London, England - March 22, 1981
Code Number : 81 LON 1
So it is clear that the usefulness and benefits of the Latihan kejiwaan of Subud are not just for Bapak only but for all of you. Indeed, at the time when Bapak first received it, he prayed to God, "Let this not be just for me alone, but for everyone," and his prayer was granted. People who are said to be experts on the hakekat say that this Latihan kejiwaan of Subud is what was formerly practiced by the walis ( saints ). Why is it now practiced by ordinary people? Obviously, if this is not by any human will it means that it is the will of God that ordinary people should now be able to do it.
This is why social democracy is necessary. People who talk about social democracy do not practice it. But if they get plenty of money they should not put it into their own pockets or spend it on themselves. No; it should be for the community, If this could really happen there would be peace in this world, and the gulf between poor and rich would no longer exist, or if it did exist it would not be so wide. At present the rich are rich and the poor are poor; the clever are clever and the ignorant are ignorant. Yes, nowadays the ignorant are gradually coming to understand that if they are enslaved and used as tools by the clever, so that they revolt, that is their own fault.
People talk about Social Democracy but are unable to practice it. They say "Social Democracy, Social Democracy," but later when they have lots of money, they put it all in their own pockets. That is not the way it is supposed to be. It should be for everyone.
If this can really work the world will be safe. The chasm between the rich and the poor will no longer exist. It will continue to exist to some extent, yes, but the gap will not be so wide. Now, the rich are up there; the poor are down there. The intelligent are up there; the ignorant are down there. Eventually the ignorant understand, ‘I am being enslaved; I am being manipulated. ' So they revolt. But it is all their own fault.
Jakarta, Indonesia - August 11, 1971
Subud Democracy
Bapak's Eighth Talk At The Fourth World Congress
Code Number : 71 TJK 9
The Asian zone, for instance, has helpers from Japan, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and the Philippines. They will do the testing. If they truly do it in surrender to God, it will become clear who should be chosen as their representative for the plenary session. Bapak leaves this to the wisdom in your testing. We will thus really begin to put into practice a democratic way of doing things. Since our democratic ways have arisen through God, ours is a democracy based on worship of God.
This is where it differs from an ordinary democracy: we consider it best that zonal representatives should be appointed according to the Kejiwaan, by means of testing.
The same applies to Europe. So whether it is Edward van Hien who will become chairman of that group, to take its material to the plenary session, is uncertain, but this will become evident through testing. It is done this way in order to practice democracy. Stella Giel could be the one from Europe. Who knows, Stella Giel surrenders to God and the testing in the latihan may indicate 'Stella, Stella, Stella' - not Edward van Hien, but Stella.
Thus the latihan Kejiwaan of Subud will develop, so that those receiving it who used to behave dishonestly will become honest, and a person who used to tell many lies will do so no longer. And people who used to do wrong will reform.
This is the democracy guided by God of which Bapak spoke just now; a democracy which is always guided and directed by the Power of God.
Some people may ask, 'Where is this Power of God ?' The answer is, 'Until you have entered Subud you do not know, because the guidance of God is in the inner-feeling, and it becomes apparent in your actions and behavior'.
Cilandak, Indonesia - January 2, 1982
The Meaning of Anugraha
Code Number : 82 SWN 1
( Bapak began by speaking about "Orbis", the name proposed for Dell Park )
It is a very nice name, a very good name. But it is too good. It is too high. It is too far beyond the normal range of man's thinking.
The name you should come to should have the meaning, "mengali kesejahteraan rakyaat." "Mengali" means to dig, to plough, to till. It means to fathom, to produce, to create. It also means the same as "jalan" - a way or road.
A "way" to what? The way must be "to" something.
It is the way to "kesejahteraan". The way to welfare.
The welfare of whom? The welfare of the "rakyaat", that is, the welfare of the people: of society.
“Kesejahteraan" - with its basic meaning, welfare - also includes within it - "Perdamaian" which means peace. "Kerukunan" which means harmony.
"Ke-solidaritas" solidarity, in the sense of the "Polish union.
"Keselamatan", security or safety.
"Kebahagian", happiness.
All these meanings can be summarized with the words "kecukupan" - sufficiency, or "kemakmuran', prosperity.
Bapak knows in English Sharif often uses the word "prosperous" when he translates this. And Bapak's meaning is that you - people - have a sufficiency of everything you need. If man can achieve a state where every body has enough, then the kejiwaan will also be able to develop. The kejiwaan cannot develop if the welfare of people is not taken care of first of all. Nothing can be achieved if people do not experience a measure of prosperity - if the needs of society are not first assured. And this is the true meaning of social democracy.
It is clear that the reason why the name of our center has to have the meaning, "creating welfare for people," is because this is now the era of social democracy.
So if you have a name like "Orbis" which refers to something outside this world, well, it doesn't ring a bell. It doesn't strike a chord within people. It doesn't connect with what people are thinking about these days. And what they are thinking about is their own welfare: will they have enough?
This indeed is the Age of Social Democracy. But social democracy itself has been wrongly understood in Russia by the Communists. Yet now people are beginning to see that the Soviet interpretation of social democracy is: "You do what I say, you do what I tell you to do, you follow me." Whereas, the true meaning of social democracy is: "What I have is for everybody."
. . . read the complete Talk - 82 SWN 1
Cilandak, Indonesia - August 18, 1976
Talk to the staff of P.T.S. Widjojo
Code Number: 76 CDK 8
It is necessary for P.T.S. Widjojo, for this Widjojo enterprise, to be able to become the backbone of our association, so that Subud can really carry out our ideas directed to social justice in the community of mankind in this world as a whole. That is how it is, brothers and sisters, and therefore P.T.S. Widjojo, in spite of its nature as a contracting firm and other things, is still in no way going all out to pursue profits for its own self, but for the community, for the association of Subud.
Because of this, brothers and sisters, P.T.S. Widjojo is prepared to give opportunities to Subud members, especially to Subud members who have no work, and also to include people who are experts, it should not just employ For Subud Members Only, just because they are Subud members, without requiring them to be experts, but it also employ people who are experts. But because the long term aims of Subud are also directed to social work and social justice, which means that they are directed to the general public, it will be able gradually to accept employees who are not Subud members.
Neither should the organizers arrange the work just to their own satisfaction, to meet their own wishes. They should not do that. Everything should be organized and considered in a cooperative way. Nowadays that is called a democratic way. But this democratic way is also a danger, brothers and sisters, because it is sometimes misunderstood. It is understood to mean that democracy means what you yourself like. No. It must not be like that. It is as if people work standing on their own feet. As a rule, people who work standing on their own feet then do as they please. That is what is dangerous. Thus democracy in its truest form means arranging things together. It means mutual agreement, with no-one less and no-one more than the others. It is like a cart, for instance, with the wheels on the right and the wheels on the left side running in balance.
Schloss Wendhausen, Germany - May 2, 1981
Healthy In This World, Healthy In The Next
Code Number : 81 WOB 5
When other people pursue this world and achieve their aim, they then behave as they like. One can say they are capable of anything, capable of oppressing others who are weak.
But you Subud members are not like that. The richer you are, and the better you inner feelings, the more you feel love towards your fellow human beings, the more compassionate you are. You have to express this compassion so that society can draw a conclusion from our actions, from the fact that we use our funds to help others through charitable undertakings for the benefit of mankind.
Such action is expressed nowadays by the words "social democracy." But don't forget that social democracy should not be only on one's lips, but must be put into practice. Such is God.
This is what Bapak says to all of you so that you should never cease to make efforts, so that your hands are never manacled by a situation where your lives depend on other people.
Oslo, Norway - July 24, 1977
Code Number : 77 OSL 3
For example, if you are a teacher and you are teaching children, your teaching doesn't only come from your brain so that it feeds their brain, but with it comes some influence from your jiwa which, as it were, also touches their jiwa, so that these children, as a result of learning from you tend to be ruled more by their human jiwa than by their nafsu as before, the result of which is that the learning that you give them will not later be misused but will be used rightly. So Bapak talks in a metaphor. It's like when you give a child a tool.
For example, you give him chalk to write on the board. He will use that chalk to write with and not throw it at somebody. Or you teach him to make a knife so that later, when he can use it, he will use that knife for cutting sausages or something useful, and not for sticking into people. His knowledge will then be something useful. This is something that you can already experience and put into practice in your profession. But it's even more clear, and even more evident or complete, if you are starting in a Subud enterprise. Then one can say that instead of just going on with your old job but in a new way, you are really starting from the beginning with the guidance of God, so it will be really from the bottom up. You are building it up in accordance with God's guidance.
Therefore, when you are finally successful and rich, then your wealth will be something that you won't use to harm other people and yourself, but you will really know how to divide it. You will know: this is for this, and this much is for me, and this much is for helping others. You will really have a true social morality and you will really be helping society. This is the real meaning of social democracy, and this is actually the will of God. No matter how much people nowadays pretend that they themselves invent things and that it has nothing to do with God -actually, it is all from God. Everything that man knows, and man has thought out that is right, is from God. But man prefers to say: 'Oh no, this is not from God, this is from my mind.' They forget that if God hadn't made their mind like that, they wouldn't have been able to think of these things. So, actually, this is the will of God that society should be organized like that, according to these principles - or what Bapak called a real social democracy.
Cilandak, Indonesia - August 11, 1980
Idul Fitri Talk
Code Number : 80 CDK 10
Those things which happened in the past, brothers and sisters, are fitting examples to show us that such things can only be achieved through patience, sincerity and a full faith in the One Almighty God, and with a feeling, full of love and compassion for our fellow creatures. That is why we must not forget that it is very necessary for us to feel compassion for our fellow creatures, which in theory means that we should create a field of social work. If to social work and awareness we add democracy, which means equality, giving equal consideration to everyone and not making distinctions between high and low, between the rich and the uneducated – then the nature of mankind in this world will be brotherly, for we all originate from one man; that is, from Adam. If that can happen, brothers and sisters, then of course this world will become one that is filled by human beings who obey God and believe in the greatness of God.
Jakarta, Indonesia - September 2, 1980
Halal-bi-Halal Talk at S. Widjojo Center
Code Number : 80 JKT 7
Indeed that is the will of God for human beings, because in the presence of the One Almighty God they feel that they are weak creatures, easily subject to error. That, brothers and sisters, is why we have to remember and we have to trust in the commandment of God that we should do our best to forgive one another so that we remain always in a state of harmony in this world and always help one another. If it were like that for people as a whole, then this world would be preserved from all disaster. This is something that is even more necessary at the present time, when it can be said that danger threatens the whole of mankind in this world and no-one is safe from it. Disaster may fall upon us unless the One Almighty God in His mercy gives help to mankind so that it can remain intact for future times, for future years, for future centuries.
That is how it is, brothers and sisters, so that the Halal-bi-Halal, which we are now holding and which people in general are celebrating at this time - especially the people of Islam – is truly useful and beneficial for human beings. That is why you must all make a resolution, brothers and sisters, and you must really affirm your intention to act in this way, so that we can all really help each other and value one another. The smaller should value the greater and the greater should value the smaller in return. The rich should respect the poor and the poor in turn should respect the rich. The clever must not be puffed up in their cleverness, but they must help the weak, help the ignorant. That, brothers and sisters, is what is generally called having a sense of one's obligations to society. It is social democracy. It means that people mutually take one another seriously, have regard for one another, help one another, value one another, and together face what they have done, sincerely and openly.
In this way those who are unenlightened can obtain benefits through being able to meet good fortune through those who can find it through their knowledge; so that these people can share equally all the knowledge that they have obtained. That is the duty of human beings, brothers and sisters, and it is also the duty of us all to do as God has commanded through His messengers. From the messengers these commandments have been transmitted to all of us; to all their followers, so that their followers can really obey the commandments they transmitted and which were given to them by the One Almighty God.
Toyko, Japan - January 1, 1980
Code Number : 80 TYO 1
That is why Bapak goes deeper and deeper, wider and wider, brothers and sisters, so that Bapak touches the whole of people's inner-feelings. That is why, when Bapak was in Latin America, he was like the Mexicans. The Mexicans are rough, tough people, but if, when they met Bapak, he had been like the people of Solo, and if Bapak had been passive and quiet, how would Bapak have felt? It would have been uncomfortable. It is like that here, where you feel as if Bapak were your own father, or perhaps you feel more for him than for your own fathers. So, too, for Bapak; he feels towards you as if you were all his own children, more than if you were his own children. If it were not so, Bapak would not have come here, brothers and sisters. In fact, brothers and sisters, Bapak is not well; he is suffering from what the doctors say is a dangerous illness. Because of that, Bapak has brought a lot of medicine with him. But Bapak leaves it to God; if it is God's will for Bapak to die, he could just as well die in Cilandak as in Japan, and he could die not just in a house but he could also die on a plane.
Bapak surrenders all this to the One Almighty God. If, therefore, you are truly convinced and truly believe in the existence of God, God will take care of you. For if you truly believe in God, God will also believe in you. It is the same in return. If you plant an apple-tree, you will harvest apples; if you plant a grape vine, you will harvest grapes, and you will later on eat the delicious grapes of Japan. If you plant melons, here in Japan, you will also eat those very expensive Japanese melons. It is the same in return. But if you do not believe in God, God will not believe in you. That is how it is.
Bapak himself has verified this, for Bapak adapts to each and every situation. It can be said of Bapak, brothers and sisters, that Bapak has no rank and Bapak will never be rich; no, nor will he ever be a king. Yet people honor Bapak, so they say. How and why do these people honor Bapak? They are not just ordinary people only, but kings and rich men honor Bapak. So that is better than being rich. Bapak stays in a big house; it is there for him to occupy. Bapak rides in a fine car; he has only to sit in it. That is very nice. If Bapak wants a melon to eat, you give him one; one of those 8elicious melons whose seeds are so highly prized. All Bapak has to do is to eat it. He does not buy a thing; it is you who buy him things. How is that? Here, too, you give Bapak everything. Well, Bapak is someone whom you honor; people say that they honor Bapak. If anyone asks questions of Bapak, they are answered before they are asked, so that people do not ask Bapak questions. Bapak himself does not understand how it is. It is winter here at present, but the sun goes on shining and the warm weather continues. Bapak himself does not know why that is.
It is thus clear, brothers and sisters, that the Latihan Kejiwaan of Subud which you practice is from the power of God. It has been given to mankind, and you have only to follow it and have no need to seek for it. You must not seek it. If you seek for a melon, you may get a melon; if you seek for them, you may get some nice grapes. You cannot get something that is really a simple blank. No, and so you should just follow the Latihan. It is not only here that people resign; they resign everywhere, even in Indonesia itself. About twenty-five or thirty - perhaps as many as fifty - thousand people have been opened in Indonesia, but those who still come to Latihan are not even ten, but at most five or six thousand. It is really like that, brothers and sisters. Thus those who truly follow and trust in the Latihan Kejiwaan are fortunate and those who neglect the latihan kejiwaan are unfortunate. It is up to them. Bapak is not responsible. What was given to Bapak, Bapak has given to mankind, and if people do not believe in it, what about it? It is up to these people themselves, once this has been given to them. Well, that is real social democracy. It really is the fundamental right which is held in full by every human being.
Malang, Indonesia - November 20, 1976
Code Number: 76 MLE 1
Thus it is clear, brothers and sisters, that the nature of zakat and fitrah is not by the will of man, not imposed or ordered by any person whatsoever, but by one’s own inner self, which has understood something. It is understood by people who are really pure people, who do not just consider themselves alone but who are truly able to feel for their fellow creatures. This is what is called social awareness or social conscience. Thus before ever these words were in use, before ever the words 'social democracy' were used, some people of Islam already possessed this, not from any human being, but from the One Almighty God. It is thus clear, brothers and sisters, that the nature of social awareness, the nature of brotherhood, the nature of the unity of the human race in its life in this world before the One God, already exists, and it is from the One Almighty God.
Chicago, Ill U.S.A. - October 1, 1977
Code Number : 77 CHI 2
( Sharif says ) I left something out last time when I was translating what Bapak said about the enormous abyss between those who are rich and poor and those who are intelligent and those who are ignorant ). Bapak said that this is what happens: for example, you get this tremendous gap between the king, the one who is on top, and the villagers - that is, the peasants - in a society. This is the origin of a new system of government which has become known in the West, for example, called democracy, where you take a king only for so long. In other words, you take someone from among the peasants and make him king, and then after so many years he goes back and becomes a peasant again, and then another peasant comes forward, becomes king. And this is truly right and this is what is referred to, for example, in Indonesia. as the Ratu Adil, or the King of Justice, because this is a device whereby this enormous gap can become narrowed down, can become reduced, this gap between those who are wealthy and intelligent and powerful, and those who have nothing.
Osaka, Japan - May 30, 1982
Code Number : 82 TYO 2
Nowadays, it seems there are no limits to the discrepancies, the wealthy become richer while the poor remain destitute and the weak grow no stronger. With all the refugees the population of the world requires it to be well organized, so that there should no longer be too wide an abyss between rich and poor, between the great and the humble, so that there should be merely a reasonable distance between those with and without authority. There may thus come about in the world a true social democracy and established humanity. This, brothers and sisters, is what the world stands in need of. What we ourselves need is the latihan kejiwaan Subud - so that all may have an equal opportunity to eat and enjoy the fruits of the earth, so that while a difference remains between great and small, this should not be so great as it is nowadays.
Cilandak, Indonesia - July 23, 1982
Talk At Bapak's House
Code Number : 82 CDK 10
As for the way in which man is watched over by God, perhaps you think, "If God watches over me, I will of course never again be sick and everything I do will always be right"; but that's not how it is, brothers and sisters. God's care of man is in accordance with social justice, with individual justice.
Take the case of a man who owns a house, in relation to the thief who lies in waiting outside. The thief, no less than the owner, prays to God: "God, protect me, so that by entering this house I will be enabled safely to take away whatever I find there and grant that the spoils I obtain will be made halal ( permitted by God )." That's the wish of the thief.
But the one who owns the house says: "Oh God, protect me and my family, and all my things lest a thief should succeed in getting in. And should he get in, make him confused so that he doesn't find the valuables I have stored away."
What now? What is the just solution? God will not follow the wish of the thief nor will he follow the wish of the owner of the house - but then what? God's reply is: "I leave this up to you. I only remind you of what is wise and what is just, what is based on consciousness, and what is right and wrong." For if God follows the thief that is not just, for then God is siding with thieves; but if He follows the owner of the house that is not just either, for then He is siding with the rich.
Such is God's law. This is the meaning of social democracy - that there should not be discrimination between two groups, between the group that is good and the one that is not, between the group that is rich and the one that is not.
This is just an example. Therefore God's law for His creatures depends on each of His creatures themselves - only, they are reminded: "you must be wise."
As in this case: the rich must pay attention to the needs of the poor and the poor must be aware that they are being helped by the rich, lest the help be harmful: for the rich understand, being the more intelligent; they know the causes and results of what they do. If the poor are always given everything they ask for, eventually they will no longer be the poor, they will become robbers, for that is the nature of the heart. The heart has no limit. If tomorrow he is given two thousand, the day after tomorrow he will ask for four thousand and so on until it is one million, two million without any end.
So it is clear that with his heart and his nafsu man cannot place a limit on his desire.
Cilandak, Indonesia - July 2, 1984
Comments Made At Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting Of Bank Susila Bakti
Code Number : 84 JKT 5
Now it is not that Bapak wishes to leave this world quickly, or say goodbye to all of you, but consider this: now Bapak is still here and can still make the decisions, but what happens when Bapak is no longer here? What will happen when something important comes up and none of you are capable of deciding?
Bapak's solution to this is to set up a system, to centralize things in a way that moves from place to place. For five years, the decision-making is done in England, for example; then, for another five years, in Germany, say; and then for five years in the U.S. In this way, the worldly side and the kejiwaan side can be kept in balance.
That is what is meant by the expression "social democracy". It is not Bapak's wish that everything should always be decided by Bapak. Bapak is a human being and every human being is subject to sickness and death. Therefore, in what you do and the way you organize things, let us not deviate from the kejiwaan, that is, from the latihan.
If we do latihan together and there is a Buddhist, a Christian and a Muslim, we all feel united. Because Subud is based on reality. Subud is not based on teaching or belief, but on reality. And the reality is that human beings are all the same. What is different is the places they live in. We think that Germans and Indonesians or Americans are very different. Actually, they are not different: they have the same organs and human nature. What is different is that the place where they live exerts a very strong influence on the nafsu. This influence of the place on the nafsu is called nationalism.
Where countries are very nationalistic, it is almost impossible to have peace. This is what Bapak explained to the Japanese brothers the other day. This attitude of nationalism is not something that can be changed in one step. It's a gradual process. But the way we can attack it is through the kejiwaan: through social work and charitable work. Because social work is neutral in terms of nationality. It gives an image of those who are stronger helping those who are weak.
If Bapak goes on speaking, it will turn into a talk and Mas Haryono will never be able to finish the meeting, so Bapak will stop here.
Cilandak, Indonesia - May 9, 1985
Talk at Indonesian National Congress
Code Number : 85 CDK 3
Through the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, you will be trained until you are completely free of invulnerability. Moreover, you will feel things and become sensitive. This is why Bapak often tests you, and asks you to let go of your thinking and worship God, and feel how the life of a European is. You then respond like this. I test Subud members who have never been to Solo or Jogyakarta, and I ask them how a person from Solo walks, speaks, and works. They respond like this, and say 'inggih', 'nuwun'. Well, any trickster or double-dealer could be exposed and it would be all over! But such things we're not allowed to know! This is sociology, not the sociology taught in schools, which is theoretical, but sociology which is truly guided by Almighty God, so that you can become human beings who know the feelings of others, the needs of others, the happiness of others, the delight of others. If one third of mankind really had such an awareness, there would be harmony in the world, there would be no oppression, no violation of others freedom and happiness. This is the real social democracy.
Wolfsburg, Germany - June 15, 1975
Code Number : 75 WOB 4
That is what Bapak wishes, so if this is agreed Bapak will choose and appoint someone to occupy this position, with the approval of the members of the Congress. Bapak's choice will be announced later. Nevertheless, Bapak will still submit it to Congress as well, in a democratic way, to see whether Bapak's choice or appointment is approved. For it is included in the articles of the International Subud Congress that the final decisions are in the hands of Congress. But nevertheless if Bapak approves they can be put into effect. Thus it works both ways. Bapak makes a proposal and it is for you to agree, but you can also make proposals and it is for Bapak to agree. That is democracy in the spiritual manner, on both sides. If Bapak left everything to Congress, there might perhaps be confusion, but if Bapak alone were to make the decisions, of course there is a possibility that there would also be confusion. That is why decisions are made by both sides. And that is why Bapak therefore asks you for your approval and agreement. ( Delegates clap their hands ) Bapak is not yet convinced, because you are just clapping your hands. Now Bapak asks you to stand up if you agree. ( All stand ) Bapak sees that more people are standing than not, so it is clear that Bapak's proposal is approved by all the members, or by the International Congress of Subud. Bapak thanks you.
Cilandak, Indonesia - September 29, 1975
On 25st Night Of Ramadan
Code Number : 75 CDK 6
As Bapak tested with you the other day, the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, did not think only about God. No, he thought about war and whatnot. For if he thought only about God, what would become of the war? No, he thought about war, about the state, about his wives, about his children, he thought about this and about that, he thought about the economy and so on ( not forgetting development ). But relaxed.
In that way, although you are thinking about whatever it is, your eyes or your seeing can see all around; that is, by themselves. So each member of your being functions individually. So we can say that we don't only have democracy outwardly, but also inside, within our being. This also Bapak will later test or try out with all of you, so that you don't only listen to Bapak's words but also to some extent acquire conviction.
Cilandak, Indonesia - October 31, 1975
Talk to directors and staff of I.D.C.
Code Number : 75 CDK 8
Why is it that until now wars are always occurring in the world? It is because those people who sell for profits only hoard them for themselves, they do not pay attention to other groups of people, the poor who need help.
This is why, brothers and sisters, it is very necessary at this time, particularly for countries which follow the path of social democracy, that the ordinary people should all taste the sweetness of their own country or homeland, and they should also establish social justice among themselves. This is something which the government has already proposed.
This is why it is very necessary that the ordinary people under any government, particularly the people of Indonesia, should really go in for activities which have the quality of development. Development does not just mean building houses, but developing everything which is in the inner self. They should become skilled or clever and capable and have a firm character so that they can believe in themselves and not always have to be dependent on someone else for their living.
Amen. Bapak Muhammad-Subuh Sumohadiwidjojo