List of Current Articles:
International Helpers Travel Plans |
Regonal Council Meeting |
Fasting in Subud |
Ramadan at Seven Circles |
Tuning In |
Thank You 2007 |
Center Events |
Testing with International Helpers |
Regional Congress 2008 |
Congress 2007 Experiences |
National Congress Experience |
Ramadan in Subud
The International Helpers Travel Plans
International Helpers attending
* Shoshanah Margolin (Chicago, USA)
* Dorotea DeArenas (Colombia)
* Mattheus Kaslan (Suriname)
National Helpers
*Henrietta Haines (Berkeley)
* Isman Kanouski (Monterey)
Regional Helpers
* Roxanne Reicheg (Los Angeles)
* Henry Couden (Berkeley)
* Halstein Strahlberg (Los Angeles)
* Haridas Singh (Santa Clara Valley)
* Hamidatun Karapetian (Sonoma)
9/27-29: Thursday - Saturday / San Diego
9/30-10/2: Sunday - Tuesday / LA & Palm Springs
10/3-4: Wednesday-Thursday / Santa Barbara
10/5-6: Friday-Saturday / San Joaquin Valley
10/7-8: Sunday-Monday / Santa Cruz
10/9: Tuesday / Monterey
10/10-11: Wednesday-Thursday / Santa Clara Valley
10/12-15: Friday -Monday / Bay Area (SF, Berkeley, Marin)
10/16-17: Tuesday -Wednesday / Sonoma
10/18: Thursday / Elk/Mendocino
10/19-20: Friday -Saturday / Sacramento & Chico
Amelia Williams, Chair
The Regional Council met the weekend of September 8/9th, where we were hosted and cared for by Los Angeles members, especially thanks to the loving organization by new L.A. Chair – Aaron Ryan, along with Regional Helper Roxanne Reicheg, and L.A. members. (thanks, again!) I was deeply moved and impressed by the harmony and deep feeling shared by the Councilors. In all our deliberations I witnessed a sincere dedication to engage with a material responsibility infused by the latihan, reaching for that deeper understanding that guides our outcomes.
Fund Accounting
Thanks to the directions from the Regional Council and the work of the two previous Regional Committees (mainly Henrietta Haines, Regional Treasurer, 2003-2005, and Rasjidah Franklin, Regional Chair, 2005-2007) to improve our accounting system, we are now able to make much more fully informed decisions. Thanks also to our current Regional Treasurer, Hasan MacNeil, we were given a very clear understanding of our two distinct funds – General and Property. I’d like to focus in the Property Fund for now.
Buildings & Property Fund
The Property Fund makes loans to Centers for building maintenance & improvement. Currently about $230,000 is out in loans to 8 Centers for 9 properties, for terms that vary from one to thirty years. The interest Centers pay is then added to grow this fund for further loan outs. However, we estimate that, at the end of 2007, we will only have a cash balance of about $87,000 with which to make further loans.
Subud California owns 10 properties in 9 Centers. This building stock is ageing and the draw on our limited property funds for continued maintenance will increase.
Recognizing the need for an overall planning strategy to guide us in deciding how to allocate our scarce funds to future loans in order to secure the safety, function, and value of our properties, the Council took the unanimous decision to require a professional building inspection for each of these properties. The Council will then assess the conditions and begin to partner a plan with each Center as needed.
Caring for our Young
We continue to refine our understanding of our legal responsibility to protect and safeguard from incidences of abuse. Originally prompted by insurance requirements, Miftah Leath has undertaken to train and prepare materials for each Center. We are in the midst of seeking legal clarifications for certain aspects of our responsibility. When this is clarified, we will be reaching each Center that sponsors children’s activities to receive the required training.
Caring for our Elders
We began to pay serious attention to the needs of our elders and intend this to be an important ongoing exploration.
Next Council Meeting
The Regional Council will meet again January 26/27 at the Santa Clara Valley Subud House. I invite you to pass any matters of concern or interest through your Center representative.
Fasting In Subud
By Hamidatun Karapetian
The Ramadan fast is always ten days earlier every year. What does this mean for Subud members? Is it required that we fast? No. But, for those who feel to fast, it can be beneficial. Bapak recommended it as beneficial for us all, no matter what are our religious beliefs or lack of beliefs. But he also suggested that members who are Christian could do Lent, and Jewish members could, for example, fast at Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement which is ten days after the beginning of Rosh Hashanah. Clearly, it is not simply related to “religion” or Islam.
Some people are nervous about doing something that is perceived as “Islamic” in our political climate. For Subud members, this has nothing to do with politics. Subud does not make political statements or align itself with particular religions. It is a personal decision. Some members have tested whether it is correct for them to fast or do the inner fast. Please follow your own feelings. No one should feel pressured to fast or that they will not experience inner growth if they do not fast.
The traditional fast begins at sunrise and ends at sunset every day for 30 days. During that time, people who fast do not eat, drink, or smoke. And, in Subud, we try to maintain an “inner fast” as well.
Many years ago, some of us were told that one could simply do an “inner” fast, one during which you try to maintain an inner quiet in the following ways: your eyes would not look at images or people that are arousing or emotional; your ears would not listen to gossip or negative comments; your mouth would not be used to gossip, to speak in anger, or to express negative feelings.
I have even done “the children’s fast,” until 1 or 2 o’clock in the afternoon. For me, that was difficult. Pregnant or nursing mothers, as well as the elderly, should not do the fast.
One difference in Subud from the traditional Islamic fast is that Bapak recommended couples not engage in sex for the whole month of Ramadan. And, for those wishing to conceive a child with good character and a pure inner, he said it could happen following the month of fasting. We used to have a Night of Forgiveness, Tak Biran, at the end of Ramadan. On that night, we all came to ask forgiveness of each other, first to our husband or wife, partner, or family, then friends, and those with whom you have had difficult relationships. I found that night to be very powerful! This is different than the last night known as Eid-ul Fitri, a night of celebration which follows Ramadan. In some countries, people celebrate for many nights.
I mentioned those customs to some people who were Muslim where I taught school in Los Angeles, and they did not know what I was talking about. Whether it was merely a custom or something Bapak had received to tell us, many have experienced the truth of these two practices. Many members have found the fast to be beneficial or to bring inner and outer change. Again, change is never guaranteed, as it is truly up to Almighty God.
Ramadan at Seven Circles Retreat
Seven Circles Retreat will be hosting its sixth Ramadan Retreat culminating with an Idul Fitr celebration on October 13th. Unlike other events at Seven Circles, there is no set program. In the past years, members have found deep personal meaning taking a brief time away from worldly commitments while fasting. There is a space for men and women to vigil, do latihan, listen to Bapak’s talks, or spend quiet time alone.
In previous years, many have enjoyed walks in the forest, experiencing the majesty of God’s creation. People are welcome to attend all or part of the Ramadan retreat. For more information, contact Lusijah Rott, 650-493-8477 or by email at lusijah@gmail.com. Visit
www.sevencirclesretreat.org for registration information.
Tuning In Arts Camps at Seven Circles Retreat Center
By Emmanuel Williams
We ran 4 Tuning In Arts Camps this year – one in February and three this summer. They were all a total blast. There’s always a lot of hard work involved, and we’re always worrying about money, because the camps are expensive to put on and most of the kids come from low-income families, so we can’t ask them to pay very much. But the experience of watching the kids quickly settle in and feel okay about the place and us, and find creative activities they can commit themselves to is deeply satisfying.
Tuning In camps can sometimes be unpredictable, even a little chaotic, but they give kids a safe space, materials and support to try out new things, to take risks, make mistakes, to learn about themselves and come a little closer to an understanding of who they are. To see a kid try something she’s never tried before and make it work and smile and feel better about herself… that’s really something. To have been able to see this happen again and again for dozens of kids at 10 Tuning In camps over the years … well gee.
We’ve found that we can trust kids to participate in what we do at camps, what rules we should have, how we should organize that day, and so on. We work hard to give them a range of choices because we believe that when we are free to choose what we do, we grow.
11.00 – 12.30: Basic guitar, mask-making, shadow puppet play, dance, video production, water-color painting… take your pick.
Two young people (in their twenties) worked as program people and counselors this year and they were a perfect fit. Andrew Morgan does games, video and music, and his lady friend Anita does dance and movement. The kids really liked them. So the biggies this year were video production and dance. (We plan to set things up so that you can watch their videos.) Next year maybe we’ll take the 13-15 year-olds on a backpacking hike through the Sierras, or white-water rafting. Maybe we’ll find the money to buy a collection of musical instruments – xylophones, glockenspiels etc. and offer composition and improvisation to the 9-12 year-olds. Or we might do kite-making. Or raku. We’d like to put together a support team to help with fund-raising, promotion, accounts, program development and expansion.
Tuning In rocks!
THE SACRAMENTO YURT PROJECT
by Mark Penwell, Chair
Behind the Sacramento Subud House is an old, small, portable-type building we call the "module" that was there when we purchased the property. Since the preschool/daycare that leases the Subud House uses every square foot of the building, the module is where we have our refrigerator, telephone, coffee pot, file cabinet and other office supplies, book and tape library and bulletin boards. The module is where the men and women hang out before and after latihan. Consequently, we have become very dependent on this building over the years. However, it is quickly deteriorating and has become too small for our group. We were about 12 to 15 when we bought the property; we are now 31.
We decided we should replace the module with a large enough building for latihan, since in spite of its size, the room arrangement in the Subud House does not comfortably accommodate simultaneous latihans. Last Fall we got four estimates for adding a 25 ft. by 15 ft. room on the back of the house. The estimates started at $70,000 and went up. Discouraged by the costs, we let the idea drop for awhile. A few months later, one of our members discovered a company in Eugene, Oregon that builds solid construction, pre-fabricated, round buildings patterned after yurts. So he traveled to Eugene and visited YurtWorks (Yurtworks.com), and gathered the necessary information to estimate the cost of having a 24 ft. diameter "Yurt" constructed behind our House and the module removed. Fully constructed with electrical and heating and air conditioning was estimated at about $45,000.
We have obtained a loan from the Region, with the stipulation that we will pay back $20,000 at the completion of the project, and the rest over 5 years. Our financial situation, and the large profit we make on the preschool/daycare lease, will make that commitment easy to meet. We are in the process of gathering the information for the building permits. We have paid Yurtworks to produce the engineering plans needed for the permits and half the cost of the construction of the building. We have hired a contractor who will begin building the foundation as soon as we get the permits.
yurt 2
Pictured is an example of a 24 ft. diameter yurt. The round roof has a five foot diameter skylight. Inside, the roof-beams are exposed, creating a spacious feeling. With no interior walls, we will have a large room for latihan and meetings. The building will be an attractive addition to our backyard/playground.
Thank You 2007 – 50 Year Celebration
By Halimah Collingwood
The 9 day event at the end of August held at a Boarding School in Ascot, England, was divided into two completely different events. The first 5 days was the Thank You Celebration. Over 1000 members including many international visitors from over 32 countries attended. Aside from the cafeteria style food, narrow mattresses, inclement weather, and the difficulties in finding workshop rooms, it was a relaxed and harmonious experience.
Some of the highlights were:
Veteran’s Lunch – Over 130 members from ages 70 to 90 + had a chance to meet other pioneers, be honored, enjoy an excellent meal, be entertained and share memories. To see them all in one room was so moving.
Gala Performance – Besides the usual comedy, music and Subud spoofs, there were the best Fireworks ever seen and at the evening’s end, 50 hot-air lanterns were floated into the dark sky, glowing orange as they drifted farther and farther from the earth.
Susila Dharma International – A slide show and PowerPoint presentation with 3 facilitators was well received. During one of the WSC meetings, they discussed the problems in the Congo and other developing countries with some people joining Subud so they can get financial assistance through the Social Projects. They are trying to remedy this situation and make the Projects more accountable to their funding sources.
World Congress 2010, New Zealand – Hammond Peek and several WC organizers showed a film about the city of Christchurch and the Convention facilities. Their video will soon be available to Centers and groups in California.
Remembrances of Bapak by Sharif and Tuti Horty, Rachmaniah Bowden, Ibu Ismana, Mas Haryono and Pak Asiken – It was wonderful to hear stories of their experiences with Bapak, the first visit to Coombe Springs in 1957 and other personal memories of their lives in Subud.
Lakeside Café – Held in a large Marquee/tent and run by Raphael Skerratt and Elias Bate, it was open all day until at least Midnight, with great food and drink, music, games, and other entertainment. A necessary meeting place for the young at heart.
Thank You 2007
The last 4 days gave space for the Subud Britain Annual General Meeting (AGM). Many of the international visitors left and a new group of British members arrived to join the many of us who stayed for the whole gathering. The first two days had kedjiwaan workshops including one for helpers to ask questions of Ismana, Haryono and Asiken. The first day of the AGM, the meeting lasted about an hour before they had an hour break for Tea as the British love their time for personal conversation. Some say more work gets done during Tea time than during meetings. The days consisted of Reports, short workshops and final motions which were prepared in advance so that everything was voted on quickly and the meetings were over. During the evenings, there was impromptu music in various venues around the campus. It was sad to say farewell.
Center Events
Los Angeles will host the next Regional Council meeting on September 8-9. There may be some group activities like meals, entertainment and more. Stay tuned.
Marin has a wonderful Subud House that can be used by Bay Area centers on the first weekend of each month. Contact Chris van Royen for more information. How about a Subud Social Events coordinator?
Sacramento has regular meetings and gatherings:
First Monday: Helper/Committee latihan and meeting.
First Saturday: Group or individual testing after women's and men's latihans.
Second Saturday: If needed, a work party or committee meeting.
Third Saturday: Business meeting after latihan.
Fourth Saturday: Birthday potluck after latihan.
They have a project to replace the modular building with a "Yurt." They have a contractor on board, have made decisions about the design and are in the process of getting the information from the builder to apply for building permits. The Regional Council voted to loan Sacramento building costs for this project. The Yurt will be featured in an upcoming Newsletter.
Santa Clara Valley raised $800 at their last group meeting for Center beautification. The money seemed to come out of nowhere. The plan to upgrade their heating and cooling systems, and renovate the center while improving security. They also have a yard improvement gathering every two months after Saturday latihan.
Testing with the International Helpers
It's not too soon to begin preparing for the International Helper visit. In order to use our brief time with them effectively, they hope we'll talk to one another and test to select topics that have particular meaning to our own centers. It's also a good idea to have members sign up for personal testing appointments during the days, allowing 1 ½ hours per person.
They do not expect entertainment nights or field trips, as they will be visiting your center for a short time.
Nadia Woodcock of the Skagit, WA. group wrote: "Their agenda was loose but really effective --at first they listened closely to us and then we shaped the testing sessions together. The group helpers, the entire group and then individuals all had time to test separately... even months later we refer back to some of our group receivings so all in all the visit left us wonderfully refreshed and renewed and had some long-lasting good effects."
Regional Congress 2008
After extensive research, the Congress committee has selected Asilomar Conference Center on the Monterey Peninsula for the 2008 Regional Congress, www.visitasilomar.com. We will be talking more about this in upcoming Newsletters.
Philip Lindstrom (Santa Cruz), 2008 Congress Chair, and the Congress organizing committee of Raina Snyder (Santa Clara Valley) and Roanna Clark (Monterey) have been busy looking at sites for the next non-business Regional Congress to be held over the Memorial Day weekend, May 24-26. Some site requirements are: 1) proximity to airport / roads to maximize access; 2) affordable for our members; 3) ways to include families, youth and cultural activities; 4) two latihan rooms of 2400 sq. ft. or bigger with enough additional rooms for meetings/activities and 5) lots of great weather, excellent food, comfortable accommodations. Through testing, it was felt that Northern California was the best location for the next Congress and Asilomar tested as the best location of those available for that weekend.
The Subud California Congress 2007 was held over Memorial Day weekend at the Presentation Center in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It was a beautiful setting to hold an inspiring meeting which was enhanced by the ambience of the cathedral ceiling in the newly-built strawbale Welcome Center and the Spirit of the Sisters of the Presentation whose prayerful intention was a significant factor in the quiet that was experienced. Some member’s responses to the Congress were:
Regional Congress 2007 | Personal Experiences
I've been mulling over why my experience at the recent Subud California Congress was so positive. My conclusions are: the setting and the weather were beautiful, the food and service excellent! These physical attributes put everyone in a mellow, harmonious mood. I was expecting rancorous confrontations about the languishing state of Subud, breast beating etc., but my experience was that no one wanted to go there in the face of the direct experience of what a Gift the Latihan is for our lives on all levels. Great Latihans! and lots of laughing, and old friends remet and new ones newly met, all taking delight in each other. Courtesy and respect is the Mother’s milk of harmonious relations…
Subud problems CAN be fixed if we remain true to the Latihan! And will be, if we can just bring a realization of what a gift we have been given back to our day to day.
Subud dying? No! Evolving? Maturing? Yes!!
This was my first congress and I was struck by everyone's kindness, from the time Raina saw me coming in late, helped me through registration and even guided me to my room down the hall. I met dozens of people with faces wholly new to me, and watched Saturday's meetings sitting next to Raina.
Sergio seemed like a genius to me because everyone was jumping around, energetically around him and having fun, being animated ... very lucky I had him as my roommate. He and Halimah were even dancing overnight, and Barbara & I even made progress during the next afternoon's lessons.
Thanks Amelia & Emmanuel, for suggesting I come!
Sam Onaga, new member from San Francisco
Memorial Day weekend California Regional Congress: special as the first congress I attended since 1971, just after I was opened; surprising, memorable, and fun people, including that most important person, the previously unknown roommate. 5 large, powerful latihans in 3 days.
I was still aglow for several days afterward. Lately I've found myself talking about Subud to people in other contexts, which I rarely did before. Guess I'll think about going to another one of these.
Barbara Roos, San Francisco
If a gold fish were to leave a pond full of anxious friends who did not know (they) were going to be elected to help manage their affairs (since most every one had other things to do in life), and came back in 3 hours to see everyone working happily as angel fish (having decided thus through testing) and busily making arrangements for a most harmonious transition, well, then, they wouldn’t be any more surprised than I was.
I was the only one who had too leave the conference for a few hours that fateful conference afternoon in the hills of Los Gatos... When I left, consternation as to how it was all going to work out was fast approaching like a dark cloud on the horizon. When I came back, all the new positions had been filled in the most enlightened way possible.
Bravo! Conference members!
Bravo! Testing!
Bravo! The incoming and outgoing Board for a job well done!
John Matlick, San Joaquin Valley
As a member of a small Subud group, I always like to go to Regional Congresses to get a latihan jolt. There is nothing like 3 or 4 days of twice-daily latihan to open oneself to the hugeness of the deeper realms. As well, Presentation Center offered us a diversity of space, from a beautiful sanctuary for latihan, meetings and entertainment to a lovely outdoor courtyard to the cafeteria eating area in the newly-built strawbale Welcome Center. The food was the best ever. There was a quality in the spiritual dedication of the staff that put us immediately at ease. New and long time members spent time getting to know each together.
What was most special for me was that when no one accepted the nomination for Regional Chair, the Regional helpers suggested everyone who was willing, test to see if it was appropriate for them to accept to be tested for a regional office. Though I previously had been unwilling (how will I fit this into my busy life), the testing showed me otherwise. When Amelia Williams was tested and voted to be Chair, I felt drawn to test for Vice Chair. The powerful testing showed me it was the right energetic combination. What an experience!! And I’m having a great time already.
Halimah Collingwood, Arcata
Rather than speak of the beautiful surroundings in the mountains of Los Gatos, I will try to convey the feeling of our congress. Some approached the congress anticipating a low turnout or negativity. Neither happened! As we used to say, it was “mellow.” Everything flowed peacefully and smoothly. Members floated around like butterflies, visiting, doing latihans, testing, expressing their artistic natures, and hiking. The testing for our new Chairperson was done in a uniquely Subudian way: everyone tested if they should test! From that, doors opened, and we found a perfect committee for the coming term. Regional Helpers, especially the women, tested at every opportunity. More and more, we are able to receive questions from within.
Hamidatun Karapetian, Sonoma
National Congress Experience
by Hamidatun Karapetian
I want to share my experience as a Regional Helper from California/Nevada attending the National Congress in North Carolina, deep in the Smoky Mountains. By now, you may have seen the photos and heard about the business of the Congress. But, as a Regional Helper, I was busy from morning to night testing! Oh, yes, I also went to a Susila Dharma meeting as well as a workshop devoted to Community and in both of these, I was doing latihan and testing. I went to a workshop on Wisdom run by Reynold Feltman. He shared a way of accessing inner wisdom or knowledge via writing a letter to Saint Sophia, the goddess of wisdom, to be used with non-Subud people or ourselves.
Regional Helpers tested with the International Helpers along with the National Helpers. One RH was in the middle, while the other 20 women received. This definitely increased the energy and understanding. I came away quite blissful and filled with joy! What was the “powerful” question? What gift does ____ bring to the Region? It sounds simple, like something I’ve done before, reminiscent of testing about strengths and weaknesses. And, maybe it is, maybe I needed a positive boost. But, it worked! It helped reaffirm the feeling I have of how I am and should be and what it feels like when I am working in accordance with my gift. Group helpers could try this periodically for a boost, substituting “center” for “region.” Members could test this by asking, “What gift do I bring my Subud group?” Or, “How do I contribute to my Subud group? How would God have me contribute to my Subud group?”
My friend, Hassanah Bligh, now 94, was there from Georgia. It was beautiful to see how people helped her, knelt beside her to listen to her and love her. We all truly honored her as our gracious elder sister, a long time helper who has been in Subud for 50 years.
I also attended an opening of Stevenson and Renata Hickey's oldest daughter.
The congress was well attended, and there were many young people and children. It truly felt like a Big Family!
I participated in some meaningful test questions done in personal testing regarding career change. The next day, we decided to pursue the inner side of this woman rather than just the "cookie part of the Oreo," as one helper put it. So we tested, "May---------feel her soul." Then, “May ______feel what her soul needs to do in this lifetime." Something rather astonishing!
Some questions members tested were:
- Receive, how do you prepare to do the latihan? (If members moved or sang, they were asked to stop and they tested again.)
- How do you receive joy?
- Allow each of us to feel the part of us in which the latihan is awakening.
- Receive how you love yourself, your mother, your father, your sister, your brothers, your partner, and almighty god (separately).
Ramadan in Subud
The Ramadan fast is approaching, always ten days earlier every year. What does this mean for Subud members? Is it required that we fast? No. But, for those who feel to fast, it can be beneficial. Bapak recommended it as beneficial for us all, no matter what our religious beliefs or lack of beliefs. But he also suggested that members who are Christian could do Lent, and Jewish people could, for example, fast at Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Clearly, it is not simply related to “religion” or Islam.
Some people are nervous about doing something that is perceived as “Islamic” in our political climate. For Subud members, this has nothing to do with politics. Subud does not make political statements or align itself with particular religions. It is a personal decision. Some members have tested whether it is correct for them to fast or do the inner fast. Please follow your own feelings. No one should feel pressured to fast or that they will not experience inner growth if they do not fast.
The traditional fast begins at sunrise and ends at sunset every day for a month. During that time, people who fast do not eat, drink, or smoke. And, in Subud, we try to maintain an “inner fast” as well.
Many years ago, some of us were told that one could simply do an “inner” fast, one during which you try to maintain an inner quiet in the following ways: your eyes would not look at images or people that are arousing or emotional; your ears would not listen to gossip or negative comments; your mouth would not be used to gossip, to speak in anger, or to express negative feelings.
I have even done “the children’s fast,” until 1 or 2 o’clock in the afternoon. For me, that was difficult. Pregnant or nursing mothers, as well as the elderly, should not do the fast.
One difference in Subud from the traditional Islamic fast is that Bapak recommended couples not engage in sex for the whole month of Ramadan. And, for those wishing to conceive a child with good character and a pure inner, he said it could happen following the month of fasting. We used to have a Night of Forgiveness, Tak Biran, at the end of Ramadan. On that night, we all came to ask forgiveness of each other, first to our husband or wife, partner, or family, then friends, and those with whom you have had difficult relationships. I found that night to be very powerful! This is different than the last night known as Eid-ul Fitri, a night of celebration which follows Ramadan. In some countries, people celebrate for many nights.
I mentioned those customs to some people who were Muslim where I taught school in Los Angeles, and they did not know what I was talking about. Whether it was merely a custom or something Bapak had received to tell us, many have experienced the truth of these two practices. Many members have found the fast to be beneficial or to bring inner and outer change. Again, change is never guaranteed, as it is truly up to Almighty God.
The fast of Ramadan begins on September 13th, according to the Islamic calendar. If you choose to fast, you may find the beginning and ending dates vary according to the moon and Subud time!
By Hamidatun Karapetian
