Siti Rahayu Wiryohudoyo

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Siti Rahayu Wiryohudoyo (dates)--often called simply "Ibu" ("Mother") or "Ibu Rahayu"--is the daughter of Subud founder Muhammad Subuh Sumohadiwidjojo. While she has no official position in the Subud structure, her influence and charisma are widely acknowledged.

Ibu Rahayu studied law at Gajah Mada University and the University of Indonesia. She is currently a Director of PTS Widjojo. She is Chair of Yayasan Muhammad Subuh (YMS), and several Indonesian companies.

Ibu is known mainly for her talks to Subud audiences; and for her extensive correspondence with Subud practitioners seeking her spiritual guidance and advice on various subjects, including giving a new name to those who ask for it. (Often she provides only the first letter, leaving the rest to the inquirer.)

Controversy over Ibu's role has fallen into several categories:

  1. Those who fear the Subud community has relied upon her too much, for her own welfare or that of the movement;
  2. those who resist what they see as a tendency to recognize "Subud royalty" (as opposed to Subud ideals of equality among members); and
  3. those who oppose particular opinions of Ibu, for example her recent (as of 2005) complaints about what she sees as a culture of "free sex" among some Subudians. (Think Indonesian / Western culture clash, not orgies.)