Note from Rachman: I remember Bapak telling us that for Subud members 14 hours of fasting was enough. He suggested that from around four in the morning till six in the evening was adequate. Countries around the equator have more consistent times of light and dark than ones farther north. As Subud members we have the ability to receive for ourselves what is correct for us.
Explanations of the Ramadan Calendar compiled from those given by Bapak, Mas Sudarto and by Mas
Prio.
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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.
(The local mosque can clarify the time to begin and the time 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 the Nights of Power.
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Our fasting must also include abstention from the following:
a) We must not use our ears to listen to gossip, quarrels or bad words.
b) We must not use our mouth to say
anything wrong or unkind.
c) We must not use the emotions to reach the emotions or passions of others.
d) We must not use our eyes in a way that is not good or nice.
e) We must not use the heart and mind to imagine or think about unhappy things, fantasies or unreality.
f) We must not eat or drink or smoke anything between dawn and sunset each day.
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During the month of Ramadan, we usually fast thirty days, and during the thirty days of fasting we go
through three important periods:
The first ten days:
This is a period of putting the passions in an inactive state. During this period we are made aware that
our passions become weaker and weaker day by day, and on the 10th day of fasting, it is felt that our
passions become completely inactive.
The second ten days:
This is a period of becoming aware that in general our attitude and actions are guided by our inner-
self and the guidance day by day becomes stronger and stronger and on the 20th day of fasting our actions
are as if in a complete latihan state, but in harmony with our daily activities.
The last ten days:
This is a period of receiving the Lailatul Qodar (the Nights of Power), and this is sent by God on the 21st,
23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th nights of the fast. This Lailatul Qodar is not something that falls from above,
but it forms a certain power which can change our state.
Most of the Subud members who fasted felt, after completing the fast, there were changes to their
inner. Mostly, their spirit to worship God became stronger and also the intention of doing ‘prihatin’
became stronger.
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TAK-BARAN: (30th day Ramadan):
The last day of fasting. Sundown marks the end of the month.
IDUL-FITRI: (The Night of Forgiveness):
At the end of Ramadan, we again take a full bath and put on new clothes, and then we should go to our
family and our friends and ask forgiveness for whatever sins we have committed against them. This is a
time of special celebration and thanks to Almighty God.
