Tag Archives: Daniel Stralberg

Archives Interview Weekend

On March 4, 5 & 6, the Subud USA Archives interview project came to Seattle. Two experienced interviewers, Benjamin Boyce and your humble narrator, working closely under the auspices of the SUSA Archives project, interviewed several long-time Subud members about their experience in Subud, how they found out about the organization and what practicing Latihan has meant for their lives. The schedule was packed:

FRIDAY, MARCH 4:

5:00 – Paul Nelson with Benjamin Boyce

SATURDAY, MARCH 5:

10am – Jim and Lucinda O’Halloran with Paul Nelson
11am – Elisha Gullixson with Paul Nelson
12N – Sebastian and Lorraine Tedrow with Paul Nelson
1pm – LUNCH BREAK
2pm – Evan and Annie Padilla with Benjamin Boyce
3pm – Halstein Stralberg with with Benjamin Boyce
4pm – Daniel Stralberg with Benjamin Boyce
5pm – Halimah Bellows with Benjamin Boyce

SUNDAY, MARCH 6:

12N – Danela Mauguin with Paul Nelson
1pm – Sebastian Tedrow and Chuck Cary with Paul Nelson on the founding of Subud Greater Seattle and the acquisition of the Subud House
2pm – Hanafi Libman with Benjamin Boyce

Benjamin and I were at the house at 3pm Friday and got things set up. Benjamin’s equipment is perfect for a job like this, it seems to me, though my expertise is audio. We did an interview with me to use as a test run and it came out good. the interviews are rich and touching and it was a lively weekend which aided our community’s harmony. This is incredibly important as we come out of the pandemic. There were people in attendance who had not been to the Subud House in years. I had a moment of very deep gratitude before the interview with Chuck Cary and Sebastian Tedrow. Chuck talked about the metaphysical community in Seattle and how that community was the seed of how Subud Seattle got started. Back then Vancouver, BC, was part of our region and the first Seattle folks got opened by Ronimund Von Bissing. The Quest Bookstore, a Theosophical bookstore that is still open on Capitol Hill, was part of that 1959 milieu. Sebastian is the man most responsible for acquiring the Subud House in 1974 when he was 25 years old!

I loved most of all my time with Danela Mauguin. Her recall of specific things is remarkable and she was magnificent. On Monday she celebrated 57 years in Subud! Some members needed gentle redirection. The Tedrows required only one question during their interview!

I think having two interviewers is an excellent way to go about these things, so one can get a break. It is an intense experience and requires very high concentration. To aid recall, I have added a question that I did not ask this weekend, about the Subud friends people had/have. This could lead to stories. Since these interviews will not be made available to the general public like some other interviews being done at this time, encouraging interviewees to say anything they want, to be as “woo-woo” as they want, would be something I would encourage.

Spreading out the interviews to allow for some down time is critical. I believe we should tape in the Men’s Latihan hall next time, because the bathroom and a kitchen are connected and the background is unimportant. I think interviews with all members should be encouraged as it could be a time capsule in a way and be a record of where members are, what they are about, at this time.

I want to say that we have been discussing this project for a long time and now that it is here, I am filled with gratitude for this community and awe at how much work the SUSA Archives committee has done to make this happen. I pray that we can continue this in an harmonious way, keeping our eyes on the end game which is creating open spaces where Subud people of all ages can talk about their experiences with this remarkable practice and community. Benjamin got some wonderful photos.

Danela Mauguin

Hanafi Libman

Sebastian Tedrow and Chuck Cary

Lorraine and Sebastian Tedrows

Ten Aims of Subud

Subud Portland

I attended the Subud Pacific Northwest Regional Dewan meeting March 28 at the Portland Subud House. The day was full of visioning, reports and a strong sense of community. I took extensive notes and can post a link on this site when they pass muster with Subud PNW Chair Alexadra Terhorst and other officers.

There was talk that the region has no mission and some suggested that we should be operating under the mission of one of our other organizational structures. Subud USA Chair Daniel Stralberg read the Ten Aims of Subud, taken from the World Subud Association Constitution, and it seemed to fit quite well:

AIMS OF THE ASSOCIATION

1. To facilitate the worship of Almighty God through the Latihan Kejiwaan of Subud and to provide for the other needs of the Subud membership.

2. To preserve the practice of the Latihan Kejiwaan so that it will remain available to people everywhere in the form in which it was originally practiced under the guidance of Muhammad Subuh Sumohadiwidjojo.

3. To protect the good reputation of Subud.

4. To encourage peace, harmony and understanding between peoples regardless of their ethnic origin or religion.

5. To provide educational and other facilities for the development of the full potential of human beings.

6. To relieve poverty and deprivation.

7. To encourage the development of a healthy and harmonious inner and outer environment for the well-being of mankind.

8. To encourage cultural activities and the values which enliven and enrich the human spirit.

9. To encourage the entrepreneurial spirit which enables people to express their true talents and develop the capacity to improve the quality of their lives.

10. To make available information concerning the Latihan Kejiwaan of Subud.

Here are a couple of Wordclouds I made taken from language in one of the breakout groups in which I was a part:

One last thing. After the Sunday latihan and potluck, I spotted blooming lilacs! Sure, I love the smell too and wish I had an ap to capture it, but was a little unnerved by such early blooming.

Your Humble Narrator,

Paul Nelson
Subud Greater Seattle

Daniel Stralberg New Chair of Subud USA

Today at the National Congress outside Pittsburgh, PA, our own Daniel Stralberg was named Chair of Subud USA. It is a two-year term.

Daniel Stralberg New Subud USA Chair

From Sebastian Tedrow:

2014 NATIONAL CONGRESS NEWS

We had a wonderful National Congress in Pittsburgh this past weekend! Please welcome our new Subud USA committee and wing chairs:

Chair: Daniel Stralberg (Seattle)
Vice Chair: Mary Wold (Midwest Regional)
Committee Councilor: Muftiah McCartin (Washington DC)
Treasurer: still open
Secretary: still open
SES (Subud Enterprises Services): still open
SYA (Subud Youth Activities): Mahallia Ward Pollard (Chicago) and Dexter Douglass (New York)
SD (Susila Dharma): Evan Padilla continues for 1 more year
SICA (Subud International Cultural Association USA): Mhd. Isman Kanafsky continues for 1 more year
Please contact Daniel at dstralberg@hotmail.com if you are interested in one of the open positions.

Also a big thanks to our outgoing officers Shoshanah Margolin, Lucian Parshall, Morris McClellan, Hamidatun Karapetian, Hanafi Fraval and Levana Fraval.

More details on the congress will come next week in our e-blast and newsletter!