PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION

THE need to reprint the Helpers' Guide has provided us with the opportunity to revise the text in the spirit of Bapak's words: 'Subud is life; life always changes'. So it has also provided the opportunity to include some of Bapak's more recent advice.

Because in our opinion the former Editors made a very good choice from the available material, most of this was retained; some minor or outdated texts were left out. The texts we added were nearly all from Bapak's talks and letters; some were taken from letters by Ibu Siti Rahayu and a few from M'bakyu Rochanawati.

We were given to understand that we could choose freely from the writings of Bapak and Ibu Rahayu, and so the responsibility for the choice is wholly ours. This responsibility was not a heavy one; by choosing one can never really go wrong. We only tried to find those quotations which in our view gave the most apt or clear explanation about the relevant subject.

Two new chapters were added: on Marriage and on Enterprises. Both subjects are the cause of many questions to Bapak.

After having read a number of answers to members' questions by Bapak and Ibu Rahayu, it is clear to us that many questions would not have been necessary had the content of Bapak's talks been known to the writers, helpers as well as members. Bapak's saying, well known by now: 'Stand on your own feet' surely also implies looking up the answers to our questions in Bapak's talks ourselves; a task which everyone will find most rewarding, and for which this book can be of great help.

It seems right in connection with this to remind ourselves that Subud does not contain secrets. So there is no objection to this book being read or used by non-helpers, provided they have some experience of the latihan. (Many of them could do this to their great advantage.)

Bapak's advice and guidance are of prime importance to all of us. Being aware that they ought not be used as fast rules or dogmas, we should like to add a sentence from a letter in which Ibu Rahayu is quoted : 'Let common sense decide, not superstition or hearsay; there is no set rule; do things that work well.'

 December 1980

Chapter 1

SUSILA BUDHI DHARMA

1. Contact with the Great Life

BAPAK first makes clear the conditions under which human beings can receive contact with the Great Life, whose source is in fact the power of God Almighty.

As is evident, God is powerful and far excels man in all things; for in very truth He is the Creator of mankind and of heaven and earth. So man as he really is, then, is just a created thing, powerless before God.

Necessarily, since this is his real condition, man cannot with his heart and mind understand or reflect on the nature and power of God. This is why, whenever people try to find a way that may lead to contact with the Great Life, many are stranded on the path or, if not, are impelled - not having a conscious jiwa - to stray in other directions, directions which in reality are mirages of the imagination, heart and mind.

So man, in seeking the nature of worship that can make contact with the Great Life, needs above all to stop the welling up of his imagination and thinking. For by doing that he really paralyses his nafsu and surrenders his human ability and wisdom; that is to say, the human being obeys and submits with complete sincerity to God Who rules within him.

This in fact is nothing new, for men of old followed this path and found a contact of this quality that they could feel within them. Why, then, are there not many people like that in our own time who still have that contact? The reason is simply that conditions on earth for mankind keep changing as generation succeeds generation, and many people are easily affected by the influence of these ever-changing conditions that face them. Especially has this been so as the human mind has progressively developed its science. This has, as it were, increasingly opened the way for the inner feeling to fall from the realm of inner peace into the realm of thought. In consequence, the human self gradually comes to be ruled more and more by thought, instead of by the quietness of the inner feeling or the inner self, so that in the end man's emotions and brain are always busy and his inner feeling has almost no opportunity to be at peace.

Certainly men must think, for thought is an important toot with which they can strive to fulfill the needs of their life on earth and so make their existence here an orderly one. But to become aware of the kejiwaan and make contact again with the Great Life men do not need to use their minds. On the contrary, they should stop the process of their thinking and imagining. For only by so doing can a person receive something from beyond his reach that at length attracts a vibration of energy felt within the self. Clearly, then, the sole way to make contact with the Great Life, or with the power of God, is for a man to surrender sincerely and earnestly. And this surrender must not be in work only, but must penetrate throughout his inner feeling until he truly feels that he believes in, praises and worships no one but God Almighty (Allah).

When he can really do this, at that moment he will also feel powerless, but with no sense of loss, and still conscious.

That is to say, he will feel powerless because at that moment the strength of his nafsu, heart and mind will have gone from him; and he will still feel complete because his inner feeling will then be filled with something that comes from the Great Life; finally, he will feel conscious because of the revival of his human jiwa.

So is it, if a man can do this in the right way. But when, in his efforts to do this, he keeps using thought because he regards it as a means or tool able to overcome everything, then he can hardly hope that it will be possible to make contact with the Great Life.

This truth was often stated by those who received while living on earth in centuries long past, They said that man's one and only way to be able to draw near to the power of God is that he must be willing to quieten his inner feeling with complete patience, trust and sincerity.

This has been an absolute requirement, for in truth this gift from God can only be received by men who have inner feelings filled with surrender, patience, trust and sincerity before the greatness of God.

From the Preface to Bapak's book 'Susila Budhi Dharma '.

2. The latihan is a latihan of life

WHEN we have received the latihan it is a latihan of movement, and a latihan of life, and it is through the latihan that we become aware 'of the Great Life which extends beyond the boundaries of this world. Our latihan is not a thing of death. We are not directing ourselves towards death, but towards life. And the reason why this is important, why we have to get accustomed to pursuing our everyday life while not neglecting the worship of God Almighty, is because we can die anywhere. It is not sure that we will die on our mattress in bed at home. We may die while we are walking, we may die while we are driving our car, we may die while we are flying in the sky in an airplane. But if we have within us the latihan kejiwaan already, as we all have, then no matter where we are, we will always be in the lap of God at that moment.

relevant recording: 77 NYC 3.

3. The hakekat (reality) of Subud

IN the case of Moses - he was able to pass on to his followers a teaching based on what he received from God, but the gift of the hakekat he could only pass on to those very very close to him.

And we have the same story in the case of Jesus Christ - that Jesus received his hakekat from God Almighty and he was able to pass on to some of his followers that same hakekat. But there are very few :also who are able to receive this. For example, there is the story of Peter. It is said that at one time he saw a man who was paralyzed, and Peter said to him: 'Why are you not able to walk?'

And the man said: 'Because I have been paralyzed for a long time .'

And Peter said: 'Do you have faith in God?'

So the man said: 'Well, 'if faith in God can cure me, then certainly I have faith in God - why not?'

SO Peter said to him: 'Yes, you must really have faith in God.' And the man said: 'Yes, I do.' 'All right, get up and walk.'

At that moment he was able to walk. And this experience is the hallmark of the hakekat; that is, that something miraculous can happen - a manifestation of the miraculous power of God, and that is known as the Murgisak which was received by all the prophets and all the messengers of God: For example, we know about Jesus - that Jesus could walk on the water, that Jesus brought back to life people who were dead. This is Murgisak; that is, the sign of the hakekat - the gift of God Almighty.

Now we can see from all these stories that we know already for a long time - we can see and draw the conclusion that the hakekat can be received by very few people - not by the masses.

So then why is it that now, today, Bapak passes on the hakekat to anybody who asks for it?

Brothers and sisters, Bapak doesn't know. Bapak doesn't know why this is, because Bapak only knows that Bapak does this because this is God's will, and God has given Bapak the permission and the right to do this. Bapak also knows that this is the last, this is the end, or the last possibility - because if, with this, man is not able to receive it, then Bapak doesn't know what God will decide about mankind. But this is the final step because whereas before in the case of the prophets, God, as it were, sat on His throne, and the one who did the work was the messenger, giving us some advice, and so on - now it is as though God has got up from His throne and has come into the world to act Himself.

That is why Bapak, for example, doesn't give a lot of rules and advice about how you should move - you should move like this and like that, and you should believe this and that. Bapak doesn't do any of that. Bapak simply passes on the contact with the power of God: and then Bapak has been told by God that Bapak is free of responsibility. If those who have received the latihan do not follow it, do not do it faithfully, do not receive what God gives them, then Bapak has no responsibility because Bapak has already passed on everything that Bapak has received to each of us.

From Pewarta Special Supplement No. 6, page 108 - relevant recording: 77 BLAT 1.

4. Heart and mind cannot grasp the latihan

THE efforts of the heart and the mind to find the power of God and to worship God cannot possibly succeed because the heart and mind is something that is only for the arrangement and the ordering of the lower forces. This is the reason, if you want to know, why people in Subud, why Subud members, haven't really made progress in their latihan - it is because they still use the heart and mind in trying to understand and to grasp the latihan kejiwaan. But the latihan kejiwaan cannot be grasped by the heart and mind. It is something that can only be received by complete surrender - actually, it can only be received from Almighty God if the heart and mind do not always disturb and obstruct it. So our receiving in the latihan is something that can only develop once our heart and mind can no longer obstruct it and no longer try to understand.

5. The Aim of Subud

AS the latihan kejiwaan (spiritual way) of Subud is free from the influence of the passions, heart and mind, and is truly awakened by the power of Almighty God, the aim of Subud is naturally towards perfection of character according to the will of the One Who awakens it, namely, Almighty God.

It is also necessary to explain that Subud is neither a kind of religion nor a teaching, but it is a spiritual experience awakened by the power of God leading to spiritual reality free from the influence of passions, heart and mind.

That is why in the latihan kejiwaan of Subud one really feels that one's inner self is no longer influenced by the passions, heart and mind, which means that in the latihan kejiwaan of Subud the inner feeling has truly been separated from their influence.

Why should the passions, heart and mind be separated from the inner feeling,when these are man's most important equipment for his life in this world, which can be used to increase and broaden his knowledge? It is because, unless the passions, heart and mind are separated from the inner feeling, it will not be able to be in a pure state in receiving the latihan kejiwaan, so that it will be impossible for the inner feeling to receive the contact from the Great Life Force which, in fact, has permeated it inwardly and outwardly.

This is the reason why the influence of the passions, heart and mind must be separated from the inner feeling. In such a state the inner feeling will awaken and be able to recognize the existence of the various kinds of life forces which flow in and out and move it. Eventually it will be able to distinguish between the good and the bad, namely, between the life force that originates from the true human self and the life forces that come from the sub-human forces, i.e. the material, vegetable and animal life forces and the life force of man.

In receiving the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, the one who receives is truly guided by the power of Almighty God towards the attainment of an ability to distinguish between the various kinds of life forces in man (chemistry in the spiritual realm), and this will eventually lead to the realization of his true self and elimination of the false one.

In ordinary science such knowledge (chemistry) is very important, for with chemistry man can extract iron, tin, gold, silver and other materials from a lump of earth. The only difference is that the latter is man's work, done with his heart and mind; whereas the former, the chemistry in the spiritual realm, is the work of God Whose power reaches far beyond the power and ability of man.

And finally, in your true worship of Almighty God, you need not worry about anything. God is All-Knowing and All-Wise in all things. God can make and create something from that which does not exist, and God can put right something that, from the mind's view, cannot possibly be put right.

From 'The Basis and Aim of Subud' page 3 - 1969.

6. The Brotherhood of Subud

THE Brotherhood of Subud is not in reality an organization, but a brotherhood of mankind throughout the world. That which is usually referred to as the organization of Subud is not an organization in the ordinary sense of the word, but rather the administrative structure necessary to serve the needs of the Brotherhood. That which gives unity to the Subud Brotherhood is the latihan, which comes from God and by means of which we worship God, and this cannot possibly be organized like some worldly undertaking. In truth, it is God alone Who directs, leads and guides the common worship of all mankind, and therefore this Subud Brotherhood of ours, standing before God, is beyond the reach of any human regulations.

From 'Subud and the Active Life ' page 26 (1st ed.),page 16 (2nd ed.} - 1959.

7. The nature of Subud

SUBUD is an abbreviated form of Susila Budhi Dharma.

Susila denotes the nature of man in whom are to be found the true human qualities that he should possess according to the will of God.

Budhi means that there besides within man a superior power which can guide him when he is able to be aware of it.

Dharma signifies the submission of man before the greatness of God above all, so that his own experience proves to him that no other wish is stronger in him than his wish for God, and that of all his love none is greater than his love towards God; this is beyond everything he has ever wished or could wish for himself. All the Prophets have taught that a man should love God even above his own soul.

This is a symbol for us in Subud. It is certainly very hard for you to live in this way in your own individuality, but once God wills it so, we can hope that what Subud stands for - namely the perfection of human society united in the worship of God - will be attained both by you yourselves and by your descendants.

Subud is not a religion, for it stands as a symbol for man both within the communities of the various religions and also outside all organized religions, and only if a man's nature corresponds to the symbol of Subud can he be described as really Subud. In Subud each one will meet with and become aware of reality according to what he himself has experienced, and a man who becomes Subud will really be able to receive the guidance from God which exists in and for every individual. He will then be aware of What is right and what is wrong, he will also understand how to live while he is on this earth in such a way as to achieve happiness for himself and his family.

... Each of you will also be able to receive for yourself what has to be done by you, and eventually you will be able to comprehend the truths contained in all the scriptures and to become a true follower of the religion to which you belong. The whole of this process is worked in you by the power of God alone.

From 'Subud and the Active Life' page 33 (1st ed.), page 22 (2nd ed.) - 1959.

8. To be Subud-minded

WHAT it means to be Subud-minded is to realize that you yourself are Subud and to understand that within you there is already the quality of Susila, Budhi and Dharma, but at the moment it is not yet like that. You still like to follow someone else, so if you are told this then you follow like this, if you are told that you follow that. So it is not as though you have your own firm opinion, your own firm point of view and your own firm foothold, but it is as though you are easily swayed by what people tell you and what you hear from here and there.

From Bapak ~ talk in Toronto, 16 August 1979.

9. Enterprises - schools, hospitals, homes etc.

IT is the power of God that is the teacher of man. This is why Bapak advises you to do enterprises, in order to train yourself, in order to become accustomed to being able to live according to the guidance that is received through contact with the power of God.

In addition to enterprises providing a training ground or an opportunity for us to experience and to get used to working, while not forgetting, or while being aware of our closeness to the power of God Almighty, they also provide the income that is needed by the Subud Brotherhood for achieving all the things it needs to do in this world. Every Subud enterprise must devote a small portion of its profits to the Subud Brotherhood, and this portion Of the profit from many enterprises, put together, will become a big amount. And this large amount is what we need in order to start work on the various proposals that have been put forward and approved at the various International Congresses.

For example, Subud should begin to set up schools for disturbed children, for orphans and destitute children and all sorts of schools like that, where not only will the teachers have proper teacher's diplomas and be qualified, but they will also be helpers in the Brotherhood of Subud. So besides teaching the children in the normal way, they will also be able to give them a direction in life. That is, they will be able to indicate to each child the true nature of his talents, so that child will be able to make use of what he is learning from the teacher, so that we will really be true to what we have received in the latihan - that we are able to guide and to put each person on their right path, so that they will have a life that is not wasted, but a life that is useful. Those helpers who work in that way will certainly get a reward from God Almighty for the fact that they have been able to put a human being on the right line and give him a direction in his life.

Also, we have to start hospitals, where again the staff will be qualified doctors who will give medical treatment to the patients. But besides, they will be helpers, so that while they are treating the patients the fact that they themselves are following the latihan kejiwaan will awaken in the patients the wish and the feeling of the need to worship God Almighty. They will be brought close to the power of God.

Then, in addition to that, we have to start homes for old people. It is true that in some countries the government looks after old people, but there are still many countries where they don't. So this, again, is work that we have to undertake.

Finally, through setting up enterprises we will also be able to fulfill the needs of our own members; that is, those members who do not yet work, or cannot yet work - that we give them an opportunity and show them and teach them how to work so that their lives are not wasted, so that they can begin to feel what it means to work in an enterprise.

Once we have been able to set up enterprises, and once they are going well, they will have a very great use and benefit - not only for Subud itself, but also for society in general. This is why Bapak has never liked and has always discouraged you from making propaganda about Subud, because what is the use of making propaganda if we cannot yet show or demonstrate the fruits of what we have received? But once we have been able to make our enterprises successful, so that we are able to demonstrate to society that what we do is for the benefit of society itself, then this will immediately attract the attention of people to Subud and will show them, without the need of propaganda, what Subud really is.

And not only society but also the governments of the countries where Subud exists will see and take note of the work that Subud does, so that our way will always be open. We will never lack for opportunities to do latihan, to hold meetings, to give talks - in other words, everything that we need for our life in our Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud will be fulfilled and be satisfied. For this reason Bapak needs that you all put your lives in order. In other words, bring order to your lives so that you can become an example to society in general.

From Pewarta Special Supplement No. 13, page 293 - relevant recording: 77 LAX 3.

10. Man's worship of God - something completely ordinary NORMALLY the people who study spiritual matters portray the thing that they are studying. In other words, they give the impression that something holy, something that lies at the end of their efforts to study the spiritual, is something rather scary, something very out of the ordinary - as Bapak says, something scary. But the fact, the reality, is completely different. The worship of God - that is, the spiritual experience of man which is man's receiving and man's worship of God - is something that is willed by God to be completely ordinary. That is, it is something that takes place in accordance with the normal life and nature of man, and something which is also joyful, happy and satisfying. This is something that you can work out for yourself, or think through for yourself, because the creation of man, the origin of man - which is nothing else than the creation of a child, or the birth of a child - is an experience of joy. There is nothing fantastic or weird about it. It is something that is not only ordinary, but also very joyful and very happy and very satisfying. And this is the nature of man's relationship with God. This is the basis of man's spiritual life. And this is also the experience that we receive when we do the latihan kejiwaan.

Our experience and knowledge of the latihan kejiwaan is that our worship of God in the latihan is something that is joyful and satisfying, and also ordinary and quite normal. This is why these people who, as Bapak has said, study spiritual matters or follow some spiritual teaching feel that the latihan is not at all in line with what they have been led to understand, or what they believe - that is, that spiritual matters, or the fruits of the spiritual search, are something a bit scary and a bit weird. On the contrary, they say, looking at the latihan; this latihan therefore is not something spiritual, it is something ordinary in the realm of health, or sport or something like that.

But the fact is that the existence of the latihan - that is, the movement that we receive in the latihan, the fact that the latihan is received as a movement of our being - is actually necessary for us, because out of this movement grows culture, and by culture Bapak means a personal skill or a personal ability according to our own personal nature. That means that through the latihan we develop our own way, our own private, right way, in accordance with our own nature, in accordance with our own nationality, with our own Characteristics and so on, which does not resemble, or does not imitate anybody else, but is something that grows from within ourselves according to our own nature. That is, we find our own right way of life in this world growing out of the latihan kejiwaan that we receive. This is something that is very much in line with what Jesus himself used to say - that the worship of God is something light and joyful and beneficial to man.

From Pewarta Special Supplement No. 8, page 168 - relevant recording: 77 WOS 1.

11. The spread of Subud by example

TO spread Subud by means of propaganda, simply because we live in an age of propaganda, is not the way. Propaganda is today used everywhere, but people are becoming tired of it. They see that one may be a clever talker but incapable of practicing what one talks about. One can speak of riches without one's self becoming rich. One can also talk about how to be a good man and pure in heart, and about how to behave in order to possess the qualities one ought to have, but without experiencing any change of nature in this direction within one's self.

Today mankind in general does not want to hear propaganda: they want proofs because there are so many clever men who confuse the minds of others until their heads spin. This is the situation at present, and because of this, proof is demanded. Each proof should be a real one, representing the reality of the spiritual life. It should be shown clearly that this is a life which can rightly be an example, because it can be put into practice, and the proof which people demand is there.

From 'Subud and the Active Life', page 140 (1st ed.},page 103 (2nd ed.) - 1959.

12. Bapak forbids us to make propaganda for Subud, or to force people to come into Subud

BAPAK forbids us to make propaganda for Subud, or to force people to come into Subud, because that is completely useless. We don't need a lot of members, not if it causes chaos. It is far better to have just a few members than to have a lot of members at the cost of chaos - but a few members who really follow the worship of God Almighty in the right way and who have come to Subud by their own free will through the recognition of what Subud really is. So it is far better for us, even if there are only a few people.

From Pewarta Special Supplement No. 15, page 341 - relevant recording: 77 SEA 2.

13. Let us stick close to God Almighty

.. IT is really like that. If we want to be wealthy, we should stick closely to people who are rich. If we want to be good people, people with good character and good behavior, then we should stick close to those who are good people with good behavior, because it is catching. If we want to be bad people and do things that are wrong, then all we need to do is to stick close to people who are bad and do wrong things. This is how it is in the world. And in the next world - who is the one who can guide us but God Almighty? So let us stick close to God Almighty and then we do not need to worry about going astray or getting lost.

14. 'Susila Budhi Dharma' has to be read (especially by the helpers)

THE role of lower forces, and the material, especially money: if you want to understand this better, all this is explained in Bapak's book Susila Budhi Dharma. Brothers and sisters, read that book. Bapak really wants to advise you now, especially the helpers, do not look on Susila Budhi Dharma as something of great value that you keep on the shelf, but something that has to be read, something you must understand.

Chapter 2

WHAT IS A HELPER? 'A helper is someone who has received a responsibility from God Almighty.'

From Bapak's talk in Chicago, - 1 October 1977.

1. Helpers should set an example

CONCERNING the helpers: these are in truth Bapak's helpers because Bapak cannot always come here or anywhere else. Therefore Bapak hopes that the helpers in their behavior or character will become an example to other members.

What kind of example does Bapak propose? It is nothing else but that the helpers should remember that the presence of the latihan kejiwaan is received from God, and that it is God's will for man to be able to receive the bettering of his inner being and always to be able to follow the way of life which is orderly and good. Remembering this, helpers should be in harmony with one another, they should appreciate each other in mutual love, and not quarrel, because in the spiritual life this is useless. It is useless for a helper to argue with another helper in order to convince him of what he has received.

Every helper, as Bapak has said before, can become an example to members and have a character which likes both receiving and giving. Do not just enjoy receiving, without liking to give, or only enjoy giving without liking to receive. If the helpers' group has such a nature or such a condition nothing will happen to deviate from what we receive in the latihan kejiwaan.

To clarify and confirm what Bapak has said: a helper is a member who has been chosen as having more experience in the latihan kejiwaan, so it is very necessary to come to decisions by way of testing together to find the way to do what has to be done, not relying on desires, heart and mind, but on the power of Almighty God Who gives guidance which we receive within ourselves. In this way, the possibility of friction and breach between helpers will not arise.

As you know, rightness, truth and goodness depend on Almighty God, or are in the hands of Almighty God. Man is not able to do anything. In other words, man is not able to know whether he is good and how far his goodness extends and whether his action is right or wrong. Man is not able to know this because of the nature of man, possessing a heart and mind which are changing all the time. He says now: this is good. Tomorrow something else is better. Tomorrow he says: that is good, and the day after tomorrow something else is even better. Such is the character of heart and mind. So man is not able to define the extent of goodness and truth unless the knowledge is given to him by God.

If you consider it further: what is the use of conflict, what is the use of disagreement among the helpers, when the way that leads to God, enabling us to receive the gift of God in harmony with our inner being, can only be reached when man has a feeling of patience and love towards his fellow men, and is willing both to receive and to give? Clearly, the way to God lies within the self or the inner being of man when it is truly patient, trusting, sincere and obedient towards the command of God.

Therefore, as far as possible, helpers should act or behave in accordance with the action and behavior of the prophets of former times, who in their life story, as many of you have heard, are symbolized as shepherds, as shepherds of sheep. The meaning of this is that the helpers should take care of and serve the members, giving guidance to those who need it, and clear and helpful explanations.

If you are a helper, do not have the wish to behave forcefully towards other members as much as to say: 'It must be like this whatever happens.' You should not do that, for as a helper you are rather like a parent and the ordinary member like his child, even though the child should follow his mother, or his parents, they should behave carefully and not force the child to follow their actions. The parent should know the extent of the child's wishes and the child's strength. Therefore the burden or responsibility of the helper is really very heavy, for he should at least be able to know the character and the condition of the members.

If helpers behave forcefully or harshly towards the members, their actions do not reach !this standard. So, as time goes on, the membership does not grow well and increase, but it decreases. However, in our Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud it is necessary for helpers to be able to give very clear explanations to members, so that the members, in their wishing and in their feeling, grow close to the helpers, in a relationship like that with a parent or guardian who is tactfully taking care of them.

In their own group, that is, in the helper's group, as Bapak has previously suggested, the helpers should work as harmoniously as possible 'so that co-operation one with another is achieved, and so that inner temptation will of itself diminish or cease; namely, the temptation of the lower forces which are always in the inner feeling, and which always tempt the heart and mind. In this way you can receive the gift of God which manifests in the latihan, and you can receive in a smooth and consistent way.

Clearly such a relationship .among the helpers is also a kind of latihan. The latihan is not only practiced every Saturday, every Thursday, or every Tuesday and Wednesday evening; but your heart and mind, which are always tempted by the desires and used as instruments by the lower forces, should also be trained as much as possible to avoid the lower forces, so that you are not again easily tempted by the nafsu.

It means also that in such a situation you assist the work of God, as it were. In this case, you do not help as one man ordinarily helps another, but it means that you do not continually use the nafsus which easily cause friction among helpers and between helpers and :members. This can be called helping the work of God, because you do not bring back again the dirt and the faults which have been removed and eliminated by the power of Almighty God. Therefore if you do not act in this way, it means that you are not grateful to God, as you do not pay heed to God's help to you. Also, you sin greatly against your inner life which has received the contact from the greatness of God, and it is hoped that through the contact which you have received you can return to your noble state and can be sure of the true path.

It is indeed very necessary and of great benefit to' you all, if you can really do as Bapak has just advised, because nobility, the high estate of man that will enable him to reach a high level and to know the secret of life, can only be achieved if a man is truly patient, and really able to become a guardian, a shepherd, someone who takes care of his brothers and his fellow men.

Therefore, Bapak suggests to you all, especially to the helpers, that you work together in your activities. Do not let it happen that one blames the other and that he in turn blames others again, and one calls another no good and vice-versa. It is indeed very necessary that you hold a helpers' meeting at least once a month, with the special purpose of discussing what you think and feel needs consideration. In this meeting do not make decisions with heart and mind, but come to decisions by testing in latihan together, so that you reach decisions from within, Which need to be trusted by all the helpers.

relevant recording.' 64 PLG 4.

2. The duties and obligations of a helper are:

1. To give explanations concerning the basis and aim of the latihan kejiwaan of Subud to those who are interested in joining Subud. It is necessary to explain that the latihan kejiwaan of Subud cannot be obtained through the teaching or the practice of a theory, but that it is received through the grace of the One Almighty God and is based on surrender to His greatness, with complete patience, trustful acceptance and sincere submission. So the basis of the latihan kejiwaan of Subud is our constant devotion to Almighty God in accordance with His guidance and direction which manifest in the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, and the aim is that we may become human beings who have the character of a noble nature. Such are the explanations that should be given to those who wish to join Subud.

Before joining Subud it is necessary to understand that Subud, or the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, is not a magical practice that will enable a person to make large profits in a commercial enterprise or to obtain promotion in his work, or that will hasten recovery from an illness from which he suffers.

Of course, brothers and sisters, everyone wants to have a healthy body and sufficient means in life, but such things are not the objective in Subud. However, so long as we follow the way of the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, we can always receive purification of the inner-feeling and development of the jiwa, which can really change a fate in life that is bad to one that is good, and can lighten the physical sufferings of the body which can eventually become healthy. But in entering Subud, the basis and aim is devotion; that is, constant devotion to the One Almighty God with patience, trustful acceptance and sincere submission. Whether a bad fate in life eventually becomes good and the suffering from a physical illness is cured, depends upon the will of Almighty God. He is the One Who can decide what is beyond our comprehension. This is what the helpers have to explain to people who are interested in joining Subud. This is necessary so that they will not have any misunderstanding about Subud later on.

2. It is the helper's obligation to open people who have completed the time of probation, and to attend their subsequent latihans until they are really able to receive and feel the latihan kejiwaan of Subud.

3. A helper must come to the latihan place whenever there is a latihan and opening of brothers or sisters who have completed the period of probation, even if other helpers are there. This is indeed an obligation of a helper, so that there will always be a good atmosphere in the group and a deep feeling of brotherhood between the members and the helpers, so that the members regard the helpers as older brothers who are worthy of respect and whose advice is trusted.

4. As far as possible, a helper must guard the unity of the membership so that it remains one whole. Thus, if a member does not come to the latihan for some time, the helpers must attend to this and ask why it happens. It is very important for a helper to do this, so that he can come to know the true situation. If the member does not attend the latihan because he is not yet able to receive and feel what is called the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, then the helpers must immediately take steps so that he can really receive and feel it.

The way to do this is by having him stand up and close his eyes, and not think of anything but just have a feeling of surrender to the One Almighty God with trustful acceptance and sincere submission; and then the helpers do their latihan in front of him. It must be remembered, however, that the helpers should never touch the member nor should they give him any advice when they do the latihan kejiwaan in front of him, but only surrender everything to the greatness of Almighty God. If this practice is really followed, both the helpers and the' member who is being opened feel content and light, because the person being opened is able to receive and feel the presence of the latihan kejiwaan of Subud and the helpers also feel the progress in the realm of the kejiwaan.

However, brothers and sisters, if the situation is otherwise - for instance, if helpers have made several visits to the member who has not come to the latihan for a long time and it is clear that the member really does not want to be in Subud any longer - then the helpers can discuss this matter with the committee, who should send a letter to the member in order to ascertain his wishes. If it is the person's sincere wish to leave the Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud, his name is to be removed from the members' register immediately. In this way, the helpers and committee members no longer have to give that member any further thought and our Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud is free from responsibility for any of his actions.

5. The helpers have no obligation to arrange financial matters. Thus the helpers' particular obligation is to take care of matters concerning the kejiwaan. Consequently, the committee must make the preparations and provide for the needs of the helpers when they visit homes of members who are ill or members who have not attended the latihan for some time.

6. There is no chairman, secretary or treasurer in the helpers' group. Therefore the helpers can hand over to the committee any necessary correspondence and the committee will attend to it. If the helpers have to make a decision about something, the way to do so is by testing together. This is essential so that decisions of this kind can be reached from within, free from the influence of the nafsu.

7. If some group needs an additional helper, the helpers have the right to propose to Bapak a member to be appointed as a helper. But it must be remembered that, apart from having experience in the kejiwaan, the proposed helper must be a person of good behavior and able to care for the members.

8. As the helper's duties are international in character, a helper's position cannot be the same as that of a committee member. Outside his group he remains a helper, so that if he visits a place that is still without a Subud committee or organization, and if there happens to be some people there who wish to join Subud, he has the right to open them. But in this case he must inform his fellow helpers in his home group.

9. Women who wish to join Subud must be opened by women helpers who then continue to attend their latihan. The same applies in the case of men who wish to join Subud. They must be opened by men helpers. Also, concerning visiting the sick: if the member is a woman, it is the women helpers who visit her, and if the sick member is a man, the visit is made by men helpers. The same applies when testing for answers to questions presented by the members. Questions from women members must be dealt with by women helpers and those of men members by men helpers.

I0. Helpers are not permitted to mix other theories and practices with the latihan kejiwaan of Subud.

11. A helper who is chosen by the general membership to serve on the committee of the organization must become non-active and be relieved of his helper's duties. He becomes active again and takes up his duties when he is no longer a member of the organizational committee.

12. The duties of a helper are not limited in time. A helper can continue to carry out his duties as a helper year after year. he may give up his duties only when he feels that he is no longer capable of fulfilling them, and in that case he himself must send a written statement, endorsed by his fellow helpers, in order to obtain Bapak's approval. Furthermore, a helper can be compelled to resign from his duties as a helper if he deliberately mixes the practices and theories of some teaching with the latihan kejiwaan of Subud.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VIII, No. 3, page 67 Statement by Bapak - 30 October 1970.

3. Helpers responsible for new members and for their development

THE duty of a helper, once he has opened a member, is no different from that of a teacher towards his pupil. There is no teacher who will stand up and ignore what happens to his pupils, or who will not take an interest and make sure that they are able to receive and understand that which he has taught them. There is no teacher who will just stand by idly, while his pupils go off to someone else halfway through what he is teaching them - they suddenly leave and go off and start learning something else. A teacher will feel responsible, and will try to help and to guide his pupils until they are able to understand truly what he has to give them.

4. Helper only an intermediary

... I do not blame you for having a feeling of responsibility as a helper who wishes to do something for Subud, which, in fact, is indeed difficult, because it is not within reach of your capacity, nor perhaps of the capacity of us all.

Therefore, to overcome this situation, don't force yourself to break through this with the mind and your inner feeling, which are limited; because if this continues, it will not result in clarity or purity but, on the contrary, will bring darkness, discouragement and despair. Surrender it all to One Almighty God so that you yourself do not lose your direction and control, so that within your quietness later a wide way will open.

Your duty as a helper is only to help your brothers or sisters in what is needed in accordance with your capacity, because you are only as an intermediary. If each helper can carry out his or her duties well, keeping himself far from his own self-interests so that one will be able to create harmony, and work together · with his fellow helpers, then this will bring a great influence to the members

From Ibu Siti Rahayu, [letter} 2 May 1980.

5. Include the committee in the helper's latihan

AT the latihan of the helpers twice a month it is also very necessary that the helpers should always invite the committee members to be present, because the committee, although they are charged with worldly duties in the Brotherhood, need to experience a deepening of their understanding of the kejiwaan, they need to experience and to understand the kejiwaan. For this reason it is important that they should be included in the helper's latihan, so that they do not feel left out of the kejiwaan by the helpers.

If you do leave them out, sooner or later you will find that less and less people want to be on the committee, until in the end nobody will want to work on the committee, because they will feel it is as though they are not included in the kejiwaan, or that they are only required to deal with worldly things.

It is very important to do this in order to have a good feeling and a good co-operation between the helpers and the committee.

From Pewarta Special Supplement No. 14, page 308 - relevant recording: 77 SFO 2.

6. Attendance of helpers at Committee meetings

THE attendance of helpers at committee meetings is at the request of the committee when the committee feels it is necessary. In general, Bapak does not encourage helpers sitting in on committee meetings because Bapak feels that the work of helpers is already very heavy and having to listen to all the discussions of the committee is not something that should be inflicted on them as a regular thing. Nevertheless, if the committee have problems where they require the presence of helpers during the discussions then it is indeed the duty of the helpers to attend and give whatever advice is required. From Bapak, (letter 3 July 1978.

7. Helpers to guide, look after and build up the membership

THE helpers are, in fact, the pioneers of Subud. Without the helpers there will be no members, because it is the helpers who open the members. So it is truly the helpers who hold the position of guidance or leadership in the Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud; it is they who have to be able to give explanations and to make the members aware of what the latihan really is and what Subud really is.

For this it is necessary, as Bapak has said very frequently before, that the members must have a feeling of love and admiration and respect for the helpers, so that they like to hear and to follow the indication and the explanations of the helpers. The helpers should not any more have a feeling that they cut themselves off from the members, or that they keep their distance from the members, because actually they, as pioneers, have to help the members, advise the members, serve the members. So it should not be the other way around, that it is the members who look after the helpers and take care of them and serve them.

As for finding new members, or trying to increase the membership of Subud, actually it is not necessary for you to work hard and try to attract members to Subud and to find new members, because if you really do your job as a helper and really act and behave as helpers should, then the number of members in the group will increase automatically by itself without your doing anything about it. The job of the helpers, therefore, is that they are actually responsible for building up the membership - that is, for looking after the composition of the group, guiding the whole membership and looking after the needs of the membership.

From Pewarta Special Supplement No. 6, page 122 - relevant recording: 77 BCN 2.

8. What is an active and what is a non-active member. CONCERNING the definition of active membership, for the purposes of your census, Bapak said that an active member is one who does latihan frequently. Bapak did not define what he meant by frequently but I got the feeling that he meant something like once a week on average as being the minimum level which would be classified as frequently. If a member starts to attend latihan infrequently and continues to do so for six months, his name can be removed from the list of active members. Again, Bapak did not define what he meant by infrequently but what I understood him to mean was a level of attendance consistently less than that defined above.

Once somebody's name has been removed from the list of active members he or she is still allowed to attend the latihan whenever he or she likes.

This rule is made because the latihan kejiwaan is worship, therefore it is clear that the activity of somebody in doing the latihan is left to the person concerned, for it is in her or his own interest. This is because the development or decline of the receiving of the brothers and sisters in the latihan kejiwaan is in truth dependent on the perseverance and diligence with which they do it. From Bapak - {letter by Sharif Horthy} 10 September 19 77.

9. Attitude to members who leave the group, then reappear

AS for ordinary members who leave the group, they may simply be received back as members if they reappear. Only it is necessary to inform them that they should not make a habit of doing this

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. V, No. 3, page 75 - (letter) 22 November 1966.

10. How to deal with members who persist in irregular behavior.

IT is actually your obligation as helpers to look after the brothers and sisters (the members) so that they obey all the regulations of the Association of our Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud, and also so that they can become people of good character in accordance with the guidance and direction of the power of Almighty God, which manifest in the latihan kejiwaan of Subud. Even so, the helpers do not, in fact, have the right to force a member to follow their advice and their rules if the member does not wish to respect these.

Therefore, if a member is stubborn and does not want to heed the advice and the rules of the helpers, and if this happens several times, the member's name may be immediately removed from the members' register of the Association of the Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud, and whatever he does is no longer the responsibility of either the helpers or the committee of the Association of the Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud.

We are obliged to act in this way because we have to remember that, although we are concerned with the spiritual life, we still continue to live as people who are under the protection of tile laws and regulations of our respective countries. And as, in fact, the laws and regulations of these countries are made for the order and safety of the population, if the behavior and the actions of a member really deviate from the rules of the Association of our Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud, which is recognized and legally established in the respective countries, we must act in accordance with the regulations which are laid down for us.

11. Helpers are not leaders

1N the reality of spiritual life, a helper should have attained the level at which he is able to correct his own faults and to realize how far his own development has gone; he must also be able to answer questions from members of his group. But those of you who are now serving in this capacity have not yet reached that level, and therefore you should not consider - because you have been appointed by Bapak to be a helper - that you are a real helper. To be a real helper you must continue without neglecting your own latihan kejiwaan for a long time. Bapak has advised - and this advice is also contained in the statement about the duties of helpers - that you should in no way feel yourself to be the leader of a group of people exercising, but that you should simply do your own latihan kejiwaan together with them; you have the duty of watching to see that there are no collisions and that no one goes out of the room while still doing the latihan kejiwaan, and that is all.

The reason why the helpers should not feel themselves to be leaders when they carry out their duties is that if they do, both they themselves and also the other people with .whom they are doing file latihan will lose the benefits of the latihan kejiwaan. But if they refrain from such a feeling, the door will be open for all to receive from the power of God anything that is required for the development Of their own being. Thus it is that the duty of the helpers is only that of accompanying their brethren in their latihan kejiwaan.

From 'Subud and the Active Life ' page 214 (1st ed.), page 155 (2nd ed.) - 1959.

12. To a helper

YOU say you are living with a Subud member to whom you are not yet legally married. While this is so, it is right and proper for you to set an example and give up your position as a helper. From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VII, No. 5, page 19 - (letter A-13-4).

13. The duties of a helper starting a new group

YOU have the right to open people who wish to join Subud: but at least one month before a person is to be opened you must explain to him the meaning of Subud and the basis and aim of its latihan kejiwaan. At the present time, those who wish to join Subud in your area are permitted to do so after a probationary period of only one month; but later when there are more than ten members it is necessary for applicants to keep to the three month probationary period: that is to say, they can be opened if they have completed the probationary period of three months and have shown sincerity during that time.

It is necessary for you to guard tire unity of the members and, eventually, when the membership has increased to more than ten members, you should form an organization or committee. You yourself can choose the first chairman, and you leave it to the chairman to select his own secretary and treasurer from among the members, who can co-operate with him. When the organization has been set up - that is, when the members of the committee and the working program have been well established - then you can turn to your own need: that is, you should propose from among those who have been able to receive the latihan kejiwaan fairly well, some members to be appointed by Bapak as helpers, because you will certainly need co-workers in the spiritual field so that the opening of new members can later be done by two or three helpers taking turns.

Finally, when the organization of the committee has been established, all matters concerning the requirements of the members - for instance, the payment of the contributions, preparing the place for the latihan and arranging other worldly matters - should be left to the committee members, and you and the other helpers should function only as helpers in the spiritual field. The bi-annual appointments of chairman, secretary and treasurer are to be by election at the general meeting of all the members. From Bapak, (letter 3325) 1969.

14. Helpers knowing and understanding each other

IT is necessary for there to be a contact of mutual understanding and awareness in the helper's group. In this matter, the brother or sister helpers should not feel hesitant or in doubt or worried about the secrets of their lives being found out, because even though there may be some among the helpers who do not wish the secrets of their lives to be known by the other helpers, nevertheless their secrets may become known automatically through the latihan kejiwaan which they follow.

Helpers who are able to understand each other, so that the shortcomings or faults which they have can be pointed out by their other brother helpers, are indeed fortunate, for in this way their shortcomings and faults can be corrected. Also, as a result, the helpers will come to have a wider spiritual outlook, so that they will not subsequently experience any difficulty in answering the questions put to them by the members.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol VI, No. 3, page 3 - (letter) 1968.

15. Helpers reminding each other

BAPAK is very much in agreement if one helper reminds another about his or her mistakes. Supposing one helper is giving advice or is attending to the members in a way which is wrong, or is giving advice which deviates from the truth, Bapak is very much in agreement if another helper will remind him or her about his or her mistakes.

But the way to do this is not by having a feeling of 'I am higher than you' - but simply in the way of co-operating or helping each other, that you correct each other in a way that is truly based on mutual respect.

From ISC Book of Bapak's talks, 19 76 Journey, page 40 - relevant recording: 76 SFO 3.

16. Attend all Openings

A HELPER must attend the latihan kejiwaan whenever there is a general latihan and an Opening of brothers or sisters who have completed their probationary period, even if other helpers are there.

This is indeed an obligation of a helper in order that there may always be a good atmosphere in the group and a deep feeling of brotherhood between members and helpers. Then, automatically, this will enable the inner and outer relationship between members and helpers to become firm, and the members will regard the helpers as older brothers/sisters who are worthy of respect and love.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. IX, No. 3, page 79 - relevant recording: 70 TJK 6.

17. Men helpers should not advise women members and vice versa

ABOUT the giving of advice by a man helper to women members: it is better to prohibit it. Do not delay in doing this, because in Subud advice for women members must be given by women helpers, and advice for men members must be given by men helpers.

In this way, the division of work can be arranged in an orderly manner that does not deviate from the regulations already in being in Subud. So if such things occur - that is, if a man helper likes to advise women members - that is a wrong habit which does not accord with the regulations.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. X, No. 2, page 63 - (letter 2398) 1972.

18. At National Congress

ALTHOUGH enterprises and their expansion will be one of the main subjects of your Congresses, you should also give priority to your latihan kejiwaan and its development. Because our Brotherhood is called the Association of the Kejiwaan Brotherhood, whenever Bapak is personally present at a Subud National Congress, Bapak puts first the latihan kejiwaan, testing and talks, giving guidance and clarification in the kejiwaan; while whenever Bapak is not able to be present at a Congress, it is there that the National Dewan Kejiwaan is needed to be able to act as Bapak's real helpers.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. XI, No. 1, page 3 l - (letter 3558) 1973.

19. At International Congress

EVERYTHING whatsoever that has a connection with the field of the kejiwaan of Subud is within the duties and responsibilities of the helpers. It is the helpers who must report to Bapak, or to the International Subud Congress held every four years, about the progress or lack of progress and about how the members are, active or not, in doing the latihan kejiwaan of Subud.

Also, as Bapak has already arranged, the Regional helpers must keep themselves informed about the helpers in each group, and the National helpers must keep themselves informed about the Regional helpers. It is the National helpers who are authorized to report to the International Congress or to Bapak.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VIII, No. 5, page 147 (letter) 21 December 1970.

20. The work of the helpers should really be done properly

IT is essential that the work of the helpers should be really done properly because we still have the situation where people - and it is very frequent still - that people are opened and in a short time they leave Subud, they stop doing the latihan; or that people have been opened many years and still cannot do the latihan.

This is what needs to have the helpers' full attention, so that people truly can feel for themselves when they are opened and when they join Subud what the reality of the latihan kejiwaan is, because if somebody cannot really feel what the latihan is, if he cannot really feel the benefit of it or he cannot feel the reality of it for himself, then his jiwa will very quickly lose its commitment and its contact with our Brotherhood. While if somebody has really felt the latihan and the fruits of the latihan have really entered into his life, then that person will be willing to contribute not only his material wealth, but also from his time and energy to the purposes of the Subud Brotherhood.

From Bapak's talk at Reigate - relevant recording: 79 REI 1.

21. Essence of helpers' work

BAPAK has to look after members of every nationality all over the world, and this is only possible if one possesses the 'hati maknawi', a heart as wide as the ocean. At present it looks as though only Bapak is able to do this, but in fact this is the essence of helpers' work and all helpers should be capable of this.

Chapter 3

HELPERS' ORGANIZATION

1. BAPAK has made an organization for helpers with the aim of spreading the burden as fairly and as evenly as possible. In other words, that there shouldn't be helpers with too much responsibility and too much work, and some who have nothing. For that reason, Bapak has set up an organization for the helpers where you have group helpers, regional helpers and national helpers.

From Pewarta Special Supplement No. 6, page 112 - see facing page relevant recording: 77 BLN 1.

2. Choosing helpers

IN accordance with the rules that apply in the Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud, the total number of helpers should be fixed at approximately fifty per cent of the total number of members.

As a result of experience obtained after the development of Subud in various countries, and taking into consideration the proposals that have been sent in by Subud centers in various countries to the Spiritual Center in Jakarta, Indonesia, Bapak feels it necessary for the following conditions to be fulfilled in the appointment of a member as a helper. He or she should be:

1. A member who is experienced in the latihan kejiwaan of Subud. This is necessary so that he may be able in some degree to answer the questions put to him by the members and to give explanations about Subud to anyone who asks questions about it.

2. A member of good character who can adjust himself to the members who will be under his care.

3. A member who is really loved by all the members and who is willing, honestly and sincerely, to pay attention to the needs of other members as well as his own.

4. A member who is prepared to carry out his duties and obligations as Bapak's representative, who serves the members in the sphere of the latihan kejiwaan, and who promises he will not give explanations that are contrary to the experiences he obtains from the latihan kejiwaan of Subud.

5. A member who is really willing to keep watch over the unity of the members under his care.

Bapak considers it necessary to make these conditions because in many places members have withdrawn because of the behavior of helpers who are inexperienced in the latihan kejiwaan, so that they just answer members' questions as they like. It also happens because of helpers' bad behavior and their self-importance. There are also helpers whose explanations to members about the latihan are outside what exists and happens in the latihan kejiwaan of Subud. Moreover, there are some who deliberately mix the latihan kejiwaan of Subud with other practices, so that they cause confusion to many members.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VIII, No. 1, page 27 - (letter 1193) 1969.

3. Proposal of helpers

BAPAK feels sure that you already know the regulations and the way to appoint helpers. The appointment of helpers is done by Bapak, on a proposal of the helpers' group. Neither the committee members nor the private members can make these proposals. This has become the regulation in the Subud Brotherhood all over the world.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. IV, No. 4, page 129 - (letter) 11 February 1965.

4. Candidate helpers

BAPAK would like new helpers to have a trial period and only if they show that they can carry out their duties satisfactorily should their names be put up for Bapak's approval.

Bapak confirmed that even if this differs from current practice, Bapak would like it followed from now on. From Bapak, (letter to 1SC helpers} 9 August 1978.

THE time for this cannot be determined in general but is left to the wisdom of the experienced helpers. So if the candidate has already several (at least three) times attended openings and has truly shown his willingness in accepting his duties as a helper, then his name may be proposed to Bapak for appointment as a helper.

Since this will depend on the capacity of a person, for some people one month's probation period will be sufficient, for others two months, for others again three; while there will be those who during their period of probation will already feel unwilling to continue, in which case it is best if they are replaced by alternative candidate helpers.

During his/her period of candidacy; the candidate helper does not have the authority to organize the group latihan. He/she may join in the helpers' latihan and attend helpers' meetings, but only to listen.

From Bapak, (letter to ISC helpers) 7November 1978.

IT is best if a candidate helper attends openings about three times before being made a helper and that such openings should be attended by more than one other helper. So the one that does the opening is one of the experienced helpers. If this is not possible, then she must have attended at least one such opening even if she has to travel to another center to do it.

The reason for this is to avoid the possibility of a helper not having had any experience in opening new members, which would have the effect that when one day she is required to open somebody, she will experience a feeling of uncertainty or lack of trust which will affect the person being opened.

From Ibu Siti Rahayu, (letter) 19 August 1979.

5. No difference between helpers

THEN there is something that Bapak needs to remind the helpers. They should not feel a difference between helpers who happen to be working on the national level, those who happen to be working on the regional level, and those who happen to be helpers on the local level. As Bapak has frequently explained, all helpers are the same. All helpers have the same authority and are on the same level, equally high and equally low.

Bapak has arranged this structure of local, regional, national and international helpers purely to have a way whereby the local helpers are not overburdened. In other words, if things get too much for them there is somewhere they can turn for help. But it is clear from this that the helpers who have the biggest responsibility, and have the heaviest duty, are the local helpers because they are the ones who are directly in contact with the members. It is only if they are overloaded, or there is something they cannot deal with, then they go to the regional helpers, and then after to the national helpers who are not in direct contact with the membership.

From Pewarta Special Supplement No. 9, page 196 - relevant recording: 77 YU1. 2.

6. Helper-structure as outlined by Bapak

a) Local helpers : Men and women helpers of centers and groups.

b) Regional Helpers :One man and one woman chosen by testing from local helpers,  for center area.

c) National Helpers : One man and one woman chosen by testing from Regional helpers, for regional area.

d) International Councilors : One man and one woman chosen by testing from National helpers, but still carrying out the duties of National helpers.

e) Zone Co-ordinators : One man and one woman chosen by testing from International Councilors of countries within the Zone.

f) International Helpers : An even number of men and women (for the time being four and four) chosen by testing at the World Congress, from the National helpers.

The appointments of: b), c), d) and f) are for a period of four years, from World Congress to World Congress.

The appointments of: a) are for an indefinite period.

The appointments of: a), c), d), e) and f) are approved by Bapak.

APPOINTMENT OF HELPERS AND SELECTION PROCEDURE:

New helpers:

BEARING in mind that the total number of helpers should be approximately fifty per cent of the total number of members, if the local helpers of a group feel that there is a need for a new helper, they should first obtain the agreement of their Regional helper that this is necessary, (If he/she agrees, the membership of the group can be informed).

Candidates should be selected following Bapak's advice that he/she should be a member who is experienced in the latihan, of good character, 'loved and respected by the membership and willing to carry out the duties and obligations of being Bapak's representative. They are selected by the local helpers who, if desired, can ask for assistance from the Regional/National helpers.

The candidates are requested to stand up and test themselves in front of the group helpers, women candidates testing in front of women helpers and men candidates .in front of the men helpers' group. The testing should also be followed by helpers of long standing (those who have been helpers about five years). In this way they will not only watch those who are testing, but also join in the testing themselves in their feelings; thus the presence of helpers of long standing is needed because, naturally, they have more experience in testing. In this way, the results will be more fitting and positive. If the decision is positive, the results should be sent to the Regional and National helpers, who need not test again if there are no doubts.

The National helpers should forward the result immediately to Bapak for Bapak's approval and finalization.

From lbu Siti Rahayu writing for Bapak, 30 November 19 74.

Regional helpers

BY agreement with the local helpers, an ordinary member can be allowed to join the candidates in the selection of a Regional helper. Testing is guided and directed by the National helper and the former Regional helper.

The procedure : the helpers who are still active and are candidates to become Regional helper and, if present, the member made a candidate, should stand up one by one and test, while the National and the outgoing Regional helpers jolt/ in testing and feeling, so that afterwards they can give an appraisal and decision about Who should rightly be appointed the new Regional helper.

In the selection only one Regional helper is chosen. If it is considered still necessary to put up the former Regional helper as a candidate, and if that person is still willing, then the National helper has the obligation to test them both, (the newly-chosen candidate for Regional helper and the outgoing Regional helper). in this way a new Regional helper will be chosen for the region concerned. From each region one Regional helper is obtained, then the Dewan of Regional Helpers is formed.

National helpers

FROM the Dewan of Regional Helpers, one man and one woman candidate for National helper is chosen (covering one province of large area). The Regional' helpers combined in the Dewan of each large area will take part in the selection.

The selection is made by testing, as in the case of the Regional helpers. The one responsible for guiding and directing the selection is an outgoing National helper.

If someone has been selected as a candidate and it is still considered necessary to propose the candidacy of the outgoing helper and the one concerned has no objection to being nominated again - then the one whose task it is to test and decide is a member of the outgoing National Dewan Kejiwaan who is not involved, and is not a candidate. By so doing, every Region will have chosen a new National helper, so that a new Dewan Kejiwaan of National Helpers is formed.

International Councilors

TO select a Councilor, one man and one woman councilor has to be chosen from the Dewan Kejiwaan of National Helpers.

The National helpers should each test for themselves, to choose one among the newly-selected National helpers capable of fulfilling the function of Councilor. Possibly his testing will result in him/her choosing himself/herself, so the outcome of each person's testing should be indicated in writing on a small piece of paper to be collected, and the helpers will witness together who of them is the major choice. This brother/sister will then be appointed as Councilor.

From Bapak to National, Regional & Local helpers, (letter) 3 December 19 74.

Zone Co-ordinators

THESE are selected in the same way as councilors, i.e. by each councilor in each country in a particular Zone feeling for himself as to who should be appointed Zone Coordinator. Each person testing indicates on a piece of paper who they feel would be suitable, and the majority choice becomes the Zone Coordinator.

International helpers

BAPAK would like to explain that ultimately when Subud has spread and grown in strength so that we can really fulfil all the needs of our Spiritual Brotherhood all over the world, what will be required at that time will be that from every Zone a man helper and a woman helper should be sent to the place Where ISC happens to be established, and that these will then represent the membership, the whole of the membership, and will be the ones responsible for ensuring that all the needs of the membership are really taken care of on the side of the kejiwaan.

The International helpers are to assume the duty and responsibility of replying to members' questions relating to the kejiwaan from all over the world. It is in no way part of their responsibility to interfere with or give opinions about the working of the Committee and the worldly side of ISC organization. But if ISC needs their help, if ISC is faced with problems about which they would like the helpers' advice, then Bapak hopes that they will be willing to give that advice and help ISC with their questions.

From Bapak ~ talk at Reigate, September 19 79.

The Brotherhood is divided into eight Zones

1. South-East Asia :Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand,Philippines, Singapore.

2. Central Asia : Bangladesh, India, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam.

7. Unruly helpers

AS Bapak has told you, there is no chairman or secretary or treasurer in the helpers' group. Any decisions that need to be made should therefore be taken in a brotherly manner; they should be tested and felt together. But never forget the directive of Subud, of the true human qualities of Susila, Budhi and Dharma; if we fail to achieve this in the outer world, we should at least be prepared to give way among ourselves. We seek the truth and do not want to quarrel. Thus everyone should be prepared to give in to others; if you are wrong, do not try to put yourself in the right, but settle the questions in a brotherly way.

If you find yourself in this situation, and need to see the truth of it, then any decision that has to be taken should be reached by means of testing. And if one of the helpers proves to be unruly in his behavior, and this behavior is witnessed by those with whom he does the latihan kejiwaan - for, indeed, this can be illustrated by the saying that none knows better than his pupils when the schoolmaster misbehaves - then that one should be taken out of the helpers' group and eventually he may be asked to discontinue his duties as a helper, and thus not be allowed to act in the name of Subud.

But this heavy punishment should not be regarded as permanent, because you should also remember that man remains man and is liable to change at any time. It is, therefore, better to keep such a one out of the helpers' group for two or three years; but if at any time he mends his ways, and wishes to come back to the helpers' group, he should be welcomed with open arms. This means that we do not seek separation from one another, but we truly wish for the unity of mankind.

In connection with this, Bapak would like to remind you of what he said the other day: that man is very slow to forgive, and finds it very difficult, but if he sins against God, God forgives easily; and therefore, in our relationships with our fellow men, we should, as far as possible, neither blame each other nor be too severe in punishing one another.

From 'Subud and the Active Life ', page 211 (1st ed.}, page 160 [2nd ed.}.

8. Absentee helpers

IF a helper is unable to attend at the place of the latihan when there is an Opening or a latihan, he should inform the other helpers beforehand, giving the reasons for his absence. His nonattendance can be accepted if it does not happen continually, because if he is continually absent, an extra burden of responsibility will be placed on the shoulders of his fellow helpers who are active.

Further, if there is such a helper he should return his helper's card to the local helpers' group, and he should be prepared to be made non-active as a helper. This is necessary in order that the helpers' group can immediately propose a member who is considered suitable to replace him.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VII, No. 2, page 27.

9. When absent helpers return

IT seems quite usual for Subud members to reappear unexpectedly after having left Subud for some time, and come to the latihan kejiwaan again. So, too, with the helpers: they may cease for some time to attend Openings or to accompany the members in their latihan, but then they appear again at the place where the latihan is held. When we feel how the situation is, this is. disappointing, since because they are not present when there are new members to be opened, those helpers who are still active are obliged to propose some of the members to be helpers in their stead. This results in a rather extraordinary state of affairs, since with the reappearance of the inactive helpers the total number of helpers inevitably becomes too large. It is, therefore, best to arrange matters so that those helpers who have recently returned are given a certain period of time, not exceeding six months in length, in which to prove the sincerity of their intentions, and then later, if they prove diligent in their attendance at the group latihans, they can be reinstated as helpers. As to their status during this probationary period of six months, it is that of ordinary members; that is to say, it is not necessary to call upon them to attend Openings of new members, nor should they carry out testing on questions brought by the members, nor attend the monthly or fortnightly special latihan for helpers.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. V, No. 3, page 75.

l 0. Relieving helpers of function

IF there should be a helper who does something which deviates from the regulations established by our Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud, such as practicing some spiritual teaching and mixing it with the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, and giving the members advice which deviates from Subud, the helpers' group must remind him not to do so.

The reminder mentioned above is just a mild one. It must be mild, so that the helper will immediately wish to stop behaving in such a way, and so that he may return to his obedience to God's guidance and leadership, which are manifested in the latihan kejiwaan of Subud.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VII, No. 2, page 27.

11. Authority of National Helpers' Dewan to expel members from Subud and to make helpers non-active.

1. BAPAK agrees to a helper being made non-active as a helper because he does not wish to submit to the regulations which exist in Subud, where it is laid down that the Dewan of National Helpers has been given the authority as a Dewan of Helpers who have the right to decide anything which they consider necessary for the peace and harmony of the membership. This rule has to be firmly supported, for if not, the state of Subud will always be disturbed and the members in general will never feel that anything is clear or definite. It is for this reason that decisions must be made by the Dewan of National Helpers which will ensure that everything will go in the right way.

2. The decision to make a brother (or sister) non-active as a helper has to be written down in the minutes of the Subud Brotherhood in your country, stating that from such-and-such a date this brother (of sister) has been made non-active as a helper and any actions that he takes after that will not be accepted as valid by the Dewan of National Helpers or by the membership in general. Such a statement may also be important from the point of view of the laws of your country. This decision of Bapak is valid from the date of this letter.

3. As had been laid down in the Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud, the Dewan of National Helpers in a country has the duty of making decisions which they feel and consider necessary for the harmony and peace of the Subud Brotherhood.

For this reason the matter which concerns a brother or sister in Subud in reality can be decided by the Dewan of National Helpers themselves, so that it will not be a problem which is forever being discussed but will be concluded by the decision of the Dewan, who are given full authority by the Brotherhood to take decisions in such matters. It is for this reason that Bapak leaves the decision which will be taken in respect of any person to the Dewan of the National Helpers.

It is necessary to add that what is to be decided by the Dewan of National Helpers must be noted in the minutes of the Subud Brotherhood, for example, as follows: Mr., Mrs., Miss (name), from such-and-such a date, is expelled from the Subud Brotherhood and will henceforth no longer be considered a member of the same because he was not opened... (if such is the case for a member, or helper, or whatever the reason.) All his future actions are not the responsibility of the helpers of the Dewan of the National Helpers.

You are asked to report such decisions to the International Spiritual Center in Jakarta, so that their records are complete.

From Bapak, (letter to Dewan of lSC Helpers) 27 August 1978.

IN countries where the National Helpers' group is small, the problem of expelling a member or making a helper inactive should be referred to the International Helpers. Where the National Helpers' Dewan is adequate - two men and two women, or more - this is not necessary, but when such a decision is taken a report should be sent both to the International Spiritual Center in Jakarta and to the International Helpers.

From the Dewan of International Helpers with Ibu Siti Rahayu ~ approval - 2 August 1980.

12. Honorary helper

THIS is the title which has the meaning that a helper has served the membership for a long time, but because he or she is getting old, is no longer able to be active in the way they were in the past. So, because of their long service to the membership they are given the title of Honorary Helpers. And this title Bapak gives to those helpers who have served the members for a long time. Now these helpers have the right, more than the right, to join in the helpers' latihan and join in any other kinds of activities or meetings which are open to helpers.

The only difference between them and the active helpers is that they are no longer required to have the heavy job of being a helper. They are released from those duties.

From 'Special Collection of Bapak ~ Talks' page 40 - relevant recording: 76 SFO 3.

13. Inactive helpers

WHETHER they are inactive because they are old or because they are sick; or if they are women, their husbands don't let them be active as helpers; or if men, their wives don't agree to them being active helpers; for whatever reason and especially if, let us say, they cannot be active because they are sick but in the past they have given great service to the Brotherhood and been given the title of Honorary Helper - all these, Bapak advises you first of all to let them and encourage them to come to the latihan; and, secondly, to let them, if they are willing to become active again as helpers.

In the kejiwaan there is no exclusion. We can exclude someone from the organization, but we can never exclude him from the kejiwaan. Once someone has been opened in the latihan, once he has done the latihan, his being has been filled with the power of God, even though he or she is not aware of it, they have come face to face with the power of God. After that they can never again leave the Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud. It is only their heart that can leave, or that can say that they have left Subud.

But the jiwa, never - because the body is bound by time but the jiwa is eternal.

So it is clear, brothers and sisters, that while someone can be excluded from the organization, once he has been opened he can never be excluded from the kejiwaan.

From 'Special Collection of Bapak Talks' page 40 - relevant recording: 76 SFO 3.

14. Helpers' cards

WITH regard to the question of issuing a special card for helpers, as distinct from the ordinary membership card, it is best to proceed with this. But you should remember that this card is only to .allay any doubts that may arise in people who come to be opened, or in those whom you accompany in the latihan.

From Bapak in 'Subud and the Active Life' page 33 (1st ed.),page 22 (2nd ed.) - 1959.

15. Helpers visiting other groups

INDEED a member who claims to be a helper should have a helper's card and, in accordance with the regulations that Bapak has made, a helper from another group may not function as a helper - that is, open new members and serve the latihan - in the place where he is visiting, without the agreement of the helpers' group in that place.

Chapter 4

APPLICANTS

1. A general talk to applicants

SUBUD is an abbreviation of the words - Susila - Budhi -Dharma. Subud is not a new religion; nor is it a teaching. It is only a symbol for 'the possibility for man to follow the right way of living'.

Susila means to be able to live according to the will of God as really true human beings.

Budhi indicates that in every creation, in every creature of God, including man, there is divine power which works within him as well as outside him.

Dharma means the possibility for every creature, including man, to surrender completely to the will of God, of Whom man is only a creation and has therefore, inevitably to submit to the will of his Creator.

Susila Budhi Dharma means to follow the will of God with the help of the divine power that works both within us and without, by the way of surrendering oneself to the will of Almighty God.

Susila Budhi Dharma is the symbol of what we are practicing in the latihan kejiwaan of Subud; it means that whatever happens in the latihan of Subud is entirely the will of God and comes to us because God wills it for us.

This is exactly according to what has been said in the Holy Books, such as the Bible, the Qu'ran; namely that God is close to man or, if man comes close to God, then God can give man the things he needs; and that man can receive the things that God intends him to have.

What is it that we have to surrender to God? It is not our wealth, the ones we love, nor whatever else we possess because God has no need of those things. What we have to surrender is our mind, our heart and our desires, because those are the instruments that form an obstacle to our coming closer to God.

This is what Jesus Christ meant when he said that God will always be with us if we can surrender ourselves to Him and we can love Him more than anything else - more than ourselves. This means that the love that we have with our hearts and with our feelings is an obstacle preventing us from coming to the true love of God, because this outer love is only love of things we like to believe we love. But the love that we must have of God must be greater than this.

To the Prophet Muhammad was given the revelation that God existed before anything else existed, and that God will be after everything is destroyed. God is farther away than the farthest things there are. He is deeper within than anything else, which means that God has created really everything, and because He created everything He will also take care of everything.

It is also said that God has no form, no speech, no country, no color. For if, for instance, He had a country there would be more than one God, because for every country there would be a God; and if He had a color, there would also be more than one God because every color would need a God. And this is what is meant by the saying: 'God is One and Master of all'.

Moreover, God created without tools and materials. If man wants to make something - a table, for instance - he needs wood, nails, a hammer and other tools; and to make the atom bomb man needs more tools to break down the material into atoms. But with God it is wholly different. God works without materials or tools. It follows that for man to understand and know what is in the mind and heart of God the only thing to do is to surrender himself entirely; because with his own mind and his own heart and his own desires he will never be able to find God. Only by surrendering himself completely to God, not making use of his mind, his heart or his desire, is it possible for man to come into contact with the power of God.

This is what we do in the latihan kejiwaan - we surrender ourselves completely, we do not make use of our mind, heart or desires - we simply accept and receive whatever God sends. So you will understand that Subud is only a symbol of that way of living for man in which he can fulfill and carry out the will of God for himself in this world and in the world to come.

Therefore, in the latihan of Subud we do not have a teaching; there is nothing we have to learn to do, because all that is required of us is complete surrender. A person who claims to know the way to God is really one who is anticipating God's gifts without having received them.

The only thing we do is surrender ourselves completely and simply accept and receive whatever God sends or wants us to have. This is indeed what every Prophet has said: 'Surrender yourself entirely, submit completely to God, and then God will take care of you and give you guidance.' In these spiritual exercises we do not expect anything in particular. We make no image for ourselves, but only receive whatever God may send us.

So this divine power, which works in us during the latihan, will bring to each person what is already in himself. For instance, if a person has a loud and strong voice, he will utter very loud and strong sounds. This goes for every part of our body, for every part of our being. Therefore, the latihan of two people can never be the same, because everyone is different from everyone else. It is clear, then, that there cannot be a theory or a spiritual teaching in Subud because each person is different. Whatever he needs and whatever he receives will differ from what somebody else needs and receives. This is why we cannot give any rule or prescription of how to behave when you are in the latihan, because this is something personal for everyone.

Every person will find for himself the right way towards God, and what may be the right way for one may be completely wrong for another. Therefore, you must not suppose that you have to follow or become like Muhammad Subuh. You must become your own self and you must develop your inner self if you want to find the way to God. You must not follow or imitate anyone else, because you must find your own way to God: Usually, if there is a teacher, he teaches his followers to do exactly the same as he does in order to reach what he has reached. But this is really wrong, because not only between a teacher and his followers but even between two brothers of the same parents there is already a big difference; not only in outward appearances but also in their character and in their whole being. So surely you can understand now that what is the right way for a certain teacher to find God is not necessarily the right way for his pupils.

Therefore, Bapak says, it is God Who will lead you towards Himself and what really happens in the latihan is that you will be introduced to your inner self - to the real I. You must not be afraid and you must not be worried, for whatever comes to you in your latihan is only what is in you and comes from your inner self. It is the real you that arises in the latihan, so you do not have to be worried or afraid.

In Subud, there is no discrimination between the different religions because what comes to a person is really what is already there within him. So if a person is a Christian, he will meet the real Christ within him, and if a person is a Buddhist; he will meet the real Buddha in him. The same if he is a Muslim, he will meet the Muhammad within himself. And then, if you really know your inner self, in everything you do you will be guided by the divine power, because the divine power works in you through yourself and whether you are in your office or driving a car or doing anything else you will be guided by the power of God, which is always working within you and also outside you.

Then it will be true what is said in the Qu'ran, that before you undertake anything you should say: 'Bismillahir Rachmanir Rahim.' This means that you follow God's guidance and only do whatever God brings you to do; that you will not be in haste to do something and only afterwards remember God and regret what you have done. When God precedes something you are doing, then it must be the right thing to do. This is also the real meaning of what is done by Christians when they pray before they eat or before they go to sleep. This also means that you should not do anything without God guiding you, because if you forget God in something you do, there will be no help from God if anything goes wrong. The power we see is only to convince us that the Almighty power of God works not only within us but also in all creation, and even outside of all creation.

That is why in the latihan we will not harm our religion, because what we think and what we carry out is only the will of God, and we only carry out what is already within us. So a person who has a religion will experience in the latihan only according to what is in his religion and according to what is within himself.

Some among you may ask where Bapak got all this from. Bapak answers: he received this when he was in the same situation as you are. He was working, he was still doing his job in the office and whatever else he had to do, and even liking it. All of a sudden everything stopped. His mind stopped working and his heart stopped working and his desires stopped working and then he received as everybody receives in the latihan. He was not looking for wisdom, he did not have a guru, a teacher. He just received it, and that is what is called Mu'jizat-ullah, a divine gift. This comes to a person only while he is not looking for it, and when he is ready for such a gift then God will bestow that gift on that person.

You may have heard about the healing of Eva Bartok. It was not Bapak who helped her or cured her, but he showed her how to worship God and it was her good fortune that God willed her to get well. So she got well and everything was well with her. But it was not Bapak who cured her. He only showed her the way to worship.

The healing of a person is a matter only between him and God, and no one else can interfere.

Further, Bapak leaves it to you to decide whether or not you want to come to these spiritual exercises, because in the worship of God there is nothing compulsory. Everyone must be free. But whenever one asks, it will be given.

Based on notes taken at the only talk of Bapak to Applicants, Singapore, 1960.

2. Explanations to applicants

AS the latihan kejiwaan is the most important thing in our Subud Brotherhood, the duties and responsibilities of the Subud helpers, who are in reality Bapak's helpers, should certainly be like those of Bapak. This means that a helper's entire behavior and actions should come only from what exists and occurs in the latihan kejiwaan of Subud.

Perhaps you are already aware that the latihan kejiwaan of Subud exists because Bapak exists. Similarly, there are Subud members because there are helpers. So if there were no helpers, there would be no Subud members. This is why Bapak says that a helper is the most important member in our Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud, and that is why he should behave like Bapak. For instance, he should give the dearest possible explanation about the basis and aim of the latihan kejiwaan of Subud to those people who are interested in becoming members. This is necessary in order that they should really and truly understand that the latihan kejiwaan of Subud is based on man's worship of Almighty God in accordance with His guidance and direction which are manifested in the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, and the aim of Subud is that those who receive it can become, through God's guidance and direction, human beings of excellent character who are obedient to the commands of Almighty God.

It is very necessary for those who enquire about Subud to hear clarifications such as this in order that they may realize that there is no guarantee that a person will experience happiness in his life as soon as he has received the latihan kejiwaan of Subud. It is not certain, for instance, that he will immediately be able to find a better job than before, or that his business will be more profitable than before, and so on.

Bapak does not criticize such a wish, for everyone wants his life to be pleasant and happy, but in reality one's life will become pleasant and happy only if one pays for it first by prihatin; that is, by cutting down on all kinds of pleasures and patiently accepting whatever is then received. This is the kind of clarification the helpers should give to those interested in joining Subud.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VII, No. 2, page 27 - (letter A: 10-6) 1969.

3. The probation period

A MAN or woman (of eighteen years of age) wishing to enter Subud should first become an applicant for three months at the most. A married woman whose husband has not yet joined Subud is required to get permission from her husband. Only the following are exempt from the three months' probation period:

a. Those who have reached the age of sixty-three or over.

b. Those people from distant places who are on a short visit and in whose city there is no Subud group yet.

c. Those who are ill and cannot move about.

d. The wife of a Subud member.

e. Children of Subud members who have reached the age of eighteen.

The reason for the probation period is that people should get acquainted with the helpers and get the necessary information or clarifications from the helpers about the meaning and aim of Subud. This is necessary so that they can really come to some understanding about Subud and will not feel disappointed when they are opened. This applies also to those who are exempt from the probationary period. They also should be given explanations regarding the meaning and aim of Subud before they are opened.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud, Vol. I1, Nos. 11/2, page 355 (letter) 1962.

4. Opening without full probationary period

THE maximum probationary period is three months, but an applicant can' be opened before the three months period is over if he has shown himself to be really sincere. In such a case it is necessary for the helper's group to test.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. II, No. 7/8, page 220 - (letter) 1962.

5. Age of opening children

Why does Bapak forbid children to be opened before the age of 18'? Well, Bapak can answer this. It is because Bapak understands very well the nature of children. The nature of children is that when they find something they like, something that is nice and gives them a feeling of satisfaction, then they will leave everything else and do only that. So that if children were opened when they are very young, they would consider everything else unnecessary, and they would only continue to do the latihan all the time. And this is why Bapak has chosen the age of 18, because Bapak considers that at 18, mostly, children are already starting university - that is, they are starting studies which are already of a high nature, and by that time they are able already to discipline themselves and to know what is the time for study, and what is the time for latihan.

This is why Bapak has chosen this age for people to be opened - and this, actually, is no different from what exists in religion. In general, people are only considered to have duties or responsibilities in religion once they are adult. Up till the time when a person becomes an adult, he only, as it were, copies - he can join in the religious worship, but it is only just to imitate what the parents are doing.

Prom Pewarta Special Supplement No. 7, page 152 - relevant recording: 77 LIS 3.

6. Why the probation period is necessary

THE helpers, in fact, are very careful. So the rule has been made 'in the Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud that whoever wishes to join Subud must go through a probationary period of three months. The probationary period is necessary so that a person can make a thorough investigation of Subud and the helpers can make a careful observation of the applicant's true situation.

We have made this regulation so that we will not be accused of forcing people to join Subud, or of accepting people at random as Subud members. For the nature of Subud and its latihan kejiwaan is only worship with trust and sincere submission, in surrender to the will of Almighty God, and it is based on His grace that we are able to receive. For this reason, we have the principle of only giving it to people who would like to receive and follow the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, and of not giving it to anyone who does not want to receive and follow it.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VII, No. 3, page 7 - (letter A-805) 19 70.

7. Applicants should not be exposed to the latihan

S1TI Rahayu said that candidate members should definitely not be exposed to the latihan - not even through a closed door - until the very end of their waiting period, when they have already made up their minds that they really want to join Subud. Otherwise they might actually be opened against their will, and that would be bad.

From Ibu Siti Rahayu, (letter) 4 January 19 79.

8. Firm wish and clear intention necessary

NOW, first of all, about the question of the increase in the membership, or getting new members - it is true that Subud very much needs new members and to increase its membership, and for that it is necessary for us to explain to people about the worship of God, explain to people who are not yet aware of the worship of God according to the hakekat, or about the duty of human life other than the way people normally understand it, about the real obligations of a human being. It is certainly true that it is our duty to explain to people who do not yet understand.

Nevertheless, we must always hold fast to one principle: as we are people who follow the will of God in everything, and Subud exists by the will of God, it is absolutely essential that we make quite sure that we only open people who really have a firm wish and a clear intention to join Subud - and never to open people who join as a result of being enticed into Subud, or that we should entice people into Subud. Because the result of this will be that it is very unlikely that people who are enticed into Subud will be faithful and really do the latihan and devote themselves seriously to what is in Subud. On the contrary, it is more likely that they will have an attitude that they couldn't care less, and will probably neglect their latihan after a time.

From Pewarta Special Supplement No. 6, page 116 - relevant recording: 77 BCN 2.

9. Ensuring sincerity of applicants

AS a matter of fact, applicants who have completed the full three months probationary period could be opened without testing by the helpers' group. However, it appears from experience which helpers have had to face and deal with that applicants, after being opened, still actively pursue the practice of theories like hypnotism, spiritualism, mesmerism and other occult ways. It is therefore deemed necessary to test before opening applicants, in order to ascertain the strength or sincerity of their determination, and whether they really will be obedient and faithful in the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, which is truly a guidance and leading by the power of the One God.

Concerning testing, it seems needful to clarify here that the testing done by helpers about applicants is not merely to ascertain whether or not an applicant may be opened and follow the way of the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, but if the helpers, in doing such testing, surrender everything completely to the power of the One God, they will then be able to receive and see the true state of the applicant. Thus, the self of those who pass the testing will form a suitably equipped personality, like a wide vessel, to receive and follow the course of the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, which is truly a guidance and leading by the One God.

You and the other helpers, it seems, consider that following the above procedure makes it difficult for those who wish to enter Subud. This opinion can be said to be true. However, you need to know and remember that at the present time not a few members in Subud groups still follow all kinds of practices, still drink strong drinks to the point of becoming drunkards, and still take pills whose properties can destroy the heart and mind. In addition, others, instead of being harmonious with their friends or brothers after entering Subud, on the contrary disrupt the harmony of Subud members to the point of causing a breach or rupture in the Brotherhood.

BAPAK feels that the right way is like this: three months is already a very long time and during those three months probationers should come at least once a week to join the meetings, to receive explanations and so on. So that if during that time, for example, they turn out to be alcoholics or if. they are taking drugs or something, the helpers will know this. They will tell them: 'Look, if you go on like this you cannot be opened'. During the three months is the time to find out, not at the end of the three months. Because once these people have waited the three months and have followed and really received clear explanations and they are determined to join - and, as it were, make their promise to God - then it is no longer right to test about them, because, Bapak says, also your testing could be wrong. If someone is really sincere and is then tested, and the answer is no, then it can be very disappointing and that is wrong.

If the person, for example, is someone who never comes near the group and after three months asks to be opened, you don't open him. Because during the three months he must come regularly and if he doesn't then you tell him: 'Oh, no, now you have to wait longer'. For example, if he cannot come one week, then he must write a letter to say: 'I cannot come this week because of something or another'. So it is clear that he takes Subud seriously.

But if you have clone all this and they have come regularly during three months and they are serious, and then you open them and they don't come any more - then that is not your responsibility. You have fulfilled your duty and you have no longer any fault on your side - that is their mistake and there is nothing you should worry about.

From Bapak's talk in Switzerland - relevant recording: 77 BLN 1.

10. Two helpers to be present at interview

WHEN giving advice or information concerning Subud to anyone, two helpers should be present at the interview, so that they can balance each other in their points of view.

From M’bakju Rochanawati's talk to women helpers in Europe,1959-60.

11. Regular attendance at latihan

THE helpers need to make it understood that it is important to continue the latihan regularly.

From M'Bakju Rochanawati's talk to women helpers in Europe,1959-60.

12. Mental illness and opening

BAPAK has often said that at present we cannot yet open one who suffers from mental illness, for, firstly, we do not yet have a hospital for this kind of illness, and we do not even have a strong house in the various centers where people who suffer from this illness can be guarded and taken care of; and further, we are not yet strong enough - that is to say, we do not yet have doctors who are doctors in the outer sense and are also experienced in the field of the latihan kejiwaan of Subud.

Bapak's reply to helpers in New York, 7 May 1969.

13. Drug takers

WITH regard to the acceptance of people who are interested in joining Subud, People who still wish to use drugs and who are indeed in the habit of doing so will not be accepted as members of the Association of the Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VI, No. 1, page 31.

14. Husbands/wives wishing to join Subud

IF the husband is already doing the latihan kejiwaan, then the wife can be opened at any time that she wishes to receive the contact. Although it is possible for the husband to open his wife himself, we should keep to the rule that she should be opened by the women helpers. Because if once the husband is allowed to open his wife, then every husband whose wife is not yet in Subud will start to open her at his own discretion; the helpers will have no part in it and disorder will result.

The best arrangement, therefore, is that a wife whose husband is receiving in Subud, and who wishes to receive the contact herself, should come to the local center to be opened. She need not wait for the three month probation period. But if, on the other hand, the wife is already in Subud and her husband wishes to be opened, this cannot be done straight away. He should become an applicant and wait for three months. The reason for this is that the husband is in truth the head of the family, and it would be out of place and a violation of their essential relationship if the husband were to follow after his wife. For a man is his own master and should not be dominated by his wife.

The above needs some illustration. It is exemplified in the custom by which a man's name takes precedence over his wife's; if Henry Smith marries Mary Jones, she becomes Mrs. Smith and the husband does not become Mr. Jones. This is in accordance with the spiritual position of a man as the head of his family.

Bapak considers it is also necessary to give some further explanation as to why a wife who wishes to come to Subud should first obtain her husband's consent. This is really necessary.

If we follow the regulation we have agreed upon in the Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud, whereby a married woman who wishes to enter Subud must have the written permission of her husband if he is not yet a Subud member, it is difficult for us to take action in the matter of receiving and opening the woman you mention.

Bapak puts it in this way because the person who receives the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, which in truth is direction and guidance from the power of the One and Only God, will experience a period of purification from all faults interwoven in his or her inner feeling, so that if she is fortunate she will be able to feel and to understand what she must do and how she must do it.

Such an experience will certainly not be recognized and understood by her husband, because the husband has not yet come into Subud and has a different understanding.

In the Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud it has happened that, even though a husband has given his wife permission to become a Subud member, when he sees that she appears to be in a state that is unusual for her - for example, if she no longer shows him any love and affection, as if this were gone, and no longer likes being near him - then the husband feels that his wife no longer loves him. Whereas, if he were able to understand, his wife is in this state because it is necessary for her to experience a period of purification of the inner-feeling. It may even happen that this misunderstanding can lead to divorce. Furthermore, if a wife enters Subud without her husband's permission, it is certain that the husband will blame the helpers who opened her even more, because he will think that they have done something wrong to his wife.

Therefore the helpers need to act in this matter in accordance with the agreed regulations. We, or the helpers, should not wish to act from a feeling of pity for someone who is truly thirsty for the latihan kejiwaan of Subud.

We, or the helpers, understand that this latihan kejiwaan of Subud is a grace from God, and that we have to transmit it to anyone who truly needs it, but we need to act as wisely as possible and not to let anything happen that could disrupt the harmony of the ties of marriage.

Because of this, Bapak advises the helpers to tell this woman that they are still obliged to refuse to open her, because the time for this has not yet come, and that she should wait in patience until the time is right. If she truly wishes for it, and God grants her prayers, then - since the latihan kejiwaan of Subud exists by God's will - her husband's feeling will certainly be opened wide and he will give his Sincere consent to her coming into Subud, and it may even happen that he himself will follow her example.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VIII, No. 1, page 3 - (letter) 7 January 19 70.

15. Wife not to open husband

REGARDING your question about what is to be done in the case of a woman accidentally giving the contact to her husband, Bapak says that a woman member may not open a man, even though he is her husband. So if her husband is really and truly interested in joining Subud, he must be opened by a man helper.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. V, No. 4, page 117 (letter) 2 March 1967.

16. Why the latihan of men and women must be separate

AS you already know, the latihan kejiwaan that we have received brings about a variety of movements and actions. These are, in fact, very important for us. Since these movements are free from the influence of desires, heart and mind, the members of our entire body become alive and free from worldly pressure. Thus each of them realizes and feels its respective responsibility.

The inner force sometimes produces such a strong movement that the results are strange and sometimes indecorous. Nevertheless, we must not prevent such movements, because they are in accordance with the nature of that person; and, moreover, if we do prevent such movements because they are not decent, then this means that we are still wanting to bring our inner-feeling into line with our hearts and mind. But this inner-feeling is already separated from the heart and mind by the working within us of the power of God, so that to prevent any movement will prevent the latihan working in us.

This is very disadvantageous for us, because the restoration of our whole inner condition and the correction of the faults of our inner-feeling will proceed more slowly, since every movement we receive in the latihan is, in fact, the casting out of faults and impurities from our inner-feeling. Thus the more the movement, the quicker the process of purification of the inner-feeling.

The reason, then, why the latihan of men and women must be kept separate is in order that both sexes may feel free and uninhibited in following whatever movements are indicated, even if these appear to be unseemly.

Moreover, such a separation of the sexes is also desirable because members who are doing the latihan kejiwaan of Subud are still easily influenced by the lower forces, which can cause sexual impulses to arise on both sides.

It is true that some people hold that it is permissible for men and women to practice spiritual exercises in the pursuit of knowledge - even if it pertains to spiritual matters - so long as each one looks to his or her moral attitude and is bent only on attaining the knowledge they seek. Perhaps this can be accepted provided that every one concerned is indeed able to guard and maintain his sincerity of heart; but is it not more likely, however, that - because the heart is the seat of the passions and the passions themselves can easily become the tools of the lower forces - in the end those taking part in such exercises will unconsciously experience something contrary to morality? For this reason we set up rules that men and women of the Subud Brotherhood exercise separately.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. L No. 2, page 28 - Clarifications by Bapak, 1960.

17. Why men must be opened by men and women by women

CONCERNING the Opening

At the moment of the Opening both the new member and the opener must be in a condition of complete sincerity and surrender to the power of Almighty God. As was explained previously, the latihan kejiwaan of Subud is one that is brought about by a supreme Life Force, free from the influence of the passions, the heart and the mind, so that what is received at the moment of Opening is something beyond our comprehension. Both the opener and the one to be opened are simultaneously touched from within by the Life Force, and the movements and inner vibrations which result arise quite apart from our own volition.

This means that although the two persons are outwardly separate, inwardly they are one in feeling; what is received by the , Opener is also received by the one being opened. The only

difference is that the Opener has experienced this many times before, while for the one being opened it is something new. Because it is the first time, the latter may sometimes feel the touch of the supreme Life Force upon his inner-feeling in a rather weak and vague way, not yet quite definite, but it may also happen that he will receive the force strongly, so that he makes strong outward movements.

There are also cases where the outward movements indicate the presence of illness. This is sometimes indicated in extraordinary ways, which may not be seemly for the Opener to witness if the one being opened is of the opposite sex.

It is just because of such experience that men and women are separated in the latihan, and that men must be opened by men and women by women.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. I, No. 2, page 30 - Clarifications by Bapak, 1960.

18. Bapak's Statement to applicants

THERE is something else that is necessary for helpers, namely that they should, at some time before opening, read Bapak's Statement to people who wish to become Subud members. This is necessary so that applicants may, at an early stage, understand the meaning and aim of Subud.

BAPAK'S STATEMENT

BEFORE your "opening" and before you begin the latihan kejiwaan of worship in Subud, it is necessary for you to understand the meaning of the term Subud. Subud is the abbreviation of the words Susila Budhi Dharma.

Susila means: right living of man concordant with the will of Almighty God.

Budhi means: the force of the Life Power which is within man. Dharma means: submission, trust and sincerity towards Almighty God.

That is the meaning of Subud. By worshipping God through the latihan We hope to become human beings who really serve Him and obey His command.

In Subud you should neither force yourself to quieten your mind or concentrate your thought, but only surrender to Almighty God with full faith, trust and sincerity.

God is the Creator of everything existing in the universe, including human beings. Therefore it is clear that God is before all beginnings and beyond all endings. In short, Almighty God is All-knowing and All-powerful over everything He has created.

In worshipping God it is enough when in your inner feeling you submit with full faith, trust and sincerity.

We need not have any doubt that it is right not to use our will and thought in our worship but instead to surrender truly and submit with faith, trust and sincerity, for in such a state we are free from the pressure of passions and from the influence of sub-human forces. Indeed the influence of passions and of lower forces can work if you still use your will and thought, for these are in fact the channels by which desires and all the lower forces go in and out of the inner feeling of man.

Such is the meaning and aim of Subud.

Furthermore, when you have received the latihan of worship you will experience something which is in fact a process of purification. That means, all parts of your body - formerly filled with desire and lower forces caused by the working of will and thought - are cleansed little by little. All this will happen and work by itself, without the interference of the heart and mind.

This is what you will receive in the latihan kejiwaan of Subud. In truth the latihan kejiwaan of Subud is not a teaching but a receiving. This means that in doing or practicing the latihan of worship in Subud we are always free from all desires and wishes in our inner feeling, yet we remain fully aware of what we are receiving.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. IV, No. 4, page 117 - Statement by Bapak, 16 May 1958.

19. Monetary contributions

ORGANIZATION in Subud is not like other organizations; it is no more than the administrative machinery required by the Brotherhood in the various countries. It is obvious that appropriate places are needed for the purpose of our worship together, and there are many other needs for which the means should certainly be provided. It should be the responsibility of the committees to look after the financial side and to meet such needs within the given area. We should not rely only upon contributions from members to meet all these needs, for we have to remember that some of those who come in all sincerity to worship God are unable, for various reasons, to contribute anything. The committee should be able to lighten some of the burdens carried by their brothers, so that none is prevented from participating in the worship of God simply because of money. In this way, also, Subud avoids the suspicion that it is only open to the prosperous and not to the poor; it will be demonstrated that it is open to all who sincerely feel the need to worship God.

From 'Subud and the Active Life', page 28 (1st ed.), page 18 (2nd ed.) - 1959.

20. Note from the Editors

IT is advisable for helpers to speak to applicants not only concerning the spiritual aspects, but also concerning the worldly - i.e. administrative and financial - aspects of the Subud Brotherhood.

Chapter 5

THE OPENING

1. Meaning of the word 'Opening'

THE Opening in thee Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud means to open (release, relieve) the pressure the nafsu always exert on the self of the person who wants to be able to receive contact with the power of the One God, which envelops both the outer and the inner.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VIII, No. 5, page 153 - (letter) 1 March 1971.

2. Helpers and the Opening

BAPAK hopes and advises that the helpers will be really aware and really feel the nature of the Opening, so that they will know that neither do they themselves do anything in this, nor are they sources of the power of God. They are merely channels through which the contact passes to others. Let there be no feeling in you that you yourself are able to give the contact or to open people. Never feel yourself to be powerful, one who knows more, an elder, one who has something to give to others – never! You are nothing but a channel, and God alone is the source of all this.

It can easily happen that the person who is being opened is able to receive more quickly and has a higher jiwa than the opener who serves as the channel for him to receive the contact. But although his jiwa is of a higher quality than that of the opener, until the time of his Opening it remains closed. Once he has received the contact which flows through the being of the opener, his jiwa is awakened and his experience of this awakening may be more than that of the one who opens him.

This can easily happen. Bapak says therefore that there can be no elder in the helpers' group; they are all the same. It is only God Who can know the higher and the lower, the much or the little received by the helpers, or to what level anyone has attained. We can only receive what God bestows upon us.

When Bapak says that it is God alone Who knows these things, it means that we can know only if God wills, so that our knowledge is founded upon what is bestowed upon us by God. So also when Bapak tests with you, it is not a question of what he wishes to know; he only surrenders to God and receives what God bestows. This is but another way of saying that man is no more than a channel. It is true for Bapak himself; for there may be someone who after receiving the contact will receive more than does Bapak, and Bapak cannot complain to God about this.

It should be clear, therefore, with the explanations Bapak has given, that the work of the helpers or openers is not to guide others, but only to act as witnesses when people are being opened. It should also be understood that the way to do so is simply that the helpers should carry out their own worship of God in exactly the same way as usual, so that no influence from themselves can enter. In this way the openers can also receive from God for themselves, for their minds and feelings will not be directed towards the one being opened, but they will only be standing before Almighty God.

From 'Subud and the Active Life ', page 173 (1st ed), page 12 7 (2nd ed.) - 1959.

3. Helpers' cleansing latihan before the Opening

BEFORE coming to an Opening it is desirable for the helpers to do a latihan. This is done in order that your own state should be purified, because otherwise you may be thinking about your unpaid bills or your sick child or some quarrel you have had; and if your thoughts and feelings are not quiet when you come to an Opening, then instead of being just a channel through which the Life Force can reach the newcomers, all the turmoil accumulated in you will flow towards them, and both the helpers and those being opened will lose thereby. There will be a greater profit for you as helpers if you follow this practice of quieting yourselves before an Opening than if you neglect it. Not only will it result in satisfaction for the inner feelings of those receiving the contact, but at that moment the helpers themselves will be able to receive and be in contact with the truly great and powerful Life Force.

From 'Subud and the Active Life ', page 175 (1st ed.), page 128 (2nd ed.) - 1959.

4. Declaration of faith before the Opening

AS for the way to open someone who wishes to join Subud, that person is requested to stand facing the helper-opener. He is then asked to declare that he truly believes in God and His Power, and that he will worship none other than Almighty God.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VIII, No. 1, page 21 - (letter A 602) 1970.

5. Declaration must be made by person to be opened

CONCERNING the statement of declaration of belief in the greatness of the One God and willingness to obey and follow His instruction and guidance that manifest in the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, this declaration must be made by the people who are to be opened. Because if it is the helper-opener who makes the declaration, then the persons being opened are like people being directed, and not acting through their own full determination. The helpers have to be aware of this. Thus, it is not something new or something old but something that must be this way.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VIII, No. 6, page 169 - (letter) 1 April 1971.

6. Further to above

JUST before the 'Opening words' are spoken, before an Opening, when a declaration of belief in God is asked of the candidate members, Rahayu said it was best to have the candidates make the full statement themselves. It is not enough for the helpers to ask the candidates: 'Do you believe in God and wish to worship only Him?' with the candidates only having to answer 'Yes' or 'I do'. It is important for the candidate members to state in their own words: 'I believe in One Almighty God and wish to worship only Him'.

However it is easier for candidates, and still acceptable, for helpers to ask the candidates to 'Repeat after me':

'I believe in the One Almighty God' (wait for candidate to repeat):

'And I wish to worship only God' (wait for candidate to repeat).

However it is best to be flexible and to reword the statement for those who are as yet unable to believe in God, to:

'I wish to believe in the One Almighty God and worship only Him', with the reminder that Bapak says we must accept anybody into Subud who sincerely asks to receive the Contact.

Answers to questions to be made available to all helpers throughout the world via regional and group helpers, sent by ISC Helpers to all Councilors, 4 January 1979.

7. The Opening (the first latihan Of a new member in Subud)

IT is necessary for you, as helpers, to know the right way of opening applicants who have reached the time for being opened. The way to open them is as follows:

When the helpers stand in front of those who are to be opened, it is necessary for one of the helpers to say this:

OPENING WORDS

'WE are helpers in the Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud and we are here to be as witnesses to your wish to worship the One Almighty God. We hope that your wish is truly based on sincerity.

You know that the One Almighty God is the Creator of the whole universe, of all that can be seen as well as of all that cannot be seen with our ordinary eyes. God is All-Glorious, All-Knowing and All-Powerful. Therefore in your worship, to which we bear witness, it will not be right to make use of your own self-willed desires and thoughts. For this reason we hope that at this moment you do not concentrate your thought, but open your feelings, truly surrender and submit your own will to the will of God, and be patient and sincere before the glory and greatness of the One Almighty God.

So that your feelings can become calm, we would like you to close your eyes, and to stand quite relaxed and to pay no attention to other people exercising. Also, when movement arises within your body, do not resist it and do not feel anxiety, but freely follow whatever arises within you.'

When the helper has spoken as explained above, all the helpers themselves should do their own latihan as usual. It is not necessary to think of the people who have been opened - leave it to the power of Almighty God. In this way the condition in the Opening will be clear, so that those on each side - that is, the helpers on one side and those being opened on the other - will receive what is necessary for themselves.

From Bapak's letter to Sjafrudin Achmad and the Bournemouth Committee, 3 September 1958.

8 Take turns as openers

WHEN a new member is being opened: this can be done by one helper as opener, while the other helpers stand by. This is sufficient. It should be done like this so that they can take turns if there are many members to be opened.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VII, No. 2, page 19 - relevant recording: 67 NYC 2.

9. Helpers during the Opening

IF there is a new member who wishes to be opened, it is normal that he will, first of all, listen to explanations about Subud and then, finally when the time comes to be opened, he will meet with the helpers and prepare to do the latihan. At that time normally the new member has to say a few words which express his faith in God Almighty, followed by some words which are normally spoken by the helper. And at that moment the helper who is doing the Opening must surrender completely the state of this new member to God Almighty. So the helper only says to himself: 'Oh, God, I bring to You this person who wishes to worship God Almighty. Please grant him his wish in accordance with his own nature; in accordance with what he is able to receive.' Then the helper only does his own latihan, surrendering everything to God Almighty, and then God Almighty will give to the member who is being opened. It is not that the helper opens the member, or that the helper is directing his attention to the member who is being opened. And if the Opening is done in the way that Bapak has explained, then the helper who is doing the Opening will not feel any burden, or any heaviness, from opening this new member.

It is clear, and we know very well, that usually people who are coming to be opened have many many things on their mind. More than that, very often they have done all sorts of things before, like occultism and magic and all these sorts of things. So if the helper feels or receives something from the new member, at that moment he can feel very very unwell and very heavy from the Opening. But if this happens it is because the helper is still paying attention to the member who is being opened.

If the helper at that moment completely surrenders only to God Almighty, then not only will the helper not feel heavy from the Opening, but, more than that, he will receive something for himself as a reward for having brought a new person to the worship of God - while the person being opened will himself receive something from God Almighty that he can feel, and that will really be satisfying for his needs.

From Pewarta Special Supplement No. 10, page 231 - relevant recording: 77 BUE 2.

10. Acting as a channel

BAPAK has often said that a helper's work is indeed really heavy, since he or she is, in effect, acting as a channel for the Life Force which awakens the inner-feeling of the person being opened. This happens because of the fact that the helper is one who has already received the contact with the power of God. Therefore the helper is obliged to feel everything that is felt by the person being opened. Thus if, for example, the person to be opened has some sorrow in his heart, the helper who opens him is bound to feel sad; and so too if the person to be opened is suffering from illness, the helper or opener will also feel his illness. But if, on the other hand, it so happens that the person being opened is pure in heart and has had a virtuous life, the opener in turn will feel pure, calm and satisfied in his inner-feeling.

This is how. it is for someone who has become a helper, although the pain he suffers or the feeling of peace and satisfaction he receives do not remain in him for long. For this reason it is therefore very necessary for Subud helpers that they should be strong of heart and truly have a feeling of surrendering patiently and sincerely to the power of God.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. V, No. 3, page 77 - (letter) 5 August 1966.

11. Duties of helpers to those they have opened

SUBUD helpers are called 'pembantu pelatih'. 'Pembantu' means 'to help', 'pelatih' means 'to train'. Thus, pembantu-pelatih means assistant trainer. Supposing that the trainer is Bapak, the helpers are thus Bapak's helpers. They should be like Bapak, or at least a little.

What is important and what is needed for helpers is that they should open a brother or sister who wishes to join Subud; and after opening him or her the helper should not behave like someone who is flying a kite and after flying it, cutting the string and letting it go. Thus, helpers should not open a person and then leave him to do as he wishes.

But after an opening, it is necessary that there should be an inner bond, a relationship in the inner feeling, between the opener and the person who is opened, because when you open a new member you affirm that you are a witness. Although it cannot be seen because you have not reached the required level for it, yet it has been witnessed by the power of God that you open a new brother. If you just let him walk as best he can after you have opened him, and if you are asked: 'Why don't you look at him again?' you answer: 'Why should I bother?' it means that you do not take responsibility. You commit a sin.

Thus, if you have opened a new brother you should feel how he is. If necessary you should visit him so that he will really be aware of the nature of the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, Susila Budhi Dharma.

Bapak has had this experience everywhere, brothers and sisters. Recently in Surabaja, Bapak received a brother who came to Bapak and said:

'Pak, if I may, I want to speak to Bapak.'

'What about, son?'

'I have been a member of Subud for five years, and I do not understand what is called the latihan.'

'Well, what is this? Who opened you?'

'Mr. A.'

Then Bapak asked Mr. A: 'How is this? After five years and still like this?'

Mr. A. replied: 'Well, he never appears.'

Well, both sides wish to be right, and both are wrong. If the member does not appear, you should look for him so that he will appear.

Bapak then told this member to enter the latihan room, and Bapak assisted his latihan. Afterwards, when he was asked: 'How is it?' the member said: 'Oh, is this what is called the latihan?' 'Yes, it is that.'

'Well, that is the first time I could feel it.'

There are cases like this in Malang, in Surabaja, in Solo, and in Jogja; and Bapak does not know about here but you should not ask Bapak about it again. Actually, if there is a brother who is like that, the opener should be concerned - concerned: 'Oh, what is the matter? Why is he like that?' He must find out why the member in question cannot receive the latihan.

This, brothers and sisters, is what Bapak always needs to say to you. This is one of the reasons for the lack of a feeling of brotherhood, and for the split and lack of unity in the Brotherhood; and if it is so, there is no use saying: 'Assalanm 'alaikum rahmatullahi wa barakatuh' (Peace be with you and the blessing of God and His Grace), which is a salaam of love, a salaam of real brotherhood.

Thus, if there is a brother who does not come he should be asked the reason why. If he really does it intentionally and says: 'No, you should leave' me alone, I have asked to resign', or 'l am no longer a Subud member'; well, then it is not your fault and it is not your sin, but the sin of the brother himself; for he does not keep the promise he made when he was opened.

But if you yourself do not carry out your obligation, then it is you who do not keep your promise to God - you who have become His intermediary at the time of opening.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. V, No. 5, page 31 known as Second Bandung Talk. Relevant recording.. 66 BDO 1.

12. Best to have openings separately from group latihan

SITI Rahayu said it was really best to have Openings separately from the group latihan. In other words, the helpers should be alone with the candidate members to be opened for the entire latihan, instead of having the rest of the members join in after a while. Such private Openings would also enable the helpers to allow the newly opened members to do latihan as long as was needed for them to receive and feel the latihan (as suggested in Bapak's talk).

From Ibu Siti Rahayu, (letter) 4 January 1979.

13. Helpers to continue the Opening until the person can receive

IF helpers open someone, they must wait there until that person can receive. Supposing it takes an hour or an hour and a half and that person still cannot yet receive, then the helpers repeat it again and again on subsequent days, until he or she really can receive. And in that way that person will not eventually feel disappointed, and will not say: 'What in fact is this spiritual opening? I do not understand.'

From Bapak's talk in Hawaii - relevant recording: 77 HNL 2.

14. Leave Opening to God

BAPAK always advises helpers, who are opening somebody, not to have a feeling that they are opening somebody, but instead to surrender the matter completely to the power of God Almighty. The process is like this - it goes from the helper to God Almighty, and then God Almighty gives to the person being opened, the Opening that we know. This is very important because in that case the helper is free from all responsibility or sin in this matter, because there is no man who is free from sin. If the helper opens someone with an attitude of 'I, the helper, am opening this person', then automatically the sins of this person who is being opened will affect the inner being of the helper who is doing the opening. For that reason it is very important for the helper to leave the matter entirely to God Almighty, and then the one who does the opening of the new member concerned is God Almighty - and in that case both the helper and the new member will receive what they need. The helper will himself then receive grace and a benefit from God Almighty, because he has been willing to surrender the whole matter to God Almighty.

This is certainly something that those of you who are helpers have experienced. But supposing you are about to open somebody, and let's say his thinking is still in a great mess when you face him - the moment you face him, at the moment of the Opening, you feel very unwell, and you can say that you feel extremely awful. This is a sign that you are already affected by that person, right at the beginning, at the beginning of the Opening. And this is so because that person who is just being opened, is still completely under the influence of many many lower forces - these influences are still 100 per cent strong within him, and so his state is still very very dirty, and this dirt will, of course, affect the being of the helper at that moment.

The reason that this happens is because the helper is thinking about the paying attention to the person who is being opened, whereas what he should do 100 per cent is to turn only towards the power of God Almighty, so that as, far as the person who is being opened - it's enough just to take note of him, but it's not necessary to pay attention to him, or to think about him.

You can take Bapak himself as an example of this. When Bapak faces all of you, it may be that among you there are people who are very confused, or who are in a bad state, or something like that. But none of this touches Bapak in any way, because at the moment Bapak confronts you Bapak is not confronting you, but is only confronting God Almighty. Therefore it does not affect Bapak at all what state you happen to be in when you are in front of Bapak, because Bapak is only facing God Almighty.

Conversely, you yourself are not facing Bapak, but you are also facing God Almighty, so that Bapak receives what he needs, which is that Bapak is facing something clean, that is the power of God, and you are also facing something clean, so that you can feel this cleanness within yourself at that moment. This is why Bapak says it is very important - and Bapak would like from now on, that the helpers (if you are opening someone) should take note of this and try to do the Opening in this way, because if you can do that then you will from the beginning not be affected.

If you come in front of someone who is in a confused state and you then feel sick, it means from the very beginning you are already affected by him. What is necessary is that from the very beginning, before you meet the person, you already surrender completely to God Almighty, and you continue this surrendering all through the Opening, so that you will in no way be affected by the state of the person being opened, whereas he himself will receive what he needs because he will be face to face with the power of God.

This is something that Bapak can illustrate so that you can grasp it with your mind. If you are facing a cool stream or cool water, then you will feel cool. If you are facing fire then you will feel hot. Bapak gives this advice to the helpers, and Bapak really hopes that you can carry this out to some extent - maybe not 100 per cent to start with, but at least you can try to make a start. If you can open people in this way, then it will be for you like an exercise or a practice in being able to distinguish between what comes from the nafsu and what comes from the power of God.

If Bapak can give you an example - Bapak himself. Bapak, at all times, is in a state which, if you could see it, is like this - Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah, all the time. That means that Bapak is at every second, every moment of the day, worshipping God Almighty; that means that if something unpleasant is coming towards Bapak, in front of Bapak, that unpleasant something immediately disappears - and what makes it disappear is not Bapak, but the power of God Almighty.

From Pewarta Special Supplement No. 5, page 9 7 - relevant recording: 77 WOB 3.

15. Cleansing latihan after an Opening

A 'CLEANSING' latihan is only for helpers and should be carried out for about fifteen minutes after an Opening.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. II, No. 3/4, page 64 - (letter) 1961.

Note: See also 'Cleansing latihan' at end of Chapter 'Aspects of the latihan'

Chapter 6

ASPECTS OF THE LATIHAN

1. Helpers act only as 'bystanders'

IT is necessary for all helpers to remember that in the latihan kejiwaan of worship in Subud, the helpers act only as 'bystanders' who do not influence and do not wish to influence the person by whom they stand, so that both of them are worshipping together, and also receive together what is needed for the inner feeling of each of them.

For if this is not so, not only will the person who is stood-by not obtain anything, but also the 'bystander' (helper) will not make any progress. For the truth is that helpers do not open the way for the person whom they stand by, and if they try to do so they may close the way for that person's worship of God.

You are, of course, already aware that the latihan kejiwaan of worship in Subud is not a teaching but a receiving, as it was experienced and received by all the Prophets in former centuries. So it is clear that what is obtained in the latihan kejiwaan is exclusively by the will of God the Almighty; this is usually called Mu'jizatullah - the miraculous gift of God.

From Bapak, letter to Margaret Wichmann, Sjafrudin Achmad and others, 14 July 1958.

2. Spontaneous latihan

IF latihan really and truly comes on spontaneously (not by will) it is, in fact, a latihan needed by the jiwa. This may be received and followed as long as it is needed by the jiwa. However, if it lasts too long and takes too much of your time (for instance, during working hours), it may be you should ask God's permission for His power to stop it and to continue it during leisure hours.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. II, No. 3/4, page 66 - (letter) 1961.

3. Quiet before the latihan

BAPAK hopes that when you come to the place of latihan before the latihan kejiwaan, you wig! not bring with you a head full of thoughts; for then you will not be able to receive, but will only be throwing off the thoughts which you have carried with you into the place where the latihan is held. You should not do this, It is better that you should quieten yourselves before coming to the latihan and not think of anything, so that when you begin the latihan this one half-hour may be truly profitable for you all. The essence of this is that you should not come to the latihan in order to get rid of your thoughts, but so as to be able to receive what you need.

From 'Subud and the Active Life ', page 11 ( first ed.), page 83 (2nd ed.) - 1959.

4. Waiting before the latihan

ACTUALLY there are no friends, no enemies in a Subud group, no higher or lower, all are equal. But helpers need to be very patient and thoughtful towards the members, being careful always to give no impression of being more 'advanced', or being in any way in a position of authority.

In the period of waiting before latihan, while, all the members are gathering together, helpers especially should be very quiet in their inner, avoid unnecessary chatter, and by exercising inwardly, they can for that short time truly be a helper, because by being there in that state, an atmosphere of harmony is created, so that non-helpers, many of whom will be or wish to be in the same state, will at once feel a spiritual bond and relationship of value.

Refuse to chatter, refuse to talk privately with other helpers at such a time. It seems that where helpers do not meet with and be with the members in this way, feelings of resentment, inferiority, unkindness and even great spiritual loneliness sometimes grow up among the members, who may become confused and dismayed, for they come to worship God, and instead of fellowship and harmony during the time when they are waiting to start their latihan, they are being distracted and disturbed because their inner need for quietness is not recognized, not provided for and sometimes even denied them.

Helpers, too, should remember that some members have been limited to two latihans a week, and are advised not to exercise alone at home yet, so that an unharmonious atmosphere before the latihan for them becomes a heavy burden and a sorrow instead of a quiet and happy time when they can feel peaceful and relaxed among their spiritual brothers or sisters.

M’Bakyu Rochanawati's letter to helpers, 11 April 1960.

5. Preparing for the latihan

THE reason why A. still has little movement is his own fault, because he still has a lot of thoughts and ideas whenever he is about to do the latihan kejiwaan, but it is not because he was not opened properly. So he should not think about anything or have any ideas before doing the latihan. He should just say within himself: 'God, God, God'. If he can do this, he will be able to feel a vibration of life; that is, the vibration of the inner-feeling when it is touched by the contact from the power of Almighty God. This vibration finally manifests itself in the movements and energy that are called the latihan kejiwaan.

As regards you yourself, it is better not to feel or think too much, because if you think and feel about another person you attract that person's feeling to your own inner-feeling. For this reason, you should be patient in your daily life and think only about the matters pertaining to your own household; and before you do the latihan kejiwaan empty yourself of all thoughts and ideas, and turn your whole inner-feeling towards the power of Almighty God which envelops you both within and without.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VII, No. 3, page 9 - (letter 309} 1969.

6. Arranging the attendance of helpers at latihan

IF there are a hundred members in a center, and ten or twenty helpers, they should take it in turn to attend the latihan kejiwaan during the week and not come to all of them; five should attend on the first evening, five on the second and so on. If there are fewer than a hundred members - say twenty-five or fifty and ten helpers, then the number of helpers attending each evening latihan can be reduced to three or four. With this arrangement the helpers will have some evenings for themselves, whereas if they have to come every evening and during that evening take three or four latihans, that may mean they do as many as twelve latihans in a week, which is really very heavy. The latihans should therefore be arranged so as to lighten the burden on the helpers.

The arrangement of the number of latihans and the times in each locality should be made by the helpers together, as they have no chairman or secretary; since members of the helpers' group are supposed to be more purified than the others, any arrangement should be made harmoniously, with a common feeling of purity and closeness - there should be no element of desire to lead or follow the lead of another. A meeting of this kind should be governed by a mutual understanding and a mutual feeling as to what is right. It is therefore necessary to test everything together.

When arrangements have to be made - for instance, for a helper to visit a member living at a distance - it should be decided by testing who should go. The same applies to the visiting of sick people; in this way the helper chosen to undertake this task will not feel any burden and will have a feeling of shared responsibility.

From 'Subud and the Active Life' page 177(1st ed.),page 130 (2nd ed.) 1959.

7. Frequency of latihan

THE helpers have to ensure that nobody does the latihan more than two or three times a week. Sometimes it is allowed to exercise twice with the group and once at home, according to circumstances.

From M’bakyu Rochanawati's talk to women helpers in Europe,1959-60.

8. The latihan in everyday life

THE latihan kejiwaan we do twice a week, the latihan we do on Mondays and Thursdays and so on, is only the condition, only the basis or the framework that is provided for our latihan. It is only the beginning. That is only the prerequisite for being in Subud.

The latihan for us is throughout our everyday life, because it is through receiving the guidance of God in our everyday life that we bring closer the power of God with our own being, so that we will no longer be inferior, for example, to the animals, because we will get to know our right way, we will be shown how to live in · this world.

From Pewarta Special Supplement No. 13, page 290 - relevant recording: 77 LAX 3.

9. Latihan by married couples

BAPAK does not really approve of married couples in Subud doing the latihan kejiwaan together, and Bapak does not permit this, because in fact the latihan kejiwaan of Subud which you are following is your worship of Almighty God. As for the way in which you worship Almighty God, in this you are guided and directed by His power. You must realize this because in your worship of Almighty God your inner nature must be completely free from the influence of the nafsu, whereas if men and women do the latihan together, simultaneously and in the same place, it will actually attract the influences of the nafsu. This, of course, will easily cause both men and women members to experience a turmoil of the nafsu asmara (passion of love) which they will be powerless to prevent.

If, at the time of Opening, women must be opened by women helpers and men must be opened by men helpers, then why after they are able to receive and to do the latihan kejiwaan, should they suddenly be permitted to receive and do the latihan together, simultaneously and in the same place? Clearly this only comes from the pressure of the nafsu, and they are not yet aware that the latihan kejiwaan is quite different from ordinary exercises, which are awakened by the will and the nafsu. In fact, Bapak forbids such behavior, seeing that the latihan kejiwaan of Subud which you receive and follow is really and truly guidance and direction from the power of Almighty God.

You should feel very fortunate that the nafsu, which usually control you, can be put aside through the grace of Almighty God. Therefore, as far as possible, you should no longer permit yourselves to be playthings of the nafsu which influence your heart and mind.

A HUSBAND and wife may do latihan together once in a while, but you must remember that sometimes, while having latihan with your wife, you may be made to perform various intimacies so that you just have sexual intercourse. That is why it is best that you do not have latihan together too often but only occasionally.

From a letter by Ibu Siti Rahayu, 20May 1980.

FOR example, with a married couple, if the wife is ill and her husband is willing to help her, then sometimes they may do latihan together. But there is also a reason why they are not always allowed to do the latihan together (such as in paragraph above), for the result of this will be the desire for or the act of sexual intercourse. It is not right when it is like this, for then there is no progress spiritually, as this is just for physical reasons.

Also, if a husband and wife already have latihan together, they should not feel that it is unnecessary for them to attend the group latihan, This is wrong. Therefore, it is just occasionally that they may have latihan together.

So, in reality there are two answers. The reason why Bapak does not give permission for married couples always to have latihan together is if their latihan results in always having sexual relations, this clearly is not right, for the content of the latihan is each individual's worship towards the One Almighty God.

Ibu Siti Rahayu's answer to the International Helpers, 2 August 1980.

10. Not doing latihan with the group

THE one who values the latihan kejiwaan, even though, let us say, he does not do latihan with the group, as long as he values the latihan and accepts the power of God Almighty, then God will also always guide him and accompany him. Bapak can only express the hope that you will not separate yourselves from your brothers and sisters.

Actually if you decide to do this, you are in fact only giving in to and following the will of the material or satanic forces and also the animal forces. In other words, you are submitting yourself to the influence of your own nafsu.

'From Pewarta Special Supplement t No. 13, page 2 77 relevant recording: 77 MEX 3.

11. Latihan at home

NOBODY is allowed to do latihan alone unless given permission by a helper. After three months' latihan a helper may give permission to someone to exercise at home in addition to with the group, provided that the helper is satisfied that the person can stop the latihan after half-an-hour.

From M’Bakyu Rochanawati, talk to women helpers in Europe,1959-60.

12. Latihan of isolated members

Question: Would Bapak clarify - since distance has no significance in spiritual matters - is it quite proper for isolated people to do latihan alone at the same time as the group? This will no doubt be a justification for people to stay at home to do their latihan, since some sacrifice of time and money is needed to travel to the center.

Answer: It is very necessary that helpers give advice to prevent this happening, because it is only meant for members who live at a considerable distance from an established group, and who are unable always to take part in the group latihan. They may and can have latihan on their own and need not come to the group provided that their latihans are done at the same time as that of the group; in other words, if the group always does latihan on Mondays and Thursdays, those living far away also do it on Monday and Thursday. Doing it at the same time, they will be in contact with each other and their latihan can go well. But this does not apply to members belonging to one group and all living in, say, New York, and who then, because the latihan place is some little distance away, think that they have no need to go there and so do latihan by themselves at home. Not at all!

From Bapak, 'Subud in the World', page 64 relevant recording: 63 BCL 6.

13. Duration of latihan

IF we really weigh this and feel it, half-an-hour or a little over is sufficient for the members to do the latihan kejiwaan. It is also sufficient for them to do the latihan kejiwaan twice a week. In view of the fact that the capacity of the inner-feeling, heart and mind are not yet in proper balance with the developing jiwa, then if a person does the latihan kejiwaan too frequently he will be likely to experience confusion in his inner-feeling; this is what is called a crisis.

For this reason Bapak hopes that you will arrange the latihans for the members in the ordinary way. And if you really consider it to be necessary to have more latihan, you may lengthen the latihan by adding fifteen minutes to the time, and you may increase the total number of latihans by one only, so that there are three latihans a week.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VII, No. 3, page 13 - (letter A-104) 1969.

14. Finishing the latihan

SITI Rahayu said it was important that the helpers made sure that everybody had really finished their latihan before they left the latihan hall, and that none left in an unquiet state.

This advice was in response to a question about following Bapak's experience of ending testing sessions with the members by saying: 'Return to your original position., be calm., finish.' Siti Rahayu was being asked if group helpers should also make that statement, and Siti Rahayu answered that there had been unfavorable reports from some groups when this had been tried, so that helpers should feel out what is best for their group:

From Ibu Siti Rahayu, (letter) 4 January 1979.

15. Latihan with the sick

IF the sick person is a member and cannot come to the place of latihan because he is too seriously ill, one or two helpers could come and do the latihan at the home of the sick person. The sick person should remain lying in bed and the helpers do the latihan near to him for half-an-hour. But if the sick person could still come to the place of general latihan, he should participate in the latihan for all, as usual, and the helpers give their help also as usual. It is not necessary to do the latihan for sick people who are non-members, because it may bring about misunderstanding.

After the latihan by the helpers for the sick, the helpers should have a cleansing latihan of 5-15 minutes.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. 1I, No. 3/4, page 70 - (letter) 1961.

16. Advice concerning latihan after major operation

REGARDING your question about latihan after a major operation, Bapak says it is necessary to wait three months after an operation has been performed.

From letter to women helpers' group, Subud U.K., Jakarta From Bapak - (letter) 24 October 1966

17. Latihan with sick member of opposite sex

THE reply to your question is that it is not allowed to assist the latihan of a sick person of the opposite sex. If the patient is a woman, a woman helper should assist her, and if it is a man who is ill, then it must also be a man who assists him.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. V, No. 2, page 47 - (letter) I September 1966.

18. Latihan for sick child or member

IT is indeed good to ask assistance from helpers when a child of a member or a member himself is ill, so that the helpers can do latihan near him. In the case of the member himself, it is not necessary to do this while he is asleep. The helper could do latihan with him when he is awake. Only when it is a child who is ill and needing help should the helper do latihan near the child while he is asleep.

From 'Subud in the World; page 33 - relevant recording: 63 BCL 2.

19. Latihan for the dying

FOR non-Subud members: you should not do a latihan for a dying person if you have not yet received a request to do so from the person concerned or her relatives, because otherwise it will be a kind of compulsive action, it means forcing someone who does not wish it. It will possibly result in people saying that you are doing something unseemly.

You are allowed to do a latihan for a relative of a Subud member who is dying on the condition that you are requested to do so by his or her family, although the person concerned does not ask you to do so. If by chance the dying person is your own husband, your own brother or your own father, you are allowed to do a latihan for him; and for the men helpers, they are also allowed to do a latihan for their own wife, their own sister or their own mother who is dying.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. I, No. 4, page 93 - (letter) 1960.

20. Latihan and the dead

THE way you wish for God's help is simply by doing your own latihan; whether that wish is granted or not depends entirely on God. In doing the latihan kejiwaan in this way you will also receive what is necessary for your own development; but if you intend to ask forgiveness for the dead person in your latihan it will not make any difference for him. Therefore, just do the latihan kejiwaan so that you may receive what is necessary for you; this means that it may not only be of help for the dead person, but you yourself may also receive in this way. And all that depends upon the mercy and grace of God alone.

It is not necessary to do the latihan in the presence of the body, for the way to God - the spiritual world - is unlimited by time or space; it covers the whole world the whole universe. The custom of praying near the corpse is only to show other people that what is being done is directed towards the dead; it is for the eyes of men to see, not for the eyes of God.

From Bapak in 'Subud and the Active Life ', page 240 (1st ed.),page 173 (2nd ed.) - 1959.

21. Noisy latihan

IN case of a member whose latihan is so noisy that it is very disturbing to other members, to the extent that they cannot do their latihan, this should not be. Ideally, no one should be disturbed by the noisy latihan of another, in all probability he or she needs to make this noise, but since it does happen, then it is better to make arrangements for the noisy member to do latihan with other noisy members.

From Bapak, (letter) 10 June 1978.

22. Awareness of others in latihan

FOR instance, what you receive is only a small voice but because you are feeling good you shout. Well, you may be feeling good, but those who hear you do not feel good. So although it may be all right for you, Bapak hopes you will also be aware of what is right for others. This is necessary. Why? Because you must have Susila. Yes - and certainly later you will acquire it.

In Bapak's case, for instance, if Bapak says 'laillaha illallah, laillaha illallah,' and on hearing this Bapak's neighbor is inwardly wondering whose voice it is, Bapak will stop. Why? Because Bapak has received it. Even if a person is only asking questions in his heart, Bapak can receive it.

In your case you cannot receive this yet. So, because you cannot yet receive this you should, for the' time being, make an effort; you should be able to differentiate. The brother who shouts as loud as he can in the latihan, well, of course it is nice for him. His feelings are relieved. But those who hear him will be annoyed, and therefore he should take this into account. So when doing the latihan, you should be able to say to yourself a kind of inner dialogue.

'In the latihan I shouldn't be making too much noise.'

'Well, I don't want to stop it.'

'Hush, you must; your neighbor is getting annoyed.' 'Bother my neighbor.'

'Well, what do you mean, you don't care about him? You are living here in this world along with lots of others - why not?'

Finally, you will be able - not just to understand - but to receive automatically the true Susila and you will carry this with you until, when you die, you come to the hereafter.

From 'Bapak's Second Bandung Talk' - relevant recording.' 66 BDO 1.

23. To ask God for help before or at end of latihan

FOR certain needs it is all right for a person to ask God for help before or at the end of the latihan. But for the general latihan - the nature of which is worship of God, wherein we surrender ourselves and place ourselves according to the needs of that latihan itself - it is not necessary for it to be preceded or ended with a request.

From Ibu Siti Rahayu – (letter 2425) 19 72.

24. 'Cleansing' latihan

CLEANSING' latihan should be done after:

Opening new member: 15 minutes.

Doing latihan with a member who is ill: 5-15 minutes.

Attending a member in crisis: 15-30 minutes.

'Cleansing' latihans are done by openers and helpers to free themselves from tensions they have received. Therefore these latihans are only for helpers and not for ordinary members.

Chapter 7

MIXING

1. Explanations about Subud

WHEN explanations concerning Subud are required, these may be taken from the various talks that Bapak has given. This does not mean that Bapak stresses the importance of his talks or regards them as better than those given by anyone else, but they concern only Subud and what is to be found in Subud; no more and no less. If the helpers were to draw upon other sources for information, it would only confuse the minds of those to Whom they speak instead of making things clear to them; and this is certainly not in accordance with what happens in the spiritual latihan of Subud.

From 'Subud and the Active Life', page 175 (1st ed.),page 129 (2nd ed.) - 1959.

2. Danger of mixing

A HELPER of the Subud Spiritual Brotherhood is, in reality, like Bapak's helper, so his attitude should be like Bapak's attitude towards the members and also when opening the new members who join Subud.

As you know, the latihan kejiwaan of Subud has its existence and comes, not because it is studied in various ways, but 9nly through the grace of Almighty God. Therefore, everything that is received and experienced in the latihan is due to the grace of Almighty God which is given to the one who receives, so that it can be said that the movements and force which we call the latihan kejiwaan are direction and guidance from the power of Almighty God.

So it is clear that Subud members, in receiving and doing the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, are under the guidance and direction of Almighty God. If Subud members, in receiving and doing the latihan kejiwaan, are under the guidance and direction of Almighty God, why do they still need the guidance and direction of man?

Bapak does not forbid anyone who still likes to do so to combine another theory or way with the latihan kejiwaan but it is necessary for Bapak to warn people not to do this, because mixing a theory with the latihan kejiwaan of Subud will be dangerous for the self; the heart and mind will easily become confused, and it will be difficult for them to be quieted again.

The more so for helpers, or for a member who is proposed as a helper - it is clearly not as it should be if he or they still hold to such opinions.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VI, No. 3, page 17 - (letter) 1968.

3. Helpers mixing

THE helpers' group also has to make decisions within its group; for instance, if there is a helper who does something which is outside the order in Subud. For example: if there is a helper who, opening new members, still uses a theory of some other spiritual movement or if he teaches a practice other than Subud when accompanying the latihan of the members, then the helpers of the group must speak with the helper who has acted in that way and remind him. And if they have reminded him and he does not pay attention to the reminder of the helpers' group, he has to be made non-active as a helper, and also to be asked to return his helper's card which should be kept in the archives. Later, when he is aware of the mistake he has made as mentioned above and when the whole helpers' group can agree to it, he can become a helper again.

Certainly, as long as he as a helper offends against the arrangements and the established order in the Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud - for instance, if he opens people at his own wish and gives explanations to those who listen to him which deviate from the basis and purpose of the spiritual latihan of Subud - it must be noted in the files, so that what he has done is recorded. It should also be put on record by the helpers' group that all his actions are outside the responsibility of the helpers who still remain in Subud. It means, then, that whatever is done by the helper who has thus deviated, none of it is the responsibility of the helpers who remain, or who stay firmly in the group.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. IV, No. 3, page 95 - relevant recording: 64 PLG 4.

4. Hypnotism, spiritualism etc.

THE main condition is nothing else but to be empty - empty of imagination, empty of thought - every time you do the latihan kejiwaan. Therefore Bapak hopes you will not still let the knowledge of the human brain take part in any way. For instance: hypnotism, spiritualism, occultism, magnetism all belong to human knowledge, to the knowledge of the brain and desires (nafsu) of man. With these you concentrate your thought and concentrate your imagination, whereas through the latihan kejiwaan an emptying takes place, even a liberation, because concentration of the imagination is a block to receiving the education and gift of God to you.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VI, No. 1, page 11 - relevant recording: 6 7 WOB 2.

5. Members to be warned

ORDINARY members should be warned not to mix all kinds of practices with the latihan kejiwaan of Subud whenever they receive and follow it. Helpers, however, should never make use of these various practices with the latihan kejiwaan, because they are in fact Bapak's helpers and all their advice to the members should be related to the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, which is the worship of Almighty God.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VI, No. 4, page 7 (letter 196 7).

6. Religious movements

ON the question of the helpers who are involved in this (charismatic) movement, Bapak said there is no objection to a helper being active, no matter how deeply, in his religion, providing that what he says and does in carrying out his duties as a helper are in no way colored by the teachings of, or his experience in, his religion. In other words, all helpers in presenting Subud both to the members and the outside world, must stick to the line laid down by Bapak - which is that Subud is universal and all-embracing and represents the whole human race worshipping God. So they have to keep their religious beliefs and practices separate from their work as helpers.

Chapter 8

TESTING

1. Questions for testing

2. In order to test a question, the question should be expressed clearly by the person who asks it. But it the questioner asks about something in written form, the meaning of what he has written should be really and truly understood by the helpers who are to do the testing.

3. It is quite permissible for members to submit questions concerning subjects such as a change of job or house, marriage problems and so on, and for the helpers to test these questions. Only it is necessary to fix the days for this, for example once or twice a week. This is necessary so that the helpers can be assembled to do the testing together.

4. The testing on questions submitted by women members should be done by the Women helpers, and the testing on questions for men members should be done by the men helpers. This testing can be done both on questions submitted in written form and on questions submitted personally.

5. It is best not to permit anyone except the person submitting the question, to be present at the testing, as there is the possibility that it is not necessary for others to know and hear the question.

6. It is not yet permissible for helpers to test in the way Bapak does with members, when Bapak asks them: 'Where are your hands? Where are your feet? Where is your head? etc.' because most of the helpers are not yet on a suitable level to do such testing. And, in reality, the testing mentioned in this paragraph that Bapak does is an examination for you (to test how far you have progressed).

The helpers should not test in order to find out how far the jiwa of the members has progressed. This work can only be clone by a member or helper who is really on a high level in the field of the kejiwaan. For this reason, just to be obedient in receiving and following the way of the latihan kejiwaan of Subud with kesabaran (patience), ketawakalan (trustful acceptance), and keichlasan (sincere submission). For patience, trustful acceptance and sincere submission to the will of Almighty God are absolutely essential for the jiwa's development that you need.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud, Vol. VIII, No. 2, pages 41-43:(letter) 1 June 1970.

2. Concerning testing

WHEN a helper or a member carries out testing in the spiritual way (kejiwaan) of Subud it is similar to doing the latihan kejiwaan. The difference is that, when testing, the person who tests has a question to ask before doing the latihan, to which he or she then receives an answer in whatever form he is able to receive it. Whereas when one does the latihan it is necessary first to empty oneself of ideas and imaginings, to surrender in trust and sincerity to the will of Almighty God, and then one will receive and follow the guidance and direction that comes from the power of God manifested in the latihan kejiwaan.

This then is the difference between testing and just receiving and following the latihan kejiwaan. If, therefore, a member or a helper tests frequently, because there are many different questions, he will be obliged to reduce the time spent in receiving and practicing his latihan, which is, essentially, following the guidance and direction that come from the power of Almighty God.

Indeed it is necessary for people to test as well, but if this is done it is for reasons such as the need to know on what spiritual (kejiwaan) level a person now stands, or to enable one to know for oneself why it is that after being in Subud for a number of years one is still unable to receive experiences that can be felt. Testing can also be carried out when someone wishes to know how to behave in order to lessen the influence of the passions (nafsu) that still continually oppress his inner feeling, and in other cases where there is a connection with spiritual matters (kejiwaan).

Testing can also be done to select someone' to serve on a committee or as a helper, since these duties are always connected with spiritual matters.

The cases just mentioned certainly fall within the spiritual category and are in harmony with the way of the latihan kejiwaan, which is essentially guidance and direction from the power of Almighty God.

As you know, the latihan kejiwaan of Subud has its being and comes through the grace of Almighty God. Evidence of this is that its presence stills the thoughts and imagination and causes the working of heart and ,mind to cease. This is clear proof, and you yourselves have witnessed it.

If the latihan kejiwaan has come into being by the grace of Almighty God, it is only fitting that we should hold R in high respect, and not practice it simply as our hearts wish. For if we only follow the desires of our hearts when we do the latihan, it means that we degrade the guidance and direction of Almighty God, the All-Glorious and All-Wise.

On the other hand, if we do the latihan kejiwaan and use it following the spiritual way, this means that we truly hold in high esteem the guidance and direction of Almighty God, manifested in the latihan kejiwaan which we have received and are practicing. For this reason, so far as is possible, we should not employ testing for purposes that fall outside the field of spiritual matters.

If necessary, you may also test in order to be able to know your fate, and what to do to be able to change it for the better. But you should not then ask about all your various needs, as if you were questioning a 'dukun' (witch-doctor or fortune-teller). This sort of thing is indeed work for a witch-doctor or fortune-teller. But for us, whose primary aim is the worship of Almighty God in accordance with His direction and guidance, such a habit is rather far removed from our original objective.

The fact is that many questions can be weighed and examined with your hearts and minds, such as wanting to move house, to change your work, to discover how to pay your debts, to know how to manage your property, to find a marriage-partner or to improve an unfortunate lot in life. But occasionally, it is obvious that heart and mind are inadequate to reach a satisfactory conclusion, only then should you ask the helpers to test about such a problem. For if you fall into the habit of asking about all kind of things, you will eventually get into the way of being just an expert questioner, and you will not understand that the Subud latihan kejiwaan, which exists by the grace of Almighty God, will enable you to know for yourself all that is necessary. It is better, therefore, not to make a habit of testing such problems.

It may be that you feel such questions as these to be very important for you. Well, yes, if you feel that they are important, maybe every kind of problem that becomes a necessity in your life is important. But the essential purpose and content of these questions does not tally or correspond with your intentions at the time when you were about to enter the Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud.

If you will remember the situation at the time when you were about to enter Subud, you were reminded that the Subud latihan exists by and comes through the grace of Almighty God, and is in its essence man's Worship of God according to His guidance and direction manifested in the latihan kejiwaan.

This is the purport of what you were told. As for questions of healing, setting right the inner force (jiwa) and the purification of the inner feeling, which relate to one's fate in life, all this will proceed of itself, because the improvement of the inner force and purification of the inner feeling are carried out in the course of the latihan kejiwaan, which is in truth direction and guidance from Almighty God.

So it is clear that if you really do surrender patiently, sincerely and trustfully to the will of Almighty God, your inner force will be raised up towards a superior level, and your inner feeling will be cleansed of the impurities and faults which are the cause of your misfortune, so that subsequently you will be filled by an inner force of superior quality, and the purity of your inner feeling will cause your fate in life to become a good one.

You will not, of course, be able to experience all these results immediately, because your inner force has sunk too low, and the impurities and faults of your inner feeling form a closely interwoven network. Except through the grace of God, these results could never be achieved at all.

In fact, the reason why a person experiences misfortune is only because his inner force has not yet risen to a higher level, and his inner feeling is still full of impurities and faults. This is why their elders advise people to accept the misfortunes that they experience as a test or trial in their lives. For if the experience of misfortune is accepted as a test or trial in one's life, then, far from falling into despair, the heart and feelings will be surrendered. It is from just such a state that there arises a feeling of prihatin (self restraint in eating, sleeping and pleasures, combined with an attitude of surrender to God), of making an effort to correct one's fate by way of cutting down food and sleep, marital relations and all kinds of pleasures.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud, Vol. VII, No. 2, pages 3-9: relevant recording: 77 QLS 1.

3. Helpers should answer from testing, not conscience

AS for your saying that 'some helpers want to make tests about everything and about all decisions, etc.' Bapak says that it is indeed necessary that the testing be carried out by helpers who are able to do it well. But although this is the case, Bapak hopes that you will not carry out the testing in order to know things that are not necessary.

1. In reply to your questions: 'Can a helper be under an obligation to make a test?' Bapak says that for someone who is already able to do the testing well it is indeed necessary.

2. And in answer to your question: 'May a helper give the answer indicated by his conscience, without testing?' Bapak says: 'NO!'. It is necessary for the helper to give an answer to a question by testing, because an answer from carrying out the testing comes from within and is free from the influence of the passions.

3. Bapak's advice to your question: 'May a helper give his opinion as dictated by this conscience if he feels he cannot receive a sufficient answer by testing', is the same as in 2. above.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud, Vol. II, No. 4, page 117 - (letter) 2 March 1967.

THOSE who are going to test should first of all understand the meaning of the questions and then, not thinking about it any more, simply surrender to the power of Almighty God and begin to do the latihan in the ordinary way.

In the course of this they will be able to receive the answer to the question, with which they have already acquainted themselves, following the usual way in which they receive and do the latihan kejiwaan; that is, one will receive in the form of movements, another in the form of speech, and yet another will be already able to receive in the feelings and understanding.

For someone who receives in the form of movements, the answer may, for example, take the form of shaking the head to right and left for 'no', or if the movement is in the hands, the hands will move in such a way as to indicate ~o'. On the contrary, if the answer indicated in the movement is 'yes', the head will nod up and down, whilst if it is received through the movement of the hands, it is the movement of the hands which convey the meaning of 'yes'.

In the case of receiving in speech, apart from that which comes from the inner and without thinking about it, the mouth and tongue merely follow the words being spoken: 'Yes' or 'No'.

As to the last thing mentioned above - that is, receiving in the feelings and understanding - it seems that for you it is too soon to do this, for this stage seems still to lie far beyond your present situation.

Further to this, it is necessary to understand that in carrying out the work of testing as above, you should not let the person who is involved in the question take part in it, in order that those who are testing should feel free.

You will notice the variations in Bapak's answers as to whether the person who is asking a question should take part in the testing or not. It is up to the helpers to decide whether the questioner might disturb their receiving, or whether he himself can receive and it is useful for him later on to carry out what he and the helpers have received.

4. Testing if a member should have an operation

WHEN a question arises as to whether a sick person should or not undergo an operation, Bapak hopes that those of you who are helpers will be able to answer and give guidance to people who ask such questions, since by testing together you can establish whether or not an operation is necessary for the person who asks.

From 'Subud and the Active Life ', page 112 (1st ed.), page 82 (2nd ed.) - 1959.

5. Testing and worldly matters

IF we receive something from within we are still not sure whether this something is right or not. We cannot immediately assume that this is something from God, because there are within us so many other things which are from a lower source.

So, therefore, when it comes to making decisions about ordinary things in the outer world, then it is also right to take these decisions in an ordinary way - that is, just by thinking about them in the normal way, using the apparatus that we have been given by God Almighty for living in this world.

If we always have the feeling, or if we nurture the feeling within ourselves that no matter what we want to do we must get God's permission first, this will actually not bring us a situation which is light and free and open - but, on the contrary, it will bring us into a state that is more and more dark and confused.

So Bapak really advises you, in this case, when it comes to making decisions about practical matters, to do it in a normal way and not to do too much testing - because, as Bapak just said, this will not make you feel lighter and more open and more clear within yourself but, on the contrary, will bring you into a state of darkness.

From Pewarta Special Supplement No. 7, page 135 - relevant recording: 77 QLS 1.

6. Name and relevant problem should be known

WITH regard to your question whether numbers may be used instead of names, Bapak says the helpers may not use numbers; the name of the person should be known properly, and the person's problems understood.

You are certainly already able to understand that organization in the Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud is not like the organization of some associations which are usually concerned only with worldly matters, but it is the organization of an association concerned with matters both worldly and spiritual.

Therefore, when you want to decide anything, even though it is a matter of worldly importance only, it is best that you do not forsake the method of testing by means of the latihan kejiwaan, because the latihan kejiwaan represents for you a source from which you can obtain the directive you wish for.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. IV, No. 1, page 19 - Information and Advice from Bapak, 1965.

2. Testing for Chairman (man or woman)

SO that this election may be witnessed by all members concerned, it is fitting that one by one the candidates test in front of a meeting of general membership, with both men and women attending. As this election involves testing, the support of the helpers is required; both men and women helpers should join in witnessing and feeling so as to result in harmony of the feelings. The helpers whose duty it is to assist in the election on the national level are the National helpers, both men and women. The Regional helpers will assist in electing the Regional Committee. The local helpers will assist in electing the Group Committees.

From Ibu Siti Rahayu – (letter) November 19 74.

3. Committee not to resolve spiritual matters

CARE should be taken that the committee is not to resolve spiritual matters. It is merely an administrative body of the Subud Brotherhood, while the spiritual side is something that should be carried out through the power of Almighty God.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. II, No. 7-8, page 200 –(letter) 1962.

4. Include committee in helpers' latihan

BAPAK would like you always to hold latihans together - that is, the helpers - to hold latihans at least twice every month, latihans especially for the helpers. But also you should ask the committee to take part in these latihans so that the committee members will not feel left out, or will not feel that the helpers do not include them in the field of the kejiwaan, or that they are made only to think about worldly matters because, actually, the important thing in Subud is the kejiwaan, and that is why we join Subud. If the committee is left out, then gradually you will find there is nobody any more who wants to work on the committee.

This is very important and Bapak hopes that you will always pay attention to this: that at least twice a month there will be a latihan together between all the helpers and the committee. So that then there will be a good co-operation and a good feeling between the committee and the helpers, and especially between the helpers themselves, so that you will love one another, respect one another and will give way to one another, so that you will truly be in harmony.

From Pewarta Special Supplement No. 1 O, page 236 - relevant recording: 77 BUE 2.

5. Good co-operation between helpers and committee

NOW, apart from having a real harmony and a good co-operation between all the helpers on all the different levels, Bapak also feels it is very important to have a good co-operation and a good understanding between the helpers and the committee. To achieve this, all that is necessary is to have a very clear understanding of the boundary of the responsibilities of the helpers and the committee.

Now, the helpers have absolutely no responsibility for the organization and the worldly side, so they are not allowed to meddle in the organization, in the finances, in any of the things that concern the committee - these are the responsibility of the committee. It's very important that the helpers understand that they should not mix themselves into the work of the Committees.

The responsibility of the helpers is to make the members aware of what Subud is - like, for example, the question that Bapak was asked: that people are opened and then they don't come to latihan any more; or before they are opened they want to know what Subud is - so that all the members become really aware and understand what Subud is. This is a very big job.

So the helpers actually have a lot of work, a great deal of work to do, to make sure that all the Subud members really understand what Subud is. And this is in no way the responsibility of the committee.

The committee are in no way expected to think about, to worry about, to concern themselves about whether the members are aware of Subud or not, because their responsibility is the material side: that is, to keep a tally of the number of members, to arrange for a place of latihan, to collect the subscriptions, to pay the bills, and so on - that is the job of the committee. To make a budget for the year, and so on - that is the job of the committee. To make a budget for the year, and so on - that's all the committee's job. Also, for example, to do the shopping for the kitchen. That is not the job of the helpers but the job of the committee. If the helpers have to do the shopping then they have no time to concern themselves with the kejiwaan - they are too busy with choosing the meat.

From Pewarta Special Supplement No. 6, page 113.

6. Subud and charity

THE aims of Subud in this word are much wider than what you have experienced so far. It is really essential for us, as part of the responsibility or the duty of the Subud Brotherhood in this world, to establish a charitable side or a charitable body such as exists in religions, because charitable work is the proof of our worship of God. It is the proof that we are concerned about and have compassion for the needs of other human beings, and it is also the proof that what we have received in our lives - in other words, if we have received something in our lives that has made us better, has made our lives more complete - we then wish to pass this on, we have the interest to pass this on to other people who need it. These are the two proofs or the two requirements of our worship of Almighty God, and therefore it is God's will that man should be interested in passing on his wisdom to those human beings who have need of it, whose lives are always in a state of want and in a state of confusion.

From Bapak's talk at Reigate, September 19 79.

7. Politics

IF you go to church to pray or to perform a religious duty, this is not wrong. But you must also be careful now that there are groups which take part in politics, while Subud does not participate in anything political whatsoever, as our aim is only to worship the One Almighty God and develop our lives in accordance with the will of God, which is manifested in the latihan kejiwaan.

1) Regarding the habit of drinking strong drink or alcohol this is in fact something that is not permitted by religion or by those who worship Almighty God, because strong drink has the effect of reducing the firmness of our faith in Almighty God, for those who drink generally forget their faith in God and are often enveloped by the nafsu of anger, the nature of which is to bring chaos into our life situation.

2) Looked at from the health point of view, to drink strong drink tends more to ruin our inner feeling than to bring us to health and perfection of life.

That is Bapak's disposition which Bapak would like all of you to feel and consider seriously in order that you should not later feel disappointment about actions which is too late to undo.

(I asked Bapak what was his definition of 'strong drink' and Bapak said that any drink that has the possibility of making a person intoxicated falls into this category)

From Bapak - (letter by Sharif Horthy) 14 June 1979.

6. Children affected by drugs

IF you ask about which method is best to help them (young children affected by drugs), then in Subud there is none. What is clear is that Subud is a spiritual Brotherhood which develops by the latihan kejiwaan. So for children under the age - that is, not yet 18 - they cannot yet begin to do their exercises.

Therefore, the method of helping them must be a way that is commonly used; that is, they should be helped by medical specialists who can cure them. If they are cured, then just make an effort to find a way that these children do not return to their habit of using drugs. For example, they should be placed somewhere that is far from the environment which presents the possibility of being easily influenced again. They should be given the understanding of the reasons and the results of drug abuse in a deep and profound way. If this help is carried out by Subud members, as we already do in the latihan, so in an indirect way it is possible to influence these children greatly. For example, there is the matter of training, education and directing the will and wishes of children into a useful field, both for children's health and their goals in the future.