We Just Want To Be, Near You

"It is so easy to be nice to each other when Bapak is with us."

As Sofjan, Heatherton Chairman, said in his farewell speech to Bapak, it is so easy to be nice to each other when Bapak is with us; I do hope we can continue with our hearts and minds in order.

Australia

"He adjusts to people with absolute perfection."

Bapak relaxed and humorous, at ease, a good family father. So wonderfully kind, making everybody happy. Seeing Bapak like that is a great lesson. He adjusts to people with absolute perfection, asks all the questions, sustains the conversation and shows outstanding intelligence and insight.

Louis, France.

A drama in two parts

Telex 1

FLEET PERSONNEL DEFT. M.I.S.C. POB 371 K.K. MALAYSIA

DEAR HERBERT: MARILYNN: PENNY & GEORGE

MANY THANKS FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR

GREETINGS. I HAVE JUST BEEN UNEXPECTEDLY RECALLED FOR DUTY TO RELIEVE SICK CAPTAIN WHEN I HAD HOPED TO JOIN THE SUBUD GROUPS AND HEAR BAPAKS TALKS IN NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA.

I FEEL AT THE MOMENT THE GREATEST SINNER IN SUBUD FOR BEING DEPRIVED OF THIS SO NOW WILL JUST HAVE TO SURRENDER SIMPLY AND RECEIVE THE GRACE OF ALLAH WHEN AND WHERE IT MAY FALL UPON ME.

ALL THE BEST TO YOU FOR NEW YEAR.

I AM SENDING YOU A CHINESE PAPER CUT GENUINE FROM CHINA. I HAVE NOT SEEN THEM ANYWHERE ELSE.

SINCERELY

SOLIHIN

Telex 2

TO HERBERT ISC

FROM SOLIHIN MV "BUNGA ANGSANA"

ARRIVED BRISBANE TODAY. NEW CONTAINER VESSEL

BAPAK COMES TOMORROW.

INSUBUD TOR

CHARLIC

"These were very happy moments."

On the first of November, after the helper and committee talk at Bapak's residence, Bapak invited the members of the group to spend some time with him and there was a lunch and a musical afternoon with guitars and typical Peruvian percussion instruments. It lasted longer than we thought it would for Bapak encouraged us to continue playing music and singing. These were very happy moments.

El dia Ire. de Noviembre, despllues de una charla especial de Bapak, dedicada a los ayudantes y al Comite, Bapak invito a su residencia, a todos los hermanos de nuestro Grupo, a pasar con el, almorzando y cantando, con guitarras y tipicos instrumentos peruanos de percusion; Bapak y todos los asistentes disfrutaron de la musica y de una tarde muy agradable y alegre.

Latif Peru

"It seemed like everyone had something to give."

Bapak's visit to Totnes started, for the Group, at the beginning of June. We heard Bapak would take a 'day off' in Devon. A feeling grew in the group that we would like to invite Bapak to tea. We are not a large group but felt we could manage this, and as Totnes is in the centre of the Devon Cream Teas and Holiday area it seemed appropriate.

On Sunday, 19th June, we heard that Bapak would not come to tea, he would come to lunch. We were amazed, delighted. For ten days the group worked on the Gudgeon's home, transformed it with silver grey and white paint. Furniture, silver, linen was lent by various members. It seemed everyone had something to give, and as we worked together we grew closer.

Tuesday, 28th June, started with rain but when Bapak arrived at 10.45 a.m. the rain stopped and there he was, smiling, in our midst.

Bapak stepped out of the car and entered the house, looking so radiantly well, surely more regal than any emperor, followed by Mastuti, smiling gently, and 'the girls', beaming and shaking hands, Sjarif, so tall and patriarchal.

Bapak and Mastuti retired to rest awhile in the lounge, and the 'girls' hastened to the kitchen. The word came, "Bapak says, everyone is to be served with coffee now." Quick, get the kettles on. Soon everyone had a cup, and home-made shortbread too.

The message came that Bapak would talk to us, so we went quietly into the lounge and found a chair or sat on the floor. Others sat out in the entrance hall or on the stairs. Christopher welcomed Bapak and his party to Totnes, the tape recorder clicked, and Bapak began to talk to us in his beautiful deep melodious voice. Then he saw Linda's three little children in the doorway and beckoned them in. They sat entranced at his feet.

Afterwards we withdrew to the breakfast room, while our Quests were served their lunch. We helped ourselves to a delicious buffet which we took out to the garden. The sun was shining -- wonderful to see after days of cloud and rain. Were our feet really walking on the lawn among the apple trees? They seemed at least a foot off the ground. Strawberries and cream in true Devonshire style -- had they ever tasted so good before?

It was wonderful to greet brothers and sisters from other parts whom we rarely had a chance to see. There was even a couple from Sweden. Seventy-odd people, yet miraculously there was no crush, there was space for all and more.

Bapak decided to go for a drive. "Is he coming back?" We didn't know. Samuel led the way in his car. We waved. "Oh do come back for tea.". And they were gone.

Samuel pilotted the convoy up the ancient high street, with its Elizabethan buildings and Butterwalk pillars; then on to Dartmouth to see the Royal Naval College and the shipping below in the estuary. From there they drove along the coast road renowned for its scenic beauty, to the miles of Slapton Sands. Here there is a long beach on one side of the road and a lake on the other, dotted with clumps of rushes, a beautiful setting for the swans and moorhens.

They didn't come back for tea, but the glow remained, and we basked in it. What a wonderful, wonderful day it had been. Thank you, dearest Bapak, for coming to us, and thank you, God, for making it right.

England.

"Bapak, ademas."

Bapak also received some of the children in a very affectionate and gentle way.

Bapak, ademas, se dio tiempo para recibir, en forma muy afectuosa y amable, en su residencia, a los hijos de algunos de los miembros que se lo solicitaron.

Latif, Peru.

"Who is that person?"

Mr. Herbert Toronto, Canada

Dear Herbert:

Excuse me, that only until today, I can write you, but you know my language problem, and I wouldn't like to disturb you with my letters in Spanish.

Thanks to God, Colombia had the honor to receive the most great person in the Universe, as he is spiritual father in the meaning of the word.

To Call I travelled with all my family, and then to Bogota where there were more of 400 people, that had come from different groups of Subud in the country. His welcome was in the Latin-American style: sincere, expressive, and with our hearts full of happiness, but very little red-tape. Bapak seemed happy, while I was embarrassed because the people didn't leave him to advance. Some of them kissed him in his cheeks. Well, I kissed him but in his hands, because Bapak put them to me, for that.

I almost forgot to tell you that some people felt earthquake in Bogota, specially in the airport when Bapak put his feet on this land. Many persons not Subud, felt happy and asked: Who is that person? Children no Subud wanted to touch him and went to his car with him.

Is indescribable the happiness that Bapak gave us! My gratitude with God and Bapak is eternal. In Bogota we bought him a new suit of clothes and a sweater he chose.

His talks were wonderful, the tests that he did us, are incredible: How is the kingdom of God? Sing like the angels in the heaven, walk like them. How did the Virgin Mary cook? Well, these are some of the tests that he did us.

Now, I'11 leave you Herbert, my warm embrace.

Viviana, Bucaramanga, Colombia.

"Children singing songs from Walt Disney's 'Seven Dwarfs'."

It was at Heatherton that Bapak heard of the death of Ibu Mastuti's mother. Mastuti went straight home, and Bapak decided to cut short his tour by one day in each place. The Heatherton organizers proposed to trim the program by cutting out the planned entertainment, which had been billed as mainly for the children. It featured children singing songs from Walt Disney's 'Seven Dwarfs' and appropriately garbed and bearded. Bapak, with a nice sense of priorities, knocked back this proposal and instead cancelled his own talk to helpers and committee to turn up for the show. (The helpers and committee heard a recording of the corresponding talk given two weeks earlier in Brisbane.)

Edward, Australia.

Birthdays On a free day 17 Jan. it was Sjarifs birthday. He did not wish a big celebration, so only those who happened to be working in the house and a couple of friends sat with him for coffee and cake.

Istimah

New Zealand.

A quiet party was arranged for Leli's twentieth birthday on arrival.

Richard, Scotland.

The Sydney ladies, shopping for the food for Bapak's party and advised that Sjarif particularly liked goat's milk yoghurt, laid in a good supply.

During his first talk in Sydney, Bapak's explanations included a description of the behaviour of people who ate goat meat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. On his return to the house, Sjarif assured the cooks that he would not be eating any more goat's milk yoghurt. So far there is no report on the behaviour of the member's cat who disposed of the supply ... !

Rohana Australia.

The Cat That Insisted on Seeing Bapak

A True Story from Honolulu, told by Iliana and Michele, translated from the German by Reynold.

In the neighborhood of the Tarantinos' house, where Bapak and party were to stay during their Christmas 1977 visit to Honolulu, lived a black-and-white cat. During the weeks of preparatory work on the house, the cat began to show up with some frequency and to sit around. From the moment of Bapak's arrival, however, it refused to leave the general area and made repeated attempts to get inside. On those occasions when it succeeded, the cat headed straight for Bapak and Mastuti's room. Inevitably it would be intercepted enroute and put back outside.

This went on for some days until one day, when the cat had again managed to slip through the partly opened door, Tuti picked it up and said, "I'11 take the cat to see Bapak now. It has been asking long enough to be opened. With that she walked off, cat in arm, to Bapak's room.

Bapak laughed, took the cat on his lap, then scratched and petted it for a while. After, Tuti brought it back outside.

From that moment on, the cat seemed just to sit in one corner of the Tarantino's lanai (porch) and stare with enlarged eyes, as if in crisis. The hope is that it will do its latihan regularly from now on.

"It was all in great fun."

Sjarif enthusiastically picked the lock of a door that connected his and Bapak's bedrooms, when the key got lost in the rush of things. It was all in great fun.

Lawrence, Leonard, Belgium.

"Bapak got up early one morning."

There was one story where Bapak got up early one morning and went prowling through the house. He went into all the bedrooms, got everyone up and took them down to the living room. Apparently they were all exhausted etc. Anyway, he sat in the room with them for an hour and a half until 9.00 a.m. telling jokes and funny stories. They eventually lurched out laughing like drains and were right as rain!

One morning Bapak and family went to Subud house just to visit and pick plums from the trees. Bapak was so happy at the effort of the Christchurch group for their beautiful new Latihan hall.

New Zealand Newsletter

"They were so kind and loving."

I helped hand round, and I remember saying to Bapak "May I tempt Bapak to a cake." This, on-reflection, was rather a rum thing to say, but I meant well.

While I sat back exchanging pleasantries with Elsa I watched Muti, Tuti and Indra talking to Bapak and generally looking after him and caring for him. They were so kind and loving, and as I sipped my tea and munched Elsa's cakes I really felt very moved as I realized what a wonderful family they were, and what an example they are to us.

Oliver, England.

"The small funny things of no great importance."

It is probably the good feelings that one remembers mostly about a Bapak visit; all the things that went wrong with the preparations which one is quite determined won't happen next time (at least not the same things, hopefully!) and the small funny things of no great importance which serve to remind one of the general atmosphere of working together and, to quote one member, of finding rather to our surprise that we like each other.

For instance, a little remark of Sjarif's after a strenuous mens testing session when a pair of woolly socks remained in the middle of the latihan hall: "Will the brother who leapt out of his socks," said Sjarif, "please collect them."

Latip, Australia.

On Cilandak, without Bapak

Well, we miss Bapak. We are working hard, and we go to sleep early and get up early. Gone are the days of soul-searching conversations far into the night. We are nice and ordinary, at last. Nafsu generally run a bit higher of course, while Bapak is away ... we seem to revert to our national traits more.

Salamah, Cilandak.