Dharma_Drama

After the Saturday Latihan, in San Francisco, USA Aman, a seasoned, long-time Subud Helper, meets Roberto, an old friend, at the local cafe.

Roberto,a skeptic, questions his dear friend, Aman, as he carefully sips his caffe latte, by looking up and saying...
I simply don't understand you, Aman.

Aman, catching Roberto's eye:
You don't understand what?

Roberto:
It's been four hours now, we have talked about the weather, politics, sports, cars, women and sex. But you have not once mentioned your Subud thing. You never exactly explained what you people DO in Subud. You say you just surrender.

Aman:
Yes, Roberto, that's all we do. The rest is done by the Power of God. We just leave everything to God.

Roberto:
Yeah...but what about when you are not doing this Latihan?

Aman:
Well, Roberto, we just do what everybody else does. We go to work, we take care of our responsibilities, like our families, our children's education, etc. etc.

Roberto:
Well then, when do you have time to find people, and talk to them about becoming Subud members, and how is that done...? And who goes after the back-sliders?

Aman:
Back-sliders?

Roberto:
Yeah! the ones who aren't doing this thing right...those who don't come regularly, or leave, or don't conform to the norm?

Aman:
What norm?

Roberto:
You know, the guy that comes every time, and does it right.

Aman:
Does what right?

Roberto:
You know, the Latihan.

Aman:
Oh. But I thought that I said that all we do is Surrender. And the rest is done by God.

Roberto:
Yea, that's what you said, all right, but there must be more to it than just surrender. You must have some disciplines or meditations, or other activities, or things to do, that you call "Subud Work", or "Subud Action in the World", ....You must have a plan to spread this thing to others....don't you?

Aman:
Well, Yes.... and No. We have Individuals who have some plans, and we even have a few wings that carry out some of these functions.

Roberto:
Wings? You mean sub-organizations?

Aman:
Yea. Subud-subs. . . We have helpers groups, a committee, a charitable group, a cultural group, an enterprising group; and another one that is our Outreach Group.

Roberto:
Now we are getting somewhere. What kind of outreach action are you taking about just now? Do you advertise? Send out leaflets, sell stuff?

Aman, yawing . . .
Well, Roberto, it is like this. We have been considering such as you said, many times. But we have not completely solved the problem, yet. But we are working on it.

ENTER: Melo. another Subud Helper (retired).

Melo:
G o o o o d   morning  A m a n.   How are you, brother?

Aman:
Just fine. Melo... look at your watch... Its not morning, its nearly 5 o'clock. Have some java, man... just sit down and relax. Oh yes, have you met Roberto?

Melo:
No. Hi, Roberto-o. I'm Mel-o.

Roberto:
Hi, Melo. ...Nice to meet you.

Melo:
You too.

Aman, a bit irritated, watching Melo slowly empty his pockets, and arrange his chair perfectly... and sitting down for his usual Quiet, before eating, says sharply:
What brings you over here?.... I didn't see you at Latihan today?

Melo:
No. . . brother, I didn't make it. My sweet Mujiana had the car this morning. But I had an Inner feeling to come down here for some coffee... just a feeling that you might be here today. I know I haven't been coming to Group Latihan very often lately, but I still do the Latihan a lot. Mostly at home, and sometimes in my car.

Roberto:
You do this Latihan in your car? What kind of outfit is this, anyway? You do your "thing" in you car?

Melo:
Well... not exactly like at the Latihan Hall. I just surrender while waiting for my car to warm up... or before I get out and go do some things I gotta do.. I sometimes stop during the day and have a little Latihan, just to get back to myself. Then I go on with my work, or whatever.

Roberto:
Get back to your self? You mean to say that you got away from yourself at some point? That sounds a little scary, doesn't it? Maybe you mean that you just needed a little meditation, to soothe the pain of work, or emotional stress?

Melo:
Not exactly like that. But you are close.

Aman: jumping into his Helper's suit, says:
Well, Roberto, what Melo means is... that he needs to do the Latihan a little bit, before he does something important, so that it goes well.

Melo:
Well, yes....something like that.

Roberto:
I get the feeling that you two have slightly different views on this subject. . . right? What about you... Aman? Do you do this Latihan during the day...while at work... or in your car?

Aman:
Sometimes I do.

Melo:
Maybe I should say that my main motivation and direction comes mostly from my "jiwa". . . .

Roberto, bug eyed, mouth open. . . interrupts...
Your g-waa. Sounds like an East Indian musical instrument. Your GeeWaa, so what is that?

Melo, sensing Roberto's sincere interest in Subud, looks him straight in the eye, and says with great warmth in his voice:
No, not GEE-WA, Roberto. I said "J I W A", as in "ke-JIWA-an" . We are talking here about the OTHER LIFE... the life of the INNER self...