Gembong -- man endowed with supernatural powers

Gembong -- man endowed with supernatural powers

By Sudibyo M. Wiradji

YOGYAKARTA (JP): For R.M. Gembong Danudiningrat, being a man with paranormal abilities means dedicating his life to humanity.

Gembong, that's what locals call him , is well recognized as a man endowed with certain supernatural powers which allow him to treat patients with a variety of illnesses and help clients solve their personal problems.

Gembong's two always-packed therapeutic clinics, one here and the other in Jakarta, attest to his popularity.

Every day the "paranormal" sees no less than 400 patients at his clinic here on Jl. Sugeng Jeroni No. 22A. He has treated over 100,000 patients from across the archipelago since the clinic was established in l973.

As a paranormal, Gembong's unique way of dealing with patients blends spiritual, medical and traditional treatment. By holding a patient's fingers, he is able to detect their ailment. Oftentimes, patients living in far away places send photos through which Gembong diagnoses their problems.

Gembong's patients come from every walk of life. Records at Gembong's clinic show that around 90 percent of his patients have been cured of their illnesses. Medical circles from Indonesia, Brunei, the Netherlands, France and the United States have scientifically justified Gembong's treatment.

Gembong, who also works as a consultant for several companies, does not set fixed prices for his services, but patients pay him between Rp 500 and Rp 10,000. "About 40 percent of my customers don't pay," he said, adding that operational costs of Rp 1.5 million come from his own pocket.

"Luckily, managers of top companies who benefit from my advice pay me well. Their money is sufficient to finance the daily operational costs of my clinics," he said.

According to Gembong, his ability to detect illness is made possible by the power of what he calls gelombang elektro encephalo magnetik (electro encephalic magnetic waves).

"Through the power of these waves, a paranormal can detect physical and psychological problems. Alternative drugs made from roots of plants are used for medicinal purposes," he added.

However, he said, the recovery process depends entirely on God's will. "Therefore, I always encourage patients to say a prayer in accordance with their own beliefs," the devout Moslem stressed.

The "power" of electro encephalic magnetic waves is, in fact, shared by all but not everyone has a keen interest in developing it, he said.

Born in Surakarta, Central Java, in l954, Gembong, an alumnus of Gadjah Mada University's School of Animal Husbandry, has possessed this "power" since early childhood.

Clean mind

During his childhood, Gembong's father frequently advised him to dedicate his life to humanity by doing favors for others.

"'Happiness is not what we take but what we give to others.' That's what my father always told me," Gembong recalled.

Easily moved by the agony and suffering of others, Gembong concentrated on being a paranormal involved in health activities, a decision welcomed by his father. To sharpen his sensitivities, he had to have a clean mind and spirit, do regular breathing spiritual exercises, meditate and pray to God.

"An adequate knowledge of medicine is another prerequisite," said the neatly-dressed man.

Gembong's discipline in performing regular exercises has paid off. He is not only recognized for his ability to cure various illnesses but also as a scholarly paranormal frequently asked to speak at seminars.

His success, however, has led to competing demands on his time. In addition to treating patients, Gembong also must regularly work behind a computer, and answer letters from the public.

"There are hundreds of letters which I have to answer," said Gembong, pointing at the mounds of letters that fill the corner of his work room.

He said he receives at least 300 letters daily.

The letters mostly concern health, family and business issues. "Many also ask me to help them find their right partners," said Gembong, who responds to the letters through several dailies.

Touching upon the development of paranormals in Indonesia, Gembong voiced concern over the fact that services provided by parapsychologists or paranormals are often closely linked with sorcery, witchcraft and mysticism.

"In fact, parapsychologists' activities are scientifically justified," he stressed, adding that countries such as the U.S., Great Britain and Russia have taken advantage of the services of parapsychologists in all aspects of life.

Ordinary

Gembong, who attended a meeting on world parapsychologists in the U.S. several years ago, said that people in Western countries also take a keen interest in metaphysical issues like magic or what is known here as santet. "Though using primitive means, santet is scientifically justified," he said.

Citing an example, he said that curses recited by shaman on someone are, actually, similar to resonance found in the world of science. With the power of resonance, a targeted object becomes movable, such as toys which are moved by a remote control, he said.

Gembong also expressed concern over certain individuals who abuse the status of paranormals for commercial purposes, saying that the public should not trust them so readily.

The funny thing about the public's perception of paranormals is that they are regarded as "extraordinary" men who should be treated in special ways, he said.

"A parapsychologist or a paranormal is an ordinary human being," said Gembong.