Subud and the Media

It should also be added that all the Hotel projects mentioned were lost one way or another at various stages of progress.

It seems that, whether we like it or not, it is necessary now to make a public presentation on the nature of Subud and our intentions regarding Darling Harbour. We have been approached by a TV network to do a programme on Subud. Would the visit of a number of Subud experts from all over the world to Sydney in the near future be a suitable occasion to make a public presentation?

Bapak:

It is not yet the time to open the door as wide as that, because we are not yet in a position to give proofs.

If you are asked, you can explain that what we receive can be compared to yoga or Gurdjieff, with the difference that what we obtain is not pursued through study but received through the contact with a power from beyond the limit of man's ability. Apart from the spiritual field, what we receive also concerns the need of man's life. The latihan kejiwaan of Subud is a spiritual training but it also concerns welfare, health and so on. Many have been healed though the latihan even though that is not its purpose. Healing comes about through the awakening of the jiwa.

Do not bring in religion.

In giving explanations about Subud do not bring in religion, for if you do you will find yourself involved in a long debate. We are not experts on religion. If you are asked whether Subud is Islam or Christianity, the answer is no - we are in the middle of all religions, and from the latihan kejiwaan it is possible to come to understand the intention behind religion.

(Here Bapak explained, as an aside, that there is conflict between religions in the world because people are no longer aware that all religion originates from the same source. Subud can unite people of different religions because in Subud they become aware of the Source.)

Nevertheless, if Subud undertakes projects on the scale of Darling Harbour, public interest in Subud is unavoidable and if we refuse to deal openly with the media, a bad impression is created.

Bapak:

There is no objection to giving the media whatever they ask. Bapak is only saying it is not necessary to go beyond what they ask. If they ask for a nail, don't give them a hammer.

One of the things the TV people wanted was to film the latihan.

Bapak:

Of course it is natural that people want to see the reality - people ask: "May I see how you do your latihan?" Bapak answers: "Yes, you may as long as you just accept what you see and don't tamper with it." But usually people turn down the offer because they're afraid.

What does Bapak mean by "don't tamper with it"?

Bapak:

When they see the latihan they should not try to compare it with this and that. It already happened once when the MPR commission came to see Bapak. (MPR is the Indonesian Congress).

They asked the same question and Bapak got one of the members present to do latihan in front of everybody. On being questioned he later explained that his movements and what he experienced during the latihan did not originate from his heart and mind. Those members of the commission who were well versed in Islam admitted that what they had seen was in accordance with what is written in the Al Quran, that this was the state of a person who is truly Tawajuh (utterly surrendered).

They then asked: "Why is this made available to people now?"
Bapak replied: "Because it is permitted by the One Who makes it available."
"And Who is that?"
"God."

It seems that in the U.K., in Indonesia, in Japan, and now it seems in Sydney, we are led in the direction of the hotel business. Is this in line with Bapak's intentions?

Bapak:

The hotel business is well suited to Subud. Businesses where you make an excessive profit when the market is good but do very badly at other times do not fit well with Subud. By contrast hotels are steady and long term; they can be owned by a lot of people in common and they are international by nature.

On behalf of Bapak - Sharif Horthy