SUBUD CANBERRA NEWS OCTOBER 2012 groupchaircanberra@mail.com SNIPPETS The name of Karnain and Carmita s baby is Dayal. Sorry to hear Cordelia s sad news. First the top of one finger was amputated in the honey extractor, then when she came out of hospital the next day the entire bee population had to be exterminated due to the American Bee Virus. The whole place is quarantined. The committee responded with chicken soup and Cordelia has a Homoeopath and lots of friends around her being supportive at present. She said she s in denial for now. Quite a bit of movement: Luqman and Halimah have moved to Wanniassa, Silvana went to Wellington to cuddle baby Freddie & attend her son Roger s wedding, Anna has been walking in Corsica, Maria has returned from Brazil, Haridas travelling Canada and the USA, Ian B in the Baltic States & Raphaela has returned from Germany. Quite a bit of volunteering in the community going on in our group Asmaniah helps out with the Yellow Van team collecting surplus food from outlets such as Aldi and food is distributed through 72 charities. 500,000kilos of food has been handed out. Apart from helping her family with the children, Liliana also hopes to volunteer with the Yellow Van. Iljas is a volunteer translator with Victims of Crime (VOCAL) and accompanies them to court, Umar offers non-judgmental support and a helping hand when he sees it needed by people isolated by mental and physical disabilities; he took several people to Floriade this year. Maria is on the committee of Abbeyfield and a busy Justice of the Peace. Anna sings Alto with the Out of the Shower choir. Raphaela is House Mother at Woden Seniors Club, is their Public Officer and sings with the Austrian Choir and Silvana volunteers at the Arboretum. (Radio for the print handicapped 1RPH on the Barton Hghwy needs volunteers for reading on air, or presenting (production), or cutting items from newspapers. If interested, contact Christine Daniell bcdan@bigpond.com ) HELPERS & COMMITTEE THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING WILL BE A SUNDAY IN NOVEMBER AFTER LATIHAN. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ONE, WITH THE GROUP ELECTING A COMPLETELY NEW COMMITTEE AS WE PREPARE TO BUILD A LATIHAN HALL. THE PLANS ARE STILL BEFORE GOVERNMENT. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PHASE IN THE LIFE OF THE GROUP AND SUBUD CANBERRA NEEDS YOUR INVOLVEMENT & SUPPORT MORE THAN EVER! MORE INFORMATION LATER. BEDS STILL AVAILABLE- -HAVE YOU BOOKED FOR NATIONAL CONGRESS YET? JANUARY 2 ND to 8 TH 2013 at beautiful Tallebudgera on the Gold Coast Qld Booking forms were emailed to you again on the 27 th of September but more forms and all information available from the booking team situated right here in Canberra: Rasjad--rasjad.johnson@gmail.com Irwan--irwan.johnson@defence.gov.au Irmani--irmani.collis@gmail.com Hamida--nunney@netspeed.com.au SAVE $90 BY REGISTERING BY 10TH OCTOBER! Booking forms to Rasjad s home, 24 Dale Circuit, Kambah 2902 CLOCKS FORWARD midnight Sat 6 Oct. Could whoever is unlocking Woden on Sun 7 Oct put their alarm forward please? It's also a long weekend. FRIDGE DOOR THE OCTOBER SOCIAL WILL BE ANNOUNCED BY EMAIL.
EXCERPT FROM SUBUD VOICE WHICH IS FREE www.subudvoice.net DESPAIR AND ITS ANTIDOTES The Editor of Subud Voice October issue 2012 writes this edition of Subud Voice is different from any that I have done before. It is different because it is devoted to tackling headon some current issues in Subud. That is, a feeling of disquiet in Subud which has become particularly evident in recent months. It includes concerns about the future of Subud given a membership that seems to be shrinking and ageing and not attracting new blood. There was a time when it was thought to be almost weak or disloyal to refer to a feeling of disillusionment about Subud, but it now seems OK to do so because the matter was addressed at the recent WSC meeting and also Ibu Rahayu has referred to it in some recent talks. In this issue we bring you a series of articles which reflect in different ways on these concerns. We also bring you articles which reflect on more positive aspects of Subud life. Of course, we are not trying to come up with conclusions but instead present a series of impressions radiating around these issues. To put Subud into a world perspective, we begin with a painting and an article by Leonard Lassalle about September 9/11 then there is a report on the WSC meeting in Vancouver then an article by Reynold Feldman with some rather radical suggestions an article by Emmanuel Williams outlining some of the problems then What does Ibu Rahayu say about it all? then they had the best ever Congress in Subud Britain then a brand new member reminds us of how grateful we were when we first found Subud an experience of Rachmadi (Machmud) Fiedorowicz reminds us of the extraordinary inner experiences that happen in Subud This issue of Subud Voice is available for free NOW click the link Ibu Rahayu Christchurch 2010 Ibu Rahaju s Talk recorded for the World Subud Council Meeting and America s Gathering in Canada June 2012 Brothers and sisters, as conditions and situations develop over time, we certainly face change. As a result, some members think: Is it not time for Subud to change? However, as we know, before Bapak left us, he laid down the guidelines and the framework we need for the organisation and for the spiritual side. And history tells us, the history of religion, that when changes were made, those changes caused fractures in the unity and togetherness of the original religion, its authentic form. The result was, when changes were adopted, out of a single religion, many different lines of thought arose causing its adherents to have no unity in their worship of God. So, brothers and sisters, unless it is absolutely necessary, why should we make changes? Bapak s guidelines and framework do not need changing. But perhaps they may need augmenting, depending on the situation. How far can we change Bapak s advice? That advice when Bapak received it, Bapak received it from God is advice that one can say comes from the power of God. Therefore, if we want to make a change, if it is really necessary, that change must be proposed and discussed at the World Congress. That will avoid selfinterest coming into play, since the change is likely only an idea arising from the interests of a particular faction or from someone s need for achievement. Subud Voice OCTOBER 2012 2
Ibu Rahayu continued Because of those interests, we have to be aware that such ideas are probably only a product of someone s mind. As such, those interests will not survive death. After death, our self-interest will not help our situation in the next world; we cannot take that into our next life. This is why we must be cautious. Do not hurry to change something the guidelines that Bapak set out that you probably think are out-dated. And to keep up with the times, you think you can make things go faster and make changes that you think are sure to be right. Apart from that, many people have asked me: Isn t it time we promoted Subud? To answer this question, I turn it back on those who ask. You want to promote Subud. Have you really witnessed that the state of Subud matches what the Subud symbol represents? If you want to go round proclaiming that Subud is good, Subud is this and that, Subud will make your life easier, and so on, I ask you: Has Subud achieved that? Are all Subud people good people? Do Subud people already embody the qualities of their symbol: Susila, Budhi, Dharma? So, people are pressing for this because they want to succeed quickly, since they are concerned, probably, their term of office will end soon and for other reasons. Consequently, they believe that through propaganda, Subud will become well known. Bapak was asked this question too and I am sure his answer was the same. This is like, to give an illustration, a seller of a herbal remedy. The seller claims, if you drink that remedy, you will gain weight. In reality, the seller is not well-built but skinny. That shows the seller is making a claim, meanwhile the seller s own condition invalidates that claim. Subud is like that too. If we want to promote Subud, then each of us must prepare our self first. Do not assume that we will become a good person just by joining Subud. We are only at the point of wanting to become a good person; we want to become someone with the qualities of Susila, Budhi, and Dharma. Remember, Subud has existed for almost a century now. A century is a hundred years. It has been established a long time. So why are people still pressing for this? Well, not everyone is pressing, just a few, a few dozen, perhaps. The problem is not everyone will come to Subud wanting to worship God. Some will come because they are ill and seek a cure; some to find a job; others to find a spouse, and so on. So, this is the point, we are still lacking. So let us not tout grandiose claims when we are not ready yet; we are still on our journey. (12 CDK 1 Ibu Rahayu s Address to WSC Meeting and The Americas Gathering, CILANDAK, 17 June 2012 Recording 12 CDK 1 Final Translation by Raymond Lee. Copyright 2012 by World Subud Association, Inc. All rights reserved. THE STORY OF THE SHIP This is a true story from Harlinah Longcroft. One day, in the general latihan in Cilandak, I found myself singing a happy wordless song. It was a song with a rhythm the rhythm of pistons moving a ship. I then saw, to my surprise, that I was also watching a cartoon. A little ship a container cargo ship was going up and down on the waves. Behind the superstructure, in the middle of the ship, all the Subud archives were lined up in their file cabinets and cupboards all facing forwards They were, perhaps, just a little bit prim. About them was an aura of sincerity, a natural dignity, and an unassuming strength. They were very much alive. And all around them, above and below them, was a light. It engulfed the whole ship. And the ship was oh so HAPPY! The song that I was singing was the song of the ship as it went up, and down, on the waves. The cartoon changed. Here was a truck arriving in Canberra. The archives were being unloaded and I was singing the same song, but softer now more like a hum. Then I saw the jinn! Yes! The jinn! About eight in all. Black! Aboriginal! Tall and thin, round and shortish. Huge! They stood in a circle looking down at the Subud archives. They seemed thoughtful. Suddenly, they bowed down from their great height. They bowed down to the ground. And the light from the archives was very bright. In the sky were angels in a circle around Canberra capital city of Australia. It was only a cartoon a latihan cartoon. Finish! The cartoon was over. Six months later, the real ship transporting the International Archive History Collection arrived in Sydney. When, I asked the telephone, will they arrive in Canberra? Ah! It said, Customs, fumigation, bonded warehouse, awaiting transport, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Who can tell? No worries! They will get there sometime. And that was that. 3
Harlinah continued One evening in the general latihan, I sang once more that song, no waves, and no cartoon I was a truck approaching Canberra! Strong and tough, I rolled up the distance and sang my heart out in all my coarse vulgarity! No doubt about it! I was OH SO HAPPY! Harlinah was hoarse by the end of the latihan, and the whole room was laughing. I think, said Roseanna, the Archives have arrived! Turning into Hume, right now, I replied. At 9 a.m. the following morning, the telephone kindly informed me that my shipment from Jakarta had arrived in Hume (just south of Canberra), and when would I like it delivered? Cartons and boxes, and plastic and dust, cupboards, file cabinets, tables and chairs, sneezes and snuffles, and cuts to the fingers, sifting and sorting the passage of years. Sweating and dirty I saw all about me what, thanks to the latihan, people had done. I shared with this witness the light of their content, and heard all about me.that latihan song. Now when I touch them, I linger I listen. I approach Subud archives feeling respect. For in them is something beyond our conception, which touches our inner regardless of age. And lights up our feeling and answers our questions as slowly we look through page after page. And then when we leave them, the blessing goes with us. Their life in our lives passing on through time as we in our turn add our witness to archives, the spiral of Subud goes on and returns. From Subud Canada s newsletter SCAN SUBUD THAILAND Subud Thailand must raise $16,000 in order to buy a Subud House and Subud Australia has voted to donate $4,000 towards this amount from zone funds, once Subud Thailand has raised $12,000. Response from Subud Thailand: On behalf of all of the members of Subud Thailand, please accept our sincere thanks for your donation and for taking the initiative. It is great to feel such support from within our zone... and this will surely encourage us to continue our fundraising and meet our target. Trevor Mahaffey s Jersey cows It was a just a matter of time before somebody mentioned the benefits of raw milk. It seems that it is illegal to sell it for the purpose of drinking it, despite lots of info on the web in support of not pasteurising. Ah well We are, however, allowed to bathe in it. CLEOPATRA S BATH MILK Delivered Tuesdays to Mountain Creek Store, Griffith From Trevor & Cheryl Mahaffey 4 Webster Road Goomboorian. Via Gympie Qld 4570 Ph: (07) 5486 5613 sales@cleopatrasbathmilk.com.au Love, Rosali A photo to restore our faith in humanity 4
Harold Hitchcock 1914--2009 Subud member and renowned British painter, Harold Hitchcock was a descendant of the artist George Stubbs. Encouraged to paint at an early age by his grandfather and two uncles who were exhibiting artists at the Royal Academy, he painted from a very early age receiving much praise from Dame Laura Knight and was proclaimed a prodigy by the English press. As the photo (taken in February 1999 a few months before his 85th birthday) shows, Harold sparkled with delight for life and for his work. He didn t plan a painting in advance. While he did start with an overall background colour, the detailed work actually began in the bottom left-hand corner. From there the pictures grew as Harold worked his way across the canvas towards the right. One could say that, in a way, anything might appear or happen as he created each painting. One unplanned aspect was the appearance of "hidden" figures. For instance, suddenly what appeared to be a face would appear in the sky; a benevolent, bearded face looking down lovingly on the scene below. It awoke such feelings for the grandeur and sublimity of nature that Harold was to spend the rest of his life trying to communicate this experience through his art. He never ceased to paint, through the grim years of his schooling and even through the war years when as a pacifist, he enlisted for the bomb disposal squad together with the other pacifists, communists, anarchists, outcasts and spiritual seekers. No more able to still his hand on the brush than a bird is able to stop singing. 'Florentine Interior' 1989 32ins. x 44ins. Acrylic on board When asked about it, Harold admitted to not having seen or noticed it before it was mentioned to him. However, he wasn't surprised. He said people constantly pointed out figures hidden in the rocks or among the leaves, figures which he did not put there deliberately. Harold Hitchcock's painting career was born in the sense of wonder of a small boy lost in the vision of a rising sun splintering, jewel-like, through the majestic foliage of the huge elm trees of his grandparent's village in southern England. 'Figures In A Garden' 2004 9ins. x 12ins. Acrylic on paper 5