Bapak did not mean that you should write a book about the relationship of the physical body and the jiwa, let alone about higher matters.

What Bapak meant was that members should write about their experiences since being in Subud and following the latihan kejiwaan, for other members to read. The content of the writings will thus not depart very far from what exists in the sphere of the kejiwaan, based on the Grace of Al mighty God manifested in the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, which in reality is guidance and direction from the Power of Almighty God.

If you write about things you have learned from books or from teachings, even though these teachings are generally called spiritual knowledge, and you then relate these things to what you receive in following the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, which in reality is the guidance and direction of Almighty God - this can cause your inner-feeling to feel empty or dead.

It seems necessary for Bapak to give some explanation here about the reasons for this. As you know, the latihan kejiwaan which we receive is a latihan of the jiwa, that is, the content of our whole self, which is composed of all the five senses together with the innermost heart ( hati-sanubari ) and the brain.

If we say that the jiwa is the content of our whole self, clearly it is the jiwa that takes the lead or plays the most important role in our lives. Thus, obviously, the heart and brain, or the ideas and the thoughts, however broad they may be, are still the instruments of the jiwa. So if the jiwa, which is the content of the self, is of a lowly nature ( material ), then it will not be aware that the perspicacity [ shrewdness ] of the heart and the intelligence of the mind possess a character less than truly human. The proof of this is that not a few people who are well educated and who know what is right and what is wrong behavior still do things that fall short of excellence.

So we very much need to find a way that can become the means of arresting the influence of the nafsu and cause our real jiwa to be uncovered.

It is fortunate for us that, through the Mercy of Almighty God, we are able to receive His Grace, which we feel as a vibration of life within us and which subsequently manifests the energy and movements we call the latihan kejiwaan. And, at the moment when the vibration of life is present, we feel the influence of the nafsu that dwell in our heart and thoughts come spontaneously to a standstill. That is why we say this happens through the Grace of Almighty God. For, in truth, it is difficult to put a stop to the influence of the nafsu that dwell in the heart and mind, and supposing it were possible to stop it, this would mean the death of the person concerned. So, dearly, the way to stop the influence of the nafsu and change the jiwa for the better lies through death, although usually if a person dies he really dies.

This is why Bapak explained above that we are really fortunate to be blessed by God so that, although we are unable to stop or to put aside the influence of the nafsu, we can receive His Grace. For in this situation only God can act, and it is only necessary for us to follow the latihan kejiwaan, which is a guidance and direction, with patience, trust and sincere submission.

This is how it is, so you should not mix or connect all kinds of theories with your receiving when you receive and follow the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, because if you still do that it will readily cause you to become confused. Bapak therefore hopes that, if you still wish to write, you will write about all the experiences you have had in following the latihan kejiwaan of Subud. ( From the Pewarta -VII/5/29 )