Reports from Subud USA Congress

Oswald Norton SD-USA Board member 

Our SD-USA AGM meeting went smoothly with about 50 SUSA members in attendance to observe and vote on:

• To watch our video report on our 2022 year in review, please see this link.
• Selection of new vice chair, secretary and board members.
• Ratify our changes to the old bylaws.

Our meeting was led by our new vice chair, Michael Barber.

Marston Gregory, delegate for SPNW to the SUSA Congress. 

I can report that the Subud USA National Congress in Maryland was from my view a great success on all levels.

The hotel we stayed at was excellent in all ways with great food, good meeting space and close to three local airports.  We selected a full committee with Philip Lindstrom continuing as Chair and Simon Curran (Ohio member) as the new Vice-Chair.

Philip Lindstrom and Simon Curran

Each day had up to three latihans with lots of testing.  I went representing MSF as a trustee and it was helpful, the three Trustees: me, Elaina Dodson, and Lucian Parshall were able to meet face to face plus give a short MSF report.

I also was a delegate for Subud PNW, and a quorum was easily met due to high attendance of about 200 members and many delegates.

All Saturday events were at the newly renovated Amani Center where we all bused to view the upgraded Twin Oaks House for lodging and the new Archives Center in the main building.

Many events happened, including a Subud East Coast short congress and the Susila Dharma USA annual meeting.  All events were well attended.

One positive note from Subud East Coast was that many new members were opened during the Pandemic and we’re now working to make them feel connected.

I was very grateful for the careful planning of the National Committee and the hard work onsite to make it all come together so well.

Lambert has had his surgery – it was more extensive than originally thought – he had to have open heart surgery and needed 1 valve repaired and the 2^nd replaced.  He is recovering slowly but each day is a little better.  If anyone in the group has time to offer him rides to his medical appointments (he cannot drive for 6 weeks) or care to bring him some food or order it on uber eats or door dash, this would be helpful as he cannot cook or drive.

Thanks so much!

Halimah

Care Calendar link below.  Sign in with security code 7996.

https://www.carecalendar.org/logon/310491?mc_cid=6e6006c44e&mc_eid=b25b1847dc

Forwarded by Nathaniel.

From The Experiences of Mas Sudarto Martohudojo

(Page 17) After a visit to Bapak at Semarang, lasting 3 days, I felt a
change in my inner feeling and I could not sleep before 2 o’clock in the
night. I remembered Bapak’s advice: “If you can’t sleep, that is the
sign that your soul wants to exercise.”

(Page 26) When I was still in Jogjakarta, there was a certain period of
time, when the latihan was held in Bapak’s house, and it was after 0.00.
am at night. The members who intended to do the latihan were advised to
do latihan on their own for at least half an hour before entering the
general latihan in order that the general latihan could proceed.
smoothly. This period lasted for more than one year. I followed the
latihan regularly. Usually, it was my turn to do the latihan at about
02.00 a.m. but one time my turn was at 02.30 a.m. so that it finished
exactly just before dawn (meaning the time when the Muslims do their
morning prayer). I began to feel later on that in fact latihan after
2.00 at night gave a different effect from latihan before 12.00
midnight. When I told this to Bapak he gave me the following
explanations: “When we held the latihan before 12.00 midnight, its
pressure is heavier because there are many people who are still awake.
Usually when people have not gone to sleep, they are thinking of this and
that, and every man who is thinking is sending waves of vibrations so
that the atmosphere is filled with all sorts of thoughts, desires and
wills, and such atmosphere is really the cause of the heavy pressure.
That is why those members who hold their latihan at midnight or late at
night can feel more compared to those who do the latihan before 12.00
midnight. “Another advantage of post-twelve o’clock latihan is so as to
get used to not letting our hearts be overcome by sleep. When the Inner
Self is already strong it will be capable of keeping aside these
pressures so that it will no longer depend on time and place. That is
why Bapak regards it as still necessary for all of you to do the latihan
late at night.”

Nathaniel

My son Lambert is having heart surgery on August 23^rd.  He has a leaky valve and it needs to be either repaired or replaced.  I am asking our brothers and sisters to pray for him to have a successful surgery and speedy recovery.  He will be at the Swedish Cardiac Unit (Cherry Hill Campus) for about 5 days and then sent home.  Visitors would be most welcome.  If anyone plans to visit, please text Lambert directly 206-612-2962 to make sure he is up to it.

Thank you.

Halimah Bellows

Forwarded by Nathaniel.

From The Experiences of Mas Sudarto Martohudojo

(Page 17) After a visit to Bapak at Semarang, lasting 3 days, I felt a
change in my inner feeling and I could not sleep before 2 o’clock in the
night. I remembered Bapak’s advice: “If you can’t sleep, that is the
sign that your soul wants to exercise.”

(Page 26) When I was still in Jogjakarta, there was a certain period of
time, when the latihan was held in Bapak’s house, and it was after 12
am at night. The members who intended to do the latihan were advised to
do latihan on their own for at least half an hour before entering the
general latihan in order that the general latihan could proceed
smoothly. This period lasted for more than one year. I followed the
latihan regularly. Usually, it was my turn to do the latihan at about
02.00 a.m. but one time my turn was at 02.30 a.m. so that it finished
exactly just before dawn (meaning the time when the Muslims do their
morning prayer). I began to feel later on that in fact latihan after
2.00 at night gave a different effect from latihan before 12.00
midnight. When I told this to Bapak he gave me the following
explanations: “When we held the latihan before 12.00 midnight, its
pressure is heavier because there are many people who are still awake.
Usually when people have not gone to sleep, they are thinking of this and
that, and every man who is thinking is sending waves of vibrations so
that the atmosphere is filled with all sorts of thoughts, desires and
wills, and such atmosphere is really the cause of the heavy pressure.
That is why those members who hold their latihan at midnight or late at
night can feel more compared to those who do the latihan before 12.00
midnight. “Another advantage of post-twelve o’clock latihan is so as to
get used to not letting our hearts be overcome by sleep. When the Inner
Self is already strong it will be capable of keeping aside these
pressures so that it will no longer depend on time and place. That is
why Bapak regards it as still necessary for all of you to do the latihan
late at night.”

The complete book is available by subscribing to Subud Voice.

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THE WORLD SUBUD ASSOCIATION Executive Office 

Jakarta, 23 July 2023 

Members of the World Subud Association,  

The Chair of Subud National Organizations 

Dear Brothers & Sisters, 

We trust that you are all in good health and spirit. 

The World Subud Council Periodic Zoom meeting held on the 2nd of July 2023 was broadcast live via the WSA YouTube channel, and the topic of Subud World Congress 2024 was discussed. At the meeting, the Council members unanimously agreed to propose an alternate date for the 2024 World Congress (originally planned for January). This is due to January being too close to the Indonesian Presidential election in February 2024, which requires reinforcement of national and regional police to safeguard the democratic election process.  WSA therefore could not get a guarantee from the Government that we would be able to obtain the required event permit for the Congress at least six months beforehand.  

Based on intensive consultation with the Government and discussion with representatives of your Zones and the Council members, we propose the next World Congress in Kalimantan to be held on 18th – 28th July 2024. The national presidential election in Indonesia will take place in February 2024, so the Subud World Congress would be shifted from January 2024 to July 2024, with WSA now seeking to obtain the required permit for July. Depending on the delegates program, the exact dates may shift by one or two days as the program development evolves during preparation by the World Congress Organizing Team. 

With the next World Congress moved to July 2024, the term of duty for the current International Officers of the Subud organizations will extend for one more year. 

Regarding the Zone Representatives, who are appointed by the Country Members of the respective Zones, the WSA recommends that the current Zone Representatives continue to serve until the coming World Congress to preserve the continuation of work and coordination that has been developing during this term. However, WSA will respect any other decisions taken by the Country Members concerning this matter. 

Consequently, all deadlines in connection with the submission of proposals and applications, as indicated in the Guidelines for the 16th World Congress, will also shift following the new proposed starting date of the World Congress, 18 July 2024. 

Sincerely, 

Suyono Sumohadiwidjojo