Brothers and sisters, Bapak doesn't need to tell you too much about his eye operation. It was already mentioned in the penambromo you sang to Bapak the other night ( during Bapak's 11th windu, the Javanese eight-year birthday ), so Bapak assumes you know all about it. In short, the operation is finished and was successful, but it will still take about another month before the vision in his two eyes is in balance, and during that time Bapak has to put drops in his left eye. At first, after the operation, everything looked a little too bright because of the new lens. But it's already starting to get better. Bapak's right eye, which was done some years ago, is now completely normal. So that's as regards Bapak's eye operation.

Now, the most important thing for all of us is the latihan. And therefore Bapak will start with the latihan, and later Bapak may give a talk, just enough to give some explanations or clarifications. But the main thing for us is the latihan. It is a receiving that should fill our whole being. This will bring our jiwa to life, which is why it is called the latihan kejiwaan. It is to exercise our jiwa, to bring our jiwa to life.

Apart from that we also need to exercise our body, and that is why we have religion; that is why we have the shariat ( religious observance ). For that reason Bapak wants to warn you not to have the misconception that when we are opened in Subud we don't need to practice our religion any more. It is not alright then to forget about the shariat: our five daily prayers or, if you are a Christian, observance of the Christian religion. Because that means that you separate yourself from your fellows.

We need the inner and the outer - just the kejiwaan is not enough - we also need to exercise our physical self and be able to relate to people around us. So for that reason it is not right to abandon your religion; you should go on practicing your religion. It is very important for you to be aware of this, especially the helpers, to understand and not to mislead people by saying, "The latihan is enough, you don't have to practice your religion." If this happens it will lead to the decline of your jiwa, decline in the spiritual field.

And now Bapak would like to start with all the ladies at the same time. It doesn't matter if you're a bit crowded as long as you are spread out evenly. Relax. Don't think about anything, just surrender peacefully.

Begin, please. Allahu akbar.

( Latihan )

That's enough. Please stand again in your original position while Bapak explains to you a little about the progress of the latihan kejiwaan.

Indeed, if you look at it in passing, you might get the impression that your latihan doesn't seem to change, you don't seem to make progress. But don't misunderstand; the fact is, there is progress. The latihan kejiwaan is the latihan of the jiwa. This means it is a time when your nafsu stops, so what the jiwa needs is this stopping of the nafsu. It is like when you die, your mind cannot work, and if God then gives you His grace, then in that state your jiwa can develop and grow.

So of course if your jiwa develops and grows, that is for the good for your jiwa; it is not for the good of your outer, because that has its own way and its own development.

Bapak wants you to be very clear about this and not get fed up or bored, or feel that it is uninteresting to do the latihan because it is always the same, or because there doesn't seem to be any progress. That's the way it is - in the kejiwaan you cannot make use of your mind or your nafsu or your intellect; you can’t influence it or speed it up. On the contrary. So for that reason you have to do just the opposite: you have to surrender, you have to have patience, you have to have acceptance in following the latihan.

So, brothers and sisters, it is in fact an enormous good fortune for you - one without comparison - that you have been able to receive the latihan kejiwaan. Because the one who works in the latihan kejiwaan, the one who moves you, is the power of Almighty God. If it was not the power of Almighty God that acts in the latihan, it would be completely impossible for you to be cleansed of the sins and the traces of wrong-actions and the dirt that is within your being.

Bapak says, "Within your being," which is not just your body, but also your imagination, your feelings and your fine nervous feeling. All that is being cleansed little by little through the working of God's power. So it is very, very important for you to do the latihan kejiwaan, and to do it with a feeling of patience, acceptance and submission.

And besides doing your latihan, in the way Bapak described, you must not neglect the practice of your religion and whatever your religion prescribes. This way your outer also benefits; your physical body and your outer everyday activities, your work and your relationships with other people will also benefit.

As far as your outer life and circumstances are concerned, don't be surprised if things are difficult, because it is not only here that the economy is in a very difficult or bad state. The same is true abroad in America, England and Europe. Bapak has been abroad now for one and a half months and Bapak has listened to many stories from people he met there, so he knows it is not just here that this situation exists.

So, brothers and sisters, the state of man's life in this world is no different from the world itself. We know that sometimes in this world it sometimes rains and it is sometimes sunny, and similarly man's life has its ups and downs. We tend to complain if it's always sunny, we complain, "Why is it so hot? Why is it always sunny?" And then when it rains, "Why is the rain so heavy?"

Indeed, at the moment there are floods everywhere in the world. But for that reason it is very important for us to remember to maintain our faith and our attitude of submission, surrender and patience in facing Almighty God.

That's Bapak's short talk to you and Bapak hopes that you can really, truly receive it. Thank you.

Would the men please come to the front? Relax. Please begin. Allahu akbar.

( Latihan )

That's enough. Stand again in your original place. Bapak has seen your latihan and he has also been able to receive it. Bapak will not repeat what he already said to the ladies because you heard it too. Although it is not very late, Bapak feels that is enough for tonight. Bapak will continue, or give another latihan, on Friday night, at which time Bapak will probably also do some testing and latihan.

Bapak thanks you for your attention and for your sincerity.