Briarcliff, NY USA - July 25, 1963
Second Subud World Congress
Code Number : 63 BCL 10
Question: Bapak has said that the applicants who wait the full period of three months may be opened without further testing. Even after this it seems that some groups are still testing after the three-month waiting period. Is testing appropriate in certain cases even after an applicant has waited the full three months? Would Bapak please comment?

Bapak: Three months is a long enough time for an applicant, for someone wishing to join Subud, to prove that he or she really wishes to do so and follow the latihan. Because for a person who is only following someone else or just wants to make comparisons, three months is a long time to wait, whereas those who sincerely wish to join Subud will be willing to wait, not just three months but even a year. Therefore Bapak considers that an applicant who has completed three months need not be tested any further. They can just be opened.

An exception is a person who very much wishes to join Subud and is visiting a place where there is a Subud group – for instance New York – but their work does not allow them to stay very long, and as yet there is no Subud group where they live. In such a case the helpers can test whether the person may be opened immediately; testing is necessary because it sometimes happens that people come just to see and hear what Subud is all about, and they are not serious. But if someone has gone through the three-month applicant period, you do not need to test. That is enough. It is sufficient proof that they are serious about wanting to join Subud.

Toronto, Canada - October 4, 1963
Code Number : 63 YYZ 4
The way helpers open new members is as follows. People who wish to join Subud receive a clear explanation from the helpers, and they do their period as an applicant for a maximum of three months, but for at least one and a half or two months. The helpers should take turns in opening people; it should not always be done by the same person. One helper says the opening words – you should have received the text – and the others stand around and give support. After the opening words are spoken, the helpers should not think about the person being opened. They should worship God as they do in their normal latihan.

Vienna, Austria - July 30, 1964
Code Number : 64 VIE 2
Of course, as Bapak has said before, in this matter there is a separation between women helpers and men helpers. It is the men helpers who are responsible for opening men applicants, and women helpers who open women applicants. So when Bapak says that all the helpers should be present, he is referring to the relevant group: all the men helpers should be there for the opening of a man, and as far as possible all the women should attend the opening of a woman.

However, in the meeting that the helpers hold once or twice a month, the men and women helpers can meet together before testing something. If you prefer to meet separately you may do so, but Bapak does not prevent you from meeting together, so that the men and women helpers can carry out their duties together, and avoid any kind of competition in what they are doing.

When the helpers have done an opening they need to pay attention to whether the person who has just been opened has been able to receive. If they have not yet received the opening and cannot yet feel it, the helpers need in effect to repeat the opening until the applicant is really able to receive. In this way the helpers are really paying attention to the members, who are, so to speak, their younger brothers and sisters.

Cilandak, Indonesia - October 30, 1970
From Pewarta Vol. VIII No.3 July 1971
Subud LibraryCode Number: BAPAK 369
STATEMENT BY BAPAK

The duties and obligations of a helper are:

1. To give explanations about the basis and aim of the latihan kedjiwaan of Subud to those who are interested in joining Subud. It is necessary to explain that the latihan kedjiwaan of Subud cannot be obtained through a teaching or the practice of a theory, but that it is received through the Grace of the One Almighty God and is based on surrender to His Greatness with complete patience, trustful acceptance and sincere submission. So the basis of the latihan kedjiwaan of Subud is our constant devotion to Almighty God in accordance with His guidance and direction which manifest in the latihan, and the aim is that we may become human beings with characters of fine quality. Such are the explanations that should be given to those who wish to join Subud. Before joining, it is necessary to understand that Subud, or the latihan kedjiwaan of Subud, is not a magical practice that will enable a person to make large profits in a commercial enterprise or to obtain promotion in his work, or that will hasten recovery from an illness from which he suffers.

Of course, brothers and sisters, everyone wants to have a healthy body and sufficient means in life, but such things are not the objective in Subud. However, so long as we follow the way of the latihan kedjiwaan of Subud, we can always receive purification of the inner feeling and development of the jiwa, which can really change a fate in life that is bad to one that is good, and can lighten the physical sufferings of the body, which can eventually become healthy. But in entering Subud, the basis and aim is devotion, that is, constant devotion to the One Almighty God with patience, trustful acceptance and sincere submission. Whether a bad fate in life eventually becomes a good one and the suffering from a physical illness is cured depends upon the Will of Almighty God. He is the One Who can decide what is beyond our comprehension. This is what the helpers have to explain to people who are interested in joining Subud. This is necessary so that they will not have any misunderstanding about Subud later on.

2. It is the helper's obligation to open people who have completed the period of probation, and to attend their subsequent latihans until they are really able to receive and feel the latihan kedjiwaan of Subud.

3. A helper must attend the latihan kedjiwaan whenever there is a latihan and an opening of brothers or sisters who have completed the period of probation, even if other helpers are there. This is indeed an obligation of a helper, so that there will always be a good atmosphere in the group and a deep feeling of brotherhood between the members and the helpers, and so that the members regard the helpers as older brothers who are worthy of respect and whose advice is trusted.
... Read the complete Talk BAPAK 369

Cilandak, Indonesia - December 5, 1970
Helpers: structure and duties From Pewarta Vol. IX No.3 February 1972
Subud LibraryCode Number: BAPAK 377
A helper must attend the latihan kejiwaan whenever there is a general latihan and an opening of brothers or sisters who have completed their probationary period, even if other helpers are there. This is indeed an obligation of a helper in order that there may always be a good atmosphere in the group and a deep feeling of brotherhood between members and helpers. Then, automatically, this will enable the inner and outer relationship between members and helpers to become firm, and the members will regard the helpers as older brothers or sisters who are worthy of respect and love.

Clearly, many helpers are not loved and respected by the members, and that is truly their own fault. They are unable yet, in fact, to fulfill their duties as helpers who should be able to take care of their younger brothers and sisters and serve them.
... read the complete talk: BAPAK 377

Chicago, Ill USA - May 2, 1972
Code Number : 72 CHI 2
Brothers and sisters, although there is so much good in the truths which Bapak has received and which are to be found in Subud and in the Subud brotherhood everywhere, yet Bapak still does not wish to make propaganda for other people. Thus Bapak does not make propaganda for Subud to others. Even when people want to join Subud, it is not a question of Bapak making it difficult, but it is necessary to set a kind of probationary period of three months. Thus for a period of three months, brothers and sisters, there is a kind of probation for the people who want to join Subud, to see if these people really will come into Subud with sincerity of heart, and will they follow the latihan kejiwaan, and so that questions will not arise later on about what causes it and what are the connections between Subud and religion and so on.

That is why this period of three months is very important for all of you brothers and sisters, and for all the people who come into Subud: so that it can be checked during this three month period whether it will be all right or not, and so that they will not be disappointed in the future. For Subud is not a religion, brothers and sisters, it must be understood that Subud is a receiving, it is a possibility for harmony amongst the religions, a harmony between people of the different religions within Subud and a harmony between people of various races, between people who do not all belong to the same race.

Because it is like this, many people ask why Subud does not make any propaganda. Bapak answers, “Subud has spread all over the world without any propaganda." How much more would it spread if there were propaganda? The religions might have no followers left to them, because they had all joined Subud.” Bapak guards against this, brothers and sisters, to avoid chaos and confusion arising in the various religions.

And now this has arisen brothers and sisters, I do not know how it is here, but also in Indonesia itself many people belonging to the various religions are now asking questions of their kiyaiis, of their pastors, of their priests. They are asking to be given proof concerning their religions. Well, all that these priests can say is, "I cannot give you any proof beyond what is in the scriptures." And that, it appears, people do not entirely believe. It appears that they are pressing to be given proof of the religions to which they belong.

Then letters come to Subud asking if Bapak will give a talk in a church. Bapak refuses; not because of being asked to give a talk in a church, but because it is against our rules to make propaganda. No; if Bapak had given you a talk before you had received the latihan and become Subud members, of course you would not have believed what Bapak has been saying here, because you would not have experienced what Bapak was saying about Subud. That is why Bapak refuses. There have been requests on three occasions from bodies of clergy, asking Bapak to give to give a talk. But even if Bapak were to talk to them thousands of times over, how could they believe it unless they were already in Subud? Yes; how could they, when there are still many people who are already in Subud, many Subud members, still asking what is the connection between Subud and the religions? They ask, “What is the connection? Why can I not receive it?" This comes from people who are in Subud, let alone those who are not.

New York, NY U.S.A. - May 8, 1976
Code Number : 76 NYC 3
Another thing, which applies everywhere, and not just in places where there is not yet an organization but also in places where there is one, is that people who are over the age of sixty-five are not required to go through a probation period when they wish to join Subud, but can be opened immediately. This is because people who are over sixty-five do not think in the same way as the younger ones, whose minds dart all over the place. Their wishes are already more unified. This point has already been included in the rules about opening new people.

Bad Voslau, Austria - May 9, 1981
Code Number : 81 VIE 3
So brothers and sisters, to make it clear, Bapak himself, although he, has received all this in the latihan what Bapak has told you, Bapak is still a Muslim and as a Muslim Bapak still carries out his five daily prayers and before he prays he still does Wudu and he still fasts in the fasting month and so on and so forth. Sure but Bapak has never said to people of other religions who joined Subud that they have to do those things or they have to behave like a Muslim because Bapak is not allowed to encourage or to entice or to try to make people, Subud members, join Islam or something like that. So people of other religions, or whatever religion people in Subud have, they are completely free, and Bapak leaves it to them what religion they take or what practices they do in their religion and so on. It is part of their personal freedom to do that. And the fact is, that all over the world many Subud members have joined Islam and have became devout Muslims. But this is something which they have done of their own free will as something from their own conviction.

Like for example, Bapak said, one example is here this guy Sharif Horthy who, to start with, was not called Sharif at all but something else, but now that he is called Sharif, he also carries out his five daily prayers, morning, noon and afternoon and evening and nighttime and so on and so forth. And this, Bapak says, this is all entirely based on each members free will and such is the complete freedom of Subud members in choosing their religion or their form of worship. And Bapak has heard or has understood that apparently the pope himself has said that it is in order for Catholics to join Subud providing they are not forced to do so. He has told this a long time ago. Of course nobody is forced to come into Subud and that is why Bapak has put a three mouth probation period. The purpose of the three month probation period is to really find out if that person wants to come into Subud based on a real strong, sincere feeling of his own. And Bapak wonders if this brother Khalil actually had the opportunity to be tested through this three month period and whether he really came of his free will or whether he was perhaps too much encouraged or too much pushed to come into Subud. Because it may be that Subud is not what he is looking for, in which case of course he is completely free to go his own way and do whatever he feels like.

Brother Mintarjo tells a dream he had. But he did not have three month waiting period?

Brother Mursalin :"Oh yes, he actually had four months."

But now he is trying to force us to join Islam. So, the reason why Bapak explains now it is clear to everybody that Bapak as a Muslim is still a Muslim and does his Muslim duties as a Muslim, but for us Subud members, Subud is not a religion and each Subud member is left to his own religious convictions and to practice whatever he himself feels right or receives in his own nature and according to his own receiving. And that is what we want to make absolutely clear.

Brothers and sisters, Bapak wants to add something more, and now. Bapak is not trying to show off or trying to put himself forward, because Bapak himself has been born as an ordinary person in the midst of ordinary society. But the fact is that according to what has been noted down, one of Bapak's ancestors or Bapak is descended from the first person, who brought Islam to Indonesia, that is Sheich Maulana Muhammad Mackribi and this Sheich is Sahib, his other name is Wali lamang and he became the son in law of the king and from him descended the kings of Mautharram, from whom Bapak is descended. So that actually according to Bapak’s family tree Bapak is both a Sahib, that means a descendant of prophet Muhammad, and also a nobleman in Java.

But this is not what Bapak is interested in and this is not what Bapak is after. What Bapak is interested in and what Bapak is after is the grace of Almighty God, and the feeling of patience, acceptance and submission in the worship of Almighty God, so as to be able with this receiving or by this means to raise up the level of the djiwa of mankind which has fallen so low through the influence of the nafsu. Because through the influence of the nafsu today the world is truly experiencing a state of great chaos and confusion. Because everywhere like for example in the U.S.A. and in all the advanced countries people are really concerned and really worried and full of fear of what is going to happen.

Because they are aware that if there was a war now many, many millions of people would be killed, because there might be a third world war or something like that. And it is this that is Bapak's aim, according to the will of God, is that through the worship of Almighty God, through the latihan kejiwaan, people can come to a state where they are able to overcome this influence of their nafsu within their being. So that finally the state of mankind will be such that there will be no one who is willing to use these powerful weapons that have been created and that they can finally be got rid of and thrown away.

And so therefore in short the purpose of this latihan kejiwaan is to create people who are able to correct their own mistakes and restrain their nafsu. And this is something that can only be done, that can only happen through the power of Almighty God. And that's all Bapak wants to say, because otherwise we just talk about this one thing on and on and on.

From Bapak's answers to members' questions
Complete text
REGARDING the spread of Subud to the general public, we have already received a saying in Subud that goes: 'Give to those who ask, and do not force those who do not care to receive'. So there is no need of the method of spreading Subud by propaganda and by forcing on people that they must want to receive; it is enough if we just prepare to give to those who really and sincerely wish to receive it. ( 11/5 - 6/120 )

The probationary period

A man or woman ( of eighteen years of age ) wishing to enter Subud should first become a probationer for three months at the most. A married woman whose husband has not yet joined Subud is required to get permission from her husband.

Only the following are exempt from the three months probation period: ( a) those who have reached the age of sixty-three or over; ( b) those people from distant places who are on a short visit and in whose city there is no Subud Committee yet; ( c) those who are ill and cannot move about and the wife of a Subud member and Subud members' children who have reached the age of eighteen.

The reason for the probation period is that people should get acquainted with the helpers and get the necessary in formation or clarifications from them about the meaning and aim of Subud. This is needful so that they can really come to some understanding about Subud and will not feel disappointed when opened. This applies also to those exempted from the probationary period. They too, however, should be given explanations of the meaning and the aim of Subud before they are opened. ( II/11-12/353 )

Why a wife needs her husband's permission to be opened

Because the husband is the head of the household, e should be in touch with what happens within his house and needs to know, in outline, the activities of his wife.

The husband has to be able to maintain justice within his household but, as you know, justice is not obtained by the person-in-charge putting himself in the forefront, so it is preferable that justice take effect through negotiation. This means it is necessary to consider always, with pure feelings and full conviction, how the needs of the family's life will benefit, outwardly as well as inwardly.

If this behavior can be realized, every action of the one partner will be approved by the other, until sooner or later the two can act as one.

In Subud, as perhaps you begin to see, we are trained by the Power of God, free from the influences of nafsu, heart and mind. This means that the latihan we have received is really by the Will of God, given in order that our inner-feeling can become good and clean. Our inner-feeling will thus become a house big enough to be occupied by the Great Life Force that can make the life of a family happy.

Such will be the fruit of the latihan kedjiwaan of Subud if we can receive and persevere with it. Clearly, Subud does not wish husband and wife to be separated and it is pre ferable for everybody interested in Subud, especially the married women themselves, to discuss their intention with their husbands before being opened.

Such a course is normal according to the highest way for us and will not cause dissension between one and another in family relationships.

Regarding the women's group mentioned, who have another opinion owing to the change in their usual custom, Bapak leaves it to their insight to take the responsibility if disagreements arise later between husbands and wives.

Bapak does not in the least hope such disagreements will happen; on the contrary, Bapak hopes everything will go smoothly according to the hopes of Subud.

Since we are only human beings with physical bodies which can easily be touched by something and so caused to suffer both inwardly and outwardly, how excellent it would be if we could act in all matters with care. ( 1/3/66 )

Amen. Bapak Muhammad-Subuh Sumohadiwidjojo