1. BAPAK has made an organization for helpers with the aim of spreading the burden as fairly and as evenly as possible. In other words, that there shouldn't be helpers with too much responsibility and too much work, and some who have nothing. For that reason, Bapak has set up an organization for the helpers where you have group helpers, regional helpers and national helpers.

From Pewarta Special Supplement No. 6, page 112 - see facing page relevant recording: 77 BLN 1. 2. Choosing helpers IN accordance with the rules that apply in the Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud, the total number of helpers should be fixed at approximately fifty per cent of the total number of members. As a result of experience obtained after the development of Subud in various countries, and taking into consideration the proposals that have been sent in by Subud centers in various countries to the Spiritual Center in Jakarta, Indonesia, Bapak feels it necessary for the following conditions to be fulfilled in the appointment of a member as a helper. He or she should be: 1. A member who is experienced in the latihan kejiwaan of Subud. This is necessary so that he may be able in some degree to answer the questions put to him by the members and to give explanations about Subud to anyone who asks questions about it. 2. A member of good character who can adjust himself to the members who will be under his care. 3. A member who is really loved by all the members and who is willing, honestly and sincerely, to pay attention to the needs of other members as well as his own. 4. A member who is prepared to carry out his duties and obligations as Bapak's representative, who serves the members in the sphere of the latihan kejiwaan, and who promises he will not give explanations that are contrary to the experiences he obtains from the latihan kejiwaan of Subud. 5. A member who is really willing to keep watch over the unity of the members under his care. Bapak considers it necessary to make these conditions because in many places members have withdrawn because of the behavior of helpers who are inexperienced in the latihan kejiwaan, so that they just answer members' questions as they like. It also happens because of helpers' bad behavior and their self-importance. There are also helpers whose explanations to members about the latihan are outside what exists and happens in the latihan kejiwaan of Subud. Moreover, there are some who deliberately mix the latihan kejiwaan of Subud with other practices, so that they cause confusion to many members. From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VIII, No. 1, page 27 - (letter 1193) 1969. 3. Proposal of helpers BAPAK feels sure that you already know the regulations and the way to appoint helpers. The appointment of helpers is done by Bapak, on a proposal of the helpers' group. Neither the committee members nor the private members can make these proposals. This has become the regulation in the Subud Brotherhood all over the world. From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. IV, No. 4, page 129 - (letter) 11 February 1965. 4. Candidate helpers BAPAK would like new helpers to have a trial period and only if they show that they can carry out their duties satisfactorily should their names be put up for Bapak's approval. Bapak confirmed that even if this differs from current practice, Bapak would like it followed from now on. From Bapak, (letter to 1SC helpers} 9 August 1978. THE time for this cannot be determined in general but is left to the wisdom of the experienced helpers. So if the candidate has already several (at least three) times attended openings and has truly shown his willingness in accepting his duties as a helper, then his name may be proposed to Bapak for appointment as a helper. Since this will depend on the capacity of a person, for some people one month's probation period will be sufficient, for others two months, for others again three; while there will be those who during their period of probation will already feel unwilling to continue, in which case it is best if they are replaced by alternative candidate helpers. During his/her period of candidacy; the candidate helper does not have the authority to organize the group latihan. He/she may join in the helpers' latihan and attend helpers' meetings, but only to listen. From Bapak, (letter to ISC helpers) 7November 1978. IT is best if a candidate helper attends openings about three times before being made a helper and that such openings should be attended by more than one other helper. So the one that does the opening is one of the experienced helpers. If this is not possible, then she must have attended at least one such opening even if she has to travel to another center to do it. The reason for this is to avoid the possibility of a helper not having had any experience in opening new members, which would have the effect that when one day she is required to open somebody, she will experience a feeling of uncertainty or lack of trust which will affect the person being opened. From Ibu Siti Rahayu, (letter) 19 August 1979. 5. No difference between helpers THEN there is something that Bapak needs to remind the helpers. They should not feel a difference between helpers who happen to be working on the national level, those who happen to be working on the regional level, and those who happen to be helpers on the local level. As Bapak has frequently explained, all helpers are the same. All helpers have the same authority and are on the same level, equally high and equally low. Bapak has arranged this structure of local, regional, national and international helpers purely to have a way whereby the local helpers are not overburdened. In other words, if things get too much for them there is somewhere they can turn for help. But it is clear from this that the helpers who have the biggest responsibility, and have the heaviest duty, are the local helpers because they are the ones who are directly in contact with the members. It is only if they are overloaded, or there is something they cannot deal with, then they go to the regional helpers, and then after to the national helpers who are not in direct contact with the membership. From Pewarta Special Supplement No. 9, page 196 - relevant recording: 77 YU1. 2. 6. Helper-structure as outlined by Bapak a) Local helpers : Men and women helpers of centers and groups. b) Regional Helpers :One man and one woman chosen by testing from local helpers, for center area. c) National Helpers : One man and one woman chosen by testing from Regional helpers, for regional area. d) International Councilors : One man and one woman chosen by testing from National helpers, but still carrying out the duties of National helpers. e) Zone Co-ordinators : One man and one woman chosen by testing from International Councilors of countries within the Zone. f) International Helpers : An even number of men and women (for the time being four and four) chosen by testing at the World Congress, from the National helpers. The appointments of: b), c), d) and f) are for a period of four years, from World Congress to World Congress. The appointments of: a) are for an indefinite period. The appointments of: a), c), d), e) and f) are approved by Bapak. APPOINTMENT OF HELPERS AND SELECTION PROCEDURE: New helpers: BEARING in mind that the total number of helpers should be approximately fifty per cent of the total number of members, if the local helpers of a group feel that there is a need for a new helper, they should first obtain the agreement of their Regional helper that this is necessary, (If he/she agrees, the membership of the group can be informed). Candidates should be selected following Bapak's advice that he/she should be a member who is experienced in the latihan, of good character, 'loved and respected by the membership and willing to carry out the duties and obligations of being Bapak's representative. They are selected by the local helpers who, if desired, can ask for assistance from the Regional/National helpers. The candidates are requested to stand up and test themselves in front of the group helpers, women candidates testing in front of women helpers and men candidates .in front of the men helpers' group. The testing should also be followed by helpers of long standing (those who have been helpers about five years). In this way they will not only watch those who are testing, but also join in the testing themselves in their feelings; thus the presence of helpers of long standing is needed because, naturally, they have more experience in testing. In this way, the results will be more fitting and positive. If the decision is positive, the results should be sent to the Regional and National helpers, who need not test again if there are no doubts. The National helpers should forward the result immediately to Bapak for Bapak's approval and finalization. From lbu Siti Rahayu writing for Bapak, 30 November 19 74. Regional helpers BY agreement with the local helpers, an ordinary member can be allowed to join the candidates in the selection of a Regional helper. Testing is guided and directed by the National helper and the former Regional helper. The procedure : the helpers who are still active and are candidates to become Regional helper and, if present, the member made a candidate, should stand up one by one and test, while the National and the outgoing Regional helpers jolt/ in testing and feeling, so that afterwards they can give an appraisal and decision about Who should rightly be appointed the new Regional helper. In the selection only one Regional helper is chosen. If it is considered still necessary to put up the former Regional helper as a candidate, and if that person is still willing, then the National helper has the obligation to test them both, (the newly-chosen candidate for Regional helper and the outgoing Regional helper). in this way a new Regional helper will be chosen for the region concerned. From each region one Regional helper is obtained, then the Dewan of Regional Helpers is formed. National helpers FROM the Dewan of Regional Helpers, one man and one woman candidate for National helper is chosen (covering one province of large area). The Regional' helpers combined in the Dewan of each large area will take part in the selection. The selection is made by testing, as in the case of the Regional helpers. The one responsible for guiding and directing the selection is an outgoing National helper. If someone has been selected as a candidate and it is still considered necessary to propose the candidacy of the outgoing helper and the one concerned has no objection to being nominated again - then the one whose task it is to test and decide is a member of the outgoing National Dewan Kejiwaan who is not involved, and is not a candidate. By so doing, every Region will have chosen a new National helper, so that a new Dewan Kejiwaan of National Helpers is formed. International Councilors TO select a Councilor, one man and one woman councilor has to be chosen from the Dewan Kejiwaan of National Helpers. The National helpers should each test for themselves, to choose one among the newly-selected National helpers capable of fulfilling the function of Councilor. Possibly his testing will result in him/her choosing himself/herself, so the outcome of each person's testing should be indicated in writing on a small piece of paper to be collected, and the helpers will witness together who of them is the major choice. This brother/sister will then be appointed as Councilor. From Bapak to National, Regional & Local helpers, (letter) 3 December 19 74. Zone Co-ordinators THESE are selected in the same way as councilors, i.e. by each councilor in each country in a particular Zone feeling for himself as to who should be appointed Zone Coordinator. Each person testing indicates on a piece of paper who they feel would be suitable, and the majority choice becomes the Zone Coordinator. International helpers BAPAK would like to explain that ultimately when Subud has spread and grown in strength so that we can really fulfil all the needs of our Spiritual Brotherhood all over the world, what will be required at that time will be that from every Zone a man helper and a woman helper should be sent to the place Where ISC happens to be established, and that these will then represent the membership, the whole of the membership, and will be the ones responsible for ensuring that all the needs of the membership are really taken care of on the side of the kejiwaan. The International helpers are to assume the duty and responsibility of replying to members' questions relating to the kejiwaan from all over the world. It is in no way part of their responsibility to interfere with or give opinions about the working of the Committee and the worldly side of ISC organization. But if ISC needs their help, if ISC is faced with problems about which they would like the helpers' advice, then Bapak hopes that they will be willing to give that advice and help ISC with their questions. From Bapak ~ talk at Reigate, September 19 79. The Brotherhood is divided into eight Zones 1. South-East Asia :Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand,Philippines, Singapore. 2. Central Asia : Bangladesh, India, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam. 3. Europe 1 : Belgium, Britain, France, Holland, Italy,Ireland, Portugal, Spain. 4. Europe 2 : Austria, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, Switzerland, Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland). 5. South Africa : South Africa. 6. North Africa : Ghana, Nigeria, Morocco, Tunis, Zaire. 7. North America : Barbados, Canada, Jamaica, Trinidad, U.S.A. 8. Latin America : Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Surinam, Uruguay, Venezuela. 7. Unruly helpers AS Bapak has told you, there is no chairman or secretary or treasurer in the helpers' group. Any decisions that need to be made should therefore be taken in a brotherly manner; they should be tested and felt together. But never forget the directive of Subud, of the true human qualities of Susila, Budhi and Dharma; if we fail to achieve this in the outer world, we should at least be prepared to give way among ourselves. We seek the truth and do not want to quarrel. Thus everyone should be prepared to give in to others; if you are wrong, do not try to put yourself in the right, but settle the questions in a brotherly way. If you find yourself in this situation, and need to see the truth of it, then any decision that has to be taken should be reached by means of testing. And if one of the helpers proves to be unruly in his behavior, and this behavior is witnessed by those with whom he does the latihan kejiwaan - for, indeed, this can be illustrated by the saying that none knows better than his pupils when the schoolmaster misbehaves - then that one should be taken out of the helpers' group and eventually he may be asked to discontinue his duties as a helper, and thus not be allowed to act in the name of Subud. But this heavy punishment should not be regarded as permanent, because you should also remember that man remains man and is liable to change at any time. It is, therefore, better to keep such a one out of the helpers' group for two or three years; but if at any time he mends his ways, and wishes to come back to the helpers' group, he should be welcomed with open arms. This means that we do not seek separation from one another, but we truly wish for the unity of mankind. In connection with this, Bapak would like to remind you of what he said the other day: that man is very slow to forgive, and finds it very difficult, but if he sins against God, God forgives easily; and therefore, in our relationships with our fellow men, we should, as far as possible, neither blame each other nor be too severe in punishing one another. From 'Subud and the Active Life ', page 211 (1st ed.}, page 160 [2nd ed.}. 8. Absentee helpers IF a helper is unable to attend at the place of the latihan when there is an Opening or a latihan, he should inform the other helpers beforehand, giving the reasons for his absence. His nonattendance can be accepted if it does not happen continually, because if he is continually absent, an extra burden of responsibility will be placed on the shoulders of his fellow helpers who are active. Further, if there is such a helper he should return his helper's card to the local helpers' group, and he should be prepared to be made non-active as a helper. This is necessary in order that the helpers' group can immediately propose a member who is considered suitable to replace him. From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VII, No. 2, page 27. 9. When absent helpers return IT seems quite usual for Subud members to reappear unexpectedly after having left Subud for some time, and come to the latihan kejiwaan again. So, too, with the helpers: they may cease for some time to attend Openings or to accompany the members in their latihan, but then they appear again at the place where the latihan is held. When we feel how the situation is, this is. disappointing, since because they are not present when there are new members to be opened, those helpers who are still active are obliged to propose some of the members to be helpers in their stead. This results in a rather extraordinary state of affairs, since with the reappearance of the inactive helpers the total number of helpers inevitably becomes too large. It is, therefore, best to arrange matters so that those helpers who have recently returned are given a certain period of time, not exceeding six months in length, in which to prove the sincerity of their intentions, and then later, if they prove diligent in their attendance at the group latihans, they can be reinstated as helpers. As to their status during this probationary period of six months, it is that of ordinary members; that is to say, it is not necessary to call upon them to attend Openings of new members, nor should they carry out testing on questions brought by the members, nor attend the monthly or fortnightly special latihan for helpers. From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. V, No. 3, page 75. l 0. Relieving helpers of function IF there should be a helper who does something which deviates from the regulations established by our Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud, such as practicing some spiritual teaching and mixing it with the latihan kejiwaan of Subud, and giving the members advice which deviates from Subud, the helpers' group must remind him not to do so. The reminder mentioned above is just a mild one. It must be mild, so that the helper will immediately wish to stop behaving in such a way, and so that he may return to his obedience to God's guidance and leadership, which are manifested in the latihan kejiwaan of Subud. From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. VII, No. 2, page 27. 11. Authority of National Helpers' Dewan to expel members from Subud and to make helpers non-active. 1. BAPAK agrees to a helper being made non-active as a helper because he does not wish to submit to the regulations which exist in Subud, where it is laid down that the Dewan of National Helpers has been given the authority as a Dewan of Helpers who have the right to decide anything which they consider necessary for the peace and harmony of the membership. This rule has to be firmly supported, for if not, the state of Subud will always be disturbed and the members in general will never feel that anything is clear or definite. It is for this reason that decisions must be made by the Dewan of National Helpers which will ensure that everything will go in the right way. 2. The decision to make a brother (or sister) non-active as a helper has to be written down in the minutes of the Subud Brotherhood in your country, stating that from such-and-such a date this brother (of sister) has been made non-active as a helper and any actions that he takes after that will not be accepted as valid by the Dewan of National Helpers or by the membership in general. Such a statement may also be important from the point of view of the laws of your country. This decision of Bapak is valid from the date of this letter. 3. As had been laid down in the Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud, the Dewan of National Helpers in a country has the duty of making decisions which they feel and consider necessary for the harmony and peace of the Subud Brotherhood. For this reason the matter which concerns a brother or sister in Subud in reality can be decided by the Dewan of National Helpers themselves, so that it will not be a problem which is forever being discussed but will be concluded by the decision of the Dewan, who are given full authority by the Brotherhood to take decisions in such matters. It is for this reason that Bapak leaves the decision which will be taken in respect of any person to the Dewan of the National Helpers. It is necessary to add that what is to be decided by the Dewan of National Helpers must be noted in the minutes of the Subud Brotherhood, for example, as follows: Mr., Mrs., Miss (name), from such-and-such a date, is expelled from the Subud Brotherhood and will henceforth no longer be considered a member of the same because he was not opened... (if such is the case for a member, or helper, or whatever the reason.) All his future actions are not the responsibility of the helpers of the Dewan of the National Helpers. You are asked to report such decisions to the International Spiritual Center in Jakarta, so that their records are complete. From Bapak, (letter to Dewan of lSC Helpers) 27 August 1978. IN countries where the National Helpers' group is small, the problem of expelling a member or making a helper inactive should be referred to the International Helpers. Where the National Helpers' Dewan is adequate - two men and two women, or more - this is not necessary, but when such a decision is taken a report should be sent both to the International Spiritual Center in Jakarta and to the International Helpers. From the Dewan of International Helpers with Ibu Siti Rahayu ~ approval - 2 August 1980. 12. Honorary helper THIS is the title which has the meaning that a helper has served the membership for a long time, but because he or she is getting old, is no longer able to be active in the way they were in the past. So, because of their long service to the membership they are given the title of Honorary Helpers. And this title Bapak gives to those helpers who have served the members for a long time. Now these helpers have the right, more than the right, to join in the helpers' latihan and join in any other kinds of activities or meetings which are open to helpers. The only difference between them and the active helpers is that they are no longer required to have the heavy job of being a helper. They are released from those duties. From 'Special Collection of Bapak ~ Talks' page 40 - relevant recording: 76 SFO 3. 13. Inactive helpers WHETHER they are inactive because they are old or because they are sick; or if they are women, their husbands don't let them be active as helpers; or if men, their wives don't agree to them being active helpers; for whatever reason and especially if, let us say, they cannot be active because they are sick but in the past they have given great service to the Brotherhood and been given the title of Honorary Helper - all these, Bapak advises you first of all to let them and encourage them to come to the latihan; and, secondly, to let them, if they are willing to become active again as helpers. In the kejiwaan there is no exclusion. We can exclude someone from the organization, but we can never exclude him from the kejiwaan. Once someone has been opened in the latihan, once he has done the latihan, his being has been filled with the power of God, even though he or she is not aware of it, they have come face to face with the power of God. After that they can never again leave the Spiritual Brotherhood of Subud. It is only their heart that can leave, or that can say that they have left Subud. But the jiwa, never - because the body is bound by time but the jiwa is eternal. So it is clear, brothers and sisters, that while someone can be excluded from the organization, once he has been opened he can never be excluded from the kejiwaan. From 'Special Collection of Bapak Talks' page 40 - relevant recording: 76 SFO 3. 14. Helpers' cards WITH regard to the question of issuing a special card for helpers, as distinct from the ordinary membership card, it is best to proceed with this. But you should remember that this card is only to .allay any doubts that may arise in people who come to be opened, or in those whom you accompany in the latihan. From Bapak in 'Subud and the Active Life' page 33 (1st ed.),page 22 (2nd ed.) - 1959. 15. Helpers visiting other groups INDEED a member who claims to be a helper should have a helper's card and, in accordance with the regulations that Bapak has made, a helper from another group may not function as a helper - that is, open new members and serve the latihan - in the place where he is visiting, without the agreement of the helpers' group in that place. Letter from Bapak, Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud, Vol.. VI, No. 5,page 19 - 1969.

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