Sir Victor Goddard: We had a meeting this morning on human welfare, Section E of this congress, and there was one general question and a number of more particular questions that were asked. Some of the questions I think you would wish us to reserve until the particular subjects are dealt with later in the congress, but I would like to ask Bapak four or five questions now, to which he might care to give replies this morning.

As a general question affecting the congress as a whole, would Bapak speak on the literal aims of Subud, so that a clear statement of explanation can be made. We know that Subud will gradually show itself to be what it is by the light the brotherhood reflects, but we think Bapak might agree that it would be helpful to have a clear statement in words of the aims and objectives of Subud. That is a general question affecting the whole of the congress.

Now, on the particular subjects of human welfare, can Bapak speak on the necessity for special new Subud organizations: schools, hospitals and other things, as distinct from those that are gradually to be transformed by having members of the brotherhood within them that will make them what they should be. That's the question of the necessity for special organizations.

In particular, some who have not been long in the brotherhood would like to wait until the action of Subud is stronger within them before embarking in outward activities, particularly of a commercial kind. Or should more effort be made to attract commercial men into the brotherhood to facilitate the spread of Subud in commercial ways?

Are the schools or other Subud activities to be advertised as Subud activities, or should they merely be allowed to shine in their own reflected light so that people may see their good works and judge them in that way? Should they be called Subud hospitals or Subud schools?

And the last question I would put to Bapak is this: are Subud activities for human welfare to be reserved initially for members of the brotherhood, or are they to be open for all? Is no distinction to be made from the beginning in Subud activities?

Bapak: Ladies and gentlemen, in answer to the questions that have been put forward, Bapak will now explain the aims of Subud in human society.

Since Subud is God's will for the salvation of humankind -both in regard to the life of the soul and the outer, worldly life - it must follow that Subud works to correct the faults of human beings, from the lowest levels to the highest.

Seen from the spiritual point of view, in this century the material forces have come to have a very powerful influence upon the inner self of human beings, so that without realizing it they act in ways that are not at all in accordance with the will of God. This is because human beings are oppressed by the influence of the material world, which has penetrated their being. The influence of the material forces not only penetrates their flesh, blood and bones, but actually becomes the inner content of their being. So although they fully believe that all their actions arise from their true human selves, in fact they have come to be no more than instruments used by the low forces, which govern them. It is, therefore, not possible for them to correct the inner defects that dominate their entire nature by using their own mind, heart and desires, but only through the help of God.

Why is it only now that God is sending help to humankind and not before? The time for this has come because a situation has arisen that is not only dangerous but critical; a situation whereby humanity is more deeply under the influence of matter than of their own human force that is able to be aware of the greatness of God. It is clear that this help comes from God in order to help human beings, and to save them from being overwhelmed by the influence of the low forces that constantly dominate them.

You, who are among the first to be rescued in this way, and who have received help from God within yourselves, have been able to sense how God in His greatness is working within each of you. So, you can witness that within you there is an energy, a higher power that always guides you, which enables you to feel and experience - to a greater or lesser degree - the change taking place in your own being.

If Almighty God has given this to us - to all of you - it must also be God's will that this should be given and transmitted to others, especially to those who have really gone wrong and are deeply under the influence of the material forces. Therefore if you do not share this gift with others in our society you commit a sin; because you have received something and you are not using it. So it is clear that the transmission to other people of this infinite life force you have received is an unconditional obligation, willed by God for the accomplishment of an order in human society in which happiness and harmony may be established.

We receive this gift of God while we are still leading a complete life; that is, while we are still living in the midst of our community, making use of our thoughts, heart and desires, and living with our wives and children. This means that we are able to receive the gift of God, and put it into practice, without any need to change our normal way of life in this world. It is indeed God's will that, besides doing their everyday work to fulfil the needs of their family life, human beings shouldn't forget their worship of God.

Such is God's guidance for us human beings, the excellence and perfection of which is quite beyond our understanding. God can accomplish that which is beyond the knowledge of human beings. Therefore we should have no doubt or anxiety that what we have received and what we do may lead us into the wrong path. Do not worry about that, for God is All-knowing and All-wise, and able to bring about that which is beyond our human knowledge. Eventually you will be able to verify and witness all of this - when you have reached the necessary level.

This should make it clear it is God's will that His gift to all of you is given, not only for you, but also in order that it may save other human beings who have not yet received it, so they too can taste, feel and receive how God bestows His grace, His love and His mercy on human beings. Spreading the wings of Subud does not mean influencing others for our own benefit. No. It is not for your self-interest. On the contrary, it is for the benefit of those who will receive Subud, because it will give them the means to correct themselves, and to come to stability of heart and mind. Then they will not easily be shaken in their heart and feelings when they are pushed and pressured by things around them.

But do not forget that since people's inner feelings have come to be excessively dominated by the material forces, in general they will not believe in anything unless they can get an immediate benefit. What comes first is their health and earning a living easily. Therefore, our efforts to spread Subud to people in general should be accompanied by helping people in the usual ways; providing homes for those in despair, or who are powerless to find the right way for themselves; the care of old people and neglected children; the establishment of schools and hospitals.

The purpose of having these undertakings is that those among us who have received a lot in the latihan should work there, so we may guide those under our care in these places - the disabled, the distressed, the aged, and so on - to come in the end to the worship of God; and so to an awareness of how to live their lives in the right way. So, the help we give to people and to our community will not be limited to their external needs, but will gradually penetrate within, so those helped in this way will themselves spontaneously end up worshipping God, in .just the same way as you have received.

And children who receive their education in an ambience that touches the soul - that is, influenced by teachers who have received the latihan - will eventually become men and women who are not only successful in earning a living and able to work well, but also able to use their knowledge and their wealth for the good of the world and the well-being of human beings in general.

God does not amass what He needs for Himself, nor does God pursue His own interest. God does not wish to be the wealthiest. If God is not interested in having the greatest wealth - for God has given His power and His grace to every creature He has created, such as human beings - then why do human beings want to live selfishly, seek their own benefit, amass wealth and treasures for their own comfort and pleasure? Such behavior is not in accordance with God's example.

There is an example or illustration you have all heard: the story about Jesus when he was on the mountain. He was given just one piece of bread, but because he knew and understood how great God's love and mercy is towards those who trust in Him, he prayed to God that it should feed the people - the thousands of his followers at the foot of the mountain. Although it was just one piece of bread, through God's grace it could be distributed, and it fed all those at the foot of the mountain until they were satisfied.

The significance of this is that if someone gives to others with sincerity of heart, with a wide feeling, and with the guidance of God already working within them, then if they give a thousand, a thousand will come back; if they give ten thousand, a million will come back. But don't do it carelessly, just from your heart, merely from remembering that we should love others. Don't do that. You must be able to receive whether it is really needed and whether it is necessary to give to that person. This is also the meaning of this symbol of Jesus. Jesus gave, but not out of a feeling of pity. No. He gave because it was truly needed; those people needed help at that moment. If the help had not been given, those people at the foot of the mountain would have died.

So, giving that really springs out of sincerity - from a need to give that comes from the will of God - is not confined to one's own relatives, those whom one is closest to, or to one's own friends. One will give to a perfect stranger if it is needed and one is prompted to give. But if we give without understanding what the true situation is, then, although it may look as though we are helping someone, they may not receive it with gratitude, and sometimes may even take advantage of the giver.

Therefore, in our efforts to spread Subud through social work for human welfare - for society - we should never undertake anything in a careless way, merely from a desire to help humanity. We should be aware, and able to receive indications from within before we undertake anything that we may wish to do, or that Subud may wish to do. It is easy to see that helping our fellow beings - meaning other people - is really important and praiseworthy, but it should never be done without pondering the consequences. For when help given to other people is misplaced, it may become, on the contrary, poison to those being helped.

To conclude these explanations of the aims and purposes of the social work of Subud, Bapak says that we should offer help to whomsoever may need it, and give those in need the space so they can find their right way of life as willed by God. And the purpose of this help is to guide people so that in the end they can worship God, enabling them to know and experience for themselves their right way to live, both in this life and in the life hereafter.

You should not help people by halves. Your help should start from the bottom and go upwards, from the outside and go inwards: that is, it should proceed from visible help, which can be felt and perceived in the ordinary way, and lead to the awakening of the inner feeling, to the awakening of the soul. Then the soul that formerly was not good - a low soul - may develop and become as good as possible.

This kind of help is similar to what you yourselves have received. It is awakened from below and goes upwards, and from the outside inwards, causing the regeneration of all your organs until they become alive. This means you will have real well-being and an awareness of how to work; for you have received the gift from God that will enable you to truly live, both on this earth and as a perfect human being in the world after death.

This process corresponds to what Jesus demonstrated long ago: that the achievement of a healthy and perfect soul begins with improving physical health. So Jesus always worked for and healed the sick, and put right human hearts, because if that is not accomplished the soul cannot be changed. Therefore it is clear that Subud, which you have received, does not contradict and is not far removed from the experience of Jesus, Muhammad, Moses and Abraham.

With regard to your question about employing people - ( suggesting ) that we should not be in a hurry to draw them into Subud undertakings we want to start, but for the moment let them remain in the establishments where they currently work - Bapak agrees, because Subud operates and proceeds without any hurry. We simply follow what we receive and the way in which God's will guides us to act and work.

With the sincerity of your worship of God, and with what you receive in the latihan - which will add to your inward strength and certainty - you will eventually come to the point where you have no doubts and are not easily affected by external influences. On the contrary, you will be influencing those who are near to you. Bapak also agrees that none of this should be attempted in a hurry, and that we should wait until the right time has come, through receiving the will of God within.

If we remember that the need of the world today is for proof of spiritual as well as worldly reality, then Subud is something that can give people this evidence. So, whether they want to or not, they will recognize it is really true that within human beings there is a hidden power; a power that is not easy for the mind to recognize, and yet is always present. It is the power that comes from Almighty God, which was created before human beings came into being, and which will remain after they have all gone.

You can perhaps recognize the evidence for yourselves. Nothing has spread as rapidly as Subud, even when we allow for the influence of better technology, such as airplanes and the rest. It can be said that in two and a half years Subud has spread all over the world. This is a sign that it is truly the will of God, so that people's hearts are easily awakened to want to enter into Subud.

This rapid spread: won't it later - and even now - alarm other groups, giving them the feeling that, in the end, Subud will really come to influence humankind, causing what came before to disappear? Attitudes of this kind will always exist, because that's how people are. It is human nature, so we shouldn't be surprised by it. But if they remember that the aim of each of these teachings is one, and that aim is God, then they should be able to accept Subud, whose aim is ( also ) towards God. They should accept it and approve of it - even recommend it. The same holds for us: we will not try to obstruct or prevent people from truly worshipping God, assuming that their path, their way of worshipping God, is truly according to God's will, a worship for the whole of humanity, leading in one direction: towards God who is One for all the beings that He has created.

You have witnessed that what you have received in the Subud latihan does not go against your own individual nature. Person A will receive no more and no less than fits with A; they will not receive like B, C, D, E, and the rest. This indicates that when God wills something for human beings, and when they receive that, in all sincerity from Him who is One for all his creatures, then what they receive will not be incompatible with what is in their own being. Therefore, it is evident that Subud is neither a method nor a religion, but is in its nature the guidance of God for human beings; a guidance from within the human self towards the greatness and glory of God and towards the nobility of people themselves.

In conclusion, Subud is one humanity united in the worship of God who is One. It is not some 'Indonesian teaching' brought by Bapak to Britain, America, Europe and other countries. No. It is nothing of the kind, for it is God's will that human beings should be awakened one by one, from within themselves, without any conflict with what is in them. Any Indonesian teaching that comes here would be a teaching involving the influence of the heart, desires, and thinking, whereas Subud is exactly the opposite. Each one of you who are in Subud is educated by God from within your own self. So those of you who are British will come to know your true British-ness, you don't need to know Indonesia; and those of you from America will come to know your true American-ness. And those in Indonesia will also come to know their real Indonesian-ness. Each one of you will come to know all of your individuality. A will know A. You will truly get to know the real I, like 'I have'. This is why I is written in English with a capital letter; it means that 'I' is a special touchstone in everything. But most people who use the I just follow others. It is not an I that comes from their own self-awareness.

Bapak will now speak a little more concerning funding: how do we get the funds - money and so on - to meet the needs of our work for human welfare in the world? Bapak hopes you will do this by means of various enterprises, according to your skills, and provided that you are not influenced by money, but can influence it. Because, if you are influenced by money, then when you have lots of it you will have a lot on your mind, but if it is you who influences the money, then, however much there may be, you will be able to use it according to God's will. As to the ways and means of how that is to be done: Bapak leaves all that to the discretion of those of you who are responsible for finance, for you may be more expert in its worldly aspects than Bapak.

This is the end of Bapak's explanations this morning, together with some answers that you might need. He will stop here, and says thank you.