If Bapak were to explain all about Islam and the rukun ( pillars ) of Islam, etc., Bapak would probably need to use explanations from the Qur'an, the Hadith ( Traditions of the Prophet Mohammad ) and other Islamic holy books. This would mean a great deal of work for Bapak, and maybe Bapak could not do it, because Bapak is not an expert in giving explanations about Islam. For this reason, if you really wish to know and understand about Islam, it is better if you ask Islamic scholars or Moslems who understand and are well versed in their religion.

In fact, what you need is not an explanation about Islam, but only about yourselves - about why it is that some of you who were Christians have changed to the Islamic faith, whereas none of you who are Moslems have changed to Christianity.

Bapak feels that an explanation about the reasons for this need not be given at the very outset. In this situation, it seems that the subject of Bapak's clarification is the latihan kedjiwaan of Subud, and Bapak feels that it is necessary to explain about the latihan kedjiwaan of Subud to you, even though Bapak has done so many times.

Brothers and sisters, Bapak feels you are already aware that the latihan kedjiwaan of the spiritual brotherhood which we call Subud, the abbreviation of the words Susila Budhi Dharma, is a latihan kedjiwaan that is in its nature a receiving from the Power of Almighty God.

We say this because the latihan kedjiwaan exists and happens only through the Grace of Almighty God. The proof of this is that when we do not think of anything and only surrender with patience, trust and sincere submission to God the All-Knowing and Almighty, the influence of the nafsu ( passions ) that dwell in the heart and mind and which are an obstacle and disturbance in the inner-feeling suddenly comes to a stop. And, at the moment the influence of the nafsu comes to a stop, our inner-feeling vibrates and feels as though touched by the great and all-powerful life-force.

If we bring this into line with the words of the Messengers of Almighty God-that the Essence or Power of Almighty God envelops the whole universe and everything contained in it, including man - it is clear that the reason why our inner-feeling vibrates and the influence of the nafsu disappears from it is that the inner-feeling is touched by the great and all-powerful life force which always envelops it.

Since it is clear that our inner-feeling vibrates because it is touched by the great and all-powerful life-force which envelops our whole being, we are convinced that it is the Power of Almighty God.

This is truly a gift of infinite greatness, because it is impossible for us even to stop the working of the heart and mind, let alone to put aside or wipe out the influence of the nafsu that has control over our whole being. Yet, through the Grace of Almighty God, every time we are going to do the latihan kedjiwaan, it is as though the influence of the nafsu automatically disappears and leaves no traces in the inner-feeling, so that we are easily able to receive and to follow the vibration of the inner-feeling, which then manifests in movements and energy that we call the latihan kedjiwaan.

Since the vibration of the inner-feeling, which eventually manifests in the movements and energy which we call the latihan kedjiwaan, is caused by its being touched by the great and all-powerful life force which envelops us both inside and outside, we are convinced that the latihan kedjiwaan is guidance and direction from Almighty God.

If it is guidance and direction from Almighty God, we are certain that His guidance and direction lead towards the perfection of life and the excellence of man's character, in accordance with the Will of the One Who gives the guidance and direction - that is, God the Almighty, the All-Merciful and the All-Loving.

Further, you who receive and follow the latihan kedjiwaan, are no longer influenced by the nafsu that dwell in the heart and mind when you receive and follow the latihan kedjiwaan, which means that your heart and mind cannot reject or change anything you receive. So, suppose that during the latihan you receive words whose meaning you do not or cannot understand, and suppose you receive movements and energy that are unknown to you, your heart and mind cannot reject or prevent them, but can only look on like one at the cinema who may watch what is shown on the screen, but has no power to change it.

There are also some of you who feel, in receiving these movements and energy, that they are like those of a Moslem in worshipping Almighty God. It seems that it is this receiving that causes the person who receives it to feel the necessity of embracing Islam. But the receiving does not stop there; there are still many kinds of movements and energy to be experienced. This is the proof that it is God's Will that not only one or two nations and the whole of mankind but the whole universe and everything in it which He has created should worship Him.

Maybe you will be able to feel for yourselves from the explanation given above that there is still a long way for you to go and very many things in the field of the kedjiwaan that are still necessary for you to experience, and the realization of this is a matter for God's Will, and depends on your inner capacity and ability.

As for the members who are Christians and wish to embrace the Islamic faith, or those who are Moslems and wish to embrace Christianity, Bapak neither forbids this nor does Bapak direct or order them to do this; because in Subud, as Bapak has explained above, you are able, through the Grace of Almighty God, to receive and follow the latihan kedjiwaan, which is in reality guidance and direction from Almighty God, so that the understanding and faith you have obtained from studying and from habits you have practiced for years are as if wiped away from your inner-feeling.

It is impossible for us to understand the Will of Almighty God but from the existence of the evidence within us we understand that the nafsu of the heart and mind that make a person distinguish between this and that nationality, or consider himself greater and more powerful than others, feel more admirable than others, make light of others, want to control others instead of helping, want to take away' other people's freedom instead of letting them have their freedom, and rely on his own cleverness which he considers more than that of others, must all disappear from the inner-feeling every time we stand before Almighty God, the All-Knowing, and worship Him. For this reason, each time we receive and follow the latihan kedjiwaan, we feel that the influence of the nafsu that causes us to have bad feelings, as Bapak has mentioned above, no longer exists in our inner-feeling.

This is the reason why, although there are members of various nationalities, countries and religions in our spiritual brotherhood of Subud, we can all receive and follow the latihan kedjiwaan together in a good way without any feeling of strangeness towards one another. This is the situation of the Subud members who come together to receive and follow the latihan kedjiwaan; although their movements and energy seem to differ, one from another, each one is as though automatically regulated. This is why the spiritual brotherhood of Subud can receive and can be joined by men and women of various nationalities and religions. Thus, you can perhaps understand that Subud is not a religion but an association of human beings who, because of the Grace of Almighty God, are able to receive together His guidance and direction towards the perfection of life and excellence of character in accordance with the Will of Almighty God and in harmony with the inner nature of each individual.

You are certainly able to feel that, if Subud were a religion, Subud would clearly not be able to accept a religious person, even if he were a Moslem or a Christian, because every religion has its own principles. As to whether a Christian member embraces the Islamic faith, or maybe a Moslem embraces Christianity, this is up to his own conviction, because every time he receives and follows the latihan kedjiwaan, which is truly guidance and direction from Almighty God, it is felt that his heart and mind are unable to work and he only feels calm and peaceful in surrendering to the Will of Almighty God.

This is all, and Bapak hopes this short explanation of Bapak's may fulfill your hopes somewhat. Also, Bapak prays that through the Mercy of Almighty God you may always be safe and happy.