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.

https://www.subudvoice.net/?fbclid=IwAR0QUeVpzKe4E4lR3Kf4LHsPQvYJgCRNpVO1ki7qHW-_8LufhRtww4_QzTs

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 

Note from Rachman:  It seems Menucha’s new management has taken a hardline stand on some fairly drastic changes that are listed in the announcement below.  I talked to Oswald about it, and it seems after much negotiation that the new policy holds and therefore, the reason this will most likely be our last Menucha event.  Registration material and pricing will be forthcoming.

Probably last one at Menucha

Our annual kedjiwaan retreat has been held at the Menucha Retreat and Conference center for over 30 years. Menucha experienced existential challenges during the pandemic and for this year’s event. Your committee has worked hard to secure this site for what will likely be one last visit by Subud PNW. For nearly-all packages, rates are the same or cheaper.

Please plan to attend November 9^th to 12^th.

What’s changed due to Menucha’s price and policy changes?

• Buildings available to us: Wright, Ballard, The Barn (for 2 or 3 nights) and Boyd (Boyd for 2 nights only)
• This year we’ll have five “deluxe” couples-oriented rooms
• All plans must include meals. And, no cooking will be allowed in The Barn.
• Only 8 commuter spots allowed for only Friday and Saturday. These spots had to include meals.
• After the 8 commuter spots are filled, for only $75 more we’re providing 15 “commuter plus” spots – only for Friday and Saturday and including an upper bunk if you want to stay over Friday night.
• All rooms rates include bedding.
• There will be no Gift Shop.

What’s not changed?

• The great group latihans
• Insightful testing
• Inspiring conversations
• The breathtaking view above the Columbia Gorge.
• The grounds in and around the Menucha Conference and Retreat Center
• And, fabulous entertainment, reflective solitude, and a welcome opportunity to take a break from the rigors of everyday life.
• The joy of spending relaxed time with your PNW Subud community and neighbors
• There will be the Portland Susila Dharma Silent Auction

We hope you will join us for this extraordinary weekend. You’ll be glad you did!

A link to our registration will be available on August 8^th. Stay tuned for that information in this publication or click on the link to Subud PNW’s website on August 8^th.

Donations Please!

As in past years events, we are anticipating that there will be some needing assistance. In order to help these members, we’ve created an opportunity for you to contribute to this fund.

When you register, you will have an opportunity to donate to our Assistance Fund. Please consider making a donation at that time so that those who need assistance can share this wonderful weekend with us.

NOTES:

• We are opening registration on August 8^thto allow those wishing to attend 60 days to register. All registrations (including day passes) must be purchased by October 15 and be paid in full at the time of registration.
• Most prices quoted are per person, several rooms that are best for couples will by charged by the room. You may register up to 4 people at one time.

Cancellation Policy:  Registrations may be cancelled until October 15 with a full refund less a $50 administrative fee. After October 15, no refunds will be made unless your room/day pass is resold to another registrant, in which case a refund will be issued minus a $50 administrative fee. ($40 for day pass refunds)

Questions about the event and financial aid inquiries can be made at menucharegistrarATgmail.com 

This is a new segment.  It was asked that the helpers make a contribution each month to the newsletter.  Thanks, Aliza for getting it started!

Concerning the spread of Subud, sharing online comments from Subud brother, Sebastian van ‘t Hoff.

“As regards the spread of Subud, here are some snippets which formed my attitude on this subject.

Once we had a question-and-answer session in Sydney where people asked Ibu Rahayu what we could do to bring more people to Subud. (Unfortunately, this session was not recorded, so, I will have to go by what I remember.) Ibu said that because there are hardly any members yet who have the qualities of Susila, Budhi and Dharma, it was no use for God to send hundreds of people to Subud as they would be unimpressed with us and leave soon after they were opened. She advised us to work on improving our own latihan first and leave the rest to God.

Interestingly, she mentioned God “sending people to Subud.” This confirms what many of us have observed, that so many seem guided towards the latihan. I have never seen anything come from willful approaches and creative schemes to actively get in more members, however well-meant these were. This approach too often seems to forget God’s role in this. Bapak once said that if it was only up to us, Subud would never have spread so quickly and to so many countries, in the late fifties. Clearly there is something at work here which goes far beyond us.

The spread of Subud in Ukraine and Malawi in recent years, are examples of this. Emmanuel Aronie and Ruslan Moore (and before them, Rofe) were given a role by the Almighty to help the spread of Subud. None of these men asked for this or willfully followed their desires in this. They were “chosen” for this job. Contrary to what some people believe that nowadays we need to avoid religious connotations in Subud, in the case of Ukraine, the majority of the members are Christians and in the case of Malawi, all are Muslims.

Several of us might also remember Mas Adji saying that after Bapak died, Subud would go through a dip, but he could see that in the future there would be certain Subud members of a high spiritual level around whom flourishing Subud groups would arise. This might be related to the well-known story of Varindra’s dream about the 40 stars, Bapak explaining that there are 40 high souls on their way to help Subud. Recently we tested what we could do to help the spread of Subud. I received that I should be deeper in myself, more surrendered in my latihan and in my daily life and closer to God. Perhaps it meant that if I am in that state, people might be naturally attracted to me, God willing. Others had similar receivings. Anyway, I thought I’d share this with you. Peace and blessings to you all.”

After posting the recent article about Luzita Davila’s passing, a few days later her husband, Ralph passed away. For more details on Ralph’s passing, please see this information on Luzita’s Caring Bridge Page.

And, this week, Mardiyah Tarantino, a long time Subud member for over sixty years, passed as well!

Mardiyah and Rashad were mentors to many of us in the early days of Subud in San Francisco. Rosada, my wife at the time, was pregnant with our first child, so she babysat the Tarantino kids while the rest of us went to the 1967 world congress in Japan. It was my early days of doing photography work, and I took many photos at that congress and Mardiyah was in a lot of them!

She was a model Subud sister and friend to many of us for over sixty years!  She served as a helper and did work in Cilandak in the secretariat for Bapak a number of years ago.  She also wrote a book about the life of Muhammad called ‘Marvelous Stories from the Life of Prophet Muhammad‘.

In a 1995 video interview in the Subud Archives site (Welcome – WSA Archives) Mardiyah describes her experiences traveling with Bapak and Ibu Siti Sumari in Mexico and South America. She was asked to go to translate Bapak’s words into Spanish and was a companion to Ibu. Mardiyah writes about these experiences in her book Bapak Lost in the Amazon. She speaks about Bapak’s compassion, about asking for forgiveness, laughter, testing with Bapak, how Bapak could also be stern, and about living and working in the Sekretariat at Wisma Subud typing letters for Bapak. Mardiyah describes a time in Mexico City in 1968 when Bapak gave an extraordinary talk to women and did testing with them. This particular occasion was remembered and described by many of the women who were there that day.

Both her books and her interview in which she describes her Mexico trip are available to Subud members in the Subud WSA Archives site. For details on how Subud members can access the WSA Archives, please see this article.

Luzita, Ralph and Mardiyah will be missed by their families and many Subud members!  They have truly earned the title of ‘Subud Pioneers’ for their many years of service to Subud!

Below is a link to photos of her over a number of years in Subud!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/8bqMptLHwmDxQk8F7

Below is a link to an article about the Subud Archives and how to gain access to it for Subud members.

Subud Archives Website – V2