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We do the latihan kedjiwaan (spiritual training) of Subud.
But what are we training for? How does it apply to our every day lives? To our work & career? To fulfilling our life's purpose? And how can we support each other on this path? This is by no means comprehensive. Bapak's talks number near 2000 and the spiritual path is infinite. These are themes and test questions explored over a 2 day period in Los Angeles, Sept 2017. |
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Ibu Rayahu (Bapak’s eldest daughter) advised
us last Ramadan 2017 that Subud may go the way of the world’s great religions, where the connection to the power of Almighty God was lost after the prophet who received it died. Her emphasis was on our personal responsibility correcting our own behavior and really putting the latihan into practice. But what does “putting it into practice” mean? |
HOW MUCH LATIHAN IS ENOUGH?
Once you have received the latihan then the latihan is already with you. And it accompanies you everywhere you go. And in everything you do.
So that actually in Subud what we call the latihan (that is when we have to meet twice a week to do latihan) that is as it were the outer observance or the Shariat of Subud which is determined by Bapak so that we get used to being together and that we don’t all drift apart - that we get to know each other and be together. That’s why we do the latihan together twice a week but actually the latihan is our property and it goes with us wherever we go. It’s in our walking. In our talking. In everything we do. ~ Bapak (77 LON 3)
So that actually in Subud what we call the latihan (that is when we have to meet twice a week to do latihan) that is as it were the outer observance or the Shariat of Subud which is determined by Bapak so that we get used to being together and that we don’t all drift apart - that we get to know each other and be together. That’s why we do the latihan together twice a week but actually the latihan is our property and it goes with us wherever we go. It’s in our walking. In our talking. In everything we do. ~ Bapak (77 LON 3)
ON "TESTING":
For newer members it is advised to test with helpers present. Every path is different. The right question for one person / moment might not be right for another. The questions here are meant to start people off, to be used as a walking stick until walking on their own.
In general testing should be kept to a minimum. One should attend to and feel the latihan with the same awareness and attention as when testing. In this way you will slowly over time learn to feel more and more from beyond the self-interest of the ego and have less and less of a need to test.
As Bapak has said: "then in every latihan everything you do embodies illustrations and shows you maps of the way"
Some helpers emphasize regular "awakening testing" — for awakening the various parts of your body, senses and feelings so as to better attune yourself to the guidance of your own soul in every moment. So as not to rely on testing but your own inner guidance - which is ideal.
But in Subud there is no set of instructions. Bapak's talks are indeed priceless and we are encouraged to read them regularly as explanations to check against our own experience. But as Bapak himself said, the teacher is the latihan, guiding you from within your own self.
POSSIBLE TEST QUESTIONS:
• To what extent am I putting the latihan into practice in my daily life?
• In accordance with my capacity, to what extent does Almighty God guide me to put the latihan into practice in my daily life?
• What if anything can I do to bridge this gap?
For newer members it is advised to test with helpers present. Every path is different. The right question for one person / moment might not be right for another. The questions here are meant to start people off, to be used as a walking stick until walking on their own.
In general testing should be kept to a minimum. One should attend to and feel the latihan with the same awareness and attention as when testing. In this way you will slowly over time learn to feel more and more from beyond the self-interest of the ego and have less and less of a need to test.
As Bapak has said: "then in every latihan everything you do embodies illustrations and shows you maps of the way"
Some helpers emphasize regular "awakening testing" — for awakening the various parts of your body, senses and feelings so as to better attune yourself to the guidance of your own soul in every moment. So as not to rely on testing but your own inner guidance - which is ideal.
But in Subud there is no set of instructions. Bapak's talks are indeed priceless and we are encouraged to read them regularly as explanations to check against our own experience. But as Bapak himself said, the teacher is the latihan, guiding you from within your own self.
POSSIBLE TEST QUESTIONS:
• To what extent am I putting the latihan into practice in my daily life?
• In accordance with my capacity, to what extent does Almighty God guide me to put the latihan into practice in my daily life?
• What if anything can I do to bridge this gap?
HELP MAKE THE LATIHAN COME ALIVE
"Up to now you have not experienced the benefits of the way of the latihan. You only do the latihan in a routine way, that is, doing the latihan two or three times a week, but not really putting it into practice in your everyday life.
Every morning when you awaken, you should accustom yourself to making use of the time to pray in a latihan state and feel that your inner-self is alive. Usually movements from within will arise, which will bring to life all the members of your body and the five senses. You may do the latihan like this for around fifteen minutes."
"At night, before you sleep, accustom yourself to pray as if you were doing latihan, quietly for almost fifteen minutes. Ask God to forgive all of your mistakes and sins, and ask for His Guidance."
~ Bapak, letter by Ibu Rahayu, 1984
"Up to now you have not experienced the benefits of the way of the latihan. You only do the latihan in a routine way, that is, doing the latihan two or three times a week, but not really putting it into practice in your everyday life.
Every morning when you awaken, you should accustom yourself to making use of the time to pray in a latihan state and feel that your inner-self is alive. Usually movements from within will arise, which will bring to life all the members of your body and the five senses. You may do the latihan like this for around fifteen minutes."
"At night, before you sleep, accustom yourself to pray as if you were doing latihan, quietly for almost fifteen minutes. Ask God to forgive all of your mistakes and sins, and ask for His Guidance."
~ Bapak, letter by Ibu Rahayu, 1984
SELF CORRECTION - A PREREQUISITE FOR PROGRESS
"...brothers and sisters, if you look at another person and you say to yourself, 'Why is it that he can reach this point and not me?' that is wrong. You are not allowed to be jealous. If someone else makes spiritual progress and you do not, you are not allowed to be jealous of him.
If you ask yourself, 'Why it is that he can do it and not me?', the reason is that you have not made progress.
You are not yet at the point where you can correct yourself. What is the first step in correcting yourself? The first step is to admit your own mistakes. Now, in general, you are still at the point that you only know that you are right.
You are never aware that you are wrong. But actually, that is the first step. The person who is able to say, "Oh yes, I am wrong; that is my mistake," that person is already touching the level of the rohani.
The person who can say, "Oh yes, I am wrong," is the really top person. That is the first reason why you have not yet made progress.
This correcting ourselves is something that is truly right and proper and is the Will of God, because God Himself corrects Himself.
Bapak says that if God Himself did not correct Himself, the universe could not be created. The universe exists because of God's willingness to correct Himself, so how much more is it necessary for us to be able to correct ourselves?
Talking about spiritual development, the latihan is given to us as a bridge. The latihan kejiwaan is a bridge by which our jiwa can develop. This is the way whereby you can make progress. If you pray to the angels to help you to make progress, they will not help you. How could they? Everybody is praying. Everybody wants to make progress. Everybody wants to get to a high level, so much so that the angels cannot do anything. It is too much for them.
The way you can make progress is through your inner being, through the bridge that Almighty God has given you: the latihan kejiwaan…"
The Prerequisite for Progress - Bapak's first talk in Sri Lanka - March 13, 1981
If you ask yourself, 'Why it is that he can do it and not me?', the reason is that you have not made progress.
You are not yet at the point where you can correct yourself. What is the first step in correcting yourself? The first step is to admit your own mistakes. Now, in general, you are still at the point that you only know that you are right.
You are never aware that you are wrong. But actually, that is the first step. The person who is able to say, "Oh yes, I am wrong; that is my mistake," that person is already touching the level of the rohani.
The person who can say, "Oh yes, I am wrong," is the really top person. That is the first reason why you have not yet made progress.
This correcting ourselves is something that is truly right and proper and is the Will of God, because God Himself corrects Himself.
Bapak says that if God Himself did not correct Himself, the universe could not be created. The universe exists because of God's willingness to correct Himself, so how much more is it necessary for us to be able to correct ourselves?
Talking about spiritual development, the latihan is given to us as a bridge. The latihan kejiwaan is a bridge by which our jiwa can develop. This is the way whereby you can make progress. If you pray to the angels to help you to make progress, they will not help you. How could they? Everybody is praying. Everybody wants to make progress. Everybody wants to get to a high level, so much so that the angels cannot do anything. It is too much for them.
The way you can make progress is through your inner being, through the bridge that Almighty God has given you: the latihan kejiwaan…"
The Prerequisite for Progress - Bapak's first talk in Sri Lanka - March 13, 1981
"I have recommended to Subud members that even members who have done the latihan for a long time should:
practise ‘mawas-diri’, which translates into English as ‘self-awareness’.
To put it in plain language, it is the conscious effort to correct and improve oneself.
Certainly that awareness grows out of the development of one’s latihan. But we all have different degrees of self-awareness.
Some feel that the behaviours they display are inherited or influenced by their ancestors, or others, and thus they do not feel that they are responsible for their actions.
We certainly realise that, in joining Subud, our aim is to become good people, people with the qualities of susila, budhi, and dharma.
Even though your bad behaviours may be the result of influences from elsewhere, but since you are the one being influenced, it is your obligation to stop or rid yourself of such behaviours..."
~ Letter to Helpers. August 2017, Ibu Siti Rahayu Wiryohudoyo
practise ‘mawas-diri’, which translates into English as ‘self-awareness’.
To put it in plain language, it is the conscious effort to correct and improve oneself.
Certainly that awareness grows out of the development of one’s latihan. But we all have different degrees of self-awareness.
Some feel that the behaviours they display are inherited or influenced by their ancestors, or others, and thus they do not feel that they are responsible for their actions.
We certainly realise that, in joining Subud, our aim is to become good people, people with the qualities of susila, budhi, and dharma.
Even though your bad behaviours may be the result of influences from elsewhere, but since you are the one being influenced, it is your obligation to stop or rid yourself of such behaviours..."
~ Letter to Helpers. August 2017, Ibu Siti Rahayu Wiryohudoyo
POSSIBLE TEST QUESTIONS:
(For newer members it is advised to test with helpers present and everyone's needs are different...)
• As human beings we are always making mistakes. How do I currently try to correct my mistakes?
• How does Almighty God guide me in correcting my mistakes?
• How do I currently ask God for forgiveness?
• How does God guide me to ask for forgiveness?
• What is the nature of the material force within me?
• How does Almighty God guide me to use the material force in my life?
• What is the nature of the vegetable force within me?
• How does Almighty God guide me to use the vegetable force in my life?
• What is the nature of the animal force within me?
• How does Almighty God guide me to use the animal force in my life?
• What is the nature of the earthly human (jasmani) force within me?
• How does Almighty God guide me to use the earthly human (jasmani) force in my life?
(For newer members it is advised to test with helpers present and everyone's needs are different...)
• As human beings we are always making mistakes. How do I currently try to correct my mistakes?
• How does Almighty God guide me in correcting my mistakes?
• How do I currently ask God for forgiveness?
• How does God guide me to ask for forgiveness?
• What is the nature of the material force within me?
• How does Almighty God guide me to use the material force in my life?
• What is the nature of the vegetable force within me?
• How does Almighty God guide me to use the vegetable force in my life?
• What is the nature of the animal force within me?
• How does Almighty God guide me to use the animal force in my life?
• What is the nature of the earthly human (jasmani) force within me?
• How does Almighty God guide me to use the earthly human (jasmani) force in my life?
WHY DO I NOT UNDERSTAND?
"...Supposing you ask, “Bapak, why is it that after having been in Subud for ten years - or maybe not ten but nearly twenty - why do I not understand? All I do is nod my head".
It is your own fault. It is your fault, because you have feelings, do you not? You have to feel and examine it.
If you do that, then in every latihan everything you do embodies illustrations and shows you maps of the way, as Bapak himself has proved...
...And you should examine it closely....
...What is important is to carry out in practice what is taught. And to carry it out in practice adds to your resolution and determination..."
Bapak, Malang, Indonesia ~ November 20, 1976 ~ 76 MLE 1
Provisional Translation By R. Sawrey-Cookson
"...Supposing you ask, “Bapak, why is it that after having been in Subud for ten years - or maybe not ten but nearly twenty - why do I not understand? All I do is nod my head".
It is your own fault. It is your fault, because you have feelings, do you not? You have to feel and examine it.
If you do that, then in every latihan everything you do embodies illustrations and shows you maps of the way, as Bapak himself has proved...
...And you should examine it closely....
...What is important is to carry out in practice what is taught. And to carry it out in practice adds to your resolution and determination..."
Bapak, Malang, Indonesia ~ November 20, 1976 ~ 76 MLE 1
Provisional Translation By R. Sawrey-Cookson
POSSIBLE TEST QUESTIONS:
(For newer members it is advised to test with helpers present and everyone's needs are different...)
• Bapak told us we should not use our minds in the latihan nor expect any results. Just to surrender and follow what comes. He also advised that we should feel and examine our latihan in our feelings. How should we do the latihan so that we understand?
(For newer members it is advised to test with helpers present and everyone's needs are different...)
• Bapak told us we should not use our minds in the latihan nor expect any results. Just to surrender and follow what comes. He also advised that we should feel and examine our latihan in our feelings. How should we do the latihan so that we understand?
PART 2
SEEKING PROOF
"ENTERPRISE"
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Enterprise is central to Subud. But it doesn't just mean a
multinational Subud bank. That's just one possibility. We could also say our personal enterprise is putting the latihan into practice in our lives. And like everything in nature it proceeds organically... First in our every day movements, walking, dancing, talking, singing, thinking, feeling. And deeper into our lives, our relationships, work and careers. The more we do the latihan and follow it, give it space to guide every moment, the further and wider it goes. That's our personal enterprise. But the aim of this guidance beyond self-interest is not just to become good and noble people for ourselves, but to be of use to all of humanity. In this way the latihan can encompass every part of our lives inwardly and also outwardly. One can also say that Subud itself is our collective enterprise. And it's through the development of our personal and group enterprises that Subud will grow. Not by promotion. But by our state and our works. |
TEST QUESTIONS AROUND WORK AND TALENT:
• What is (or are) my true talents?
• How am I doing my work?
• How would God have me do my work?
(IF APPLICABLE)
• What is the obstacle preventing me from being successful in my work?
• What if anything do I need to do to be successful?
• What is (or are) my true talents?
• How am I doing my work?
• How would God have me do my work?
(IF APPLICABLE)
• What is the obstacle preventing me from being successful in my work?
• What if anything do I need to do to be successful?
"You have to prove to yourself that God loves man.
Every year after the end of the Ramadhan fast, people are shouting, "Allahu akbar! Allahu akbar!" - "God is Great! God is Great!"; and, "Laillaha iliala, laillaha iliala wa ilham" - "There is no God but God and the Grace of God."
And Bapak asks; "What is the use of shouting it? Prove it!"
Once you have done with shouting about it, do something to prove it to us. Is it true that God loves man? Or is it just something we say?
Where is the proof of God's Love for man? The proof lies in releasing all the wealth God has given to man ( for that purpose ), and in arranging a life for man that is not full of complaints and shortages and suffering, but is truly prosperous, just and peaceful in this world. That is the proof of God's Love.
Until you have been able to achieve that there is no use in saying God loves man, because you have no evidence.
That is why Bapak says to you: Don't be afraid to make a move. Don't be afraid to look for a place where you can find prosperity.
Perhaps it is strange to you. Bapak is comfortable here ( in Cilandak ) and yet he moves to Kalimantan, a place that is jungle, a place that has nothing. But Bapak knows that later on he will be happier there than he is here.
It is like in the old days when Bapak was in Semarang. Bapak felt very happy in Semarang, but when circumstances forced Bapak to move to Yogya, he thought, "Oh, this is much nicer. I don't feel like going back to Semarang."
And then, once again, Bapak moved from Yogya to Jakarta and then Bapak said, "Well, Jakarta is much nicer. I don't need to go back to Yogya."
Similarly, going to Kalimantan, Bapak will feel just as much at home. That is why Bapak says to you who are Javanese: "Don't be scared to move!
Because Kalimantan is God's place ( just as ) Java is God's place. If you are worried about moving from Java to Kalimantan, how much more will you worry later when you have to move from this world and go to heaven!"
Of course, it's not sure yet that you will go to heaven, you don't know that yet. But the point is, if you are already worried about leaving Java to go to Kalimantan, how much more will you later worry about leaving this world.
If you are sincere, if you are submitted to God, then through that sincerity and submission you will at least receive a reasonable place when you go from this world to the next..."
What Bapak sees in the future - Talk to ladies during & after latihan & testing
Wisma Subud, Jakarta, Indonesia - January 16, 1981 - 81 CDK 1 - Provisional Translation
Every year after the end of the Ramadhan fast, people are shouting, "Allahu akbar! Allahu akbar!" - "God is Great! God is Great!"; and, "Laillaha iliala, laillaha iliala wa ilham" - "There is no God but God and the Grace of God."
And Bapak asks; "What is the use of shouting it? Prove it!"
Once you have done with shouting about it, do something to prove it to us. Is it true that God loves man? Or is it just something we say?
Where is the proof of God's Love for man? The proof lies in releasing all the wealth God has given to man ( for that purpose ), and in arranging a life for man that is not full of complaints and shortages and suffering, but is truly prosperous, just and peaceful in this world. That is the proof of God's Love.
Until you have been able to achieve that there is no use in saying God loves man, because you have no evidence.
That is why Bapak says to you: Don't be afraid to make a move. Don't be afraid to look for a place where you can find prosperity.
Perhaps it is strange to you. Bapak is comfortable here ( in Cilandak ) and yet he moves to Kalimantan, a place that is jungle, a place that has nothing. But Bapak knows that later on he will be happier there than he is here.
It is like in the old days when Bapak was in Semarang. Bapak felt very happy in Semarang, but when circumstances forced Bapak to move to Yogya, he thought, "Oh, this is much nicer. I don't feel like going back to Semarang."
And then, once again, Bapak moved from Yogya to Jakarta and then Bapak said, "Well, Jakarta is much nicer. I don't need to go back to Yogya."
Similarly, going to Kalimantan, Bapak will feel just as much at home. That is why Bapak says to you who are Javanese: "Don't be scared to move!
Because Kalimantan is God's place ( just as ) Java is God's place. If you are worried about moving from Java to Kalimantan, how much more will you worry later when you have to move from this world and go to heaven!"
Of course, it's not sure yet that you will go to heaven, you don't know that yet. But the point is, if you are already worried about leaving Java to go to Kalimantan, how much more will you later worry about leaving this world.
If you are sincere, if you are submitted to God, then through that sincerity and submission you will at least receive a reasonable place when you go from this world to the next..."
What Bapak sees in the future - Talk to ladies during & after latihan & testing
Wisma Subud, Jakarta, Indonesia - January 16, 1981 - 81 CDK 1 - Provisional Translation
POSSIBLE TEST QUESTIONS
• What is the potential for Subud to bring peace and stability to the world?
• What is my attitude toward the growth of Subud?
• What should it be?
• Bapak described the meaning of the word Subud many times. And it can be said that Subud is a state of being. What does it mean, to be Subud?
• Subud is also an organization of people who receive the latihan kedjiwaan. What is my role in the organization of Subud?
• What is the potential for Subud to bring peace and stability to the world?
• What is my attitude toward the growth of Subud?
• What should it be?
• Bapak described the meaning of the word Subud many times. And it can be said that Subud is a state of being. What does it mean, to be Subud?
• Subud is also an organization of people who receive the latihan kedjiwaan. What is my role in the organization of Subud?
SUBUD IS US
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The organization of Subud is small and new in the world. The possibilities are truly incalculable. Each one of us is an invaluable resource. "The capital is you".
Bapak advised that Subud centers should not rely on donations. But that by putting the latihan into practice we might become self-sustaining by working together. And that's just the beginning. |
THE PREREQUISITE FOR PROGRESS:
BROADENING OUR KNOWLEDGE
BROADENING OUR KNOWLEDGE
"In the latihan, you yourself have experienced that you make many different kinds of movement, you carry out different activities in your latihan. The purpose of these differing activities, behaviors, movements and sounds in your latihan, is to broaden your understanding.
The effect of the latihan is to broaden your knowledge, your understanding and your knowledge of this world. In the latihan you can receive many different forms of culture, the different ways of life of human beings all over the world: From this you know that the purpose of the latihan kejiwaan is to broaden your being, to encompass more and more of human life.
This broadening is actually the prerequisite to make progress in the latihan kejiwaan.
The effort of the Power of God in the latihan kejiwaan to broaden our being through all these different sorts of experiences, is what enables us to make progress. We go upwards in the latihan kejiwaan, through this broadening.
It is this broadening that actually leads us to the wish and the need to undertake charity and this work in our society to help others…
…Brothers and sisters, it is this step-by-step process that Bapak is talking about to you today. It is necessary to start by broadening your understanding, by broadening your knowledge of human life. The means for you to do this is through enterprises.
Enterprises have many uses, not only the uses Bapak has already described to you.
For example, there are members in Subud who do not know how to work. Perhaps they lack ability, or they have not had the education, or they are too lazy, or they are sick, or they do not have the opportunity to work. In our enterprises, we can teach them how to work; we can bring them in, so that we can make from a useless person, someone who is able to be productive and to be a useful person.
Working in an enterprise will put you in touch with all kinds of people. You will learn how it is with ignorant people, with clever people; you will learn how it is with wealthy people and how it is with poor people. It is through this working, through your effort, that you will be able to broaden your understanding, of how to live according to the right way, the right behavior that is willed for human beings by Almighty God."
The prerequisite for progress - Bapak's first talk in Sri Lanka - March 13, 1981 - Provisional Translation
The effect of the latihan is to broaden your knowledge, your understanding and your knowledge of this world. In the latihan you can receive many different forms of culture, the different ways of life of human beings all over the world: From this you know that the purpose of the latihan kejiwaan is to broaden your being, to encompass more and more of human life.
This broadening is actually the prerequisite to make progress in the latihan kejiwaan.
The effort of the Power of God in the latihan kejiwaan to broaden our being through all these different sorts of experiences, is what enables us to make progress. We go upwards in the latihan kejiwaan, through this broadening.
It is this broadening that actually leads us to the wish and the need to undertake charity and this work in our society to help others…
…Brothers and sisters, it is this step-by-step process that Bapak is talking about to you today. It is necessary to start by broadening your understanding, by broadening your knowledge of human life. The means for you to do this is through enterprises.
Enterprises have many uses, not only the uses Bapak has already described to you.
For example, there are members in Subud who do not know how to work. Perhaps they lack ability, or they have not had the education, or they are too lazy, or they are sick, or they do not have the opportunity to work. In our enterprises, we can teach them how to work; we can bring them in, so that we can make from a useless person, someone who is able to be productive and to be a useful person.
Working in an enterprise will put you in touch with all kinds of people. You will learn how it is with ignorant people, with clever people; you will learn how it is with wealthy people and how it is with poor people. It is through this working, through your effort, that you will be able to broaden your understanding, of how to live according to the right way, the right behavior that is willed for human beings by Almighty God."
The prerequisite for progress - Bapak's first talk in Sri Lanka - March 13, 1981 - Provisional Translation
THE COMMITTEE IS US
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The purpose of our committee is not only arranging a latihan hall, but communicating to us horizontally and vertically, connecting us to the regional, national, and global organization. So that we feel connected and wide in the scope of our feelings. A broad feeling of oneness with all humankind being central to progress in the latihan and in our lives.
Our committee also exists to support our career paths, individual and group enterprises that can help us provide for our material well-being. Once we are materially stable, the committee's job is to help us individually and in groups, to provide something of real benefit for the entire world outside Subud. So we could say, this weekend is a giant committee meeting as each of us has an invaluable role in Subud. |
"...if Subud is going backwards, if Subud is weak in the world, that is primarily caused by the fact that too many Subud members are short of what they need, short in their material lives.
Once we have satisfied our own Subud members, and their own material lives are already on a good level, then we will be strong enough to do something for others.
We will be strong enough to begin to work outside and to begin to make a mark in the world..."
“Do Not Let Subud Run Aground” BAPAK’S Address to Bank Susila Bakti’s shareholders
S. Widjojo, Jakarta, Indonesia ~ June 25, 1985 (provisional translation)
Once we have satisfied our own Subud members, and their own material lives are already on a good level, then we will be strong enough to do something for others.
We will be strong enough to begin to work outside and to begin to make a mark in the world..."
“Do Not Let Subud Run Aground” BAPAK’S Address to Bank Susila Bakti’s shareholders
S. Widjojo, Jakarta, Indonesia ~ June 25, 1985 (provisional translation)
