessible and complete.

Digital records are a wonderful way of providing accessto material and for the spread of information but if we donot protect the original material with real archival integri-ty, expertise and knowledge, I do not believe those whocome after us will be able to understand at all, how wecould have so easily thrown what we received away.

Will God protect us from ourselves?It may well be the case that God steps in and protects usfrom ourselves, but this is our responsibility, our obligation,at this time and in this place. The time is not tomorrow andI need to inform you clearly about the reality and to rec-ommend the steps that seem the only viable way to pro-tect this obligation.

These are assets which need to live beyond all of us, whichare not given just to us. I’m not just speaking about ouraudio visual archives but also the supporting documenta-tion which provides the proof of how it all happened and Ifeel that we need to really be paying attention to what weare doing in an increasingly unstable world, to enable asafe transition to take place before it’s too late.

With the sale of PTS Widjojo, we surely have the means to

establish a dedicated fund. We have the expertise avail-able to form the initial board of management. I pray andask sincerely for your support, that we can take thisresponsibility now, absolutely, and find the strength andclarity to carry out what we need to carry out.

Archives and HistoryGood archives can bring history alive today as well asensure heritage is passed on intact to the future. In theInternational Archive in Canberra for many years, wehave been trying to collect the outstanding materialneeded to fill gaps in collections so that our records areas complete as possible. This is intended to also facilitate the work of documentingthe history of Subud so that this flows more easily and withfewer problems for Harlinah.

Extract from Digital Futures Forum September 2007 Hosted by the National Archives of Australia, the DigitalFutures Forum at Parliament House attracted archivalexperts from nine countries who shared their expertise inthe hopes of finding joint solutions to global problems.

Speakers emphasised a common theme: that world-widechallenges will be overcome only if organisations cooper-ate across borders and across sectors.

The forum noted that substantial investment in the cre-ation of digital content was not matched by proportionalinvestments in preserving and providing appropriateaccess to information.

‘By collaborating across sectors and across nations, andby sharing our findings we can ensure the citizens of thefuture are not left with a black hole in their history books’.

If you have archival material and are not sure where tosend it, or would like to discuss any aspect of the work ofthe International Archives, please contact Amalijah at:

PO Box 1070 Woden ACT 2606 Australia Tele: 61 2 6232 4997Email: amalijah@grapevine.net.au

Ilaina Lennard provides an overview of Subud in the last50 years with these extracts from Thank You: Celebrating50 Years of Subud, the beautifully produced booklet bySPI which was given out free to all who came to the 50thCelebrations at Ascot, UK.Ilaina writes that whilst at times the text omits mentioningour ‘failures’ it still deserves high praise for its presentation.So here are extracts from some of its reminiscences, forthe benefit of those who could not come…

Serious but light – the first Subud Congress at CoombeSprings, August 1959In my view Bapak answered every conceivable questionin that wonderful Congress.. what I cannot get over is thetotally different atmosphere that pervaded the wholeSubud Brotherhood at that time. People could not wait toget to latihan, which they started instantly.

This is one aspect that reading cannot supply. Bapak,even while answering serious questions, such as limit-ing one’s families and the use of contraception, washilariously funny, as he said that he did not think thatants and elephants used any, and we all fell aboutlaughing. It was a serious Congress but

50 Years of Subud •

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everything was light. – Tony Bright Paul, UK

Briarcliff World Congress 1963: an informal atmosphereBapak and family were housed in a beautiful privatehome near the campus, the residence of Istimah andErling Week, who had done much of the work in prepara-tion for the event. I remember one night when Ibu wanted to watch MarlonBrando on TV, and despite being told that there was nolisting for a movie with him in it, she insisted, and aftermuch channel surfing a movie was found – she was soright! – Roanna Clark, USA

Chauffeuring Bapak..It was the first time Oswald became Bapak’s chauffeur –people vied for this honour.

‘It was like Bapak was driving the car through you. I justwent where he said to go. Sometimes it wasn’t spoken,you had to sit quietly and listen inside to know where togo.’ - Oswald and Asa Lake, USA

Heat Waves and Japanese Customs at the TokyoWorld Congress 1967I remember Tokyo for its cultural flavour and thecamaraderie of the Subud members, as well asthe heat wave that greeted us on our arrival.

..In the entrance lobby everyone had to removetheir shoes and put on the sandals provided. Onarrival at our room we had to remove those san-dals and put on another pair, which awaited us.Our room was totally bare except for a smalltable with a jug of water and two glasses, and on the wallfour clothes hooks. On further inspection we found a cup-board, and inside two futons for us to sleep on.

The heat was tremendous and only on the third day did wefind (in addition to the heatwave) thatthe radiator was on.

We were all provided with basic butbeautiful cotton kimonos of blue andwhite, and a sash of brilliant acid yellow.It was intriguing to see our Subudwomen walking around with the sasharound their waist, and the men with thesash around their hips. Very fetching!

There were communal bathrooms formen and women separately. The mainbathroom in the women’s area had, atone end, a number of taps along thewalls with two plastic ‘potties’ beloweach tap. One potty was for sitting onand the other was for douching withwater from the tap while washing vig-orously with the soap provided.

We would then, quite naked, enter themain bath or pool, which was filledwith hot, very green, aromatic water, and which had ashelf below the waterline on which to sit. The Japanesebathers were a lovely all-over-yellowy-brown colour,while we were more of a paint box assortment of colours:white in parts, brown in parts, and pink in parts.Embarrassing!

One day I saw two Subud brothers enter and very quick-

ly rush away from such a gaggle of naked ladies.Ironically, the talk Bapak gave that night was about menand women – and sex.

The Japanese hosts were very shy and reserved. Some thingsstarted to go awry – too much to ignore – and finally every-one collapsed with laughter, hosts and guests, and from thatpoint on everything became fine. – Maryse Lawrie, UK

Cilandak 1971: Testing and ReceivingA few days after the beginning of the Congress, one nightat the end of the latihan, Bapak made us do several tests,like: what do we do with our hands, how when walkingfrom our own will and how when guided by the latihan,etc. I felt nothing, and kept standing there, quietly butsomewhat disappointed. But inwardly, I felt somethingwould change.

And two or three nights later, right at the beginning of the lati-han, I suddenly began to make all sorts of movements. To my

utter amazement, I realised that I was now re-enact-ing all the tests Bapak had proposed to us a fewevenings before. I was exhilarated; it went on for thir-ty minutes, non-stop. I felt so grateful I think I cried. –Michel Rousseau – Canada

The Red TriangleOne night, during latihan, in the large hall that hadjust been built by Bapak with the help of Subudmembers all over the world, my eyes opened to seea brother walking, among many others, at the otherend of the hall. From that distance, given my pooreyesight, this unknown man was only a blur among

many blurs, but above him, as if affixed, there was a small,bright, inverted red triangle in perfect focus.

Finally he came close enough for me to recognise whohe was: Pak Brodjolukito. Later I reported the experience

to Brodjo, but he could not explain it.Then I waited about five years beforeasking Pak Sudarto about the meaningof this symbol. The answer that Sudartosent back to me told me somethingabout the inner content of our lateelder brother, Pak Brodjo.

‘Usually, if the heart is purified from itsnegative nature, the power which usu-ally accompanies the lower forces andcauses one to be negative, will be sep-arated from its former place and putoutside the body and this can be seenas a small red triangle over the head.As you know, the lower forces hinderthe human being through the heartand mind…’– Stephan Solat, Ukraine

A taste of things to comeMany of us, around 70 ‘foreigners’,stayed in Cilandak after the 1971Congress until the end of Ramadhan.

This four month period was one of rich experiences andgreat blessings for many of us.

Halfway through my stay, I had a profound experience. Itstarted during the night, and when I awoke I was in a bliss-fully calm and wide state whereby I could even listen tosomeone in an intense emotional crisis without gettingcaught up in it. This state lasted 24 hours.

Ironically, the talk

Bapak gavethat night was aboutmen andwomen – and sex.

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Cilandak watchtower built of bamboo and thatchfor the 1971 Congress.

(Photo by Ramzi Winkler)

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isn't ‘right’. But, on the whole it wouldn't really come into mymind in relation to talking about the latihan.

The discontent that some Subud Youth might feel towardsBapak's talks (I think) comes from the way some of hisquotes can be used. Young people don't want to be iso-lated from the Subud community by being told things fromBapak unqualified, that in some cases they may not beready to hear.

But I'm very, very far from suggesting people should censorwhat they say or what Bapak said, just that sensitivity canmake a big difference. I have here a quote from Bapak’sfirst talk in England…

‘You should never believe what Bapak tells you if youhaven’t yet experienced it for yourself; that would be verydangerous for you.’

Many Subud Youth, especially newcomers, may not haveexperienced a lot of truth behind Bapak’s words that mightbe freely quoted to them. Many may not have yet fullyrealised how powerful the latihan actually is, its real impor-tance. So I think you see the point I’m making. As a young person's life and Subud-life go on, young peoplewill probably find their own way to relate to the talks. Theywill recognise the truth in them through experience. In themeantime they need to be nurtured as people. So its justemotional intelligence that is required, really.

By the way, I am not saying emotional intelligence is lackingin my Subud elders/betters; I’m just expressing what I thinkworks best for us young 'uns for its own sake.

But there can be an insular side to Subudwhere it is easy for young people to get isolat-ed from the longer-standing members. A lot ofgroups don't have big youth numbers so thatcan be a problem, and in other cases therecan be cross-generational personality tensionsthat aren't helpful.

Bapak's talks can then be a good option forpeople to seek answers to issues they haveon their mind if they don't want to approachothers. But if they read a quote in a very‘thinky’ state it can actually just be confus-ing. This is where there needs to be a feelingof openness where young people in Subudcan talk with those more experienced inSubud to help them feel at peace with

whatever they're experiencing.

It’s that feeling of openness that Subud is so beautifullyand uniquely capable of in the membership thatyoung people will click with most, in my opinion.

That was the main thing that attracted me to theweird (!) group my parents used to visit twice a week.Meeting people who seemed both very normal butsomehow sensitive in a way that was different to youraverage person. Then, later on, meeting role models inolder brothers who were very approachable, and

able to listen. That made a very big difference to me. For thatreason I am happy to be a Subud member, whereas forexample my brother – who I think experienced that less – isno longer willing to be.

These are just my opinions, I don't claim to be representative ofSubud youth, but if my opinions are helpful then I'm glad.

A Few Thoughts...Elias Stoakes from Christchurch writes about Bapak’s talksand how young people relate to Subud…

In July's Issue of Subud Voice I read an article called ‘PresentingBapak's Words to young People’, which touched on the issue ofhow young Subud folk feel about Bapak's talks.

Mardiyah opened the ‘trialogue’ between herself, Harrissmart and Ilaina Lennard, which continued throughout, bymentioning an occasion where she posted a Bapak quoteto ‘Congress News’(USA) and received alot of negative responses.

The talk she sent was about the hereafter,and the Big B apparently mentioned thatSubud members would get a ‘specialplace in heaven’. This drew angry respons-es from many young Subud persons whofelt that there was an implication of hierar-chy and ‘exclusivity' in the quote.

Mardiyah went on to say: ‘I think this was thetip of the iceberg. I think a great many youngpeople have some very serious issues withmany of the things that Bapak said.’

She said some interesting things after thatabout being careful ‘pushing 'quotes thatmight be taken in bad way, even though no one'ssuggesting Bapak is ‘wrong’. Then she called formore input from young people in publications likethe Voice.

Thereafter, I followed the discourse between thethree I mentioned earlier, in which lots of usefulstuff was said. So, here I am, a young Subud mem-ber (24)...I thought it would be best to ‘answer thecall and write a response’.

I think that in many ways Mardiyah is right to bringthis up. Bapak did say some things that are difficultto be received against the background of modern values,especially for young people.

I myself don't think Bapak made statements that were‘untrue’, but I don't feel totally comfortable telling a pre-opened peer, for example, that alcohol or homosexuality

The next day I was back to my usual self and this was extraordinarily painful. Later some of us asked Pak Sudartowhy we had these brief experiences. He told us that theywere to encourage us by giving us a taste of how thingswould be in the future.

At the end of Ramadhan, the morning of Idul Fitri, somefour or five brothers who had stayed up all night to doprayers, felt we wanted to go to the cemetery with Bapak– this was before Bapak made this an open event. Whenwe arrived at the family graves only Ibu Rahayu, PakMangun, Pak Haryono and some other family memberswere there. Five minutes later Bapak arrived. At first I feltas if I was intruding on a family event, but it was a greatgift, as I then felt as if the boundary between this worldand the next disappeared. I can only describe it as a feel-ing of eternity.- Robiyan Easty, GreecePart 2 of this article with more stories from the last 50 yearswill be published in our January issue. •

Elias Stoakes

Bapak's talkscan be a good

option for people

seeking answersto issues theydon't want to

approach othersabout.

PAGE 6 SUBUDVOICE

cont on p7 >

T h e M e a n i n g o f S u b u d

Bapak

TalkCOOMBE SPRINGS, 14 DECEMBER 1957, Recording: 57 CSP 14Copyright 2007, World Subud Association. All rights reserved.

This talk was given for people practising the spiritual exerciseknown as the Subud Latihan. For those not practising this exer-cise, reading the following talk is not recommended as it couldbe misunderstood.

Gentlemen, as a preamble to the explanations Bapak willbe giving later, Bapak would first like briefly to explain anddefine the expressions ‘Subud’ and ‘Susila Budhi Dharma’.

Susila means the good behaviour of a human being, orperson, which is in line with God’s will.

Budhi means the force of the power of the personal selfthat is present in the self of human beings.

Dharma means to surrender, to trust only in God, and toaccept without hoping for anything in return, and itmeans to accept whatever the One God gives.

Bapak gives these three words a further meaning: ‘Thegood behaviour of human beings that makes it possible,with this good behaviour, which is in line with God’s will, tofind the best of our life forces, the one that can receivewhat God gives.’ The gist, or the meaning, of this expla-nation is that we should become able to carry out ourobligations as human beings living on this earth, living inan orderly fashion, in a way that doesn’t conflict withGod’s will.

Of course it can be taken for granted that under suchconditions we’ll find the right road in our life later afterdeath, and we’ll reach the One God.

The name ‘Susila Budhi Dharma’ and its acronym ‘Subud’– this name, Subud, although it’s an acronym derivedfrom the initial letters of Susila Budhi Dharma, also has ameaning of its own. The meaning of ‘Subud’ is,‘Originating in God and returning to God’ or, ‘Originatingfrom its source and returning to the same source.’

The Subud SymbolAnd this is represented in the Subud symbol as somethinground, a circle, meaning, ‘Limitless and forever returningto its origin.’ And in this symbol something else is repre-sented as well: that we do not stop on the way, but ratherwe go on without limit. This means we do not hold any-thing back, but everything is for God, from God.

Within the circle are also depicted seven inner circles,which illustrate the existence of forces, or spirits [roh],which also return to their origins. And it’s these circles with-in the symbol, seven in all, which depict the existence ofcertain spirits, which are, beginning from the material spir-it [roh kebendaan]: the material spirit; second, the veg-etable spirit [roh tumbuh-tumbuhan]; third, the animal

spirit [roh hewani]; fourth, the ordinary human spirit [rohorang]; fifth, the spirit of the perfect human being, therohani; sixth, the spirit higher than that, which is called rah-mani; and the seventh, the spirit higher than all the rest,the rabani spirit.

Why is it, my children, that Bapak can’t name themaccording to qualities that would enable you to visualisethem? When Bapak speaks of the rohani, rahmani, andrabani spirits, he says only, ‘The perfect human being,and then there is a higher one and then a higher one still.’The reason is that these three are beyond our horizons,beyond the reach of our knowledge, beyond the rangeof our sight, so they have no forms that can serve as illus-trations for purposes of explanation.

These things can be received, can be really understood,only after human beings have really become able toabandon the contents of the human self, which are themind, imagination, feelings [rasa perasaan], wishes anddesires [nafsu].

Yet the human mind is the usual instrument for under-standing. Certainly it’s customary to use the mind and theheart of the feelings. That’s why the only spirits that canbe described using physical forms to give an idea of themare the subhuman ones: the material, vegetable, animaland ordinary human.

Besides the spirits already represented in the Subud sym-bol, there are still others, too, that cannot be depictedthere: the roh Ilofi and the rohulkudus. Nor can these twospirits be described in terms of physical forms in order toenable the mind to grasp them. They can be receivedonly with purity, which is to say by immobilisation of themind, the will, the feelings and the desires.

The Material ForceAlthough Bapak has been able to give a description ofthe spirits, this has been no more than a description, notyet their actual reality. Take, for example, the materialspirit, or material objects. Bapak describes this spirit interms of the nature of these objects, but this does not yettouch upon their spirit. It touches only on the characteris-tics of their outer form.

So, although it may appear that material objects aren’talive in the way human beings or animals are, in actualfact they’re encompassed by a life force that is presentboth within and without them. If material objects weren’talive, they wouldn’t be able to attract human beings tothem to the extent that human beings give thought towhat good can be derived from such objects.

So the thoughts that human beings can have aboutmaterial objects, and the feelings that can be aroused bythem, as well as the way they can attract the attention ofhuman beings and make human beings really feel drawnto them, all shed light on the fact that within materialobjects there is a life force that is capable of influencingthe human heart and mind.

Just as an example, imagine, my children, that you lackthe courage to walk along a certain road, let’s saybecause it’s deserted. But if, my children, you have aweapon with you, then you’ll feel how your heart, whichhad been afraid, will grow courageous because of thepresence of the weapon you’re carrying.

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On the other hand, the reason why material objects havedifferent forms is that they comply with the human mind’sdesire [to create] the particular kind of object in question.So it’s clear that human beings create things, thingsthey’ve thought up by themselves, things their mindshave thought up, and finally they regard them as bene-factors that contribute to their well-being. In the sameway, human beings create things, for example, cars.

And these human beings have a very strong feeling ofbeing helped by the very things that they themselveshave made, even though these objects are the creationsof their own minds, of the human heart.

Finally, or in the long run, anything at all that humanbeings have made can automatically, as a result ofhuman forgetfulness, as a result of human weakness,become an object of veneration, can become the rulerof the inner feeling. This is why it’s clear that materialobjects – though they don’t move, though they don’tbreathe as animals do, as human beings do – are never-theless encompassed by a life force that can attract theattention of human beings, making them, whether theywant to or not, give thought to the possible utility of vari-ous kinds of objects.

So, my children, if you wish to know and to bereally conscious of what the material force islike, it’s first necessary to immobilise the mind, todo away with it, or to return to your state of tran-quillity before your minds began to develop.

The Vegetable ForceThat was to explain the forces, or the life forcecalled material. Above this force, or beyond itand more powerful than it, there’s the veg-etable spirit. It’s not the vegetation itself that’scalled a spirit. No, that’s only the outer form,which illustrates the fact that within this outerform there is a life force that encompasses it.This force provides humans with the strengthfound within the feelings, and it draws on thatstrength as well.

So plants stimulate the growth of the flesh, or the humanbody, so that, by means of this stimulation, human beingscome to have, to possess, the enthusiasm needed tobehave as people and to act as required for life in the world.

Actually, what is meant by the word voedsel is food forsome creature’s life, namely vegetation. So if, say, ahuman being hadn’t already happened to eat beef withpudding, and other things, but from infancy had beenstarted on a diet of plants, that’s to say vegetables, stillthat person could live as an animal can, though not in theway appropriate for a human being. Bapak will explainthis further later on.

Continuing now with the vegetable forces, Bapak will saythat the relationship between the human self and vege-tation is not just very close, but an essential one. It’s nec-essary that they join together within the feelings. The rea-son is that this is necessary to increase the strength thatexists within the human self.

And so, human beings, whether they like it or not, areinfluenced by the nabati, the vegetable force. And thelife of the vegetable spirit does not actually originate onthis earth of ours, but in a place that is a separate world

and cannot easily be known by human beings who arenot yet able to immobilise, leave behind, their feelings.

The Animal ForceAbove that, higher than the vegetable spirit is the animalspirit [roh hewani]. The characteristics of animals give apicture of what the animal spirit is like, but these qualitiesof animals give only an impression of this, whereas theirspirit, their life, and their life force encompass everythingabout them.

And it’s necessary to have a relationship with this spirit justthe way people have relationships with each other. Themanner of carrying on this relationship is to eat the flesh ofanimals, as is done with beef and other kinds of meat.And why is this necessary?

It’s because human beings, in order to be able to havesteadfast energy, must eat meat. The meaning of stead-fast energy is to possess the quality of tawakal, the trust inGod alone, which is required to endure the trials of life.

So, actually, in order for human beings to be strength-ened for life on this earth, and for human energy not to

branch off in all directions – for example towaver – fortification is needed from the strengthof animals. And indeed it’s the will of God thatthe relationship between the animal force andmankind be close.

This is to strengthen in human beings the kind oftrust in God that is needed to face what mustbe faced to have a prosperous life. For all of youto receive, my children, and know the true stateof the animal force or animal spirit, it will be nec-essary for you to immobilise and leave behindyour own personal awareness, my children.

Not just many, but very many instances indeed,prove that in their perception of their surround-ings the awareness of animals is greater thanthat of human beings. For example, if there are

animals on a volcano that is going to erupt, the animalson that volcano will know it before the human beings inthe vicinity do.

Not only that, but birds when they are flying know verywell what moments are dangerous for them and requirethem to fly away or move somewhere else, while humanbeings themselves can’t experience this kind of aware-ness. Human beings can only go by their past experience.

Still another example is the bat. Bats in pitch-darkness flyhere and there, and back here again. Although there aremany trees in the way, they still don’t hit or touch them.This is because of their alertness.

The ability of human beings to create radar, a devicecapable of detecting distant phenomena, was inspiredby the way bats can pass by obstacles without bumpinginto them. So it’s clear that in reality animals sometimeshave greater awareness than human beings. Bapak says‘sometimes’ because human beings ought to be higherthan animals.

The Human ForceAnd above the animal force or spirit is the human forceand spirit which is called jasmaniah. And this is obtainedin the union between a man and his wife.

It’s first necessary toimmobilisethe mind, to

do away with it, or to

return to yourstate of

tranquillity

PAGE 8 SUBUDVOICE

cont on p 9 >

This union is necessary to human beings, because it’s the way that enables them to understand how thehuman spirit and force within each of them is connectedto the other’s.

Because the way to strengthen the relationship betweenthe two is by the union of one person with another. Ofcourse it’s not done by people eating each other.Instead it’s done by means of sexual union. This can beencountered, can be known, by human beings if in thesexual congress of the man and his wife it is possible toreach deep within or, in other words, to reach the state ofimmobilising and doing away with personal quietness.

If Bapak speaks of immobilising quietness – in spite of the factthat quietness is the one and only weapon mankind has forbeing able to be conscious whether ‘I’m alive’ or ‘I’m dead’– it’s because human beings will be able to receive giftsfrom God only after everything inside the human self hasbeen completely forgotten, completely emptied out.

The Higher ForcesSo it’s we human beings who are eaten, orencompassed, by the force that is higher thanour’s, the rohani force. Therefore, if this personwe’ve been discussing rises to the next level and,having had a change of form, become a per-fect human being, that person will have becomesomething that cannot be described in terms ofshape and kind.

And above this level there’s nothing more thatcan be said about what efforts, and things likethat, have to be made to reach this, and it isn’tnecessary for Bapak to explain these spirits,because, as Bapak was just saying, he can’tdescribe them. The reason is that there are noforms that match the content of the spirits abovethe rohani spirit.

This is because for the roh rohani to be known orreached by a person, it’s necessary to leavebehind all personal tranquillity – meaning that there is nomore consciousness. This ‘loss of consciousness’ doesn’tmean that the peace of the soul no longer has anymeaning; it’s rather that there’s a greater tranquillity, agreater consciousness, than the consciousness ofmankind. In other words, if you finally reach this place, mychildren, later, when the consciousness stops working,everything you think about, everything you feel andeverything you desire will stop working too, while everypicture you made in your mind will have vanished com-pletely.

But something else will rise up in their place: a great tran-quillity, a tranquillity from the rohani level, and no longerfrom the jasmani, or ordinary human, level.

So it would be impossible and unnecessary for Bapak toexplain anything higher than that, because it’s not just acase of it being very difficult, but of it being utterly impos-sible to describe the forms such spirits have. The reason isthat their forms have no proper equivalents in terms intel-ligible to human beings. They have names, it’s true – or itcan be said that they’ve been given the names rahmaniand rabani by human beings – but these names have nomore meaning than ‘something higher, somethinggreater than the other levels.’

All these things were brought into being by the One God,were created by the Creator, the One God. Bapak has justbeen saying that it’s not possible for us human beings withthe thoughts of our minds even to understand the way wecontrol and are controlled by spirits. How much less, then,can we understand God! It’s even more completelyimpossible for us to think about God, to imagine what Godlooks like, and to try to make God understandable.

The Roh Ilofi and the RohulkudusBesides the seven spirits [roh] Bapak described earlier,there are still others, as Bapak has mentioned. These arethe roh ilofi and the rohulkudus. These two spirits are linkswhich by their presence provide human beings with anopen door through which it’s possible to rise up level bylevel in a straight line. The roh ilofi moves through every-thing that is within, and the rohulkudus moves througheverything that is without. As a result, they encompassmankind within and without.

Therefore, if human beings really surrender to God, ifhuman beings really believe in God, if the feelings of

human beings really trust in God and believethat it is God alone who opens the way forhuman beings – and therefore don’t use themind for that – then it is impossible to get loston the journey, because one will always beencompassed by these guardians, bothinwardly and outwardly.

Therefore, anxiety of the heart, and lack ofclarity in the heart and mind, need to be keptat a great distance, or need to be disbe-lieved, or not to be talked about, becausethey come from the force of the mind andheart, which conforms to the material leveland therefore in reality isn’t pleased with theidea that humankind might go away andabandon it. Although the infrastructure hasbeen set up so perfectly by the will of God inGod’s glory … [Recording interrupted.]

Although God has arranged the infrastructure of life insuch a perfect manner – in such an orderly fashion, thathuman beings will not lose their way, but will, by means ofthis infrastructure, be able to find the right way, the waythat leads in the direction of one’s own individuality – yet,for all that, God Himself still wields His own power. Theresult is that everything is encompassed by the power ofGod, both what’s within and what’s without, both whatisn’t there and what is. So all things are encompassed byGod’s power, from the lowest to the highest.

Although God has arranged life in accordance with sucha perfect and systematic infrastructure, nevertheless, it allcontinues to be overseen by God’s own greatness, sothat God, in His greatness, encompasses the low to thehigh, touching the inner and the outer, touching alsowhat exists as well as what is non-existent.

This is the meaning of Susila Budhi Dharma, together withits acronym, and it’s an explanation, too, of the circlesthat are used as a symbol in Subud.

Why is it Necessary to Explain?Why is it necessary for Bapak to explain it in this way? It’sto enable you, my children, to receive and to be conscious to some small extent of the true scope ofSubud and our training [latihan], and

The aim andpurpose ofwhat we

havereceived

in the training are exceedingly

broad inscope

PAGE 9SUBUDVOICE

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what they’re all about. The aim and purpose of what wehave received in the training are exceedingly broad inscope. Because of this extraordinary breadth, we cannotarrive at any kind of measurement of where they reachand how far away that might be. Bapak only concludesthat it’s from God to God.

This explains why, my children, the training that all of youhave received is a receiving beyond expectation,beyond estimation, beyond the mind. Or it could easilybe called something that doesn’t stand to reason,because in actual fact it’s true that what is received inthe training is both inside and outside the mind, the willand the desires [nafsu] of us human beings.

It’s really true that what you receive, my children, is some-thing that cannot easily be thought about. In fact there’sno way at all it can be thought about. Nor, for this reason,can it be accomplished by the mind. If something can becarried out by the human mind, by the human will, then itmeans that what has been accomplished is in the samecategory, has the same power, and is at the same levelas humankind.

It’s clear that the direction in which we’re heading – forexample, what we desire – is something higher andgreater, something that will continue to encompass usunder all conditions. What’s required for this is for us to beimmobilised, because from our immobilisation will comeinto being a power that will encompass our lives ashuman beings.

We need this because we’re human beings with bodiesencompassed, occupied by – in other words, we possess– the desires [nafsu], the mind, the will and the imagina-tion. If it were permitted, if it were willed by God for us,with our minds, with our desires, to reach the point ofreceiving something more powerful than humankind, thiswouldn’t mean the glorification of humankind, but ratherit would cause this entire world to vanish at that veryinstant in time.

Merely by using the mind, just with the tools the humanself must possess, that is to say the instruments that arealways in humankind’s possession, just with these fragiletools, people have already been able to create thingsthat are now regarded as astonishing, objects like theatomic bomb, the hydrogen bomb, and the like. Theseare already considered dangerous to human life.

How much worse it would be if humans were willed byGod to discover something that could incapacitate thiswhole earth. Yes, a human being with desires, with the willand with thoughts, certainly wants to be the survivor. Andeverything else will be killed for the sake of being the onlysurvivor, of having supreme power over all this world.

So, no matter how far and deep human beings go inmaking discoveries, in the development of knowledge inthe human mind, it isn’t possible to go beyond thehuman. It will never be possible to go further than thecapacity of the human brain and the human mind. So, fora human being to receive a gift from God, and as a resultto enter with the soul into an environment more powerfulthan the power of humankind, it’s necessary to leavebehind one’s mind, desires [nafsu] and will.

And the process of leaving them behind has the samemeaning and reality to a human being as facing death.

This will be your aim, or, in other words, this will be the jour-ney of your soul, my children, later, when you have even-tually been able to penetrate, penetrate, penetrate untilyou reach the limits necessary for your lives.

What You Need Right NowWhat you need right now, my children, is for your soul toawaken. This in itself is already a very great step forwardand a tremendous piece of good fortune for you,because, with the awakening of your soul – which is whatyou receive in the training [latihan] – sooner or later, mychildren, the power of the soul, as it grows into its owngreatness, will penetrate all the walls in our selves, espe-cially our hearts, our feelings and our brains, or minds.

With the penetration made possible by the progress andgreatness of the soul, by the awakening of the soul, it willhappen that our hearts – which formerly were not goodand were, for example, wicked and liked very much tocause harm to our neighbours, liked very much to findfault with anybody at all – will by themselves becomeclean and good.

When this penetrates to the feelings, then those feelingsthat were formerly murky, which were unstable, whichalways wandered all over the place, this way and that,with no fixed destination, which had no firmness of pur-pose, will become dependable and stable because theyhave been cleansed.

It will be the same with our thoughts, our brains – whichused to think up ways to topple things built up by ourfriends, or by other people, or oust others from their posi-tion in society, which used to think up ways to lead peopleastray, which used to think up ways to make others suffer.

By means of the action caused by the penetration of thesoul, all these accumulated things will spontaneously van-ish and be replaced with clarity and goodness, in line withthe will of God, with God’s command to human beings,which was made before human beings came to beenveloped by the qualities Bapak has just been describing.

So it’s clear that the penetration due to the awakening ofthe soul doesn’t cure just the diseases of our inner selves,our flesh and our blood. These are diseases that are veryeasy to cure, which are very easily set right. What are verydifficult to cure are the diseases – for they are a kind ofdisease too – found in the human heart, found in thehuman feelings and found in the human brain.

These are more dangerous because, if we are talkingabout diseases of the blood, of the flesh, although theymay be dangerous ones, like tuberculosis, diabetes, can-cer and the like, they harm only one person, the one suf-fering from the disease. But people with illnesses in theheart don’t just harm themselves, they also harm hun-dreds, even thousands, of others. It’s the same with dis-eases of the feelings. It’s also the same with diseasesfound in the minds and brains of human beings.

This is the reason for the obligation in religion to adviseone’s fellow human beings that they ought to act andbehave in the best possible way, enabling peace tocome into being in this world, making it safe and harmo-nious, forming true brotherhood within human life.

But if it’s only a matter of giving advice, the other personwill accept the advice at the moment it’s

PAGE 10 SUBUDVOICE

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•

given, and will follow it, but because it comes from themind and is received by the mind, it will be very easy forthe hearer to forget the advice and finally go back tobehaving as before.

For this reason, there’s no way other than by means of thepower of God, which can penetrate theliving soul. In this way, then, human beings can achievepeace and prosperity in the life on this earth, which canthen go straight on, or continue, and result in achievingpeace and prosperity in the life after death.

These are Bapak’s explanations for this evening. Bapakhopes, my children, that all of you will accept them witha feeling of openness. Bapak hopes too that you will notfeel disappointed if Bapak has not explained a largenumber of things.

But Bapak feels that this has been enough, for the timebeing, to open new territory for all of you, my children, sothat you may consider and be conscious of these mat-ters. It may even be possible for Bapak’s explanations tobe repeated and taken still further after Bapak returnsfrom his journey.

And Bapak hopes he’ll be forgiven if there have beenany explanations from Bapak that did not satisfy all ofyou, my children, or give you a feeling of relief, and whicheven hurt your feelings and made you feel uncomfort-able. Once again, Bapak asks you sincerely please to for-give him.

That’s all, my children.

This talk is included in:B A P A K ' S T A L K S, VOLUME 1,Chapter 22 Available from: Subud PublicationsInternational Loudwater Farm, Loudwater Lane,Rickmansworth, Herts. WD3 4HG UK spi@subudbooks.co.ukCopyright© 2004 by the World Subud Association. Allrights reserved.

We believe that a good symbiosis is going on at themoment between SV (Subud Voice) and SWN (SubudWorld News).

SWN uses its online capacity to bring up-to-date newsitems, while SV with its print production cycle does more‘behind the news’ stories and essays and reflections on ourSubud experience along with Bapak and Ibu Talks.

So there is no point in SV repeating many of the stories thatare carried on SWN.

However, we hope from time to time in SV to publish adigest of some of the more important and remarkable sto-ries to be found on SWN. Some noted recenty are...

JAKARTA POST A very positive article about Subud hasappeared in the Jakarta Post. A connection is provided tothe article.

CALIFORNIA FIRES Vivid first-hand reports from Subud mem-bers about the fires with a dramatic photograph.

FROM CALIFORNIA TO THE NORTHWEST One of a number ofarticles by WSA Chair, Osanna Vaughan, as she travels onthe West Coast of the USA. Includes her account of a visitto the project clear path International which is helpinglandmine victims.

SINGING BACK THE BEES A really good ‘Subud experience’story about bringing the bees back.

THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS The documentary film, ThePower of Forgiveness, which includes Alexandra Asseilyand her Garden of Forgiveness in Lebanon has won BestDocumentary at the Sun Valley Spiritual Fim Festival inIdaho, USA.And don't forget that SWN carries a comprehensive andup-to-date listing of all the forthcoming EVENTS in theSubud world.Go to www.subudworldnews.com

CONCERNING SUBUDConcerning Subud by John Bennett was re-pub-lished in a 50th Anniversary Limited Edition for

the ThankYou Celebrationthis year in the UK, byU n d i s c o v e r e d W o r l d sP r e s s a n d H a l i mKor zybsk i .

The Publishers and theBennett Estate havewaivered any royaltiesand profit and as allexpenses have beencovered, money forsales on this book willgo directly to the

International Youth Travel Fund.

To order the book please contact:spi@subudbooks.co.uk or halimkorzybski@gmail.com This book is a great Christmas gift for members andnon Subud members alike. •

SUBUD WORLD NEWSStory Digest

•SO MANY LOVELY LETTERSOne of the most important aims of SUBUD VOICE hasalways been that of bringing together Subud membersfrom all parts of the world. One way can be through giftsubscriptions to a member or group in a country wheremembers cannot afford a subscription for themselves.Ilaina Lennard has recently been conducting a review ofthe gift subs for Bradford Temple (our SV administrator).

Last year, there were 84 gift subscriptions, including a fewto friends and family, and they are all greatly appreciat-ed, as extracts from these letters to Ilaina show.

We also publish these letters because they give us a win-dow into the condition of Subud in many parts of theworld we don’t often hear about…

Gift Subscriptions

PAGE 11SUBUDVOICE

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NIGERIA: ‘Even I used to forget my meal while reading it..’A letter from Olushela Daramola Dearest Sister, Peace, Love and Blessing of our own Almighty God areunto you, in Jesus name.

..Subud Voice is so important to me in life. Even I used to for-get my meal several times while reading it. The Inner Voicecolumn in particular. I can only suggest that more spiritualarticles or portion of early Subud books should be extractedand published to make the Subud Voice more spiritual.

My condition is improving gradually but with financialproblem still chronic or critical due to non-payment of ourmonthly pension which is now 25 months in arrears.

But I thank the Almighty God who gave me foresight toembark on small scale farming for eatable crops to feedmy family.

I really thank God and Bradford Temple who ordered thereview of the Gift subscription scheme that helps manySubud members like myself. May the will of our oneAlmighty God continue to guide and bless abundantlythe lives of those who made this great GIFT possible forpeople to enjoy.

On my condition, well Glory to good God formaking me able to produce food to feed myfamily. Things are not OK because there is nofund to meet many important aspects of mylife due to non payment of our pensionallowances, corruption, unemployment, lackof social, medical, care, social services whichare the fundamental right of the people fromthe government. Only God can rescue ournation from total collapse.

May the Lord guide, bless and be with youalways in all your daily undertakings. Amen.

Yours Everly brother in Subud O.K.Daramola PO Box 72, Ayedun Ekiti, Ikole Local Govt. Area, Ekiti State. Nigeria

MOSCOW calling..Adeliya Raevich from Moscow phoned Ilaina Lennardwith news from their group.They really appreciate theirgift SV as many of them speak good English. For thosewho don't Adeliya reads out passages after latihan. Herown English is excellent.

They have just acquired new premises, and there is lots ofinterest in discussing what business enterprises they couldstart - new ideas apparently have been coming in fromthe THANKYOU celebrations. As for the latihans, they arereceiving very well, and do a lot of testing.

MOLDOVA: ‘We are always interested in everything..’I would like to thank you and the SV team for sending SVto us.

You probably know that Moldova is a former SovietRepublic, one of the poorest at the moment. Subudcame to our former Soviet countries 15 years ago, name-ly in Moldova the first Subud people were opened 12years ago.

All of us have little experience in Subud and we arealways interested in the experience, events, everything

from the International Subud life, especially from the peo-ple who practice latihan kejiwaan for many years.Subud members in Moldova lack sufficient knowledge ofEnglish to have access to any information on the Internetand almost have no contact to the people abroadexcept for the Russian speaking countries. I am theCommittee Councillor in Subud in Moldova and I bringtranslated articles from Subud Voice to the group or I tellthem about the experiences from the Inner Voice. It is animportant source of information for us.

Subud Voice is also given to some members learning Englishand they read the articles to improve their knowledge ofEnglish. Afterwards we give it to our little Subud library,where everyone may read any issue of SV available.

I like the Inner Voice column most of all, for me these lit-tle stories are very precious. Thank you for them.

Alisa Oboroceanu, Subud Moldova, subud@moldova.cc

BUENOS AIRES: ‘I feel very glad receiving SV..’I should like to tell you that I feel very glad receiving SV,and it´s not difficult for me to read it. I read it always. MyEnglish is no so good writing but, I can understand all,

reading it.

As I´m the eldest member (and helper), Itook the responsibility to receive and pass tomy sisters and brothers who understandEnglish, the SV.

I send to you and all the team Congratulationsand thankfulness for your nice task. With love, Hossana Smith Bogado 4446, CP1081, Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA: hossana-smith@ARGENTINA.com

SUBUD CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE: ‘Enchanted tocontinue..’

Hello the sister Ilaina Lennard, we receive the newspaperSubud-Voice. We will be enchant to continue to receivethe newspaper many things with you. - your brothers inSubud

SRI LANKA: ‘Our members read it with great enthusiasm...’We at Subud Sri Lanka really look forward to receiving the02 copies of SUBUD VOICE and we wish to continue get-ting it. Our members read it with great enthusiasm as it isthe main link to news of the Subud World. Yes, we are allkeeping well. Rukman & Miriam Jacob DELAIR TRAVELS (PVT) LTD101 Vinayalankara MawathaColombo 10, Sri Lanka Tel: +94 11 4525919 Fax: +94 11 4525955

BANGLADESH: ‘helpful for other members too..’Thanks for this gift subscription. I hope to get Subud Voicefor the coming months which will be helpful for othermembers too.

Presently we are six male and three female members andused to do group latihan at our house whenever themembers can make time. Now I am a retired person. Mywife is a helper and younger son (19+) is a Subud mem-ber. My elder son Marzuki starting chartered accountan-cy at London. Thank you, may Allah bless you all the time. Hussain (Subud name) Professor Abdus Salam Molla 72/D, Azimpur Colony, Dhaka. Phone- 88-02-8612759 Cell- 88-01199155714

Subud Voice isalso given to somemembers learningEnglish and they

read the articles toimprove theirknowledge of

English

SUBUDVOICE PAGE 12

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•

MUMBAI: ‘I am forever grateful..’..This is Ashwin from India. ..Of course now that we are inthe big bad city of Mumbai, the commercial Capital ofIndia, we are isolated members, but Indian andInternational Subud members who keep going toMumbai drop by once in a while.

Yes I would like to continue to receive SV, for which I amforever grateful to you and the donor. Our best wishes toyou and please do let me know if I can be of help in anyway for our community. Regards and much love,Your brother in Subud, Ashwin RajaramanSiemens Information Systems Ltd, THIRD FLOOR, EES SBU130 Pandurang Budhkar Marg,Worli, Mumbai 400018. India.DID: +91 22 2498 7151Home: +91 22 2857 7101 cell: +91 98 7013 8386

HYDERABAD: ‘Nourishment to the spirit.’I always eagerly look forward for it. It keeps me abreast ofwhat is going on in the Subud World. The talks and expe-riences are sort of nourishment to the spirit. I am gratefulto you and through you to the donors for this gift.With love Lajpat Rao BHEL MIG - 718,R.C.Puram, Hyderabad - 502032 INDIA

CHENNAI: ‘Subud Voice is diligently shared..’Subud Voice is diligently shared with the group memberswho eagerly wait for reading it. Things are ok in India andIndia is also a massive growing economy, and you will beglad to know that we are planning for a first Subud housein Chennai for India. It is in a nascent stage and shouldget a good upliftment in 6 months time. I would keep youupdated on this issue and hopefully after we get abrochure (with the plan for the building), may be youalong with other Subud well wishers for India can raisefunds for this house. The plot is near to airport by 15-20 kmand in a calm place. - Ashok

NIGERIA: ‘How can we open new members?’Edmund Njoku asks some questions..May I use this opportunity also to thank you, for contact-ing me at this time.

I and my family are very healthy. The economy of mycountry is being mismanaged by the rulers, and you knowwhat it means to the poor masses.

Brother Stephan Solat of Washington DC, is the personwho introduced me to SUBUD Voice, after visiting mehere. I would love to continue with the gift because I lovethe news and information I receive from this Magazine.

Because of the nature of our economy here, it has notbeen possible for our SUBUD Centre to hire a hall for ourlatihan. Many of my friends are interested to join SUBUD. Iwent to Enugu with a friend who was very interested, foropening and collection of membership forms, (but) wecould not see any of our members.

l, my wife, and Bro Mike (retired) (from A.D.P. Enugu) arethe members of Umuahia SUBUD Centre. My wife and lonce attended the national congress of the SubudGathering at Ijebu Ode in Nigeria in 1992, since then, wehave not attended any other Subud Gatherings. Weneed your assistance.

QUESTIONS• How can we get membership forms?• How can we open new members?

• Can members be opened without the Centre having a Helper?• How can we receive SUBUD books, tapes, VCDS, (Talks), etc?• How can we attend congresses?• What can we do to get a latihan hall?Your brother, Edmund Ozoemenam NjokuNo 22 Azikiwe Road, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria

Doesn’t Edmund’s letter say it all? – how much we needto find money for the travel of our IHs, for Subud premises,and for providing free information about Subud to thosewithout access to the Internet. I was very concernedabout Edmund’s list of questions, and contacted ISC andthe International Helpers right away. They will I’m sure, dowhatever their funds allow. Meanwhile, if anyone cansend Edmund some books or other literature, I’m sure hewould be delighted.

To take out a gift subscription to Subud Voice contactBradford Temple at the contact information given on theback page of Subud Voice. Ilaina Lennard

Dear Subud Friends, The children in the accompanying photo go to a schoolrun by Subud members in the Democratic Republic ofCongo (DRC). I have been to the DRC, and can tell youthat, in this impoverished and war-torn country, these chil-dren are very fortunate to be able to attend school at all.For years, were it not for this and other Subud-run schoolsin the DRC, thousands of children would not have hadaccess to schooling. The school helps the children andtheir families and gives hope of a better future. But whohelps the school?

Susila Dharma International does! SDIA is an internationalassociation of 23 Susila Dharma National organisationsand 52 projects that offer education, healthcare, com-munity development, income generating activities, andenvironmental protection.

The SDIA office helps our projects write proposals, net-work, fundraise, and share their knowledge and experi-ence in assisting communities. Through the learningevents we organize, such as the SD meetings in Lewes inJanuary and Ascot in August, we provide an opportunityfor Subud members to learn together about how best toassist disadvantaged children, families and communities. Now SDIA needs your support and your donations to ourgeneral fund. As a result of all that we do on behalf of oursocial, healthcare, educational projects, and SD nationalorganizations, SDIA's current operating deficit is $30,000.This Ramadan, and into the Thanksgiving and Christmasseason, we ask you to support SDIA and all the services itprovides to our network of seventy-five projects and SDnational organisations around the world by making agenerous general donation.

What does the SDIA Office do?We offer a range of services to our members, communitygroups, project workers, and volunteers. • We organize training and encourage shared learningand networking between projects;

• We find people, technical information, and fundingsources to assist community projects develop;

• We facilitate international advocacy through

SDI Needs Your Help

PAGE 13SUBUDVOICE

cont on p 14 >•

our consultative status with the UN and other bodies;

• We design and set up specific initiatives to help our members work more effectively;

• We raise awareness of the diverse range of SD Projectsand encourage donors.

How can you give to SDIA? •Join the Dollar a Day Club! For less than the cost of a cupof coffee, you can support our network and its socialdevelopment and humanitarian work all around the world.This is a cheap and easy way to give by allowing SDIA todebit your credit card only $30.00, ?30 or £30 a month. Ourtarget for 2007 is two hundred Dollar a Day Club members.Join the Club today by downloading the form.

•Become a Sustaining Friend of SDIA for $500 or more peryear! Make an on-line donation now by visiting our website

•Make a group donation! Get your group involved inlearning about the needs of others and living conditionsin developing countries. Organize a group fundraiser onbehalf of SDIA—a dinner or a movie night for instance.This will enrich your group life and help you feel more con-nected to the work of Subud members around the world.For more ideas and assistance to organize such an event,contact us at info@susiladharma.org.

•Show that your business cares about others! If you run yourown business, become a Corporate Sponsor. If you are anemployee, speak to your boss about adopting SDIA asyour corporate charity. We can supply you with what youneed to convince your colleagues to support SDI.

•Make a bequest and leave a gift that will help us helpothers for years to come! You can leave a charitable giftthrough a bequest in your will—a specific amount, a per-centage of your estate, or a financial investment. Formore information, contact us at info@susiladharma.org.

•Make a one-time donation of ANY amount to ourGeneral Fund by visiting our website, or send your chequein Canadian or US dollars to: Susila Dharma International Association (SDIA) 777 Campbell Street Greenfield Park (Montreal) Quebec J4V 1Y8 Canada. However you support our work, it will bedeeply appreciated. With love and thanks, Sharifin Gardiner, Chair, Susila Dharma International

Children in the Subud school in the Democratic Republic of theCongo (DRC).

After 13 years of dedicated service, Simon Bland, officemanager and administrator for Susila DharmaInternational since it was incorporated in the USA in 1994,has decided to move on to new challenges and adven-tures. Susila Dharma International deeply thanks Simon forhis enormous contribution to its growth and developmentover the years.

Here, the SDI staff asked Kumari Beck (past Chair of SDIand Board member), Hannah Baerveldt (Project Director,YUM), Rosanna Hille (Past Chair and Executive Director ofSDI), and Liz Neil (past SDI Board member) to reflect onthe many talents Simon brought to his work for SDI, hiscontribution to its growth and development, and hisremarkable qualities which will be sorely missed by ourOffice, Board and the Susila Dharma Network as whole.

Q: How did Simon first start working for Susila DharmaInternational?Kumari Beck: ‘Simon joined the SDI staff after the SDIannual meeting in Denver, 1994. It was important to havea bookkeeper and maintain records especially after SDIwas incorporated, and Simon joined the team first as thebookkeeper. Later, when members of SDI confirmed thata newsletter was needed, Simon offered to take on thatrole too. He had been managing a Subud enterprise atthe Vancouver hall and so was able to handle adminis-trative duties. He was the first to say he was not a design-er or a technician, but he managed to learn aboutnewsletters, publications and webmastering just by doingit and finding his way. ‘

Q: How has Simon contributed to the development ofSusila Dharma International as it is today?KB: ‘He has been the person who maintained continuityof the SDI Office, and that has been one of the mostimportant reasons for the stability and ‘presence’ of SDI inthe Subud world. At a time when desktop publishing wasnew and Subud publications were not so prolific, Simonhelped us to develop a distinctive look for SDI publica-tions. SDI was the first Subud wing organisation to ‘go pro-fessional’ and Simon helped us to get there!’

Q: What were some fond memories that you have ofworking with Simon over the years? Rosanna Hille: ‘The SDI office – then 3500 Ash Street - wasSimon’s home… a ground floor apartment of a housebelonging to Subud member Geraldus Formosa. It is anunassuming house covered by leafy trees which looksrather mysterious from the sidewalk. At the SpokaneWorld Congress someone told me they had stopped bythe ‘SDIA office’ to pay a visit to this very professionalSubud organisation they had been reading about. Theywere expecting tower offices teaming with staff. Whenthey found the address, they did not go in because theycould not believe that this simple house could be thecentre of an international NGO as effective as SDI! Wespent many good times working together in that housebehind the hedge.’

KB: ‘Simon was never a person for meetings or intensedialogue, so he would always be in the background, sup-porting our board meetings, giving input or sharing some-thing when asked to. One of his main tasks, of course, wasto cook us a delicious meal, to get the creative juicesgoing! And after all that, we would still give him a hardtime for not joining the meeting…’

SDI Says Thank You toSimon Bland

PAGE 14 SUBUDVOICE

•

Liz Neil: ‘As an SD Boardmember I met with Simonmany times and I think inalmost every case thatincluded Simon preparingsomething tasty for themeeting part ic ipants.Large colourful bowls oftossed pastas or saladscome to mind. His talentwith delicious fresh flavoursand aesthetic presentationelevated working occa-

sions to enthusiastic celebrations. Giving of himself in thisway seemed to be a source of deep fulfilment to him, aswas his work for Susila Dharma. I trust his current travels arefilling his senses with the extraordinary beauty and flavoursof this continent, and I thank him deeply for his graciousservice to his friends close to home and across the globe.’

Rosanna Hille: ‘Every year, come the annual SDI meetings,Simon would tell us, “No last minute running around, OK?Let’s plan early and get everything ready. Just tell me whatto do.” We would agree, and make up lists but with allgood intentions we would drive him crazy every time, bygetting inspired to do more and more detailed displays, ora new power point presentation, or even a publication justa few days before departure. In spite of his groans and irri-tability at these creative women he would always comethrough, doing all the last minute running around.’

Q: What should Simon be remembered for in terms of hiswork for Susila Dharma International?Hannah Baerveldt: ‘From the point of view of an SD proj-ect, Simon has been an outstanding support for us atYUM. He is exceedingly diligent and conscientious,always responding very quickly to any question, concern,or request we have made - and I cannot say I havealways been as diligent with him when he has asked aquestion of me! I feel he is a great asset to Susila DharmaInternational. He is not only very efficient but carries outhis duties with care, respect and love – a perfect combi-nation for Susila Dharma work, I feel. His caring attitudehas come across in every communication I have hadfrom him, and I feel his performance reflects the high aimsof Susila Dharma to which we all aspire. We all too oftenfind it easy to complain - yet may be reticent to dish outpraise where deserved. Simon Bland, in my opinion,deserves high praise indeed.’

KB: ‘I think he would like to be remembered for his integri-ty, his sincerity and deep commitment to Susila DharmaInternational, to maintaining a spiritual connection to hiswork, his loyalty to the team, and for maintaining stabilityand continuity for the daily unseen operations of the office.Rosanna and I would get all the public accolades and thethanks for the work we did at SDI, but it’s important toacknowledge with gratitude, the person behind thescenes who kept us well supported, and got the workdone. We could not have done it without him – while weenvisioned futures, tackled thorny issues and travelled tomeetings around the world, Simon kept all the ducks in arow at home.’

Q: Is there anything else people should know about Simon?KB: ‘Simon can tell a pretty mean story – working with him,we would be in stitches over his tales – encounters withfolks, things that happened to him, disasters and howlers

…Soon after he left his apartment of some 20 years in

June of this year, I stayed there for a few days catchingup on my writing, and I discovered how much he wasloved and appreciated by his neighbours – for just beinga caring and attentive neighbour, always there, andlooking out for others.’

RH: ‘Simon hates public attention! So no surprise parties, orpublic ceremonies - He’s on the road even as we writeabout him, travelling in his VW Westphalia from Vancouverthrough Eastern Canada and on to the Atlantic coast,then down through the USA, on his way south. So folks, ifyou feel moved to let him know of your appreciation, e-mail him. And those of you in Canada and the US – invitehim to your neighbourhood and your table!’

If you would like to send a personal message of appreci-ation to Simon, he can be reached atsimonbland8@gmail.com

Simon Bland

In the September issue of Subud Voice, we ran a long arti-cle about Alexandra Asseily's project, the Garden ofForgiveness in Beirut. The article aroused more responsethan anything else I have published in Subud Voice. Manypeople wrote or spoke to me about how valuable theythought the article was. However, some members in Israelwere concerned about the article. For example, VardinaSold wrote…

Dear Harris,An article in the last Subud Voice upset me.

One of the most important things that I learned throughthe Latihan is that God is one for everything He created,and that the Latihan came to mankind in order to helppeople become better human beings irrelevant of theirrace, colour or religion.

Only today we translated a talk Bapak gave in Calcutta (6.3.1967,Volume 16) in which he speaks exactly about this subject.

I believe that in Subud people learn the true meaning oftolerance, accepting the different. Even in our brother-hood I learned to look for, in every person that God chosefor me as my sister or brother, what brings us together,although I saw and felt the differences.

To my great sorrow even in Subud we do not always learnhow to function in our brotherhood in harmony. How canyou decide that there are things you have to accept forthe benefit of all, and at the same time learn what is yourown freedom, and where are your limits? Even in Subud Imet anti-semitism, to my great surprise.

I might be wrong, but I believe that the latihan is animportant answer to the actual situation in our world.

Now to the article about the ‘Garden of Forgiveness’.Regarding the passage in which Alexandra speaks aboutIsrael and the Palestinians. Peace and forgiveness shouldexist between all religions, not only between Muslims andChristians. Between people of all races. The justice in ourworld does not belong to whatever is done, here in ourregion, Other interests are ‘playing' here and decidinghere.

For me Subud Voice should be an international view oftogetherness, of knowing what is going on in othergroups, and what Bapak, or Ibu Rahayu said.

I also believe that as long as you don't know all the details ofa story, better not to include it in SV because a person who is

cont on p 15 >

Response to the Garden ofForgiveness

PAGE 15SUBUDVOICE

•

involved in the story has a tendency to see it through his ownexperience and through the propaganda, from which he getshis information.

I wish that Alexandra Asseily will come to visit Israel, do latihanwith us, speak with us and hear our stories. I hope that you willpass her the book we have sent you, to read, so that she mayhave a deeper understanding of the situation in our region.

I pray to Almighty God, that people stop producing arms,and start to examine how to take care of our world, ourwater and the wonderful people that live here and deservea decent life. I hope that our world becomes a ‘garden ofpeace and forgiveness’. Warm regards, Your sister,Vardina

AND EMMA GILEAD WROTE…I would appreciate if you you could publish my response tothe article ‘the garden of forgiveness’.

I have started to read the article ‘The Garden of Forgiveness’with a strong feeling of excitement. Enchanted, I read thebeautiful words on the merit of forgiveness at the start of thearticle, being proud of my Subud and its people.

Suddenly, overwhelmed, I came to the part on Israel. Gonewere the words of tenderness, forgiveness and love. Instead,with hatred, fury, anger and ignorance, Alexandra started torebuke Israel.

Beyond my shock at the hypocrisy of the fast, unconscious shiftfrom forgiveness to slander, I was overcome by sadness.

Foremost of all, Subud is a non-political brotherhood yet, sud-denly we encounter in the article words typical of cheappolitical journalism. Talking of politics, Alexandra exhibited aone-sided and ignorant approach that completely disre-garded the true historical causes of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Unfortunately, it appears that we are incapable, as yet,ofcreating a real ‘Garden of Forgiveness’. Only in heaven, inthe garden of God, we may find it.

Best regards, Emma Gilead, SUBUD Israel.

I gave Alexandra an opportunity to respond to these andother communications from Israel and she wrote…

I too have had many people, whom I do not know, writing tome and telephoning about how inspirational and valuablethey found the article.

In the circumstances, I do not think it will help to say anythingmore. However, I would love you to once again point to thePeace Testing – What is my Responsibility for Peace in theWorld? – and also my Cycles of Violence paper, which showsa world view of what I am talking about, always starting ofcourse with the individual's responsibility.

Much love, (from Beirut, where life continues to be veryshaky, and where I am for another ten days) Alexandra

Readers who wish to acquaint themselves with the PeaceTesting or the paper on Cycles of Violence will find them onour web site, www.subudvoice.net

Harris Smart reviews a new book…

During Ramadan, I was given a copy of the book Finding theLight by Siti Muti'ah Lestiono.

Many people know Muti’ah because she has been for manyyears Ibu Rahayu’s secretary. She has long been a familiarfigure in the Subud compound in Cilandak.

The book traces her whole life story but it is written with such clar-ity and simplicity that it is quite a short book and I read it in onesitting in a few hours on the 21st night of Ramadan.

Muti’ah was born a native New Yorker and her great passionin life as a child and young woman was to be an actress. Shemarried quite young but the marriage did not last, thoughshe had a daughter, Sulfiati (now Suzanne), also well-knownin Subud.

Muti’ah joined Subud when she was 28. The narrative of herbook contains several interwoven strands. One is her struggleto survive as a single mother. She developed a career in writ-ing and the media and it is interesting to see how the guid-ance she received through the latihan enabled her to makeher way in America and later in Indonesia.

Another strand is her relationship with Bapak and how at cer-tain times in her life she turned to him for help and he gave heruseful guidance about where to live and so on.

She reports on a number of spiritual experiences she has had. Ontwo occasions in her life, she suddenly left her body, but becameanxious during the experience, and when she returned to thenormal state of being, she felt a sense of disappointment. But onthe third occasion she was able to complete the journey with afeeling of satisfaction.

She also includes some inspired writing which she did duringone Ramadan. It begins...

There is no happiness like that which comes from God.For God is the creator of all things. And it is only through thesimplicity of the inner feelingsThat one finds true bliss…

Muti’ah says, ‘I have written this book as a testament and achronicle of the miracle of Subud.’

And her book concludes...The latihan is so simple, yet miraculous. It's closer to humanbeings than they know. Perhaps one day mankind will openup and find a way, a way that leads to the light.’

Muti'ah's is a worthy addition to books that have been writ-ten by Subud members about their experience, each bring-ing its unique perspective to life in Subud.

The book can be obtained from amazon.com for $12.50

Finding the Light

•Arif Matthee writes…

After a long illness, on Saturday 13th of October our dearbrother Gordon Kuiper passed away peacefully at his homein Christchurch surrounded by his family.

I have known Gordon, Laurentia and their family since thelate seventies. They were members of the group in Utrecht inthe Netherlands. My fondest memory was attending Gordonand Laurentia’s ‘Subud Wedding’. Although they werealready married their commitment to Subud meant theywanted to marry in Subud and so they had a SubudCeremony in Arnhem.

I also remember the walks we had in the wood close toUtrecht with Peter, their son, when he was a small

Olivia Moyano, SICA Chair from Argentina, has produceda very nice, lively, illustrated SICA Newsletter distributedonline. She writes..

After 10 years of experience in television, radio, andgraphic media in my country (Argentina) now I’m happi-ly going to edit the new SICA newsletter, my first culturalproject as SICA Chair. We hope it grows as a healthy,strong and intelligent child, so that in the future itbecomes an ‘adult who is able to bring fruits full of a trueculture coming from the inner’.Contact ISC to get your copy: isc@subud.org

New SICA Newsletter

The Passing of Gordon Kuiper

cont on p 16 >

PAGE 16

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The opinions expressed in the various articles are thesole responsibility of their authors and can not be seen asrepresenting the opinion of the World Subud Association.

The name Subud ® and the Seven Circles Symbol areregistered marks of the World Subud Association.

ILAINA LOOKING FOR WORKIlaina Lennard, former editor of SUBUDVOICE, is looking for paid work, proofreading / editing. Reasonable rates,excellent references. E-mail Ilaine.l@ntlworld.comor tel. +44 (0)1344 451851.

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THE PASSING OF GORDON KUIPER cont

boy. These experiences created a bondthat continued between our families asour paths continued to cross after theyleft to emigrate to New Zealand.

When Gordon first came to NewZealand he worked as a homeopathbut it quickly became clear that his realtalent was in farming and working withhis hands. He worked in several orchardsin New Zealand and one of the high-lights for him was a visit by the DutchQueen Beatrix, who visited the farmwhere Gordon was employed.

Gordon was a man of action. He did notwaste time getting down to helping hisbrothers and sisters. Although he hadmodest means he often delayed gettinga paid job to help those around himwherever he was. His generosity was anexample to others and his down to earthand ‘can do attitude stood out to me.

Later he and Laurentia moved to Perthand there he almost single-handedlyrebuilt a house (which actually lookedmore like a cow shed before he started!)on Hilltop farm, a property about anhour away from Perth and bought byseveral Subud members which is now asmall convention centre.

When our paths met again inQueensland, Gordon andLaurentia helped MunawarohEnglish at her health retreat andconvention centre, MorningsideCare. He planted fruit and vegeta-bles and did a lot of gardeningand manual labour, again com-pletely without any self interest.

Peter, his son, and I often joked aboutthe number of times Gordon movedfrom place to place. When he andLaurentia moved from Melbourne lastyear it was clear however thatChristchurch was where they wantedto spent the rest of their lives. Theyboth became members of theCongress Organising Team for the2010 World Congress.

When he could not continue his work onthe team, he sent us a message hopingwe would continue to listen to eachother and work in harmony and I amsure he will be guiding the rest us in theright direction as we approach the con-gress and help make it a success.

The support and sympathy before andafter his passing was widespread both inNew Zealand and Australia. Gordonand his family’s surrender and accept-ance of his illness was felt by all thosearound him including the Christchurchgroup. This atmosphere, I thought,brought out the best in everyone in thegroup and was a special experiencewhich had a profound effect on all of us.

His last employer in Christchurch whoattended the funeral was deeplytouched by Gordon’s work ethic andspirit and many others shared theirmemories and gratitude for his life dur-ing the service. During the week after hispassing the group held two selamatansin memory of Gordon together with hisLaurentia and their children Peter,Christian and Caroline.

May almighty God bless Gordon and hisfamily.