Subud
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Part of the series Subud |
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| People | |
| Muhammad Subuh Sumohadiwidjojo (called "Bapak") |
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| Main Practice | |
| Latihan |
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| Institutions | |
| World Subud Association International Subud Council |
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| Affiliations | |
| Susila Dharma International Association Subud International Cultural Association |
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| Special Places | |
| Java · |
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| See Also | |
| Subud and religion |
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Subud (pronounced IPA: [subud]) is an international spiritual association of people of all religions as well as people with no religious affiliation. Many members report that through the practice of a spontaneous receiving – the latihan kejiwaan (Indonesian: "spiritual exercise") – they experience an awakening of their 'inner selves' and a greater ability to find fulfillment in life. Many members connect this experience directly with the divine (mostly described as God, or "the Great Life Force").
The Subud movement was founded in the 1920s by Muhammad Subuh Sumohadiwidjojo (1901-1987), who is called Bapak (Indonesian: "Father" informal) by himself and members of Subud. The "Subuh" in Bapak Muhammad Subuh's name means "dawn" and has no relation to the word Subud.[1] Since its introduction into the west in 1954 Subud began to spread 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 80 countries throughout the world, with a current worldwide membership of about 13,000.
Contents |
[edit] Practices
[edit] Latihan
- Main article: Latihan
The central practice of Subud is the latihan kejiwaan (literally means "spiritual exercise" or "training of the spirit"[2]) or simply the latihan. Generally, twice a week Subud members go to their local centers to participate in the group latihan. Men and women practice the latihan separately.[3]
The event takes place in a room or a hall with open space, uncluttered by furniture. After a period of sitting peacefully, the group of present Subud members is typically asked by a "helper" to stand and relax. The helper then announces the latihan's start.[4][5]
In this exercise, Subud members are advised not to expect anything in particular or to do anything except "what arises from within". One is asked not to focus on any image or recite any mantra, not to mix other activities like meditation and use of drug, but to simply intend to surrender to the will of God. One is not to pay attention to others in the room, each of whom is doing his or her own latihan.[5]
During the latihan members may find that they involuntarily move, make noises, walk around, dance, jump or skip, laugh, cry, pray, etc. The experience varies for different people; some will experience joy, others peace; some an inner vibration, others a quiet simplicity.[4][6] Members may describe their latihan as leaving them feeling "cleansed", "centered", "at peace", or "energized".[5]
Many Subud members believe that this contact, working from within each person during the latihan, if they are able to receive it, provides them with something of what they currently need in life. Initially the spiritual exercise may appear to involve a "purification" which makes room for deeper receiving. The latihan is said to work 24 hours a day -- not only when one is "doing" it.[7] Through regular practice of one's latihan, a person may supposedly experience personal change and development in various aspects of their daily life and being.
According to Muhammad Subuh, the idea of people not directing their own worship, but leaving it to God, 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.
Although the latihan can be practiced individually at home, Subud members are encouraged to practice it in a group if possible. Many Subud members have experienced that it is optimal to practise the group latihan twice a week in the beginning. Later, when one can reliably receive the correct time to finish the latihan, it is often considered beneficial to add a third weekly latihan at home.
A distinctive aspect of the latihan is "testing", in which the latihan is directed toward a particular personal 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 name for "testing" used by the founder of Subud was "terimah", which means "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 latihan. However, in accordance with the advice of Bapak, it is generally understood that any such 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. Bapak'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".)
[edit] Fasting
Individual Subud members often voluntarily engage in fasting called prihatin (from the Javanese: prihatin) and either Ramadan or Lent, as Bapak recommended. This may include both the reduction of outer pleasures such as food, smoking, sleep and sex as well as inner behavior such as gossip, criticism, anger and using senses for the wrong reasons.
Bapak said that fasting was not obligatory; if it was done at all, it should be done with honesty as an opportunity to subdue one's desire.[8]
[edit] Names
Some members, after they begin the practice, change their names, although there is no requirement to do so. Those that change their original name feel that every name has a meaning or other significance that influences one’s life such that an unsuitable name may hamper one's inner development. Therefore, a change to a more appropriate name is meant to bring harmony between one’s inner and outer nature.
[edit] Beliefs
Most Subud members believe in a higher power, God or "Great Life Force" and that this is the source of their experiences in the latihan. However, it is not necessary for Subud members to have any religious beliefs.
Subud members may share with each other their personal experiences of the latihan and its impact on their lives, and they do find commonalities, but the hallmark of the Subud experience is its adaptability to individuals of different cultures, races and religions.
[edit] Rules
Subud has few if any rules. Bapak 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").
[edit] A teaching or religion?
- Main article: Subud and religion
Subud claims that it is not a religion in its own right; it has no priests, no rituals, no dogmas or doctrines.[6] It claims to have no creeds or teachings and followers are encouraged to find their own spiritual truth, mediated through the latihan.[9]
Although Subud is also said to be "clearly religious from the scholar's standpoint"[9], the meaning of the word "religion" or “spirituality” is sufficiently vague to make such statements about Subud problematic. The intent is to make clear that Subud welcomes adherents of any or no religion (without seeking to convert them away from their religion). Bapak encouraged Subud members to practice their own religions and continue to enrich their traditional religious understanding.
[edit] History
Bapak 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 into 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 entirely from his own volition; rather he was compelled or guided by what he interpreted as the power of God. He experienced a kind of "inner teaching" where he was given to understand a variety of things spontaneously. Bapak claims that this same kind of experience happened to him for a few hours each night over a period of approximately 1000 days. He slept little, but was able to continue working full-time and going to school.
As these experiences proceeded, Bapak 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. (Today, such an initiation is usually called "the opening".) Although only a young man in his early 30's, Bapak'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 Indonesia.
In Jakarta, Husein Rofé, an English linguist who had been living in Indonesia since 1950, met Bapak. 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 Bapak be invited to Britain. Bapak 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 Bapak visited many countries before returning to Indonesia.
[edit] 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 1) the original Sanskrit root word meaning, 2) definitions in a modern Indonesian language dictionary, or 3) 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."
[edit] Symbol
The Subud symbol was envisioned by Bapak in 1959 and is registered as property of the World Subud Association.
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 & 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.
Subud organizations have trademarked this design, as well as the name "Subud", in several countries.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Helpers
- Main article: Helper (Subud)
Each level of the association has experienced members called "helpers" whose role is to serve members by coordinating the timing of the group latihans when necessary, witnessing the "opening" of new members and speaking to those interested in participating in the latihan.
Helpers are neither meant to be perceived nor to regard themselves as more "spiritual" than anyone else.
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:
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- 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.
[edit] Ibu Rahayu
Ibu Siti Rahayu Wiryohudoyo - Bapak's eldest daughter - is designated as Subud's 'spiritual guide', the same phrase that Bapak used to describe himself. Some time after Bapak's death, Siti Rahayu informed the Subud membership that she had a clear dream in which she met Bapak, and in the course of this dream he made it clear that he designated her as his successor. Despite her frequent statements to the effect that fewer requests should be made of her, many Subud members hold her in very high regard, and many will refer or listen to what she says with the respect and reverence due to a noble and spiritually able person. She is often asked to receive for members new names (members are often given simply the first letter), although she encourages members to receive these for themselves.
[edit] Committees
Each Subud group is governed by a committee including a chairperson, vice-chair, treasurer, etc. This committee is tasked with making sure there is a place to do group latihan, communications, budgeting, and supporting the mutual efforts of members at the local group. A similar structure functions at the regional (in certain countries), national 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:
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- 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.
[edit] 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:
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- 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 Bapak's legacy, with a primary emphasis on helping groups acquire their own latihan premises. It is the
Its chairperson reports to the World Subud Council.
[edit] 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. Bapak 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.
[edit] Becoming a member
Anyone over the age of 17 may join Subud, regardless of religious affiliation or belief system. Except in unusual circumstances, there is a waiting period of up to three months between first declaring the intention to join, and starting the latihan / exercise. This waiting period is for the benefit of the applicant, largely to ensure that s/he has a clear understanding of the basis and aims of Subud.
In the opening, a helper restates the purpose of the latihan and asks the applicant to simply relax and surrender. The applicant then joins the latihan of the helpers in attendance who begin their own latihan.
Members do not pay money to practice the latihan, though most contribute towards the cost of maintaining their local meeting place.
Subud has experienced a significant rate of membership turnover. While it has never conducted studies to find out why members leave, anecdotal feedback often cites unfulfilled expectations as a frequent response. This is despite the fact that applicants during the waiting period are advised to dispense with expectations of any kind in order for the receiving to work most effectively. Once a new member has started to do her/his latihan, their receiving is regarded as unique and based on their own inner capacity, which is not knowable by any other person.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Webb (1995), p. 272
- ^ Chryssides (1999), p. 261
- ^ Webb (1995), pp. 269-270
- ^ a b Chryssides (1999), p. 263
- ^ a b c Webb (1995), p. 270
- ^ a b Hunt (2003), p. 122
- ^ Chryssides (1999), p. 269
- ^ Chryssides (1999), p. 267
- ^ a b Chryssides (1999), p. 260
[edit] References
- Chryssides, George D. (1999). Exploring New Religions. London and New York: Continuum. ISBN 0826459595.
- Geels, Antoon Subud and the Javanese mystical tradition Richmond, Surrey : Curzon Press, 1997 (about Sumohadiwidjojo, Muhammad-Subuh, 1901-1987) ISBN 0700706232
- Hunt, Stephen J. (2003). Alternative Religions: A Sociological Introduction. Aldershot, Hampshire: Ashgate Publishing. ISBN 0754634108.
- 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
- Webb, G. (1995), “Subud”, in Miller, T., America's Alternative Religions, New York: SUNY Press, pp. 267-275. ISBN 0791423980.
[edit] External links
- www.subud.org. Official site
- www.subud.net. Official members' site
