Testing about opening people and the mentally disturbed

Copy supplied by Rochanah

A while back we had a conversation about this subject, and just a couple of days ago, while cleaning an old file cabinet, I came upon this letter.... so I thought I would share with you all.

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Letter from Sharif Horthy to Hanafi Weinstein December 19th , 1977

Dear Hanafi:

I discussed with Bapak the problem you put to me regarding the testing of probationers prior to opening and Bapak game the following explanation:

Bapak said we have to remember that the only authority in the kejiwaan is God Almighty. Therefore, once a probationer has declared his willingness to surrender himself to the Power of God Almighty and to follow the latihan kejiwaan in the way we normally receive it, and has demonstrated his sincerity by coming regularly during the three month probation period, then we do not have the right to refuse him. This is why Bapak says that in general it is unnecessary to test about people who have passed through the normal probation period.

I then said: "Well I think they are worried, supposing the results of opening this person are not good, and the helpers have to take responsibility for a difficult situation later". Bapak answered, "If people are opened and in spite of receiving clear explanations about the nature of the latihan later drop away, that is not the responsibility of the helpers. In any case, doesn't the opposite often happen that the helpers test about somebody and receive "Yes", and yet the person leaves soon after he is opened?"

Then I asked Bapak, "what about the case of people who are mentally disturbed, does Bapak still make an exception in this case?"

Bapak replied: "Actually it is precisely people who are mentally ill, or whose djiwa is ill, who need the latihan kejiwaan, for in their case it is only through the kejiwaan that they become cured. The only problem is that such people, when they start the latihan kejiwaan, are bound to go through a process of purification which is much stronger than that of an ordinary person. It is like when you try to clean a piece of material that has got very very dirty or where the dirt is very deeply ingrained, you have to rub it and scrub it much harder than something that is just lightly soiled. So the question is then, does the helpers group in that place have the facilities for someone to go through a period of deep crisis? in other words, do they have premises where such a person can be looked after day and night and prevented from harming himself or others, etc. Clearly, for the time being, not many Subud groups are able to do this. Therefore, in the case of mentally disturbed people the decision has to be taken by the local helpers: Are they willing to look after the member after he or she is opened, no matter what they have to go through?"

Those were Bapak's replies and you may pass them on to the other helpers in your group. I hope I have been able to covey Bapak's words clearly.

Your bother

Sharif Horthy