1. Submit 100 per cent

GOD will protect you if you submit 100 per cent. That is especially important with women who may have babies, as it affects the baby if you are afraid.

From M'bayu Rochanawati's talk to ladies after latihan - Reprinted in 'NorthwoodNewsletter' September 1973.

2. Pregnancy and the latihan

WITH Bapak's approval, Ibu and Rochanawati advise the following: pregnant women should, in general, not take part in latihans with others, nor do latihan alone after the sixth month. The helpers must use their discretion in individual cases: if a woman is violent or emotional in her latihan, she should stop exercising sooner. In the case of a woman whose latihan is quiet, she can go on to the end of the seventh month.

It should be explained to women that the latihan is automatically present in a woman without need for her to do anything before, and at the time of delivery, and afterwards, and that no woman should feel that either she or her child is losing anything by not doing the latihan either with others or alone during those times.

After the birth of her child, a woman must keep strictly to the rule not to do latihan for 100 days after the birth.

Circular to those responsible for women ~ latihan,London, September 1959.

3. Pregnancy and the Opening

A PREGNANT woman may indeed be opened, if she is not over three, or at the most, four months pregnant.

From Pewarta kejiwaan Subud Vol. X, No. 2, page 61 - (letter 1559) 1972.

4. Pregnancy and other activity

A WOMAN member who has reached the pregnant state of six months may not take part in any activity of the committee or latihan until three months after she has given birth to the baby. It is necessary for her to rest and she must not force herself to join in the activity of the group, because her body is weak.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. II, No. 7/8, page 222 - (letter) 1962.

5. Major operation and miscarriage

REGARDING your question about latihan after a major operation and concerning women after a miscarriage, Bapak says it is necessary to wait three months after an operation has been performed. Likewise, a woman who has passed her sixth month of pregnancy is not permitted to do the latihan or to test. Also, after giving birth to her child, she is not permitted to do the latihan or test for three months. This also applies in the case of a woman who has a miscarriage.

Pregnant women helpers should not attend openings or do latihan with sick people.

Women during menstruation should not do latihan in a group or alone (unless it arises spontaneously). At the end of a period it is advisable to wash hair and recommence latihan. Women attending the latihan should wear skirts or dresses, but not shorts or trousers. The dresses should not be sleeveless or low-necked.

After the birth of a child in special cases, in witch the mother's life is in danger, Bapak advises more than three months, or until she is completely recovered.

From Pewarta Kejiwaan Subud Vol. V, No. 4, page 126 - (letter) 1967.

6. Menstruation

IF a Subud member asks about the significance of menstruation and the reason why, during this period, it is not permitted to do the latihan, Bapak gives the following explanation:

The significance of menstruation is the purification of the blood of woman, it being the decree of God that, by this process, a woman's blood should become pure. The reason why this occurs with woman is simply that the nature of woman is to be a recipient vessel, whereas that of man is to be a channel of transmission.

For this reason, it should be clear that, during her period, a woman truly needs repose, so that the process of purification that is taking place in her should not be hindered. If the woman could but know it, she would be aware that this kind of repose is really a latihan. The fact that it is not permitted for her to do latihan in the ordinary way with a group will harm neither the woman herself nor the other women members.

Communication from Bapak to all women helpers, Wolfsburg, November 1959.

7. Dress

CONCERNING clothes, since the clothes worn should provide what is needed for the female nature, their design should correspond both to the bodily form and the movements required by her feminine nature. Similarly, what is required for a man is that the clothes he wears should correspond to the male form and the movements required by his male nature.

And, since in the latihan the activity of the awakening and growing soul should be the source of guidance as to the manner in which a person should dress and adorn herself, and also enable her to understand the reason for .this, it is necessary that the clothes a person wears should not offend against his or her own nature. This means that a woman should always wear women's clothes, and a man should wear men's clothes.

It is quite true that if a woman wears trousers she finds it easier to make movements; but since the resulting movements will be of male character, it must not be forgotten that such facilitation of movements really offends against her feminine nature, and if they become a habit they will be the cause of harm to her inner self.

The explanations of Bapak are sufficient for the present. They can be amplified by the experience of the member herself in her latihan.

Communication from Bapak to all women helpers,Wolfsburg, November 1959.

TO be made available to all women helpers throughout the world, via regional and group helpers:

Wearing bare-shouldered dresses during latihan.

There is no spiritual reason for not wearing such dresses during latihan, but there are two other aspects to consider:

Appropriate clothing for worship should be worn, out of respect for the latihan.

The activity of the latihan may cause perspiration which might be offensive to other sisters. One's clothing absorbs such perspiration.

Wearing head coverings during latihan.

Siti Rahayu told us that when Bapak said: 'Please remove your scarves before a testing session with the members ...' Bapak was referring to what we call 'shawls' that have to be held in place by one hand, thereby restricting the freedom of movement in latihan. In fact, anything worn (including headgear and jewelry) which is a restriction to free movement (or might fall off) should be removed before latihan, so it does not interfere or become a distraction.

Wearing jewelry during latihan.

Siti Rahayu answered that the reasons jewelry is not worn during latihan are:

So it does not interfere with the free movement in latihan.

So it is not a distracting influence of noise or movement.

For the safety of others who might accidentally be hit by a ring or step on a dropped earring, etc.

For the safety of the jewelry, that it is not damaged by the activity of the latihan.

Communication from Siti Rahayu to I.S.C Helpers,4 January 1979.