Subud

The latihan is the reappearance of a primordial Power hidden within human beings and all creatures. This Power manifests itself in spontaneous bodily movements and utterances, a mood of tranquility and joy, clarity of awareness, and love for the Divine. It works progressively to cleanse and harmonize the conflicting elements of our being, to heal and to illuminate. Its essential nature is celebration and praise. It makes possible an increasingly profound realization of the Wisdom from which we ultimately spring and in which all things are embraced. The term ‘latihan’ literally means exercise, and the latihan is in fact a spiritual exercise or practice but because it is entirely spontaneous it follows no pre-existing plan, and so cannot be either studied or taught. It cannot be directed or forced in any way, but is simply received, as a life and movement arising from the very centre of our being, in whatever forms are appropriate for the particular nature and condition of each one of us. Since the action of the latihan is cathartic as well as illuminating, its manifestations may occasionally be grotesque or unpleasant; more usually they are enjoyable, and at times they are of an extraordinary beauty but because these manifestations are simply the means by which we are gradually transformed, they are all to be accepted with gratitude and experienced with objectivity and detachment(Leonard Priestley).

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CONCERNING SUBUD - J.G. BENNETT - 1959, UNIVERSITY BOOKS, NEW YORK - 191 PAGE HARDBACK, - Subud was founded by R.M. Muhammad Subuh Sumohadiwidjojo (1901 - 1987). Of noble Javanese descent Pak (a common Indonesian reverential name for father) Subuh went through a series of deep inner changes. In it he received what he termed the "Great Life Force", a manifestation of the Power of God. He received that he had been given this Power to transmit to anyone who asked for it in all sincerity. The inner contact received would lead that person eventually to a communication with his divine nature. He/she in turn would be able to transmit this contact (called: opening) to someone else at a later stage, etc. The small groups that grew around Pak Subuh were combined after the war under the name of Subud Brotherhood. It reached the West in a remarkable way. Pak Subuh had told years before that an Englishman, who spoke many languages, would come and bear the torch to other countries. His prediction came true in 1950 at a time that Java was immerged in a struggle for freedom. Hardly any foreigner was allowed to enter the sultanate of Yogyakarta in Central Java, where Pak Subuh, also affectionately called Bapak (= father), lived. Yet, by a series of coincidences an English linguist, Husein Rofé found himself in Yogyakarta in 1950. There he met Pak Subuh. He became convinced of his spiritual gifts and asked to be opened. The results were so impressive that he decided to devote himself to the spread of this inner contact. He commenced a number of groups in Indonesia and later in Japan, Hong Kong, and Cyprus. In the latter group both Greeks and Turks participated, although the island was torn by conflicts between these sections of the population. In 1957 Rofé met John G.Bennett who had a number of groups all over the world working along Gurdjieff's principles. Bennett remembered that Gurdjieff had intimated that one should watch for a teacher to come from the Dutch East Indies. Bennett was so impressed by the state of consciousness that could be reached through the latihan in a short time that he advised his groups to test it. Subud has spread all over the world since. Yet, little is known about it as Pak Subuh indicated that Subud ought not be spread by any form of propaganda. Persons who are ready for it will be drawn to Subud members, or be presented with an opportunity to come in touch with a group. (http://www.subud.net)