On a search for soul through Subud

Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Careering along on the fast track of modern life, we often forget about our soul, the seat of our emotions, and that we need to take control of our daily deeds and forge harmonious ties with the Creator.

It is here that members of Subud, which at first sounds, aptly, like a remote haven far from the madding crowd, say they can fill the void.

Thousands, probably millions, of people have become members of the movement because of the need to cast off the shadows cloaking their souls -- and letting their souls work by themselves.

It also has an Indonesian connection, as it was founded by a Javanese man more than 50 years ago.

Subud is an acronym derived from three Sanskrit words, Susila, Budi and Dharma. Together, they mean to follow the will of God with the help of the divine power that works both within us and outside, along the way surrendering oneself to the will of God.

An executive at Subud Brotherhood Foundation, Mangun Suharto, said that Subud was not a sect of any religion -- which is the fear of some outsiders -- nor was it a teaching.

It is only a symbol for achieving one's spiritual potential, he said, "the possibility for man to follow the right way of living and build faith with his Creator".

At the core of the movement is latihan (practice). The initial practice is to open the jalan jiwa (path of the soul) so that people can recognize it and later sharpen their ability to let their soul work by itself.

Instructors guide the practices and assist every member to find a way to let go of the shadows enveloping their souls.

The practice, twice a week, only takes around a half hour and becomes innately individual for each person.

"During our practices, there is no need to concentrate because concentration is work of the brain, while in our practice we don't use the brain at all," Mangun said at Subud's shady, peaceful headquarters on Jl. Fatmawati, South Jakarta.

"Put aside all logic and rational thought, and just try to release what your inner heart says."

Mangun ruled out the taking of photographs during a practice because it often involves hysterical crying, shouting or running to and fro as people let their souls free.

Registration and membership for the movement, which has branches in more than 78 countries, is free.

"The benefits of the practices are very subjective, different for each person. But, in general, I might say we will be more relaxed in running our lives and submitting to God," Mangun said, adding that Subud members said they had a greater affinity for their respective religions.

There are some restrictions on membership. Members must be aged at least 17 years and undergo three months of training before making the decision to join.

It's also not a crutch for those in crisis, Mangun added.

"We don't provide therapy for drug addicts or alcoholics. Our practices demand that our members are able to stand on their own feet and have the maturity to judge their inner thoughts," Mangun said.

Subud was founded by a Javanese noble Raden Mas Muhammad Subuh Sumohadiwidjojo on Feb. 1, 1947 in Yogyakarta. Subuh, who was born in 1901 and died in the late 1980s, had a mystical experience one night in 1925.

With the help of a British Muslim, Husein Rofe, the movement began its worldwide spread in 1954. During the turbulent years of social change in Europe and the U.S. in the 1960s, it drew many followers with its promise of finding inner peace.

Subuh's former personal assistant and translator, Raymond Lee, said he was still a teenager when he decided to join the movement in London. His mother was already a member.

"In my teens, I had many questions, like what am I going to do with my life, where am I headed, what is it's value, why I was born? So many philosophical, basic questions about our existence," he said.

When he started to consider his life in the future, he found it was "depressing and nothing interesting".

"Then I was introduced to Subud people, where I felt so comfortable and enjoyed myself. I read a lot about it, too. I happened to meet Pak Subuh and felt so close to him," said Raymond, who has resided here for more than 20 years and is married to Subuh's granddaughter.

The movement has managed to round out the spiritual experience of some in the developed world in the search of themselves

"The place where I come from, people think religion is not enough, therefore churches are doing innovations to attract people to come for services. In daily life, they are not too religious, confused with questions about their existence," said Raymond, a mediator at Jakarta Initiative Task Force.

"That's probably what happened in other countries while Indonesians, I see, are more religious and can surrender totally to their own religions, without asking too many questions."

After joining Subud, Raymond said he began to understand that his teenage restlessness was mainly caused by letting his intellect dominate his life.

"The human brain is like a questioning machine. If our life is run by our brain, we will never get peace because not all problems can be settled by the mind."

For him, the surrender to the soul has brought him brotherhood and emotional tranquility.