Monthly Archives: May 2016

Ramadan 2016

Ramadan this year happens from June 5 to July 4. While Subud members are not required to observe Ramadan, there can be many benefits for those who do and many Subud members do observe it as a way of reevaluating their lives and connection to the divine.

There was a great post on the Subud California site last year with many tips, including those for the “inner fast” which is a good idea for anyone, not just people observing the month-long ritual. They are:

Fasting includes the following restraints or abstentions:

Do not use your ears to listen to gossip, quarrels or bad words;
Do not use your mouth to say anything wrong or unkind;
Do not use your emotions to reach the emotions (passions) of others;
Do not use your eyes in a way that is not good or nice;
Do not use the heart or mind to imagine or think about unhappy things, fantasies or unrealities;
Do not eat or drink or smoke between dawn and sunset each day.

Ideally, couples refrain from having sexual relations during the whole month, or, if they cannot do that, at least during the hours of the fast.

Also, last year Subud Portland broke the fast every Friday night with a potluck at the Portland Subud House. Anyone interested in doing that in Seattle?

Salamatan for Our Ancestors

From Local Helper Jim O’Halloran:

Bellevue First Congregational 11061 NE 2nd St

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As we are now nearing the end of the month of Ancestors, the helpers of Subud Greater Seattle would like to invite you to a salamatan for our ancestors following Latihan on the Eastside in Bellevue this coming Friday, May 27th.

Please consider bringing a dish or treat that your ancestors would have made and enjoyed.

The month of the ancestors, began Sunday, May 8th. According to Bapak, this is the month that God allows our ancestors who are spiritually developed to visit us in this world.

This is the month before Ramadan, which begins in North America on June 4th, which is the new moon and the first night of Ramadan.

Here is a link you may find illuminating:

http://www.subudvoice.net/Subud-voice-english/latihan-experiences-and-the-ancestors-seeing-people-who-are-dead-by-rohana-darlington/

The first day of fasting this Ramadan in North America is Sunday, June 5th. May Almighty God bless all of us who are fasting . Amin!

Jim O’Halloran

Bellevue First Congregational 11061 NE 2nd St

Dewan Meeting Minutes 5.14.16

SUBUD GREATER SEATTLE DEWAN MINUTES

May 15, 2016

Attendees: Ramon, Sherwin and Hadijah O’Bar, Abideen Gunatilaka, Hadiyah Carlyle. Minutes Submitted by Hadiyah Carlyle, Secy

Financial:

Income/Revenue: $18,730 (including Member Donations – $5422; Airbnb- $12,874)

READ MORE

Month of Ancestors

From Isman:

MONTH of the ANCESTORS

Brothers and Sisters,
We are now approaching the month of the ancestors, which begins Sunday, May 8th. According to Bapak, this is the month that God allows our ancestors who are spiritually developed to visit us in this world. This is the month before Ramadan, which begins in North America on June 4th, which is the new moon and the first night of Ramadan. The first day of fasting is Sunday, June 5th. May Almighty God bless all of us who are fasting . Amin!

For those observing the fast of Ramadan
Explanations of the Ramadan Calendar
Compiled from explanations given by Bapak, by Mas Sudarto and by Mas Prio
=====================================================
Eve of Ramadan: The way to observe Ramadan is to take a full bath, including hair washing, and also cutting the hair and the nails, the evening before the fast. Then, after you are clean, to state your wish to observe Ramadan as a sincere expression of your worship of Almighty God. Then stay up at night, preferably spending the night together with other Subud brothers and sisters, in the home of a member who is also observing Ramadan.
Around three o’clock in the morning, you should take breakfast and you should brush your teeth no later than 4:30 in the morning, and after this, no more smoking, not even gargling till 6:30 PM or 7:00 PM – along about sunset. (The local mosque can clarify as to the hour for breaking the fast.)
To break the fast, start slowly by drinking warm tea and a light snack; you can eat your dinner about half an hour or an hour later. Bapak also recommends no sexual union during the whole month of Ramadan. It is also beneficial to sleep as little as possible during Ramadan, not only on Nights of Power.