Dharma means the possibility for every creature, including man, to surrender completely to the will of God, of Whom man is only a creation and has therefore, inevitably to submit to the will of his Creator.

Susila Budhi Dharma means to follow the will of God with the help of the divine power that works both within us and without, by the way of surrendering oneself to the will of Almighty God.

Susila Budhi Dharma is the symbol of what we are practicing in the latihan kejiwaan of Subud; it means that whatever happens in the latihan of Subud is entirely the will of God and comes to us because God wills it for us.

This is exactly according to what has been said in the Holy Books, such as the Bible, the Qu'ran; namely that God is close to man or, if man comes close to God, then God can give man the things he needs; and that man can receive the things that God intends him to have.

What is it that we have to surrender to God? It is not our wealth, the ones we love, nor whatever else we possess because God has no need of those things. What we have to surrender is our mind, our heart and our desires, because those are the instruments that form an obstacle to our coming closer to God.

This is what Jesus Christ meant when he said that God will always be with us if we can surrender ourselves to Him and we can love Him more than anything else - more than ourselves. This means that the love that we have with our hearts and with our feelings is an obstacle preventing us from coming to the true love of God, because this outer love is only love of things we like to believe we love. But the love that we must have of God must be greater than this.

To the Prophet Muhammad was given the revelation that God existed before anything else existed, and that God will be after everything is destroyed. God is farther away than the farthest things there are. He is deeper within than anything else, which means that God has created really everything, and because He created everything He will also take care of everything.

It is also said that God has no form, no speech, no country, no color. For if, for instance, He had a country there would be more than one God, because for every country there would be a God; and if He had a color, there would also be more than one God because every color would need a God. And this is what is meant by the saying: 'God is One and Master of all'.

Moreover, God created without tools and materials. If man wants to make something - a table, for instance - he needs wood, nails, a hammer and other tools; and to make the atom bomb man needs more tools to break down the material into atoms. But with God it is wholly different. God works without materials or tools. It follows that for man to understand and know what is in the mind and heart of God the only thing to do is to surrender himself entirely; because with his own mind and his own heart and his own desires he will never be able to find God. Only by surrendering himself completely to God, not making use of his mind, his heart or his desire, is it possible for man to come into contact with the power of God.

This is what we do in the latihan kejiwaan - we surrender ourselves completely, we do not make use of our mind, heart or desires - we simply accept and receive whatever God sends. So you will understand that Subud is only a symbol of that way of living for man in which he can fulfill and carry out the will of God for himself in this world and in the world to come.

Therefore, in the latihan of Subud we do not have a teaching; there is nothing we have to learn to do, because all that is required of us is complete surrender. A person who claims to know the way to God is really one who is anticipating God's gifts without having received them.

The only thing we do is surrender ourselves completely and simply accept and receive whatever God sends or wants us to have. This is indeed what every Prophet has said: 'Surrender yourself entirely, submit completely to God, and then God will take care of you and give you guidance.' In these spiritual exercises we do not expect anything in particular. We make no image for ourselves, but only receive whatever God may send us.

So this divine power, which works in us during the latihan, will bring to each person what is already in himself. For instance, if a person has a loud and strong voice, he will utter very loud and strong sounds. This goes for every part of our body, for every part of our being. Therefore, the latihan of two people can never be the same, because everyone is different from everyone else. It is clear, then, that there cannot be a theory or a spiritual teaching in Subud because each person is different. Whatever he needs and whatever he receives will differ from what somebody else needs and receives. This is why we cannot give any rule or prescription of how to behave when you are in the latihan, because this is something personal for everyone.

Every person will find for himself the right way towards God, and what may be the right way for one may be completely wrong for another. Therefore, you must not suppose that you have to follow or become like Muhammad Subuh. You must become your own self and you must develop your inner self if you want to find the way to God. You must not follow or imitate anyone else, because you must find your own way to God: Usually, if there is a teacher, he teaches his followers to do exactly the same as he does in order to reach what he has reached. But this is really wrong, because not only between a teacher and his followers but even between two brothers of the same parents there is already a big difference; not only in outward appearances but also in their character and in their whole being. So surely you can understand now that what is the right way for a certain teacher to find God is not necessarily the right way for his pupils.

Therefore, Bapak says, it is God Who will lead you towards Himself and what really happens in the latihan is that you will be introduced to your inner self - to the real I. You must not be afraid and you must not be worried, for whatever comes to you in your latihan is only what is in you and comes from your inner self. It is the real you that arises in the latihan, so you do not have to be worried or afraid.

In Subud, there is no discrimination between the different religions because what comes to a person is really what is already there within him. So if a person is a Christian, he will meet the real Christ within him, and if a person is a Buddhist; he will meet the real Buddha in him. The same if he is a Muslim, he will meet the Muhammad within himself. And then, if you really know your inner self, in everything you do you will be guided by the divine power, because the divine power works in you through yourself and whether you are in your office or driving a car or doing anything else you will be guided by the power of God, which is always working within you and also outside you.

Then it will be true what is said in the Qu'ran, that before you undertake anything you should say: 'Bismillahir Rachmanir Rahim.' This means that you follow God's guidance and only do whatever God brings you to do; that you will not be in haste to do something and only afterwards remember God and regret what you have done. When God precedes something you are doing, then it must be the right thing to do. This is also the real meaning of what is done by Christians when they pray before they eat or before they go to sleep. This also means that you should not do anything without God guiding you, because if you forget God in something you do, there will be no help from God if anything goes wrong. The power we see is only to convince us that the Almighty power of God works not only within us but also in all creation, and even outside of all creation.

That is why in the latihan we will not harm our religion, because what we think and what we carry out is only the will of God, and we only carry out what is already within us. So a person who has a religion will experience in the latihan only according to what is in his religion and according to what is within himself.

Some among you may ask where Bapak got all this from. Bapak answers: he received this when he was in the same situation as you are. He was working, he was still doing his job in the office and whatever else he had to do, and even liking it. All of a sudden everything stopped. His mind stopped working and his heart stopped working and his desires stopped working and then he received as everybody receives in the latihan. He was not looking for wisdom, he did not have a guru, a teacher. He just received it, and that is what is called Mu'jizat-ullah, a divine gift. This comes to a person only while he is not looking for it, and when he is ready for such a gift then God will bestow that gift on that person.

You may have heard about the healing of Eva Bartok. It was not Bapak who helped her or cured her, but he showed her how to worship God and it was her good fortune that God willed her to get well. So she got well and everything was well with her. But it was not Bapak who cured her. He only showed her the way to worship.

The healing of a person is a matter only between him and God, and no one else can interfere.

Further, Bapak leaves it to you to decide whether or not you want to come to these spiritual exercises, because in the worship of God there is nothing compulsory. Everyone must be free. But whenever one asks, it will be given.

Based on notes taken at the only talk of Bapak to Applicants, Singapore, 1960.

2. Explanations to applicants

AS the latihan kejiwaan is the most important thing in our Subud Brotherhood, the duties and responsibilities of the Subud helpers, who are in reality Bapak's helpers, should certainly be like those of Bapak. This means that a helper's entire behavior and actions should come only from what exists and occurs in the latihan kejiwaan of Subud.

Perhaps you are already aware that the latihan kejiwaan of Subud exists because Bapak exists. Similarly, there are Subud members because there are helpers. So if there were no helpers, there would be no Subud members. This is why Bapak says that a helper is the most important member in our Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud, and that is why he should behave like Bapak. For instance, he should give the dearest possible explanation about the basis and aim of the latihan kejiwaan of Subud to those people who are interested in becoming members. This is necessary in order that they should really and truly understand that the latihan kejiwaan of Subud is based on man's worship of Almighty God in accordance with His guidance and direction which are manifested in the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, and the aim of Subud is that those who receive it can become, through God's guidance and direction, human beings of excellent character who are obedient to the commands of Almighty God.

It is very necessary for those who enquire about Subud to hear clarifications such as this in order that they may realize that there is no guarantee that a person will experience happiness in his life as soon as he has received the latihan kejiwaan of Subud. It is not certain, for instance, that he will immediately be able to find a better job than before, or that his business will be more profitable than before, and so on.

Bapak does not criticize such a wish, for everyone wants his life to be pleasant and happy, but in reality one's life will become pleasant and happy only if one pays for it first by prihatin; that is, by cutting down on all kinds of pleasures and patiently accepting whatever is then received. This is the kind of clarification the helpers should give to those interested in joining Subud.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VII, No. 2, page 27 - (letter A: 10-6) 1969.

3. The probation period

A MAN or woman (of eighteen years of age) wishing to enter Subud should first become an applicant 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 group yet.

c. Those who are ill and cannot move about.

d. The wife of a Subud member.

e. Children of Subud members 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 information or clarifications from the helpers about the meaning and aim of Subud. This is necessary so that they can really come to some understanding about Subud and will not feel disappointed when they are opened. This applies also to those who are exempt from the probationary period. They also should be given explanations regarding the meaning and aim of Subud before they are opened.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud, Vol. I1, Nos. 11/2, page 355 (letter) 1962.

4. Opening without full probationary period

THE maximum probationary period is three months, but an applicant can' be opened before the three months period is over if he has shown himself to be really sincere. In such a case it is necessary for the helper's group to test.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. II, No. 7/8, page 220 - (letter) 1962.

5. Age of opening children

Why does Bapak forbid children to be opened before the age of 18'? Well, Bapak can answer this. It is because Bapak understands very well the nature of children. The nature of children is that when they find something they like, something that is nice and gives them a feeling of satisfaction, then they will leave everything else and do only that. So that if children were opened when they are very young, they would consider everything else unnecessary, and they would only continue to do the latihan all the time. And this is why Bapak has chosen the age of 18, because Bapak considers that at 18, mostly, children are already starting university - that is, they are starting studies which are already of a high nature, and by that time they are able already to discipline themselves and to know what is the time for study, and what is the time for latihan.

This is why Bapak has chosen this age for people to be opened - and this, actually, is no different from what exists in religion. In general, people are only considered to have duties or responsibilities in religion once they are adult. Up till the time when a person becomes an adult, he only, as it were, copies - he can join in the religious worship, but it is only just to imitate what the parents are doing.

Prom Pewarta Special Supplement No. 7, page 152 - relevant recording: 77 LIS 3.

6. Why the probation period is necessary

THE helpers, in fact, are very careful. So the rule has been made 'in the Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud that whoever wishes to join Subud must go through a probationary period of three months. The probationary period is necessary so that a person can make a thorough investigation of Subud and the helpers can make a careful observation of the applicant's true situation.

We have made this regulation so that we will not be accused of forcing people to join Subud, or of accepting people at random as Subud members. For the nature of Subud and its latihan kejiwaan is only worship with trust and sincere submission, in surrender to the will of Almighty God, and it is based on His grace that we are able to receive. For this reason, we have the principle of only giving it to people who would like to receive and follow the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, and of not giving it to anyone who does not want to receive and follow it.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VII, No. 3, page 7 - (letter A-805) 19 70.

7. Applicants should not be exposed to the latihan

SITI Rahayu said that candidate members should definitely not be exposed to the latihan - not even through a closed door - until the very end of their waiting period, when they have already made up their minds that they really want to join Subud. Otherwise they might actually be opened against their will, and that would be bad.

From Ibu Siti Rahayu, (letter) 4 January 19 79.

8. Firm wish and clear intention necessary

NOW, first of all, about the question of the increase in the membership, or getting new members - it is true that Subud very much needs new members and to increase its membership, and for that it is necessary for us to explain to people about the worship of God, explain to people who are not yet aware of the worship of God according to the hakekat, or about the duty of human life other than the way people normally understand it, about the real obligations of a human being. It is certainly true that it is our duty to explain to people who do not yet understand.

Nevertheless, we must always hold fast to one principle: as we are people who follow the will of God in everything, and Subud exists by the will of God, it is absolutely essential that we make quite sure that we only open people who really have a firm wish and a clear intention to join Subud - and never to open people who join as a result of being enticed into Subud, or that we should entice people into Subud. Because the result of this will be that it is very unlikely that people who are enticed into Subud will be faithful and really do the latihan and devote themselves seriously to what is in Subud. On the contrary, it is more likely that they will have an attitude that they couldn't care less, and will probably neglect their latihan after a time.

From Pewarta Special Supplement No. 6, page 116 - relevant recording: 77 BCN 2.

9. Ensuring sincerity of applicants

AS a matter of fact, applicants who have completed the full three months probationary period could be opened without testing by the helpers' group. However, it appears from experience which helpers have had to face and deal with that applicants, after being opened, still actively pursue the practice of theories like hypnotism, spiritualism, mesmerism and other occult ways. It is therefore deemed necessary to test before opening applicants, in order to ascertain the strength or sincerity of their determination, and whether they really will be obedient and faithful in the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, which is truly a guidance and leading by the power of the One God.

Concerning testing, it seems needful to clarify here that the testing done by helpers about applicants is not merely to ascertain whether or not an applicant may be opened and follow the way of the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, but if the helpers, in doing such testing, surrender everything completely to the power of the One God, they will then be able to receive and see the true state of the applicant. Thus, the self of those who pass the testing will form a suitably equipped personality, like a wide vessel, to receive and follow the course of the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, which is truly a guidance and leading by the One God.

You and the other helpers, it seems, consider that following the above procedure makes it difficult for those who wish to enter Subud. This opinion can be said to be true. However, you need to know and remember that at the present time not a few members in Subud groups still follow all kinds of practices, still drink strong drinks to the point of becoming drunkards, and still take pills whose properties can destroy the heart and mind. In addition, others, instead of being harmonious with their friends or brothers after entering Subud, on the contrary disrupt the harmony of Subud members to the point of causing a breach or rupture in the Brotherhood.

If the person, for example, is someone who never comes near the group and after three months asks to be opened, you don't open him. Because during the three months he must come regularly and if he doesn't then you tell him: 'Oh, no, now you have to wait longer'. For example, if he cannot come one week, then he must write a letter to say: 'I cannot come this week because of something or another'. So it is clear that he takes Subud seriously.

But if you have clone all this and they have come regularly during three months and they are serious, and then you open them and they don't come any more - then that is not your responsibility. You have fulfilled your duty and you have no longer any fault on your side - that is their mistake and there is nothing you should worry about.

From Bapak's talk in Switzerland - relevant recording: 77 BLN 1.

10. Two helpers to be present at interview

WHEN giving advice or information concerning Subud to anyone, two helpers should be present at the interview, so that they can balance each other in their points of view.

From M’bakju Rochanawati's talk to women helpers in Europe,1959-60.

11. Regular attendance at latihan

THE helpers need to make it understood that it is important to continue the latihan regularly.

From M'Bakju Rochanawati's talk to women helpers in Europe,1959-60.

12. Mental illness and opening

BAPAK has often said that at present we cannot yet open one who suffers from mental illness, for, firstly, we do not yet have a hospital for this kind of illness, and we do not even have a strong house in the various centers where people who suffer from this illness can be guarded and taken care of; and further, we are not yet strong enough - that is to say, we do not yet have doctors who are doctors in the outer sense and are also experienced in the field of the latihan kejiwaan of Subud.

Bapak's reply to helpers in New York, 7 May 1969.

13. Drug takers

WITH regard to the acceptance of people who are interested in joining Subud, People who still wish to use drugs and who are indeed in the habit of doing so will not be accepted as members of the Association of the Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VI, No. 1, page 31.

14. Husbands/wives wishing to join Subud

IF the husband is already doing the latihan kejiwaan, then the wife can be opened at any time that she wishes to receive the contact. Although it is possible for the husband to open his wife himself, we should keep to the rule that she should be opened by the women helpers. Because if once the husband is allowed to open his wife, then every husband whose wife is not yet in Subud will start to open her at his own discretion; the helpers will have no part in it and disorder will result.

The best arrangement, therefore, is that a wife whose husband is receiving in Subud, and who wishes to receive the contact herself, should come to the local center to be opened. She need not wait for the three month probation period. But if, on the other hand, the wife is already in Subud and her husband wishes to be opened, this cannot be done straight away. He should become an applicant and wait for three months. The reason for this is that the husband is in truth the head of the family, and it would be out of place and a violation of their essential relationship if the husband were to follow after his wife. For a man is his own master and should not be dominated by his wife.

The above needs some illustration. It is exemplified in the custom by which a man's name takes precedence over his wife's; if Henry Smith marries Mary Jones, she becomes Mrs. Smith and the husband does not become Mr. Jones. This is in accordance with the spiritual position of a man as the head of his family.

Bapak considers it is also necessary to give some further explanation as to why a wife who wishes to come to Subud should first obtain her husband's consent. This is really necessary.

If we follow the regulation we have agreed upon in the Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud, whereby a married woman who wishes to enter Subud must have the written permission of her husband if he is not yet a Subud member, it is difficult for us to take action in the matter of receiving and opening the woman you mention.

Bapak puts it in this way because the person who receives the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, which in truth is direction and guidance from the power of the One and Only God, will experience a period of purification from all faults interwoven in his or her inner feeling, so that if she is fortunate she will be able to feel and to understand what she must do and how she must do it.

Such an experience will certainly not be recognized and understood by her husband, because the husband has not yet come into Subud and has a different understanding.

In the Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud it has happened that, even though a husband has given his wife permission to become a Subud member, when he sees that she appears to be in a state that is unusual for her - for example, if she no longer shows him any love and affection, as if this were gone, and no longer likes being near him - then the husband feels that his wife no longer loves him. Whereas, if he were able to understand, his wife is in this state because it is necessary for her to experience a period of purification of the inner-feeling. It may even happen that this misunderstanding can lead to divorce. Furthermore, if a wife enters Subud without her husband's permission, it is certain that the husband will blame the helpers who opened her even more, because he will think that they have done something wrong to his wife.

Therefore the helpers need to act in this matter in accordance with the agreed regulations. We, or the helpers, should not wish to act from a feeling of pity for someone who is truly thirsty for the latihan kejiwaan of Subud.

We, or the helpers, understand that this latihan kejiwaan of Subud is a grace from God, and that we have to transmit it to anyone who truly needs it, but we need to act as wisely as possible and not to let anything happen that could disrupt the harmony of the ties of marriage.

Because of this, Bapak advises the helpers to tell this woman that they are still obliged to refuse to open her, because the time for this has not yet come, and that she should wait in patience until the time is right. If she truly wishes for it, and God grants her prayers, then - since the latihan kejiwaan of Subud exists by God's will - her husband's feeling will certainly be opened wide and he will give his Sincere consent to her coming into Subud, and it may even happen that he himself will follow her example.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VIII, No. 1, page 3 - (letter) 7 January 19 70.

15. Wife not to open husband

REGARDING your question about what is to be done in the case of a woman accidentally giving the contact to her husband, Bapak says that a woman member may not open a man, even though he is her husband. So if her husband is really and truly interested in joining Subud, he must be opened by a man helper.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. V, No. 4, page 117 (letter) 2 March 1967.

16. Why the latihan of men and women must be separate

AS you already know, the latihan kejiwaan that we have received brings about a variety of movements and actions. These are, in fact, very important for us. Since these movements are free from the influence of desires, heart and mind, the members of our entire body become alive and free from worldly pressure. Thus each of them realizes and feels its respective responsibility.

The inner force sometimes produces such a strong movement that the results are strange and sometimes indecorous. Nevertheless, we must not prevent such movements, because they are in accordance with the nature of that person; and, moreover, if we do prevent such movements because they are not decent, then this means that we are still wanting to bring our inner-feeling into line with our hearts and mind. But this inner-feeling is already separated from the heart and mind by the working within us of the power of God, so that to prevent any movement will prevent the latihan working in us.

This is very disadvantageous for us, because the restoration of our whole inner condition and the correction of the faults of our inner-feeling will proceed more slowly, since every movement we receive in the latihan is, in fact, the casting out of faults and impurities from our inner-feeling. Thus the more the movement, the quicker the process of purification of the inner-feeling.

The reason, then, why the latihan of men and women must be kept separate is in order that both sexes may feel free and uninhibited in following whatever movements are indicated, even if these appear to be unseemly.

Moreover, such a separation of the sexes is also desirable because members who are doing the latihan kejiwaan of Subud are still easily influenced by the lower forces, which can cause sexual impulses to arise on both sides.

It is true that some people hold that it is permissible for men and women to practice spiritual exercises in the pursuit of knowledge - even if it pertains to spiritual matters - so long as each one looks to his or her moral attitude and is bent only on attaining the knowledge they seek. Perhaps this can be accepted provided that every one concerned is indeed able to guard and maintain his sincerity of heart; but is it not more likely, however, that - because the heart is the seat of the passions and the passions themselves can easily become the tools of the lower forces - in the end those taking part in such exercises will unconsciously experience something contrary to morality? For this reason we set up rules that men and women of the Subud Brotherhood exercise separately.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. L No. 2, page 28 - Clarifications by Bapak, 1960.

17. Why men must be opened by men and women by women

CONCERNING the Opening

At the moment of the Opening both the new member and the opener must be in a condition of complete sincerity and surrender to the power of Almighty God. As was explained previously, the latihan kejiwaan of Subud is one that is brought about by a supreme Life Force, free from the influence of the passions, the heart and the mind, so that what is received at the moment of Opening is something beyond our comprehension. Both the opener and the one to be opened are simultaneously touched from within by the Life Force, and the movements and inner vibrations which result arise quite apart from our own volition.

This means that although the two persons are outwardly separate, inwardly they are one in feeling; what is received by the , Opener is also received by the one being opened. The only

difference is that the Opener has experienced this many times before, while for the one being opened it is something new. Because it is the first time, the latter may sometimes feel the touch of the supreme Life Force upon his inner-feeling in a rather weak and vague way, not yet quite definite, but it may also happen that he will receive the force strongly, so that he makes strong outward movements.

There are also cases where the outward movements indicate the presence of illness. This is sometimes indicated in extraordinary ways, which may not be seemly for the Opener to witness if the one being opened is of the opposite sex.

It is just because of such experience that men and women are separated in the latihan, and that men must be opened by men and women by women.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. I, No. 2, page 30 - Clarifications by Bapak, 1960.

18. Bapak's Statement to applicants

THERE is something else that is necessary for helpers, namely that they should, at some time before opening, read Bapak's Statement to people who wish to become Subud members. This is necessary so that applicants may, at an early stage, understand the meaning and aim of Subud.

BAPAK'S STATEMENT

BEFORE your "opening" and before you begin the latihan kejiwaan of worship in Subud, it is necessary for you to understand the meaning of the term Subud. Subud is the abbreviation of the words Susila Budhi Dharma.

Susila means: right living of man concordant with the will of Almighty God.

Budhi means: the force of the Life Power which is within man. Dharma means: submission, trust and sincerity towards Almighty God.

That is the meaning of Subud. By worshipping God through the latihan We hope to become human beings who really serve Him and obey His command.

In Subud you should neither force yourself to quieten your mind or concentrate your thought, but only surrender to Almighty God with full faith, trust and sincerity.

God is the Creator of everything existing in the universe, including human beings. Therefore it is clear that God is before all beginnings and beyond all endings. In short, Almighty God is All-knowing and All-powerful over everything He has created.

In worshipping God it is enough when in your inner feeling you submit with full faith, trust and sincerity.

We need not have any doubt that it is right not to use our will and thought in our worship but instead to surrender truly and submit with faith, trust and sincerity, for in such a state we are free from the pressure of passions and from the influence of sub-human forces. Indeed the influence of passions and of lower forces can work if you still use your will and thought, for these are in fact the channels by which desires and all the lower forces go in and out of the inner feeling of man.

Such is the meaning and aim of Subud.

Furthermore, when you have received the latihan of worship you will experience something which is in fact a process of purification. That means, all parts of your body - formerly filled with desire and lower forces caused by the working of will and thought - are cleansed little by little. All this will happen and work by itself, without the interference of the heart and mind.

This is what you will receive in the latihan kejiwaan of Subud. In truth the latihan kejiwaan of Subud is not a teaching but a receiving. This means that in doing or practicing the latihan of worship in Subud we are always free from all desires and wishes in our inner feeling, yet we remain fully aware of what we are receiving.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. IV, No. 4, page 117 - Statement by Bapak, 16 May 1958.

19. Monetary contributions

ORGANIZATION in Subud is not like other organizations; it is no more than the administrative machinery required by the Brotherhood in the various countries. It is obvious that appropriate places are needed for the purpose of our worship together, and there are many other needs for which the means should certainly be provided. It should be the responsibility of the committees to look after the financial side and to meet such needs within the given area. We should not rely only upon contributions from members to meet all these needs, for we have to remember that some of those who come in all sincerity to worship God are unable, for various reasons, to contribute anything. The committee should be able to lighten some of the burdens carried by their brothers, so that none is prevented from participating in the worship of God simply because of money. In this way, also, Subud avoids the suspicion that it is only open to the prosperous and not to the poor; it will be demonstrated that it is open to all who sincerely feel the need to worship God.

From 'Subud and the Active Life', page 28 (1st ed.), page 18 (2nd ed.) - 1959.