| Part of a series on |
| Subud |
|---|
| People |
| Main practice |
| Latihan |
| Institutions |
| World Subud Association Muhammad Subuh Foundation |
| Affiliates |
| Susila Dharma Int'l Association Subud Int'l Cultural Association Subud Enterprise Services Subud Youth Association |
| Special places |
| Java ยท Kalimantan |
| Related topics |
| Subud and religion Javanese beliefs Helper |
Latihan (from Indonesian latihan kejiwaan; "spiritual exercise") is a form of spiritual or psychological practice. It is the principal practice of the Subud organization.[1][2] Outwardly the exercise often manifests as physical movement and vocal activity that vary greatly both over time and between individuals.[3] It proceeds spontaneously, involving neither teacher nor method,[4] being unstructured except for basic rules relating to group practice.[5] Personal capacity to engage in latihan is said to be transmitted by the presence of experienced practitioners.[6] It usually entails an attitude of patience and trust, typically with some preparatory relaxation of thoughts and feelings,[7][8] and involves the whole human being, not just body, emotions, mind or any other single facet.[9]
Contents |
The origin of the practice is associated with Javanese "kejawen" and "kebatinan" traditions.[10] Subud's founder speculated that the spontaneous prayer movements which characterise latihan are similar in character to early meetings of the Religious Society of Friends which gave rise to the names Quakers and Shakers.
It is regarded by practitioners as being of spiritual or of psychological benefit, depending on personal interpretation and individual experience,[11][12][13][14] though apparently it does not affect all practitioners and may affect some detrimentally.[15][16] Many practitioners see latihan as a way of direct access to a mystical experience that is compatible with a busy modern lifestyle.
While the opinions of Subud's founder are often cited among its members,[17] the organization officially endorses no doctrine regarding latihan's nature or benefits.[18] Practitioners tend to agree that the exercise is best experienced with minimal theorizing or mental imagery.[19][20]
Although latihan can be practiced alone,[21] Subud arranges regular practice in group settings. Normally sessions are held two or three times a week and last up to thirty minutes, with the two sexes segregated.[22] Subud offers formal pragmatic, preliminary advice in relation to commencing the practice.[23] Non-members are not allowed to witness Subud latihan sessions.[24]
The method was later adopted by Osho (Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh), who made use of many spiritual methods. He viewed latihan as potentially beneficial, capable of cleansing the mind, yet incomplete and potentially dangerous to mental health since it involved surrender of self-control.[25] He therefore incorporated it as a stage of longer "active meditations", advocating the maintenance of a "witnessing consciousness", following latihan with a period of complete rest and preceding it with one of several techniques intended to promote an autohypnotic trance, and further recommended that, when practising in groups, both sexes should practise together.[26] Preliminary methods used include listening to quiet music,[27] or else a breathing exercise intended to increase blood carbon dioxide levels followed by fifteen minutes looking at a strobe light while listening to music, both of these running at seven times the rate of the heart-beat in order to create an entrainment to alpha wave brain-state.[28] It may also be followed by a form of wordless prayer. He agreed that it was easiest to learn in the presence of someone already experienced in the method.[29]