SUBUDVOICE JANUARY 2006

Dancing Behind Bars

Our front page story this issue comes from Latin America. Tierraviva is a group of cultural workers who have initiat-
It is often a source of grief to us that we do not have ed a range of creative programs in Argentina. It was
more stories from that part of the world, so we are very founded in 2001 by Rasjid Cesar who works with Fernando
pleased to be able to run this one about the Tierraviva Bedoya and Rhea Volij.
Project in Argentina which helps women and children in The group looks for people who live in conflict or in
prison. risky situations and work with them using the arts as a
I guess barriers of language and geography keep us tool to make their voice heard; expressing their pain and
from hearing as much as we would like from this exciting their needs.
area of the world. We know there is lots going on there but The goal of the programs is to empower participants and
alas, much of it remains a ‘closed book’ to us. So, it is good develop their self-esteem to assist them to grow and devel-
to be able to bring this story at least.
Many of us have now met Rasjid Cesar of the
Tierraviva project at Zonal meetings and World
Congresses. He is a man of immense energy,
friendliness and good cheer. He and his col-
leagues have pioneered a powerful development
combining culture and social work, using theatre
arts such as clowning and dance to help disad-
vantaged people.

Since 2001, Tierraviva has presented programs to

achieve personal self-esteem and empower-
ment. These develop the expressive abilities of
parents, children, and children with special needs,
incorporating clowning, butoh dance, theatre
games and art. Current programs are being
brought to incarcerated women who live in jail Drawing of a fantastic animal used by mothers in prison creating
with their young children.
Founder Rasjid Cesar explains, “We look for people who
live in conflict or risk situations and help them use art as an
instrument to generate their message. Through this artistic
language, people can express their pain and their needs
in a way that becomes a positive experience that con-
tributes to growth and development as a human being.”
Tierraviva’s project, “Art and Sensitization for
Mothers in Prison” has been accepted for implemen-
tation by the Argentinean Ministry of Justice and the
Secretary of Penitentiary Matters.
imaginary stories for their children
op as human beings. Parents, children and especially chil-
dren with special needs have learnt to express themselves
through a range of strategies, including clowning, butoh
dance, theatre games and art.
Helping Women in Prison
Currently Tierraviva is working on “Art and awareness
workshops for mothers in prison” – a project for women
serving a jail sentence who have their young children with
them in Buenos Aires. Most of the woman had very hard
childhoods themselves and forty percent of continued p2

SUBUDVOICE PAGE 1
their husbands are also in prison. women and their children has been on deepening
Fernando Bedoya, an artist with the Tierraviva group, is the quality of the interaction between them and
co-ordinating a program for prisoners in a maximum secu- also on improving the women’s relationship with
rity jail using recycled paper to make papier mache as a each other. This is grounded in the understanding
creative medium.> This is funded by the Sub-secretary of that despite being prisoners they are human beings
Cultural Patrimony in Buenos Aires City. with rights.
A dance and movement program for mothers and chil- Ways in which the mothers can act as mediators in
dren in jail is funded by national Susila Dharma organisa- expanding their children’s experience of the world – a
tions in France, USA and Canada. world made up of walls, bars and restrictions – are being
These programs are being considered for funding by explored. One strategy has been to encourage the moth-
the state as training workshops. The State Civil Personnel ers to invent fantastic stories to tell their children, to invent
Union (UPCN) is discussing the possibility of such training an imaginary world for the children so that they will realise
which would allow many of their members to learn the there is a world outside the prison walls.
methods and make them available to benefit other pris- The women share activities such as cooking or drawing
oners in Argentina. Plus building with the children. The group plans
Tierraviva’s reputation and an One strategy them together and discusses the
understanding of its strategies and has been to encourage results. Working together in this way
processes. encourages positive relationship
the mothers to invent
The Tierraviva developmental building between the women.
process allows solutions to obsta- fantastic stories The use of games that allow very
cles to be discovered and incor- young children to work through
to tell their children, to invent
porated into future strategies. Such trauma is being explored and the
flexibility and freedom enables an imaginary world mothers are learning the value of
plans to be adjusted to meet spe- for the children this. Tierraviva workers have donat-
cific needs. The workers see them- ed dolls which the children have
so that they will realise
selves only as tools which facilitate used to symbolise their own family
the learning process whilst letting there is a world members. Posters and coloured-in
the students do the work for them- cut-outs are also used for this thera-
outside the prison walls. peutic ‘play’.
selves. Each woman is given a
notebook in which to keep a personal journal. Woman participating in the papier mache workshops
The need of women bringing up children in prison was have made recycled paper which has been given to the
very apparent and the value of the Tierraviva program mothers and children’s drawing group. They are also pro-
has now been proven in practice. As there is a lack of ducing a collective artwork called ‘Look, what an animal!’
many basic human rights in prisons in Argentina, Tierraviva with a series of fantastic animals such as giraffes with
is now raising awareness of these problems and the ben- sheep’s heads and snakes with ducks’ feet which can be
efit of the programs they offer to official organisations used by the mothers when they create fantastic stories for
such as the Ministry of Justice and UNICEF. their children.
Addressing Abusive Situations The group is planning to produce a booklet which would
Open and frank discussions have now started with the include input from the mothers who completed the
Ministry of Justice seeking to address abusive situations, awareness raising workshops, with recommendations for
such as threats to women that their children will be taken positive children’s education within a prison environment.
from them if they do not comply with arbitrary orders to This would not only document the ‘voice’ of the mothers

move to other areas of the prison, thus disrupting support-
ive relationships women and children have built up over
months.
In recent months the focus of activities with the
•
but be useful for mothers in prison in the future. It would
also be given to the various authorities responsible for
working in similar situations for their use.

PAGE 2 SUBUDVOICE

News in Brief
Sing-a-song Bike Ride
Maurice Baker in the UK is a musician and teacher. His enter-
prise Sunny Songs produces music for children. Now he is off on
a new adventure. He writes…
For the past four years I’ve traveled the UK as a National Helper
representing the UK Scottish Region. It was a great experience,
one I feel honored and blessed to have been able to have.
At the last meeting of our dewan we tested about what each
of us had learned and, equally importantly, what was the signif-
icance of the next stage in our lives. For myself, I received a
tremendous rush of energy, dancing around the room as if I had
wings. Later, back home, the significance of this became
apparent.
A small ad in the paper caught my eye. “The challenge is,” it
said, “to cycle 400km across Rajasthan, India, to help raise
money for VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) next February,
2006. Interested?” A little buzzer went off
inside me...
Over the past few years I’ve con-
tinued recording music and com-
piling booklets published under the
name of Sunny Songs, which include
lyrics, musical accompaniment, and
ideas for activities.
The target age group is preschool to
about seven or eight years, but in practice
older kids have often enjoyed much of
the same material. In future I hope
to extend into more narrative-
based projects, many of which
have already been presented in
schools, as well as continuing with
the activity learning songs.
So here I am now, heaving
ageing bones up and down the Maurice Baker heaving ageing bones
Northumberland hills on an equally aged bicycle, training for
the dusty trails of Rajasthan. I must get fit, not only to avoid mak-
ing a fool of myself and letting sponsors down (I have to raise a
minimum of £2500), but also because the Sunny Songs project
and the bike ride are inextricably linked.
All profits from the music packs (up till the end of Feb. 2006)
will go towards the sponsorship, and too much has been invest-
ed to back out now. Any support, moral or financial, would be
most gratefully received.
To make a donation
Online at: www.justgiving.com/mauricebaker
(Use a credit card on this safe website.)
By cheque to Maurice Baker at: 47 The Drive, Newcastle upon Tyne,
NE7 7SY, England. (payable to – VSO Trading Ltd.)
Buy Sunny Songs packs – £6.95 each (all profits to VSO).
Titles:
1. The Clumsy Giant – action learning songs
2. Animal Olympics – animal singalong songs
3. Crazy Creatures – nutty singalong songs
4. Smile Like A Dolphin – music activity workshop
All packs £6.95 + 50p P&P includes illustrated book and CD .
Send cheques to: PO Box 256, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7ZR
SUBUDVOICE
My Neighbourhood
My Neighborhood International” began as an idea about con-
necting people from all walks of life. A way for young people to
begin to understand people from cultures that are different from
their own. An idea about the possibility of these young people
being given the time and space to tell the world about their
dreams, lives and stories. These ideas have grown into an organ-
ization called My Neighborhood International.
If young people were to see the world through the eyes of
other young people, how would it change their lives? Would they
be more tolerant, compassionate and inclusive? If they partici-
pated in a project where they were able to share their stories
and their dreams, would they be more self confident and
inspired? Our experience with My Neighborhood International is
a resounding yes.
What started in 2001 as a local Los Angeles project has grown
into an international organization that continues to grow and
touch people's lives with the paintings of these young artists.
We conduct workshops all over the world. We bring children
together and ask them about who they are, what is
important to them, what makes them happy. We
ask them what they would say to the world if the
world were listening only to them. Then we ask
them to paint, draw and express those feelings, sto-
ries and dreams. What is left is art that touches each
and every person that sees it. To date the workshops
have been conducted in Mexico, Indonesia, Brazil,
Colombia, India and the United States.
Our future plans include an ongoing series of work-
shops and exhibitions that tell children's stories and
dreams. These have been our vehicles so far. In
the future we envision work that also brings
youth together to foster the understanding that
the concept of my neighborhood is not only my
•
house, my street, my city, or even my country,
but that my neighborhood is the world that we
all share. Please join us in this exciting and uplift-
ing joint venture with the youth of the world.
Contact: hamidahglasgow@hotmail.com
SICA Chair Exhibits
Olivia Moyano, new SICA International Chairlady, writes from
Buenos Aires…
The last 19th of September I exhibited my drawings in the
Hermes shop windows in Buenos Aires, in the glamorous old
quarter called “Recoleta”.
I made special fashion drawings for the Hermes spring-sum-
mer collection of clothes and accessories. A lot of specialized
fashion press and celebrities from the Buenos Aires art scene
came to the opening cocktail.
There were seven drawings (five woman and two men), 1,70
mts in height - the size of normal people. I made them with a
mixture of materials: oil, ink and pencil, on paper over wood.
•
The exhibition lasted from the 19th of September to the 19th
•
of October and it was a great success. Specially for me,
because it was a very important step for my artistic career. And
although I felt the stress (to fulfill some people’s expectations), I
could always work with a feeling of happiness and butterflies fly-
ing in my heart.
A lot of love for you all, Olivia
PAGE 3
Top Marks
Marcus Bolt in the UK has joined our Subud Voice team. He is
doing the layout. Marcus is of course a very experienced graph-
ic designer. He has worked with famous Subud enterprises such
as Loudwater Litho and Broadsword Communications and now
he is once again freelance.
The association with Marcus makes our Subud Voice enter-
prise an outstanding example of how one can work
globally these days drawing on the best talents in
several countries to produce a magazine via the
internet. Aren’t we modern!
Here Marcus tells an interesting story about
how he was protected from making a lot of
money. Isn’t God good to us!
Some years back, Latifah Taormina called me
from Austen, Texas, and asked me if I’d like to design
a logo for The Bapak Legacy Fund which she and oth-
ers in Subud USA were setting up. She added that they
could only afford to pay $500. Would that be okay?
I like the idea of Legacy Funds. The original money
donated can never, ever, be touched. The Fund’s
managers can only invest or spend the interest
earned while the fund sits safely in a bank forev-
er. They’re very popular in the US but not estab-
lished in the UK unfortunately. Anyway, I agreed
to do the logo and set to work.
The solution came quite quickly. I knew I want-
ed a sense of growth and flowering and I set
myself a parameter of working with the seven cir-
cles of the Subud logo, as received by Bapak. It
just seemed to fit. Spot the differences: ed to know if BLF’s designer had ever been inside
I e-mailed my preliminary designs to Latifah, pre- (Answer: one is green, BP House in Central London, as the logo was based
the other blue; one has on a Lutyens’ mosaic design gracing the reception
sented as the mark might appear in newsletters and
eighteen ‘petals’, the
brochures or on stationery and so on. A few days
other fourteen; one cost
later, a phone call: ‘We all love it and thank you
£1.25m, the other $500
very much, please send your bill...’ (joyous news to
a freelance designer).
Two weeks later (they don’t hang around in the US) a gratis T-
shirt and printed samples arrived in the post, all of which I added
to my portfolio, being rather pleased with the outcome.
About a month later, I opened the Sunday Times and turned
to a full page, colour advertisement trumpeting the new British
Petroleum (BP) logo. Shock, horror! It was almost identical. BP
announced proudly that they had successfully bought Amoco
Sustainable Development
Max Potter writes about the SNSD-L Mailing List (Subud
Network for Sustainable Development)…
The list was started in February 1998 as a result of the work-
shops on Sustainable Development organised by Victor
Margolin at the Spokane World Congress in August 1997.
It is intended to be simply a channel of communication
between Subud members who have an interest in the very
broad field of Sustainable Development. It is very simple - you
send your message as an email to the list and you receive
copies of the emails sent by other members.
The list is hosted by St. John's University in New York, which
runs the LISTSERV program, and maintains a searchable
PAGE 4
and become the largest oil company in the world.
The new logo had cost £1.25m to develop and they would be
spending a further £125m implementing the new corporate
identity world-wide on service stations, tanker livery, TV ads and
so on.
I e-mailed Latifah a copy and suggested it might not be a
good idea to associate the legacy fund with BP and that
people may think we ripped the logo off, or were in some
way connected, or (worse) wanted to be. What did she
think? She called and agreed the similarity was too
close for comfort.
‘I could contact BP, explain all and ask if they
could compensate us $500 so we could with-
draw our logo and do it again,’ I offered.
‘Yeah. Let’s do that, but leave it all to me. I
have a corporate lawyer friend and I’ll get onto
this right away.’
$100,000 in Compensation!
A week or so later, I received a copy of the let-
ter he had sent to BP asking for $100,000 in compen-
sation! It was at this point that I felt like a four year old.
Not only had I designed for peanuts (as usual)
something that would quite happily sit on a world
stage, but hadn’t realised, in my wildest dreams,
the sort of high stakes that the big boys play for.
Sorry, Bapak, but I’ve only been doing latihan
for thirty-odd years, you know. Give us a
chance – I need more time!
E-mails flew back and forth across the Atlantic
– BP’s feathers were ruffled (especially as they’d
spent a few hundred thou’ researching and regis-
tering their logo). I remember one communiqué in
which our lawyer told us that BP’s legal team want-
floor.
‘No! And ask them if their hot-shot designers
have ever been in my spare bedroom studio,’ I
suggested petulantly.
Eventually, BP and BLF settled for a five-figure number (which
I’m not at liberty to divulge) on the proviso that Subud/BLF never
•
use the story to make PR gains (keep our mouths shut in other
words). I hope they were as embarrassed as I was rueful..
Marcus Bolt, UK
If you’d like to see more logos by Marcus, visit his website:
www.marcusbolt.co.uk
archive of all the messages sent to the list. Up to June 2005 the
archives total approx 18Mb. The university hosts a large num-
ber of lists of a socially useful nature.
The membership is currently approximately 80, representing
about 14 countries. The list is unmoderated, so all messages
go straight to the list. A wide range of topics have been dis-
cussed, from the philosophical and spiritual, to down-to-earth
and practical.
Two meetings of members of the list were held at Innsbruck
•
which produced some interesting discussions.
If anyone would like to join the list, or more information about
it, please send an email to Max Potter:
max@potteram.demon.co.uk
SUBUDVOICE
Support Subud Schools
Greet the new year with a 2006 Subud Calendar!
This full-size calendar features children’s artwork from Subud
schools in Kalimantan, Austria and Portugal.
Beautiful full-color reproductions of artwork from students
ages 3 - 15 bring this 2006 calendar alive. Your purchase price of
$20 (plus shipping) not only supports Subud East Coast, USA, but
these schools as well. Each month features a notable quote
•
from Bapak and the dates of Subud gatherings, world latihans,
and other important events
Order your calendar today for December 2005 delivery.
For printable order forms and more pictures, please go to
www.subudart.com
Letters
S Widjojo/BSB Dispute.
A Solution?
Dear Harris,
We have noted your effort in the December issue of Subud
Voice to give an objective account of the PTSW-BSBRAT dispute.
As the Board of PTSW has just sent a settlement proposal to
BSBRAT, we prefer not to fan the flames further by reacting at this
time to Robert’s carefully-crafted presentation of the “facts”.
Particularly, Robert has apparently avoided a central issue that
in 1986-87 the SBIF trustees did acknowledge and advise that
the BSBRAT unit holders only retained the “remaining portion of
a 17-year lease” to the mezzanine floor and, thereafter, that
these same trustees in 1993 transferred a non-existent “right”
from SBIF to BSBRAT during the World Subud Congress in
Amanecer.
However, your statement that Robert Coker "…in the past has
been associated with the BSB position but since then has been
appointed ..." etc. requires further comment as, in our opinion, it
suggests that Robert in the past was vaguely involved with the
matter but is now a reliable, objective source. Robert for many
years has been an active Trustee of BSBRAT and a Director of BSB
Trust Co. Last year he stepped down for private reasons but stat-
ed that "he remained supportive of the BSBRAT case". In
Innsbruck he demonstrated this by strongly pleading the BSBRAT
side of the affair. We think that with the introduction you have
made, it is very hard to achieve the necessary objectivity you
are perhaps seeking.
Nevertheless, instead of an endless debate on past issues, let
us rather look forward to resolving the dispute in a practical fash-
ion. Certainly, one of the most contentious issues between the
parties is that of so-called “ownership rights” to the mezzanine
floor. From the perspectives of both PTSW and BSBRAT, the issue
is contentious. If this debate over “ownership rights” did not exist
on the part of either party, this particular element should then
not enjoy its present prominent position and be an obstacle to
any settlement.
The settlement proposal from PT S Widjojo now takes this into
account and provides neither party with access to further
debate on this point. It provides for an “ex-gratia” settlement
offer on the part of PTSW shareholders to BSBRAT unit holders.
Neither party acknowledges or defends an “ownership” position.
The Board of PT S Widjojo are sincerely working to find a solu-
tion and it is hoped that by removing all debate on ownership”
issues, the parties can finally settle this disruptive dispute.
SUBUDVOICE
If BSBRAT now accepts this very simple settlement proposal and
PTSW shareholders confirm it, this dispute could all be behind us
in a very short time.
Most sincerely,
PT S Widjojo
•
Konrad Baerveldt
President Director
For a detailed presentation of S Widjojo’s view of the situation
write to Konrad Baerveldt konrad@cbn.net.id
Peace Process
Rhyana Blakely, (Subud Youth International, from the UK), writes
about her interest in peace and the kejiwaan sessions held at
the World Congress 2005, facilitated by Alexandra Asseilly and
Patrice Brodeur…
I am a subud child and lived for two years in Pakistan as a child.
I say this as I think both play a role in that I was always saddened
by the racial intolerance within Britain, and how much young
(second generation Muslims especially) were on the fringes of
our society.
As a subud member I was also saddened to see how much
fighting can happen within the structure of subud or how often
we find it hard to let go of things...I have believed for many
years that we must work on ourselves (something that Ibu said in
her talk to the youth at congress), and that as youth we must
work on harmony.
I am always saddened when I see people fighting at meet-
ings in subud. And I believe that this is what we should use
testing for.
I have tried to learn more about the major religions, especial-
ly after the Madrid bombings. I also wrote a piece in subudlife
asking if Subud was doing anything - a latihan or something - or
whether Subud had a stance on such things. I got no response.
Then I met Amalia Dickie and was inspired by her work. I wished
to join her in a peace meeting in Edinburgh.
At congress I met many people from Israel, leading me to feel
I must visit there soon. Then I was tested in as SYAI, and went to
a youth camp in Portugal, along with three youth from Israel.
Saturday night I was talking with a friend and saying that I
wanted to choose a topic for my upcoming dissertation looking
at whether theatre techniques could be used to help within a
peace process.
Then I came to latihan the next morning, and we did the
peace testing. The peace processes questions where truly
amazing, and I believe the direction we should try and tackle.
But that is just my personal opinion.
Also when we tested what my gift is within my country, I knelt
to the ground and saw in my head the symbols of many reli-
gions, a church tower, mosque tower, etc.
I do not know what that means, but I do believe that
maybe if we all learn more about each other and look at
how we see each other or feel we are portrayed maybe we
can find resolution...
As I am in the arts I would be interested in trying to create
workshops and festivals where the many cultures in London and
in England could be explored and hopefully understood. I also
•
would like to offer my energy and help in whatever way with the
work that both Alexandra and Amalia are doing.
A suggested format for testing about peace based on what was
done at World Congress was included in Subud Voice, October
2005
PAGE 5

Relief Work
From Pakistan
Harry Rendawa writes from Pakistan to a member in Singapore…
Sorry for the delay in reply as I have just come back last night
from the Quake affected area of Chinot Valley near Batal which
is the focus of our Susila Dharma Pakistan Relief Project.
I thank you for your very kind thoughts, prayers and forth-
coming contribution. We are very comfortable for the funds
to be channeled via SDI as this will provide two tier account-
ability and also we are promoting this as Susila Dharma
Project of which I am wearing the hat as Chairman apart
from being KC of Pakistan.
In times like this good and effective leadership is very impor-
tant to see that the Projects identified are
implemented well. Sis. Busrah, who is
As one of the young German
National Treasurer and also works with workers of another NGO
UNDP, will maintain the accounting and
book keeping of our Relief Efforts Funds. said to me,
At the Rescue stage it was decision-
making on the spot by the minute and by ‘Visiting the IBU house
the hour now as International Aid is com-
ing in from all around the world and there in Meulaboh
is at least a system for the Relief Distribution
we have re-consolidated our efforts. gave me hope
Apart from the SY Team who have been
our Rescue & Medical Support Team and in the midst of
did SUBUD proud by undertaking some
daring acts in the first few days of the so much that is not
tragedy, Sis. Busrah together with Salman
Rao have been the Pillars of support for
planning and undertaking our Relief
right with the big NGOs.’
efforts.
Sis. Busrah has now come up with a com- He said the
plete program over the next months for
reconsolidation and rehabilitation of the atmosphere of
Chinot Valley at Batal which has some 18 vil-
lages of which about 450 families need the
most urgent aid as their houses were all prayer and work
destroyed.
We are working with another NGO called changed his life.
TOLERENCE on this project and the monthly
expense figure for this project is about
USD$11,000.I will be sending out a detailed report of what we have
done so far and what we plan to do in the next few days.
Our second assistance is through the SY Team of Doctors who
when making field visits need medical supplies which we pur-
chase and also when we come across very needy cases who
require special medication. Our two Subud Doctors work with a
Private Hospital called Shifa Medical Centre which has taken in
150 causalities from this tragedy and we assist here as much as
we can.
Mr. Gyan Singh the former SUBUD Chair has also identified a
Project to assist about 300 SIKHS who too have lost everything
and are also a Minority Group in Pakistan.
They have all been accommodated in the compound of Sikh
Gurudawara(Temple) Panja Sahib. In times like this the minorities
somehow get left out and we are also looking into their rehabil-
itation needs.
Once again Brother I thank you and SUBUD Singapore for your
kind donations.
Warm Regards and God Bless.
Major(Rtd)Harjit S. Rendawa (Harry)
KC & Susila Dharma Pakistan Chief Co-ordinator
PAGE 6
I asked Harry to tell us a little about himself and he wrote this
interesting news, not only about himself but also about Subud
Pakistan…
I am a Malaysian Citizen and was National Chair of Malaysia for
almost 6 years. However I have been spending almost 70% of
my time in Pakistan since 1997 where I went first as a Consultant
for Hydro-Power Project.
For many years I supported the handful of SUBUD members (2
active out of 4) but 3 years ago I decided to take charge and
we have today 28 members and about 20 or so are very active
and growing slowly by God's Grace.
We now have a formally elected committee and I am the KC
-Man and will be here as long as my services are required and
a Pakistani brother can take over the Job.
Even the Chairman, Sohail Kiani, is Pakistani origin but a
Canadian Citizen. I met him at Congress at Spokane and than
he was posted to Meryll Lynch Singapore where we used to
meet often during his frequent visits to KL.
So like me he too landed in Islamabad
•
about two years ago and early this year I
persuaded him to take on the Job of
National Chair with the endorsement of the
members.
So this in short is a little history of the
growth of Subud in Pakistan.
From Sumatra
Lucia Cargill writes from Sumatra…
I just returned from 8 days in Meulaboh and
a few before that in Banda Aceh. Much
work has been done and there is much to
do. Everyone, foreigners and locals. are
working like busy beavers every day.
Our IBU4Aceh team is something similar
to a Subud Youth group all working togeth-
er on one goal in a professional and well
coordinated effort. 21 of them live together
in one house in Meulaboh; 4 managers are
in a house with one assistant in Medan. A
wonderful volunteer hangs out with the
group and drives in exchange.
I could not be more positive and encour-
aged by what I have seen. I hope others
have a chance to come work and have
the wonderful adventure of IBU4Aceh I have had. As one of the
young German workers at another NGO said to me, “Visiting the
IBU house in Meulaboh gave me hope in the midst of so much
that is not right with the big NGOs.” He said the atmosphere of
prayer and work changed his life.
In regard the Katrina efforts, I just want you to know we have
a Subud doc on her way to the coast to see what can be done.
Her name is Liz Rantz. Please send her your prayers and support
at ERR@aol.com. I am hoping AOMAA and Liz can do some real
and constructive work together. She has been a supporter and
advisor from the time the tsunami hit via her group of friends in
Missoula, MT. I will keep you up to date.
Sending love,
Lucia
Lucia C. Cargill, RN, Ph.D., Technical Advisor,
•
IBU4AcehPresident/Executive Director
American Overseas Medical Aid Association
tel: 310-829-0190/1-877-77
AOMAA mobile: 310-570-5107
P.O Box 741999 Los Angeles, CA 90004 USA
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SUBUDVOICE
 7. If, in the future, a school could be established in
which all the staff are Subud members, what would be
the role of such a school? Bapak has said it would give

Bapak’s ordinary education, but what part would such schools

play in the world? If such a school appears practicable
to the committee, would it be good to start it soon?
8. Can Subud help children who are emotionally dis-

Talk turbed or maladjusted? Would Bapak indicate whether

a project for Subud members to help such children - if
found practicable - should be encouraged?

CONCERNING CHILDREN
9. Should Subud members try to work in youth clubs? In
many countries youth clubs are the best means for

AND THE FAMILY

awakening a spiritual outlook among children and of
counteracting worldly influences. Should we therefore
encourage Subud members who can do so to volunteer
Bapak’s Talk at Coombe Springs, August 20, 1959 for work in such youth clubs?
First Subud World Congress, Recording: 59 CSP 10
This time we bring you a talk from the early days of Bapak Replies:
Subud, the World Congress in 1959. Since it is a new year, Ladies and gentlemen, Bapak would like to give his
we thought it interesting to go back to close to the begin- views, which will contain answers to the questions put for-
ning of Subud in the west and look at the kinds of issues ward by the chairman of the section on education.
that concerned people then and Bapak’s explanations Subud - that is, the spiritual training of Susila Budhi
to them. Dharma, which you have received and practise - is the
Sir Victor Goddard: Today, we working by God to educate
wish to ask Bapak to give and develop us human beings
guidance regarding children, towards improvement, and
from birth to the age when the attainment of perfection,
they can begin the spiritual and true humanity in our lives
exercises. and in our worship of God.
1. What does Subud mean
for the family? How should It has arisen because the
Subud parents understand condition of human beings at
the family relationship and the present time is not as good
their own responsibilities? as it was in times long ago.
What is the role of discipline, With the coming of Subud,
reward and punishment, both human beings can receive
for parents and for teachers? purification of the defects in
2. In the upbringing of a their nature; only when this is
family it seems that, with pres- accomplished is it possible for
ent economic conditions and them to return to the condition
food shortage, it is necessary [that human beings] were in
to limit families. Can Bapak then. What this means is that
give guidance on the restric- we will once again be human
tion of the size of families? beings who are filled with a
And should married people noble soul that corresponds to
without children adopt chil- our outer form.
dren from parents who have
too many? Bapak and Ibu relax at Coombe Springs, August 1959
Since our condition is
3. Is it possible to recognise already flawed, we have no
exceptional children of the kind Bapak spoke about yes- choice but to wait with patience for God to purify our
terday, who may have a human or even a higher soul? being. This is so that we do not interfere with the
Should such children receive special preparation and be process but allow it to go forward and be completed
protected from the influence of lower forces in the in the right way.
world?
4. In most religions it is said that boys and girls should As Bapak has received it, it is in accordance with the
worship God directly when they are able to bear chil- law of life that God always sends indications to the self of
dren; that is, after puberty. Why cannot boys and girls be human beings at the time when they pass the threshold
opened after puberty instead of at 18 years? of puberty, because at that time they begin to experi-
5. Is it better for children to be sent away from home to ence a certain need; that is, the need to marry.
schools where they can live together with the best con-
ditions for education, or is it better that children should It is clear that God wishes that, at that time,
remain with their parents until after puberty? Also is it they should be able to receive indications from
desirable to separate boys and girls in schools before or God that will enable them to receive a human
after puberty? seed of good quality. That is why in religion it is
6. Should parents or school teachers give religious taught that human beings have the right and the
instruction to schoolchildren? Religious instruction tends need to worship God when they reach the age of
to be dogmatic and theoretical. Is it good to introduce puberty.
children to Subud without any theory or dogma? And why is it like that? For you all know that a child may
continued p8

SUBUDVOICE PAGE 7
die before reaching puberty, and you might think that, in
that case, they would certainly not have found the right
way for their life. _[inaudible] you must remember that it
is also taught in the various religions that children from
birth to puberty are the responsibility of their parents,
both as regards their life on earth and their life after
death; that is, the life of their soul.
Therefore, if the parents make an effort - if they truly
worship God and receive the contact with God's power,
as you have already received it in the latihan - then what
is purified is not only the defects within themselves but
also the defects within their children.
So don't worry or feel disappointed, even if it is only you
and your wife who are doing the latihan; your latihan will
affect your close family. Moreover, it is not limited to your
close family; it will touch anyone who is close to your
heart. But you need to be on your guard, because this
can be very dangerous; for example, if you are a man
you might love another woman more than you love your
own children.
Keep Your Love for Your Own Family
To be clear, Bapak will illustrate it like this. Suppose we
have among us here a man named Alex. Alex has two
children. In his latihan, his love is directed, not towards his
two children but towards the woman who has become
his “darling” - and who is not his wife. So the purification
he receives, which should also affect his children, bene-
fits his “darling” instead. That is the danger. So Alex is
helping another person rather than his own family.
You should, therefore, be careful never to let the love
of your heart go outside of your family. You may love
others too, but not more than you love your own family;
then your family will benefit greatly from the latihan you
are doing.
It is clear that God is All-just and All-wise. And in order
that human beings can follow their inner feeling and live
a good life, God's guidance is not lacking for them.
It is said in all religions that, after puberty, a person will
be responsible and stand on his or her own feet. They
then have the obligation to worship God on their own,
free from the influence of their parents. On average,
puberty occurs at about fifteen years of age, which is
why children are allowed to marry at fifteen.
But human beings have their own laws and consider
such marriages to be too early. They determine that peo-
ple must be at least eighteen before they can marry;
and among the richer and better-educated, it is usually
not considered desirable to marry until after twenty-one.
So it is clear that human beings have replaced the laws
of nature with their own rules. God does indeed allow
human beings to do what they want, and they them-
selves are responsible for whatever they do. The truth is,
that in this matter people have made a mistake and
departed from God's decree. And if they do this then
they themselves must take responsibility; meaning that
they should be able to put right what they have done
wrong.
The Right Age to Start Latihan
Regarding [the age at which to start the latihan], Bapak
takes the middle way: not too late and not too early, not
PAGE 8
too old and not too young; that is, eighteen - half-way
between fifteen and twenty-one. If Bapak were to follow
the law of God - fifteen years old - people would be
angry with him; if he were to do what people would like,
then God would be angry with him.
But it's easier with God - one can ask for forgiveness
and quickly get it, whereas with people one might not.
[Laughter.] That's why Bapak chose the middle way: not
twenty-one, not fifteen, but eighteen. These are the rea-
sons why Bapak decided on the age of eighteen - so
now you can understand the truth behind it.
God is just, and knows how much people need to
receive true guidance from God so that they will not fall
too far from standing upright with their noble soul.
Therefore there is no time when human beings do not
receive guidance from God, provided they can really
quieten the activity of their feelings and thoughts, and
feel the course of the movements they make in their
bodies when they are moving and doing things. For the
power of God is not just behind human beings, it
envelops their inner feeling and their whole being.
So it is to be hoped that you will not think deeply about
this, nor speculate on how to improve your children or
influence them to worship God. For if you are already
doing the latihan of worship that comes from God's will
and God's power, the influence of God's working in each
of you will spontaneously affect the being or the inner
feeling of your wife and children.
At the Age of Sixty-three
Also, parents who have reached the age of sixty-three,
whether they are still alive or have already died, are
affected in the same way by their children doing the lati-
han. Therefore, those of you who are aged between
about thirty-two and sixty-three really have to carry a
very heavy burden, because you carry the responsibility
for both your children and your parents.
But those of you who are over sixty-three should not
take it easy on that account; you should still go on with
your latihan, in order that the burden on your children is
not too heavy. So, it is necessary to make an effort to
lighten the burden of one's children.
This is the reason why in religion it is taught that parents
beyond the age of sixty-three no longer commit sins. But
in reality it is not like that. It is only true if their children
have been able to raise them up; if they are not yet able
to do that, then of course they still commit sins.
It is also said that children below the age of puberty
are free of sin; that is why people have laid down that
the actions of a child are not legally punishable. So it is
clear that before puberty a child is in the same position
as an older person - over the age of sixty-three.
Therefore the period during which it is obligatory to
worship God, so as to find the right way and come to a
true understanding of life, begins immediately after
puberty and lasts until the age of sixty-three.
So Bapak hopes you will not worry that your children
cannot be opened until they reach the age of eighteen.
Have no fear that they will be left behind, continued p9
for they are, in truth, carried with you and affected by
SUBUDVOICE
you. Such is the way of the soul as decreed by the law of
Almighty God.
With regard to the bringing up of children, there are
two ways. The first is by giving them advice; making them
follow the good advice found in the teachings of religion
and all that is really good and sound in human laws and
customs.
The second way, which is even stronger and which can
have a really deep effect on them, comes from your
own latihan. As Bapak said earlier, this will influence the
souls of your children in such a way that their character
is changed without their being aware of it.
Teachers and Schools
Now, as regards the relationship of teachers and children
in schools: usually this is only an ordinary one, from heart
to heart, from mind to mind - a relationship based on
ordinary advice and teaching. A rela-
tionship from the soul is impossible if the
teachers themselves are not yet in ‘If children are born with
ing, Oh, Bapak, you allow people to have twenty or thir-
ty children. If everyone who is here had twenty children
this hall would be full and we should have to build
another one.”
People are like that. They don't realise that the more
human beings there are, the more understanding there
will be about how to find themselves the necessary room.
People don’t understand the situation in which they find
themselves.
Limiting the Size of Families
Therefore Bapak does not wish to give advice on this sub-
ject. But if you need to limit your family, that is all right. If
you do not consider it necessary, that is all right too. So
Bapak does not advocate birth control nor does he for-
bid it - otherwise people would be angry with him. If
Bapak were to allow people to have lots of children,
people would be angry; but if he told you to limit your
families, then those who like to have a
lot of children would be angry.

a true human soul,

Subud. Bapak will illustrate the working of
God's will with something that people

they will have more

John Bennett: But if they are already can see for themselves. Why are there
in Subud? not as many elephants as there are
Bapak: If they are Subud then it's ants? Or, why are there more ants
possible.
understanding than than elephants?

those who are trying

Now for the second point, about lim- Ants can live in their thousands and
iting the number of children. This is hundreds of thousands in a [confined]
actually a rather difficult issue, due to space, because that is the environ-
people's habit of calculating the
future. They calculate that if the birth
to prepare them. ment they need. So they do not expe-
rience any overcrowding or pressure

They will understand

of children is not limited, then, in say a under those circumstances. Why are
thousand years, the earth will be full of there not so many elephants or tigers?

better the wishes of

people and there will be no space. Because they need a wide and spa-
cious area in which to live.
And when there is no more space

those who are trying

and there are too many people, how God knows this. So if humans can
will people live? That is indeed the way have more than two, three or five chil-

to find them.’
people extrapolate, based on their
thinking, their passions and their hearts.
But for God it is not like that. If God
has created humankind on this earth with the intention
that they should multiply, then God certainly already
knows that there will always be enough room for people
to live. Always.
Remember, that according to humanity's own reckon-
ing, this earth was created many millions of years ago,
whereas the number of years that we can remember,
that we have counted, is only one thousand nine hun-
dred and fifty-nine. If in the year 1959 there is this number
of people, what was it like in previous ages? Were there
no human beings then? Of course there were.
Humanity was created on this earth when the earth
came into being. It is like when you make a car. When
you make a car, you also make a road. If you make a car
without making a road, it won't have anywhere to run.
And similarly, if you make a road but there are no cars,
what is the use of it? So God prepares and creates every-
thing in a way that is complete. God knows everything,
and that is the nature of God's law.
But here again, people will be angry with Bapak, say-
dren, it is because it is permitted by
God and a place for these children
exists. When there is no more room for
them, God will know that too, and
then something will certainly happen, even though peo-
ple won't understand why.
There is probably no birth control among ants, nor
among elephants. It all just works by itself: the elephants
cannot multiply as rapidly as the ants. They cannot.
Here's some evidence for what Bapak just said. This
earth was created millions and millions of years ago, so
why is it that human beings only know the last ten thou-
sand years? Because changes in the state of the world
and in the outlook of human beings, that are brought
about by the working of God's power, are beyond
human understanding.
Human beings are entirely unaware of the manner in
which they are changed. This is now being confirmed by
the people who seek all sorts of evidence that can be
found in the earth. Bapak has recently heard that they
have found bones of human beings who lived about three
hundred thousand years ago. They were found near Solo, in
Java, Indonesia. So it is clear that even then there existed
people to worry about over-population. This kind of anxiety
continued p10

SUBUDVOICE PAGE 9
has always been with human beings, and God knows it.
Here is another illustration. The growth of population here
in Europe may not be as rapid as it is in Indonesia; there, six
hundred years ago, the whole population numbered only
four and a half million, whereas now it is eighty-eight million.
Project this forward and in a thousand years Indonesia
will be full of people. But in general, people in Indonesia
- like Bapak himself - like having children, so they don't
worry about it. As a result, Indonesians, on average, have
at least four or five children; Dr Zakir, for instance, has five.
That's more or less the average.
With regard to the question of sending children to
school and what should be taught there; the curriculum
they follow should be a normal one, nothing less than
children are normally taught. All that should be in accor-
dance with the laws and the educational regulations of
the country concerned.
Why is that? Because if we deviate from [what is nor-
mal] it will not help our work or make it easier, we will just
create obstacles for ourselves. But don't worry about
that, because what is within you is stronger; it is that
which carries authority.
As Bapak said, thanks to the influence of the parents
who are following the latihan and are already Subud,
the outer influences, which would like, as it were, to sup-
press their children's individuality and damage their soul,
can be restrained.
Setting up a Subud School
But if we are strong enough and can provide everything
that is needed to set up a Subud school, then yes, ideal-
ly it should be staffed by teachers who have all received
the latihan. Here too, the curriculum doesn't have to be
any different from that laid down in the laws of the coun-
try concerned.
But even so, because the teachers are in Subud and
do the latihan, they will have a great influence on the
souls of the children, bringing about a spontaneous
improvement in their conduct and behaviour. In that
case, you can send your children to that school to live
there as boarders, since all the teachers and other staff
are doing the latihan.
Then the children can really be educated from the soul
and not just from the mind. But if such a school is not
available, then it is better for the parents to have their
children living at home and not to send them to board-
ing schools.
Bapak has already said, in an earlier talk, that when we
become financially and materially strong enough, Subud
should also establish homes for children who are in
despair or are uncared for; who have not been well
brought up, or who have lost their parents. So, these
homes would look after children who are neglected,
unruly and so on. And people who have received the
latihan will be able to work with them, so that they can
influence their souls, helping them to become good and
fit for life.
The same principles apply to youth clubs. Young peo-
ple are considered to be the flower of a nation; it is they
who, in due course, will have to take the place of their
PAGE 10
elders, so they should be able to live and work rightly as
human beings in this world.
It is therefore necessary that young Subud members
form or join youth clubs, so as to influence the souls of
other young people and awaken their inner feelings in
such a way that the wish to worship God will arise in their
hearts. The reason for this is that, in general, the boys and
girls in youth clubs have passed the age of puberty, and
therefore have the obligation to stand on their own feet;
that is, they themselves already need to worship God.
They are different from the children of whom Bapak
was speaking earlier, who can be influenced by teach-
ers who really feel love towards them. But the teachers
should not in any way lessen their love towards their own
spouses and their own children.
Homes for Neglected Children
Now about the adoption of other people's children,
when they have been neglected or in some way do not
have a proper life: this is all right, but there is a better
way. We should prepare and maintain homes for these
children, as Bapak explained before.
The uncared for and those who have lost their parents
or those whose parents cannot afford to keep them -
these children should live in such homes. You do not
have to take them into your own family. No. However, if
you wish to do so, then there is no objection to it, but it
will certainly add to the work in your own family life.
There is one more question - the last one - which Bapak
still needs to answer. If a special child is born, in whom
there is a true human soul, should she or he not be recog-
nised and specially cared for? This question is really just
from the imagination of your heart and mind.
If children are born with a true human soul, they will
have more understanding than those who are trying to
prepare them. They will understand better the wishes of
those who are trying to find them. Should that happen,
then, when you meet them they may say to you, “You
have come to prepare me? I know all that!”
Because indeed their soul is higher. Therefore it is best
not to think about it. Eventually you will be able to under-
stand and receive for yourselves all that Bapak has been
saying on these subjects.
That is the end of Bapak's explanations for today -
which are not a teaching. He hopes you will forgive him
if anything he has said may have hurt your feelings.
Thank you.
This talk is taken from B A P A K ' S T A L K S, Volume 5,
14 August 1959 - 29 August 1959, Chapter 7
Available from: Subud Publications International
Loudwater Farm, Loudwater Lane,
Rickmansworth, Herts. WD3 4HG, UK
spi@subudbooks.co.uk
•
Please see http://subud.net for more information
about this and other online resources for Subud
members.
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SUBUDVOICE

The Soul Lives
Eternally
From the writings of the Indonesian Subud
member, Kodrat Mangundjaja….
His Father’s Soul
Fifteen years ago there was a member
called Tamin, whom I had opened. One
day about a year later he came to me
because for the past three weeks he had
suffered difficulty with his breathing during
the night - which stopped him from sleep-
ing.
Strangely enough, this difficulty in breath-
ing only occurred each evening, starting
as soon as daylight changed to dark,
whilst during the daytime he would feel fit
and normal. He wanted to know whether
his difficulty in breathing reflected an ordi-
nary illness which had to be cured by a
physician or whether it was the cleansing
of a spirit.
As I also did not know, I proposed con-
ducting a testing - in which he himself
would receive the answer.
Apparently during this testing he was
approached by the soul of his father, who
had died twenty years ago.
When I asked why his father had
appeared, the soul answered that he felt
awakened and because his grave had
been turned into a housing estate. Only his
grave had been left there, and this made
him feel lonely. So he asked to be moved
and united with his wife's body, whose
remains were buried elsewhere.
He asked that his son assist in moving
him to his wife's grave.
I told him to wait there until he was assist-
ed by his son and thus able to leave that
place. After his soul had thanked me, he
left his son.
This was my first experience, causing
doubt in my mind as to whether it was real
or whether Mr. Tamin and I were influ-
enced by our own visions. But this expe-
SUBUDVOICE
rience reduced Mr. Tamin's breathing
difficulty and gradually it completely
vanished.
The Son’s Assistance
Approximately five years ago, Mr.
Panhur, whose house was used for latihan
by the Subud Bandung members, died.
Several months later, when the women
were exercising, his soul came to his
daughter-in-law, who looked as if she was
in crisis. When asked by Mrs. Panhur, she
answered that she was her husband, while
calling his full name.
When asked why he had come, the hus-
band’s soul then answered that he
required assistance from his descendant
who was still alive. Mrs. Panhur asked how
she could help, and received his response
that she could help by way of doing lati-
han. Further, he advised that his two sons
should also be encouraged to practice
diligently so that they could help their
father who was already in the hereafter.
The Unfaithful Wife
Some time ago my daughter-in-law who
lived in Jakarta came to me with a prob-
lem. She had been suffering from pain in
her nose for several weeks. This was caus-
ing disturbance in her breathing, and had
been treated by a doctor.
As the physician's treatment did not
cure her, the physician suggested that she
undergo a surgical operation. My daugh-
ter-in-law did not agree and therefore
approached me for my consideration.
After observing her I discovered that she
was possessed by a spirit.
So my wife, my daughter-in-law and I
did latihan and I instructed the spirit which
was disturbing my daughter-in-law to
enter into my wife's body. Apparently the
spirit was of a woman who had lived dur-
ing the Dutch occupation in Cianjur, (90
km distance from Bandung) West Java,
ndonesia.
This spirit admitted that it was once a
married woman and a mother, who later in
her life had committed a sin by following its
passion, leaving behind her husband and
child. As a consequence of this it had fall-
en into a valley and died there.
It said that its bones were crushed and
that it still felt severe pain even in the here-
after and could not stand up. It had con-
tinuously been asking for God's forgiveness
and one day it received guidance to go
to Jakarta and enter into a woman's body
who would be its saviour. Apparently the
woman's body it had to enter into was my
daughter-in-law's.
I did not know how to help and thought
it impossible for a living person to help souls
of buried dead bodies. I could only blow
upon my wife three times and did not
anticipate that anything would come from
that.
However, apparently this spirit then react-
ed through my wife's body and said that its
body had recovered and that it could now
stand up and walk again. It thanked me,
my wife and my daughter-in-law.
Before it departed it advised my
daughter-in-law who was still young, not
ever to be unfaithful during her life
because the punishment is severe, similar
to the punishment this soul had experi-
enced.
•
At that time there seemed to be no imme-
diate effect on the pain in daughter-in-law's
nose, but later I heard that her nose gradual-
ly recovered without any medicine or surgi-
cal operation.
Working for the
Common Good
Riantee Reed reports on a journey to
Kalimantan (which she notes means “river
of gems”.) She went to Rungan Sari during
Ramadan where she stayed with her
friends, the Gleeson’s…
Having experienced Jakarta (‘teeming
mass of confusion, a real inferno: heat,
fumes and noise of incessant traffic, torn
pavement made more challenging by
unexpected obstacles, knee-deep holes
and seasoned with open sewers’)…
And Wisma Subud (‘three women
beside myself attended latihan that night.
There were no introductions and they all
promptly lay down, never to move again
nor make any sound’) she was glad to get
to Rungan Sari and the Gleeson’s home…
We met the people living in Rungan Sari
and did latihan in the magnificent hall,
and were immediately charmed. It felt like
home and the residents like true brothers
and sisters.
The latihan for me was immediately
very strong and attended by many pres-
ences besides the 15 or 20 women in the
flesh, beings that didn’t mind letting their
presence be known. (Once while viewing
a talk by Ibu Rahayu on video with the
group, I had the experience of seeing
Ibu’s face move forward from the screen,
three dimensional, and in the corner of
my eyes I caught, sitting on a previously
empty chair, my long dead mother-in-law
listening while biting her cuticles in a
familiar by forgotten gesture.)
Rungan Sari is a great place to observe
Ramadan, feeling the support of a divine
hand, much like the hammock we spent
PAGE 11
 It was clear to me that Human
Comedy
many hours swinging in, and held in the
motherly embrace of the warm jungle
around. what was undertaken there
People have come to Rungan Sari from
was very large indeed
and that
many different continents to build their Harris Smart writes: We all know Subud is a
temporary or permanent homes, or settle powerful spiritual experience, but is also

the people
there to work on the different projects ful- often the human comedy wri large, and we
filling Bapak’s prophecy of “a land where should not blind ourselves to the fact that

involved were
development wouldn’t harm original these two things often seem to go together,
are in fact inextricably intertwined.
nature and would demonstrate to the

inspired,
And nowhere was this more apparent
people of the land that they have around than in Cilandak where the most powerful
them everything they need to attain a spiritual transformations occurred but

guided
really full and satisfactory level of living if where people (including oneself) some-
they have the wish, the resolve and the times behaved in the oddest, funniest,

intention to truly develop themselves.”
I heard that some Subud members who
always dreamt of coming to Kalimantan and
couldn’t do it during their lifetime had their Many of the people who live and work
ashes scattered around the compound.
It was clear to me that what was under- can come there for selfish or egotistic
taken there was very large indeed and
that the people involved were inspired,
guided and graced. The ease they had
with each other, the support and under-
standing, the graciousness with which we
were received and accepted, the many
and graced.
in Rungan Sari have told me that nobody
motives, because soon enough you are
confronted with your own faults and
weaknesses, not to judge them but to look
at them and work with them so that they
might become stepping-stones to your
strengths. In such isolation you need each
other’s help and support so
harmony is naturally estab-
lished. This seems to me to be
fulfilling the purpose of the
Ramadan fast.
There are quite a few enter-
way. Herewith a few reflections on the
funny side of Subud, no offence intended
to anyone.
HE LEAPT OUT OF HIS SOCKS
Once when Bapak was visiting Melbourne
and conducting a testing session our won-
derful Vietnamese brother Minh Su from
Sydney was in the front row of testing.
Our brother is small physically - less than
five foot tall - but huge inwardly. He has
nine children and about the same number
of degrees in everything from law to build-
ing construction etc.
He also has the most vigorous latihan.
When Bapak said "Begin" Minh Su was so
enthusiastic he leapt right out of his socks.
Literally.
Then Bapak said, "Would our
Vietnamese brother please put his socks
back on!"

prises in Rungan Sari, the min-
ing in the North of Kalimantan,
the school for Subud and non-
Subud local children, the
Artemisia project for malaria
treatment, the patchouli and
citronella essential oils project,
the hotel and tourist center
planning guided tours, a con-
struction and furniture busi-
ness, a nursery and landscap-
ing business, a functioning art
studio.
Mardiah and Redmond Gleeson and Charles and Riantee
Rand at the Gleeson's house in Rungan Sari
All of it is done by the mem-
evening get-togethers, Selamatan and bers with the idea put forward by Bapak of
other celebrations, the wonderful food lov- not just working for themselves and their
ingly prepared and displayed all contributed own benefit, but also for the common
to a quiet and harmonious inner state. good of the local population in the near-
Even when in the last week of Ramadan by villages and town, in the county, in the
we decided to go on an excursion up river country and in society, each working in
about six hours and into the jungle by truck accordance with their true nature and tal-
another hour or so to get to one of the few ent. I felt that this goal was being fulfilled
places where the trees have been spared there and that those enterprises would
from the intensive logging and ended up become models for the future.
being lost and having to spend a night It seems to me that prihatin is happening
camping in the forest without any gear, there whether it’s Ramadan or not, and
HE LOOKS DIFFERENT
What a wonderful man was Sudarto.
As for so many others, he was a lifeline for
me on visits to Cilandak. His little house a
sanctuary for all the lonely misfits.
But one night there is a big selamatan,
and there is Sudarto but he looks different,
handsome, distinguished. What is it?
He wears a suit, his hair is brushed, yes,
but something more.
Ah, I know, he has his teeth in.
DEEP AND SHALLOW OR
BROAD AND NARROW?
A man named John arrived at the
Cilandak compound, a quiet, shy, sensitive
fellow, obviously “going through some-
thing”, another lost soul.
We share a room and after a few days we
get to know each other and he confides
to me that he has come to Cilandak to
change his name. He swears me to secre-
cy. He is tremendously excited and expec-
tant about the forthcoming change.
He writes a letter to Bapak.
A few days later, he gets a new name,
“Herbert”. Somehow the word gets
around, and everyone comes up to con-
gratulate him. But he sits on the verandah
plunged in despair. He hates his new

•
food or drink under the pouring rain, my that when Bapak advised to ‘persevere in name. He loathes the name “Herbert”
spirit didn’t falter and the inner quiet what you are doing and make a diligent above all other names on earth.
remained. It seemed to me that it was a effort to achieve something good so that I ask him, “Did you submit a list of
test to bring me to some understanding in the future the results of Bapak’s journey names to Bapak?”
“Yes.”
about the relationship between my mind, will not be in vain,’ this is just what he had
“Did you have Herbert on it?”
my emotions and my inner. in mind. cont inued over >

PAGE 12 SUBUDVOICE
 INNERVOICE continued
the right name for me, Bapak would pick corresponds to which category.
“Yes.” up on it spontaneously. Anyway it was only Besides, Herbert would like to have a
“Why did you put it on if you hate it so when I got Herbert that I realised how name which is both deep and broad.
much?” much I wanted Harold.” But finally he accepts Sudarto's advice
“I don't know, I don't know,” he moans. He manages to endure his new name that the important thing is the initial, and
“I thought I should because I hated it so for a day and then he goes to see Sudarto that if he likes the name Harold, he should
much.” and says he is certain his new name is not just go ahead and call himself that, and it
“Was there a name you wanted?” right for him and he wants to ask Bapak for is not really necessary to bother Bapak
“Yes, I wanted Harold. Harold is such a another name. about it.
strong, masculine name. It would've made Sudarto ponders the matter and says: Harold sits on the verandah, exuding
me strong and masculine.” “What it comes down to is this. You can

•
strength and masculinity, accepting our
“Did you have it on your list?” have a name which is deep and narrow or congratulations.
“No.” a name which is broad and shallow.” (Please note that this is a true story but as
“Why not?” Neither of these options seems entirely in all Subud stories the names have been
“I don't know. I thought that if it was satisfactory, and it is not clear which name changed.)
Cartoon by Harris Smart

January Events
W O R L D L A T I H A N S
JAN 7 22:00 (New York). JAN 8 4:00 (Paris) 3:00 (GMT). 14:00(
Sydney). 10:00 (Jakarta)

FEB 5 11:00 (Paris) - 10:00 (GMT) - 10:00 (London) - 5:00 (New

York) - 21:00 (Sydney) - 17:00 (Jakarta)
To find the corresponding time in your part of the world go to:
www.timeanddate.com/worldclock

JAN 8–14 National Congress Subud Australia in Perth, with

Ibu Rahayu and party in attendence. For details contact
Hadrian Fraval at hadrian@rofin.com.au

Jan 15–18 Enterprise Meeting at Hilltop Farm Conference Centre,

close to Perth, Western Australia. For details contact Hadrian
Michell at hm@xecnet.com. To sign up please go to GEM

Jan 26–28 National Congress Subud India at Bangalore; Contact

THESE STORIES ARE ALL TRUE, CHILDREN. ONLY THE NAMES Joe Rosario at mithrafoundation95@yahoo.com. Tour afterwards to
include all SD-India Projects. Contact palfreymanm@yahoo.com
HAVE BEEN CHANGED, AND CHANGED, AND CHANGED...

Irene James
Irene James passed away on Oct 10th, 2005, at age 89.
She was truly a pioneer of Subud in the United States. The
helper files reveal that she became a helper in 1958 in the
USA; helper card #9. She was 46 years in Subud. She was
one of the very first women opened in Germany (although
she was half Scottish and half French). Salamah Pope
writes...
Irene James, who was one of the very first women opened
in Germany (although she was half Scottish and half
French), has passed on to the afterlife.
Irene was, for me, the Subud mother-mentor that I needed.
Obituaries
shocked days in California - my only source of stability and
sanity.
She was a very gentle person, but could be very firm when
necessary!
As a young and somewhat unruly woman I used to ask her
advice, constantly. She was always patient, but I could tell from
her face that she thought I just didn't understand anything
about Subud or the latihan... and she was right, of course.
Irene and Lutfi have been living in the Wisma Bharata right
next door to Ibu Rahayu for some years, and Irene had been

•
failing for months and was at the last was suffering and in pain -
I met her first when she and Lutfi, her American husband,
though now she is free of that, as Lutfi said on the phone yester-
visited Coombe Springs at the end of 1957.
day.
He was the first American opened in Europe, though
I know she will be well received by Bapak and those who
soon after being opened they moved back to San
have gone before her, and I pray she will fare well - and be
Francisco, when Irene became - in our early culture-
there when I too move on to the next life.

SUBUDVOICE PAGE 13
Rosana Marston understatement). We had, of course, given him the wrong tape.
How we all laughed – and Rosana, I think, most of all. There
Rosana Marston passed away at Wisma Mulia in November, just was so often a lot of laughter around Rosana. It was she who,
two weeks before her 100th birthday. after being opened, felt she was being pulled around by her
Harlinah Longcroft writes: ‘I was thinking of her at that time nose which seemed to have grown very long. So, as she did not
because I was planning to send her a birthday letter. I found like this sensation, she went to Ronimund von Bissing, and said
myself feeling that she was really longing to get away, and I she did not like being ‘opened’ so please would he now close
remembered her need in my prayers.’ her. (You will find that story in the History of Subud, Vol 1, Book 2).
Harlinah and her husband Charles first met Rosanna at Coombe Rosana, Roseanna and I always remained good friends, and
Springs. Harlinah recalls an amusing incident in which Charles later when Maryam Kibble, Roseanna and I were going to build
conducted an experiment in mesmerism where he asked our houses in Cilandak, Rosana joined us, and the four of us built
Rosana to put her arms out in front of her. What happened next the Four-plex.
was unexpected… Rosana’s house was full of artistic things – at one time in her
That’s enough,” said Charles delight- working life, she had created artistic and
ed with this result, “You can open your There was so often a lot of exclusive paper-ware for Harrods in
eyes and put your arm down.” laughter around Rosana. London – and whatever house she was in,
Rosana opened her eyes. Pause! ‘But It was she who, after being even her small apartment at Wisma

opened, felt she was being

Charles, I can’t get my arm down.’ The Mulia, was always filled with beautiful and
arm was stuck – stuck out in front of her, mostly unusual things.
straight from the shoulder. pulled around by her nose In Indonesia, however, she caught a
For the next ten minutes, Roseanna, which seemed to have disease that made it impossible for her

grown very long.

Vanessa and I, helped by Charles, tried body to absorb any nourishment from
to get Rosana’s arm down, but it just food, so she returned to England where
remained up in the air. We tried ‘receiv- So, as she did not like this the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in

sensation, she went to

ing’ Nothing happened! We tried London managed to cure her, but also
force. No result – it was like iron. Finally I informed her that she could never safely
suggested just being quiet and feeling Ronimund von Bissing, and return to the East. Roseanna Sawrey-

said she did not like being

the latihan – and then the arm slowly, Cookson bought her house, and at one

‘opened’ so please
ever so slowly, descended by itself. time it became the home and workshop
Charles was thrilled. ‘How interest- for the late Vivianna Bulow-Hube.

would he now
ing!’ He said with terrific enthusiasm. One of the First at Wisma Mulia
‘Oh, yes!’ Rosana exclaimed with Back in England, Wisma Mulia was being

close her.
almost equal excitement. And she
started to talk about how it had felt.
But Charles stopped her. ‘Wait! We’ll
record it on the tape recorder.’
‘Well,’ she started, ‘I just put my arm out in front of me like much, that my Mother sold her house and moved to Wisma
this…’ She stopped. ‘Oh Charles, it’s happened again. I can’t
move my arm.’
It took another twenty minutes or more, faithfully recorded
of course, while we all tried once again to bring the arm
down. No success! And then Charles suddenly told her to get
up and wash her hands in his washbasin on the other side of
the room. Without thinking she got up…and the arm went
down and came back to normal.
After all this excitement, Rosana and Vanessa went back to
Rosana’s house in Kensington, London. All went well until Rosana
could not resist the temptation to try putting her arm out in front Roseanna have once more been visiting Charles, and – well –
of her again. And it stuck!
Somehow, with anxiety mixed with a lot of laughter, they did
manage to get it down – but then Rosana’s head started to
move in circles – and nothing would stop it. So she decided to
go to bed, hoping that a pillow would mask this new peculiarity
from Bey. And it did. So the next time she came to Coombe,
there was even more to add to the tape.
Harlinah then recalls that the tape was then given to a Dr
Symonds. He was supposed to have been given a tape of an
eminent Subud psychiatrist talking to helpers to play to a gath-
created, and Rosana became either the
first, or one of the first, to apply to go to
live there. I soon visited her with my
Mother, Evelyn Bond, and she liked Rosana, and her flat, so
Mulia herself.
So for the next few years I was able to visit both of them when
I went to England, and when maternal concerns got too much,
I could always discretely disappear to my old friend’s ‘house’. It
was a lovely arrangement.
Unfortunately when I was last in England in 2002, I had no time
to visit Rosana, because Roseanna was not well, back home in
Canberra. Now these two old friends are no longer with us, but
my imagination runs riot as I think of what may be happening
“somewhere else”, and whether, just perhaps…Rosana and
your imagination is as good as mine…
I shall miss Rosana, but I am so happy for her that at long last
she was able to go. God bless you my friend! And may you be
received in the Hereafter in a place that really reflects your kind-
ness and good works during your long long life in this world.
Amen. As always, I, too laugh, when I hear your laughter …
And Salamah Pope adds…
Rosana was a remarkable women. I remember a wonderful
story of hers, of how when she was doing jury duty once, she

ering of his colleagues.
When he returned the tape a week or two later, I asked him
what he and his friends had thought of the talk. It was, he said,
most interesting – though indeed, perhaps not entirely what
they had expected. (There is nothing quite like the English
•
‘knew’ the bloke being tried was innocent.
Although all the others on the jury thought he was guilty she
stuck out, managing to convince all eleven of the others (or
however many, my memory's going fast) that he was inno-
cent, and got him off. Ten years or so down the line he
showed up to thank her, saying he had indeed been inno-
cent, but had been framed by his mates...

PAGE 14 SUBUDVOICE
From the Wild Side
Harris Smart writes: We do not often get stories from the United
States to run in Subud Voice. Therefore, it is with great pleasure
that I have received, The Entity Within, the autobiography of the
American Subud member, Husain Chung…
Husain has been very important in my life, as he has been in
the lives of many other people, because it was through him that
I found out about Subud.
In the 1960s I was living in California attending Stanford
University. In the nearby town of Palo Alto, Husain ran a Subud
enterprise called the Human Institute which specialised in the
psychological technique called psychodrama.
This activity was part of what was very popular and impor-
tant in California at that time, what is sometimes called
the“”human potential movement”, or “encounter groups”,
where various group therapy techniques such as gestalt and
psychodrama, were being made available to the general pop-
ulation for the purpose of self-development.
Many people who had experimented with drugs as a path
the self realisation, but had then found drugs to be a dead end,
moved on to the experiences in this area.
There were various well-known gurus in the field, such as Fritz
Perls who specialised in gestalt and oper-
ated at the Essalen Institute in Big Sur. Husain’s book...
Husain’s Human Institute was part of this brings you into contact
continued throughout his life and he has had to undergo oper-
ation after operation, and in fact at this very moment he is in
hospital recovering from another round of extremely difficult
and painful operations.
This capacity to respond to adversity by becoming strong
was further emphasised by future events in his life, such as his
struggle against the racial prejudice to which he was constant-
ly subjected because of his Chinese background, and also his
very small stature which meant that his childhood and teenage
years were always a struggle for acceptance.
I am probably not the only one who wonders if Subud in the
west will ever move beyond its white middle-class boundaries to
embrace a wider range of social and ethnic people. Husain is a
rare exception in our midst.
His book is also very different in tone and quality from many
other memoirs which have been written about Subud. Husain
pulls no punches about his own life. He freely talks about his sex-
ual experiences and violent episodes of a life frequently lived
"on the wild side"
He talks about how he trained himself to always move
against his fear. So for instance he would find himself in violent
confrontations with people much larger and more dangerous
than himself. It was the sort of challenge that he was later to
bring to his psychodrama.
His memoir goes on to describe how
he met his first wife in extraordinary cir-

with someone who has lived

movement. Through the Institute many cumstances and how they traveled

an extraordinary life,
hundreds of people found out about together around the United States
Subud and many were opened, and where they were thought to be Native

very different from your

many have stayed in Subud, and we still Americans. Here the book gave me

own – a life of
meet each other from time to time at the kind of excitement I have not expe-
world congresses and so on. rienced since I first read Jack Kerouac's

suffering which has

At that time Husain was a very dra- On the Road.

become a source of
matic and powerful figure who had a Eventually he finished his university
huge impact on the lives of many peo- training and qualified to become a

empowerment.
ple. Husain had honed his psychological school teacher and he taught at the

This is a very different

techniques working with extreme cases primary school at Big Sur, famous as a
such as people in psychiatric wards, or bohemian artistic community on the

personality, and a
murderers and rapists in prisons, and so California coast south of San Francisco.
when he was let loose in a room full of There he became a friend of the

different kind of
ordinary middle class neurotics, he was American writer Henry Miller, of Tropic of
devastating. Cancer fame.

Subud story,...
It is good to read Husain's autobiogra-
phy, The Entity Within, and to understand
some of the forces that shaped him to
become the person he became. Foremost amongst these is the
illness that he has suffered since his early childhood. Because of
a congenital deformation of his hips he had to leave his family
in Shanghai at the age of two to go to a hospital in Hawaii
where he spent many months undergoing extraordinarily painful
operations and long periods encased in a plaster cast.
Here he developed a sense of his “entity” a presence inside
himself, contact with which was to become his Holy Grail quest,
culminating in his discovery of Subud.
He describes in detail what he had to do to overcome the
intense and prolonged mental and physical suffering in the hos-
pital and it no doubt made him the strong and powerful person
he was to become.
He explains how these experiences lead him to develop the
amazing, indeed uncanny insight he has into other human
The final part of the memoir
describes the strange and amusing
sequence of events which led to his dis-
covery Subud.
It is very, very rare these days that I find a book that really
interests me or has anything significant to say to me. Husain’s
book IS one of those rare exceptions. It brings you into contact
with someone who has lived an extraordinary life, very different
from your own - a life of suffering which has become a source of
empowerment. This is a very different personality, and a differ-
ent kind of story, from the one we usually get about Subud.
It is not a nice, polite memoir as other Subud books have
been. This book gives hope for a more dynamic, energetic,
broad-minded, inclusive, diverse and exciting Subud than we
have so far seen.
I am looking forward to reading of the second volume of
Husain's memoirs which I hope will take us into the time when I
knew him when he was running the Human Institute.

beings, a gift which was so evident in his psychodrama (along
with his total, absolute fearlessness - treading, for better or
worse, where no human being or angel had ever dared tread
before).
The suffering occasioned by these problems in his body has
•
Full credit to Husain’s wife Harlina, who midwifed the book
into existence through interviewing Husain.
Husain is currently in hospital and not able to distribute his book,
if you wish to obtain a copy contact editor@subudvoice.net
and I will pass your orders on to him when he is well again.

SUBUDVOICE PAGE 15

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Memories and reflections of a
The book will also be available at the
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