WSA e-Newsletter - Subud World News

E News APRIL 2013 

The Poio Monastery, site of the El Camino 

International Gathering June 29-July 6 - 

Poio, Spain 

Contents 

02 

05 

08 

10 

14 

17 

19 

Supporting Subud 

Congress Update 

Preserving Bapak’s Legacy 

Our Subud World 

Zoning In 

Events 

Calender 

1 WORLD SUBUD ASSOCIATION

Dear All, 

IBU would like to say thank you for all the kind birthday greetings and 

e-cards she received from you all. She was deeply touched by your 

prayers and affection. 

IBU would also like to take this opportunity to send to you all her love 

and warmest wishes. Although we are far apart from each other, let us 

come together in our worship of Almighty God and ask for never ending 

guidance and blessings. 

On Behalf Of Ibu, 

Muti Lee 

Supporting 

Subud 

Subud 

The Latihan Hall in Wisma Subud has served members for more than four decades. It 

was completed in time for the 1971 World Congress and continues to provide a space 

for national and international gatherings. Photo Courtesy: WSA Archives, 

This is the first in a series of articles & observations 

about issues of particular importance to us as 

members around the world. 

These include: 

• Subud Centres 

• Bapak’s Legacy of talks 

• The re-emergence of enterprising or project 

development activities in our lives 

• The development of the Subud organization 

via its wings and affiliates with their areas 

of expertise including Muhammad Subuh 

Foundation, SDIA , etc. 


In a conversation with one of our dear International 

Helpers, she brought up some questions that touch 

these aspects... 

Are people coming to Latihan? 

Are the Latihans strong and grounded in quiet? 

We 

all are aware that there 

is an extraordinary 

range of Subud 

houses. The strength 

and vitality of Subud 

which is based on reality depends on the health of the 

Subud groups in the centres. Subud Centres represent 

our intake of oxygen; this is where the latihan happens. 

They also represent the interface with the world around 

us. 

There are many signs indicating that we need to do more 

in terms of caring for and nurturing our Subud groups. 

This indeed starts at the local level but it is also an 

ongoing work of the whole structure of Subud, all of us. 

So how can we encourage and support the development 

of the quality of the Subud groups, besides what we are 

already doing well? 

We have felt that if we work together with the International 

Helpers and Zone Representatives to understand more 

fully what is happening in the groups within their zones/ 

areas, then we have a basis for greater understanding 

and appreciation. We plan to send out a letter on this 

accompanied by a short survey assessing the general 

activities around Subud centres/houses. 

As we see it, this development goes beyond physical 

aspects of owning and managing Subud houses, but 

involves the life and true expression of the latihan within 

the groups as well as with those outside Subud/in local 

communities. 

Peter 

Jenkins 

from 

Are the helpers doing dewan Latihan themselves 

and/or with the committee? 

Is there harmony among helpers and members? 

Are there shared activities, such as kejiwaan 

days, charitable endeavors or even group 

meals to foster harmony and closeness, and 

expression of the Latihan in the world? 

How are the Subud Youth integrated in the 

Subud life? 

Are there activities that involve the local 

community or outreach activities outside 

Subud? 

In short, are our Subud centers happy, active, 

flourishing places that people want to go to and 

feel enriched by? 

Would visitors gain insight into the values of 

Subud if they came to the Subud house? 

There are the other aspects, though, practical ones, in 

terms of owning, maintaining, renting, managing and 

making the best possible use of the space in our Subud 

houses. Many groups are unable to afford a Subud house 

- but we clearly need to look at new and different ways of 

accommodating our inner and outer needs. 

With the intention of supporting this aspect of both 

ownership, development & managing properties, Subud 

Enterprise Services International (SESI) is preparing a 

framework based on a new website for center support 

which includes a directory of properties, including 

those with rental and guest facilities. They also consider 

making available tools that can support the groups in 

managing, developing and even acquiring houses. One 

of these would be the sharing of stories of what has been 

particularly successful for different centres as they have 

developed their Subud houses. We need to be able to 

view the diversity of Subud houses to enable groups 

to gain insights and new courage in developing their 

centres. 


Well, the first and essential aspect 

is always the latihan. Everything 

comes from the latihan. But if we do 

not have the courage and energy to 

implement and carry out what we 

receive, the latihan does not develop; 

it remains the same. I believe that 

this is valid for individuals and for 

groups, too. Subud Centers are also 

an expression of that: a balance of 

the material and spiritual aspects. 

So what can we do right here 

right now? 

First, we can agree on and commit 

to a Subud wide endeavour or 

initiative to support our centres. This 

means some kind of renewal in our 

commitment would take place. 

We can then start with our own selfassessment 

on our local scale, in 

terms of the quality and health of our 

own Subud center, its shortcomings, 

needs and potentials. We can look 

at questions like those suggested 

above and also ask ourselves about 

how far we have been able to carry 

out what Bapak hoped for us as a 

Subud group. Are we there yet? 

What more is there to be done? 

Then we can each know what is 

lacking, how we can improve, in the 

right way, in the right timing. We 

could also share, across our Subud 

network, some success stories 

as well as challenging ones. Case 

examples could be 

helpful, inspiring 

and reassuring. 

Starting this process 

now could help us 

be well prepared 

for the 2014 World 

Congress in Puebla. 

By looking at those 

together, we could 

come up with some 

kind of integrated 

approach to support 

the development of Subud groups 

in the following years. Perhaps at 

Puebla World Congress we can 

have a Subud Centers/communities 

theme day. 

So the aim of this article is to open 

this conversation and encourage 

introspection. When you address 

your true needs, it might be that 

helper´s visits would be the best 

way to support your group; or that 

you would like support in the area 

of enterprise, or a social or cultural 

project that interacts with the 

surrounding community. Or maybe 

the group is ready to own and 

maintain a Subud house and needs 

support from MSF. 

“..MSF focuses on supporting 

Subud groups round the world 

to own latihan premises so that 

members can worship God freely.” 

(Ibu Rahayu March 21 2013) 

This dialogue was initiated between 

Luke (WSA Chair) and Heloise (MSF 

trustee), later joined by Elias (WSA 

Deputy Chair - responsible for 

international centres). 

WSA seeks to gather feedback via 

the whole network that connects 

to the Zone Representatives and 

International Helpers, so that we can 

encourage support from different 

parts of the organization. 

This wide network includes 

Committee Councillors, National, 

Regional & Group Helpers and 

Chairs across the three Areas and 

nine zones that make up the Subud 

world. It also includes Subud wings 

and affiliates. 

The whole structure of Subud 

exists to serve the needs of Subud 

members and groups. We might not 

be ready to do it completely, but 

starting from group or grassroots 

needs would hopefully help develop 

and strengthen the Subud structure 

in the areas where we need to 

improve, too. 

Your inputs will be most welcome, 

especially as we, the World Subud 

Council, will have a meeting in Poio, 

Spain, next June. We would like to 

have the support to Subud Centers 

as one of our main themes. So, let´s 

get started. 

With love, 

signed: Luke & Elias 

Email Elias & Luke with your 

comments: 

elias.dumit@gmail.com 

wsachair@gmail.com 

“ 


Congress 

Update 

The famed Plaza de los Artistas right next to the convention center 

The 14th Subud World Congress website 

www.subudworldcongress2014.com, 

will be launched any day now. In fact 

by the time you read this it may already 

be up and running. Keep a lookout for it 

going live and for the on-line registration 

which will be beginning soon. 

$300 US and family rates are greatly reduced the more children 

you bring. The entire fee structure appears on the website. To 

be even more helpful members can pay in installments, with a 

down payment of one-third and the rest payable in your own 

time, so long as it is paid before the end of the early bird fee 

schedule on the 31st November. We hope this gradual payment 

method will make it easier for people. 

We have worked hard at reducing 

the price of the registration fee and to 

be fair to people all over the world by 

not determining who needs financial 

help exclusively based on nationality 

or residence. So the normal early 

bird fees are $450 US and $300 US 

for those with financial needs; a few 

questions and a short explanation as to 

why you need financial assistance will 

be requested, but don’t be shy if you 

need it. The youth early bird fee is also 

Convention Center and gardens 

5 WORLD SUBUD ASSOCIATION 

The Escuela Aparicio 

run by Franciscan priests 

are donating the use of 

their fabulous kindergarden 

and 24 primary classrooms 

for the use of children 

and adolescents and it 

is directly adjacent to 

the convention centre. 

In January, Luke Penseney WSA chair, 

Maxwell Fraval WSA Executive Chair, 

Kumari Beck, SDIA Chair, Latifah Taormina, 

SICA Chair along with a whole team, Rayner 

Sutherland, MSF Executive Director,, 

two youth reps: Roland Fraval and Alex 

Woodward, Dave Hitchcock the Zone 7 

rep and four International Helpers: Grace, 

Elaina, Hamilton and Reynaldo, joined the 

growing WCOT for a first planning meeting 

where the content and direction of the 

congress began to be explored. Venues 

were visited and excitement grew as each 

new place was discovered...Many pictures 

of the venue are on the website, it is a 

wonderful site in an enclosed compound, 

with beautiful gardens as well as access to malls and cinemas. 

The Escuela Aparicio run by Franciscan priests are donating 

the use of their fabulous kindergarden and 24 primary 

classrooms for the use of children and adolescents and it is 

directly adjacent to the convention centre. We will also be 

creating a beautiful dome (protection from rain and sun) over 

the 800 square meter plaza which will be THE central place 

where everyone can find each other and meet, in the evening 

it will turn into a relaxed hangout space with impromptu 

performances.

Congress Update. 

Continued 

Presentations were made for the 

opening ceremony coordinated 

by Maemunah Torres and for a 

Fashionation show by Lorina (Sandra) 

Rosete; Latifah from SICA and Roland 

(nicknamed Sr. Creativo) are working 

with their team on a whole new 

exciting concept for SICA’s presence at 

congress....Lots more information will 

be forthcoming over the next months 

and updated on the congress and 

SICA websites. 

There will be two large spaces (aprox. 

800 square meters each) which will 

be available at all times for latihan and 

testing and we can seat 3500 if we are 

blessed with Ibu Rahayu’s presence for 

talks and testing. 

We are working on a number of discreet 

sponsorship exchanges, as well as 

negotiating financial support from the 

local government; the aim of this work 

is to use the money made or gained 

to increment the World Congress 

Travel Fund to be able to help as many 

members as possible to come to the 

congress. 

Last of all we are working hard on 

supporting green and social awareness 

and initiatives, we are also working with 

a number of our members and their 

foundations to create projects with the 

local government between now and 

Every WSA newsletter 

will contain a congress 

update focusing on different 

aspects of the content of 

the programs, so keep 

yourself informed by 

checking out the Congress 

website but also Subud 

World News, Subud Voice 

and the WSA newsletters. 

the World Congress, which will leave 

what we hope to be, a beneficial Subud 

imprint on the town. 

Every WSA newsletter will contain a 

congress update focusing on different 

aspects of the content of the programs, 

so keep yourself informed by checking 

out the Congress website but also 

Subud World News, Subud Voice and 

the WSA newsletters. 

Venue for enterprise and project display 

World Congress Logo 

Arif Rivero, Vice Chair WCOT writes …. 

We received 32 proposals from 12 

countries for the World Congress logo. 

We wish to thank all the participants for 

their contributions, they were fantastic! 

In January, the WSA Chair, the WSA 

Executive Chair, members from 

SICA International, Susila Dharma 

International, the SYAI youth reps, MSF, 

International helpers and the World 

Congress Organizing team, met to 

have a planning meeting in Puebla. At 

that meeting the logos were short listed 

down to five. The five left were each 

asked to make certain amendments 

which they did, and one month later the 

final choice was made. 

The winning logo shown here was 

designed by the Puebla Group and 

was also one of the two most popular 

choices on the Facebook page, so we 

are very happy that this was overall the 

popular choice. The prize is one free 

registration to World Congress, which 

the group will choose among those who 

are not of course already members of 

the World Congress Organizing team. 


Congress Update. 

Continued 

World Congress Prayer Song 

Marston Gregory, WCOT Treasurer writes... 

View from the top of the Cholula pyramid in Puebla, Mexico 

I felt the prayer, which came to me in 

such an extraordinary way, is to be 

shared.In my dream it was a song in 

a very simple ancient melody which 

almost was a chant of sorts. 

Puebla seems to be one of those 

spaces that allows for deep and 

unexpected spiritual experiences. It 

is, as if, we latihan in various pools 

of water and this pool is very deep so you dive deeper. It 

should be a great blessing to the congress since, with such 

a place, we can find a deeper surrender. 

Prayer and Song for the Subud World Congress 

2014 Received in a dream in Puebla, Mexico 

By Marston Gregory 

January 6, 2013 

Oh God, Almighty God, 

Make our mouths speak with 

love and humility. 


Make our eyes see with 

joy and clarity. 


One God One 

Make our ears hear with 

quiet and compassion. 


One God One 

Make our feet walk with your 

guidance and your direction. 


One God One 

Make our hands shape and 

work with grace. 


One God One 

Make our hearts as wide and 

deep as the sea. 


One God One 

Make our legs carry us 

on your path. 


One God One 

Make our arms 

embrace and enfold the world. 


Tapes of Bapak’s Talks, like the one pictured here in England 1957, are being 

restored. 

Preserving 

Bapak’s Legacy 

In December 2011, 

The Muhammad Subuh Foundation 

signed an agreement with WSA for 

the preservation and restoration 

of the audio recordings of Bapak’s 

talks on behalf of WSA. A few 

days later, MSF signed a contract 

with Memnon, a Belgium company 

which had been carefully selected 

by Amalijah Thompson who was 

then WSA archives coordinator. 

The digitization of the audio 

recordings began in April 2012 

under the technical supervision of 

Amalijah as MSF’s and WSA’s 

archive advisor. MSF invested 

around $190,000 to this project in 

2012 and an approved MSF 2013 

budget of $60,000 is available for 

its completion. The project has been 

a big success. Bachtiar Lorot is 

coordinator for this MSF project 

and he works very closely and 

harmoniously with both Amalijah 

and Armand Bisson (WSA Archives 

coordinator) on this project. 

Bachtiar Lorot, 

MSF Chairman and Trustee 


I’ve been dealing with preservation of Bapak’s talks in 

liaison with MSF and the WSA for sometime. At the 

end of January a major milestone was completed - the 

three month, very focused quality assessment needed 

on each new digital file to ensure each the analogue to 

digital conversion had been done correctly to archival 

standards. 

Of the 2,178 files possible to create from 

those original analogue recordings the 

outcome statistics were: 

• 10% (220 tape sides) not able to be 

digitized or needing intervention to enable 

digitization with unknown result because 

of tape deterioration/issues 

• 11.5% referred back for minor adjustment 

or checking by Memnon 

improvements to the sound quality in some cases. 

By creating the necessary foundation we keep our options 

open to the future. 

As we worked on the assessment we created, at the same 

time, a rating for each file which would indicate on a scale of 

1-5, which files needed a second stage restoration process 

and which are of sufficient clarity without enhancement or 

filtering. 

During the quality assessment 

phase I engaged archival 

sound engineer, Tony Hunter, 

who I’ve worked with over 

a number of years to assist 

with the technical ‘listening’ 

needed over what was quite 

a massive task to check over 

2500 hours of recordings 

within a very short time frame. 

• 0.18% (4 tape sides) needing 

re-digitization from the original recording 

• 78% files (tape sides) checked out OK 

We found several tapes that contain only recorded music 

(non Subud) or other unrelated material even though 

those tapes have code numbers on the reels and boxes. 

On one recording, the audio of Bapak talking was 

completely unrecoverable – tape too far gone. 

Even with careful spooling and care of the tapes during the 

process to ensure the most effective transfer and capture of 

the maximum amount of information (dynamic range of sound) 

possible at the best quality possible, the issues inherent in 

many of the original recordings are not possible to ‘improve’ 

in the conversion or some of the deterioration has developed 

over too long a period for it to be rectified easily. 

However, those issues notwithstanding (which are usual and 

expected in this kind of process) it’s also the case that many 

of the problems inherent in the original recording can, in the 

next stage of enhancement and filtering of the digital file be 

easily improved without any harmful interventions and without 

introducing digital artifacts into the preservation file. 

Also as software develops it will be easier in future (now 

that we have captured the full range of dynamic sound to 

the needed standard) to more easily and automatically make 

“There are many fine recordings of Bapak through the 

collection. Good analogue tape recordings can be amazingly 

transparent, the natural warmth and timbre of the human 

voice can be so perfectly captured by tape and the presence 

I’m hearing on my professional quality monitors of the transfer 

to digital is chilling on many recordings marked 3.5 and higher. 

It’s like being transported back into the ambience of the room 

- a very, very cool experience,” Tony Hunter 

Once this big job was finished and I recovered a bit I continued 

to sort out the ongoing and peripheral work needed, helped 

by Halimah Armytage and Lilliana Johnson, members of 

Subud Canberra. 

If you would like more information about the preservation 

process of the talks or work needed in the archives generally, 

please contact Amalijah at amalijah@grapevine.net.au 


Our Subud 

World 

Bapak Muhammad Subuh Sumohadiwidjojo 

Photo by: Simón Cherpitel 

01. Muhammad Subuh Foundation 

“ It’s exciting to see 

how everyone’s 

so pumped about 

the new house 

and how we’re all 

willing to put all 

we’ve got into the 

project.” 

Rohniah, age 17. 

Subud Durham, in the southeastern 

part of the United States, is a young 

vibrant group that is breaking the trend 

of “aging Subud Groups”. The group of 

nearly 30 members had been struggling 

to find a place where they could do 

latihan and where Subud children and 

young people could be together. Then 

in 2012, a miracle of sorts happened 

and the group found the perfect place 

- a seven acre parcel of land in the 

beautiful North Carolina countryside, 

not far from town. A doublewide trailer 

on the property provided a temporary 

latihan space, but a more permanent 

home was needed for this growing 

group. 

The group garnered their resources 

and recently were approved for a grant 

and loan from the Muhammad Subuh 

Foundation. The amount, totaling USD 

40,000, will help the group build their 

own Subud House. 

“It’s exciting to see how everyone’s 

so pumped about the new house and 

how we’re all willing to put all we’ve got 

into the project.” Rohniah, age 17. 

To find out more about Subud Durham 

and other Foundation news sign up 

for the MSF e-News. To be added to 

the mailing list write to WSA Secretary 

Silvana Evans at wsa@subud.org . 

Please mention if you would like your 

Enews in English, French or Spanish 

and visit the MSF website to find out 

more about the work of the Foundation. 


Our Subud World. 

Continued 

“ 

His opening in 

1981 was like 

a scene from 

Le Cirque du 

Soleil, and since 

then, dozens of 

applicants have 

come to Subud 

through Felix. 

02. SICA 

Felix Juan Prieto is SICA’s new Vice 

Chair. At a recent planning meeting for 

the 2014 World Congress in Mexico, he 

was asked to elevate his participation 

in SICA as Susannah Rosenthal was 

stepping down. Felix was a natural 

choice, given his love of people, his 

passion for arts and culture, and his 

commitment to Subud. 

Felix left Bogota, Colombia in 1980 for 

a Social Cybernetics retreat in Chicago, 

but his soul told him to extend his 

stay. Shortly thereafter, he found a job 

working for a company that published 

cassettes of talks. The company was 

run by Subud member, Daniel Chiefetz. 

The cassettes were Bapak’s talks. Felix 

was just supposed to make sure the 

technical production was correct by 

running the tape forward until he could 

hear “Saudara Saudara.” But one 

day, he let the tape run on. Although 

he did not understand the content, he 

was mesmerized by Bapak’s voice and 

cadence. 

His opening in 1981 was like a scene 

from Le Cirque du Soleil, and since 

then, dozens of applicants have come 

to Subud through Felix. For the last 16 

years, Felix has been a helper in the 

Dallas Subud group, and was one of 

the hosts at last year’s Subud South 

Regional Conference. 

A natural team player and team leader, 

on the professional side, Felix has 

been working for the city of Dallas, and 

Dallas County, for nearly 25 years. In his 

current position with the largest hospital 

in Dallas, he provides behavioral and 

life-style psycho-education, in both 

English and Spanish, for prevention and 

control of asthma, obesity and diabetes 

in children and adults. 

Always pursuing creative solutions, for 

five consecutive years, he managed 

a health oriented artistic production, 

“Inner City Expressions,” where all art 

forms educated and engaged the public 

in health topics via creative expression. 

Each year, 150 intergenerational 

amateur artists participated in up to 

20 performances throughout the city. 

Performances took place at major 

venues in Dallas with up to 1,500 per 

show. 

Before working for the city of Dallas, 

Felix spent two years building bridges 

between rural communities and 

corporations in Mexico and promoting 

the mutual benefits of sustainable 

communities and fulfillment of market 

demands. 

“Felix is a delight to work with and will 

bring much to our team helping to 

build bridges for SICA amongst Subud 

members worldwide.” Latifah Taormina, 

SICA Chair. 



Continued 

04. SDIA 

Representatives from SDIA and SD Canada visited projects in the Democratic 

Republic of Congo in February. The team included Rachid Nour-Eddine, 

international consultant in organisational management from Algeria/Canada, 

Paul Roberge, a building contractor from Montreal, and Virginia Thomas, SDIA’s 

Programmes Director. They worked together with the growing SD DRC team on 

a number of issues in project development, management and capacity building. 

Bachtiar Lorot from Spain joined the team as our Agricultural economist to help 

us consider the feasibility of an agricultural support project as an extension of the 

Community Health Centers initiative. The team also identified challenges that 

need to be addressed as SD DRC grows and develops. 

Little Emali gets a first look at the work of SDIA 

in DR Congo with mom Virginia Thomas, SDIA’s 

Programmes Director. MSF Chair, Bachtiar Lorot 

Bachtiar Lorot in the background 

SDIA’s newsletter is available in 

English, French and Spanish. To sign 

up click here http://susiladharma.org/ 

enews_form/form.php 

Lemba Imbu Clinic: Affordable Healthcare 

Congratulations to our SD nationals: SD Britain, SD Canada, SD France, SD 

Ireland, SD Netherlands, SD Norway, as well as Muhammad Subuh Foundation 

and the Blond Trust who all took a first step together to pilot a model of community 

co-managed, quality, affordable care in the form of a Community Health Center 

(CHC) at Lemba Imbu. 

As planned, the pilot is functioning well and has reached the break-even point, 

just over six months after it opened, with a small operational cushion of about 

$3000 in the bank. In the medium term, these funds will be available to support 

the Community Health Committee (COSA) to put in place health promotion and 

prevention programmes that should dramatically reduce the need for services for 

the treatment of preventable illnesses such as malaria, tuberculosis and typhoid. 

05. SYAI 

The SYAI blog is up and running. At the moment it is mainly being used by the SYAI 

team to communicate about the International Youth Travel Fund (IYTF) and plans 

for World Congress. It is hoped that young people and people with messages for 

young people will send articles to SYAI for publication. 

The articles can be about anything but it would be great to hear about how a 

project is going (or ideas for them), upcoming youth gatherings, zonal meetings, 

opportunities for young people’s involvement. SYAI asks that messages include 

pictures and are kept short (500 words maximum). SYAI doesn’t intend to replicate 

Subud World News but rather provide a space where messages specific to young 

people & the work of SYAI can be posted. 

If you would like to assist in the 

translations or have an article you’d 

like posted please email us at : 

sya-international@subudyouth.net 

There are also plans for the blog to be translated into Spanish, French, Indonesian 

and Russian. SYAI would ideally like a small team of young volunteers to translate 

posts into each language. SYAI would connect them with the national youth 

coordinators in countries that speak that language so that the blog content can 

be spread via the youth coordinators’ networks. It is hoped that these translation 

teams would pave the way for translation assistance during the Puebla 2014 

World Congress, and particularly during youth workshops at the Congress. 



Continued 

“ 

Zone 4 is holding a 

Gathering at Wolfsburg, 

Germany between April 

30 and May 5 that 

will include a theme 

around “Projects and 

Enterprises”. 

For more information about SESI 

checkout our evolving website 

at: www.subudenterprise.com or 

contact Ruslan Morris at rrmorris@ 

clubbali.com concerning Kalimantan 

enterprises or Rashad Pollard, SESI 

Coordinator, at pollardrr@aol.com 

06. SESI 

Over the first quarter of 2013 SESI has been working on a new work plan to cover 

the period up to and including the World Congress. After thorough review this is to 

be presented to the June WSC annual meeting for approval. As a part of this plan 

SESI intends to continue to support the development of a number of enterprises 

in Kalimantan but will now seek to motivate similar enterprise start-ups in other 

Zones and countries. As part of this process, and as requested by WSC, SESI is 

forming a working group to consider how best to structure itself to manage this 

effort -- whether SESI should remain under the WSA Executive or be established 

as an independent body with WSA oversight. 

At the same time SESI has been moving ahead on other fronts as well. We 

are handling an ever increasing list of requests for enterprise support or advice 

from our Association on all levels; from national SES bodies and from individual 

members through our web site, our Yahoo list server and e-mails. 

We can report that Zone 4 is holding a Gathering at Wolfsburg, Germany between 

April 30 and May 5 that will include a theme around “Projects and Enterprises”. 

Everyone is welcome to attend. More information is at: www.Subud-Zone4.org 

We can also report that SES USA is planning a meeting of those interested in 

enterprises (Contact Hanafi Fraval at: fbeco@me.com for more information) to be 

held at the same time as the California Congress, 23 - 27 May, near San Francisco. 

Everyone is also welcome. Bookings at: http://congress2013.subudcalifornia. 

org/ses-enterprise-meeting. 

07. SPI 

Ibu Rahayu visited Rungan Sari, Central Kalimantan in December 2012 for the 

Zone 1 & 2 meeting. DVD’s of her talk to members and questions, answers and 

advice for delegates are now available. 

MSC Rungan Sari 

To purchase your copy online log on to http: www.subudbooks.net and click on 

Ibu Rahayu’s talk DVD - video. A description of the talks is also available. 

LIBRARY 

SUBUD 

Bapak’s 1981 Talk in New York (81NYC5) is now 

available on video with English, Indonesian and 

Spanish subtitles. Go to the Subud Library to 

view: www.subudlibrary.net 


Zoning In 

last fall her incredible enthusiasm has meant renewed 

contact between Zone 7 and Subud Cuba, both by email 

and telephone. Thank you Alejandra! 

Maybe a lot of 

members are used 

to all of these 

advantages.... but for 

us, after 55 years, 

this legalization is 

phenomenal.” 

As a result, the Zone Council was able to identify how we 

could best support Subud Cuba, as a member of the Zone 

7 family, and in the past nine months has focused on this 

task. A small Subud Cuba Support Group was established, 

comprising the Committee Councillors from the Zone, 

together with Zone Treasurer, Hardwin Blanchard. A large 

part of this support involves providing financial assistance 

to Subud Cuba to help: 

The National Helpers and National Committee to travel 

around Cuba visiting the various groups and for a National 

Congress to be held in 2014. 

Printing costs for Cuba’s national publication: “Alborada”. 

Print Spanish copies of Bapak’s and Ibu Rahayu’s talks, 

so that they can be read by more Cuban members. 

ZONE 7 

Connecting with Cuba 

Dave Hitchcock, Zone 7 Representative writes: 

A 

major disappointment for me since 

becoming Zone 7 Representative at the 

Christchurch World Congress in 2010 

has been the difficulty in communication 

between Subud Cuba and the Zone. I do 

not speak Spanish and most of the Subud 

Cuba national committee, including their 

Chair Asis Borges Riego, does not speak English. Various 

bilingual members within the Zone offered to assist and 

some emails were exchanged and translated. Then in 

2012 Alejandra Martinez became Committee Councillor 

for Subud Canada and, consequently, a member of the 

Zone 7 Council. Alejandra lives in Ottawa, but is from 

Colombia and is fluent in both Spanish and English. Since 

Travel and other costs (including passports and visas) for 

Cuban delegates to attend the 2014 World Congress. 

Efforts were made to see if it would be possible for 

delegates from Subud Cuba to travel to the Zone 7 Council 

meeting in Albuquerque, U.S. in July of this year. However, 

it became increasingly clear that the process of Cubans 

obtaining the necessary visas, even if it were successful, 

could take a year or more! Therefore, the Council decided 

to focus its efforts on helping delegates from Cuba attend 

the World Congress in Mexico. 

So, in recent months, my initial feeling of disappointment 

and frustration at not being able to effectively communicate 

with Subud Cuba has turned to one of joy and excitement. 

I would like to thank all Subud members from throughout 

Zone 7 who have made this possible and I look forward 

to Subud Cuba being able to participate more fully as 

an active member of the Zone and the World Subud 

Association in the coming years. 


Zoning In. 

Continued 

A Big Responsibility, a Big Opportunity 

Asis Borges Riego, Cuba National Chair writes: 

According to the law in our country, Subud is classified 

as a religious organization, as our first fundamental 

objective is the worship of God. That’s the first criteria in 

the process of registration of brotherhoods and religions 

by the Justice Ministry of Cuba. Included in this group are 

all the religions: Christian, Muslims, yoga, Masons, etc. 

As National Chair of Subud Cuba, I have already been 

invited to a meeting with about 100 others from different 

churches and also with senior representatives of the 

government. In attendance were the President of the 

National Assembly and representatives of the Communist 

Party of Cuba (PCC) that is responsible for all religious 

organizations. 

It means more openness now for Subud social projects. 

We can have Subud houses that will be the propriety of 

Subud Cuba in each province where there are groups, and 

have gatherings for the Subud Youth, SD, SICA and others 

aspects of Subud Cuba and the world. 

Maybe for a lot of members who are used to all of these 

advantages, this is not that important, but for us after 55 

years this legalization is phenomenal and of course we 

would like to hold international events in Cuba. 

When somebody from the WSA or the Zone comes to 

visit, you will see in practice, all of the possibilities that 

exist here to hold such events. 

We have already been in contact with public servants 

of the PCC that are in each province of the country, and 

public servants in the Justice Ministry that answer and 

help us on all legal issues. 

Houses owned by Subud members, where we do latihan, 

are already legal and authorized. There are 10 houses in 

total. Also Subud Cuba’s social and humanitarian projects 

are approved. 

The help that was given to the Santiago de Cuba school 

was approved days before the legalization. 

Marini Gil Aneiros (SD Rep), Victor Hernandez Espinosa (Committee 

Councillor) & Asis Borges Riego (National Chair) 

From now on we can have Zone meetings, Americas 

events and a World Congress. For each event we needs to 

plan and tell the Cuban government one year in advance. 

They have organizations and businesses in Cuba that can 

help find the best place for such events according to the 

needs, and take care of hotels, tickets, entry papers and 

easy access to Cuba. 

In Cuba, some organizations - brotherhoods and religions 

- have already mentioned that they hold world events in 

Cuba. 

International Helpers and WSA members can visit all 

groups without difficulty and with religious visas obtained 

3 month in advance. There are other options which take 

less time before the visit. 

Marini Gil Aneiros and Faith Hudson in Cuba. Faith is from Canada and visited Cuba 

in March. She brought some pharmacy products, a number of talks and a small 

amount of cash for the new group. 


ZONE 1&2 

ONE WORLD SCHOOL 

Bapak said, ‘Committees should start 

enterprises’. Is that a realistic idea? 

Subud Australia intends to find out. 

And we need your help! 

For some time, Sydney member, 

Harris Madden has been developing 

plans for an adventure education 

business called “One World School”. 

He is currently in discussion with 

the National Committee about the 

possibility of this becoming an 

Enterprise of Subud Australia. 

Steven Bryson-Haynes (SES 

Australia Rep), Peter Jenkins 

(Committee Councillor), Lukman 

Bryson-Haynes (Treasurer) and 

Harris have formed a group to 

investigate the feasibility of this 

venture and will report back to 

the National Committee, who are 

enthusiastic about starting an 

enterprise, in accordance with 

Bapak’s advice. Subud Australia 

hopes to publish the result on the 

feasibility study later this year. 

The Vision 

The vision for One World School 

is to create a small campus in 

Kalimantan and to bring groups of 

15 to 16 year old students (and their 

teachers) from around the world for 

a stay of around two weeks. During 

that time they would have unique 

experiences of nature, rivers and 

the rainforest, of the Dayaks and 

life in developing countries -- and 

of personal interaction with other 

students from different faiths and 

nationalities around the world. 

We need lots of advice and 

participation from Subud Members 

around the world with experience in 

the following areas: 

graphic design, web development, 

teaching, outdoor education, 

tour operations, market research, 

financial projections, business 

planning, marketing & promotion, 

sales & business development, legal 

advice, raising investment capital, 

architectural design, building and 

construction. 

If you have this experience and 

would like to know more about how 

you could become involved in the 

feasibility study, business planning 

or during the operational stage, 

please send an email (with resume 

if you wish) to Harris at: harris. 

madden@gmail.com 

Bapak said, 

Committees should 

start enterprises’. Is 

that a realistic idea? 

Subud Australia 

intends to find out. 

And we need your 

help! 


Events 

It is a busy time around 

the world for Subud, with 

gatherings, congresses, 

meetings youth and 

family events. This is a 

wonderful opportunity to 

connect with other Subud 

members and find out 

what is happening in our 

Subud World. 

A traditional dance La Muiñeira performed at the monastery site for El 

Camino Gathering. 

El Camino, the Way 

Poio, Spain . 28 June - 6 July 

In the talk she gave on the 8th of December 2012, our dear 

Ibu Rahayu said: “Kejiwaan events like this are a discipline 

for our true natures. Times like this can be an awakening or 

a way for each of us to correct ourselves.” 

The international gathering includes kejiwaan activities 

assisted by the International Helpers and all the helpers 

willing to serve our members. There will also be a chance 

for members to learn more about the Muhammad Subuh 

Foundation, Enterprises, Susila Dharma International and 

SICA. There will be workshops and presentations of some 

interesting projects. Also, on the 1st of July there will be a 

special presentation of the XIV Subud World Congress in 

Puebla 2014. 

Because it is also a time for holidays, there will be trips 

to Pontevedra by night, Vigo, the Cies Islands, Combarro 

village and, on the 3rd of July, you are all invited to become 

pilgrims and walk down to Santiago de Compostela 

Cathedral. It will, no doubt, be an unforgettable experience. 

For more information, booking forms and payment 

details go to the Events page at 

www.subudworldnews.com and click ‘more’ 

Zone 4 Gathering 

Wolfsburg, Germany . 30 April - 5 May 

We are excited to be able to host this gathering and are 

happy to invite you, your family and friends! We would love to 

extend this invitation to our neighboring countries in Zone 3 

and to all our sisters and brothers who would love to join us! 

The main reason for this venue is the yearly meeting of the 

delegates from all Subud Zone 4 countries. We are planning 

on offering a “through all days” Kejiwaan program and let 

yourself be surprised with our plans for the cultural program! 

One of the focus themes this year will be the topic “Enterprise” 

in all it’s different aspects, the inner and the outer ones. 

Let’s celebrate the Latihan at work in this world - the program 

is still evolving - it calls for your participation! We will give 

our best to provide the inner and outer space for all of us to 

present and show our very own way of letting the Latihan 

work in this world. There will be a panel to discuss the topic, 

we will test about it... you will have the opportunity to present 

yourselves with your work, service, creative talents - and with 

your questions and challenges. Participants from all over the 

world are invited to join us in this venue. The program will be 

evolving over the next weeks and months. We will host an 

online workshop to work at the agenda - taking into account 

different perspectives, talents, needs and interests. 

For more information and to register, log on to : 

http://www.subud-zone4.org 


Creative Quest 

Central Kalimantan 

We invite young people with a creative 

spirit, project ideas or simply the 

enthusiasm to join forces with others, 

to apply to attend this exciting new 

version of the YES Quest. 

The ‘Creative Quest’ at Rugan Sari, 

from August 15 – 25, will offer all the 

benefits of a classic YES Quest with 

a special focus on unlocking and 

exploring how to express your creative 

self in the world. Whether it be as: a 

hobby; a sideline; a career; or as a way 

of approaching everything. 

Join other young people 

to explore all the amazing 

possibilities that creativity 

can bring into your life PLUS 

work together to develop 

creative projects that will make 

up a dynamic, youthful and 

innovative program at the 

Mexican Congress. 

You could organise a recycled 

fashion show. You might want 

to be part of a ‘flash mob’ 

choir or maybe produce a 

phone film festival. Curate a 

chalk art exhibition? Run a rap 

workshop? MC a comedy night? Do 

face painting for children? 

You may already have an idea, or you 

may develop one at the Quest, or maybe 

you’ll become part of someone else’s 

project. Everyone has a contribution to 

make! 

And...it’s all happening at beautiful 

Rungan Sari, in Kalimantan, Subud’s 

No. 1 destination. The price of AUD 

$500 includes the full program, 

delicious food and accommodation at 

the Eco-Village PLUS an amazing three 

day jungle adventure. 

We can provide information to help 

you raise the $500 and if you need 

assistance with air-fares, you can apply 

to the International Youth Travel Fund 

(IYTF). 

Facilitators Peter Jenkins and Marlena 

Basser will be joined for the Creative 

Quest by Roland Fraval, who as well 

as being on the International Youth 

Team is Events Manager for the Mexico 

Congress. 

So, don’t think about it. Just do it. Send 

an email today to silvana@yesquest.org 

with ‘Please send me a Creative Quest 

Application’ in the subject line, and you 

will have already taken an important 

step in achieving your true creative 

potential. 

For more information visit our website 

at www.yesquest.org, where there is a 

link to a ten minute video and a Creative 

Quest brochure. 

Watch what happened at the First 

Quest at the newly released film: 

http://youtu.be/2jOwA1TBLqA 

DID YOU KNOW ? 

Almost everything you’ve ever wanted to know or 

didn’t know you needed to know, about Subud can 

be found on our websites: www.subud.com; www. 

subudworldnews.com; www.subud.org. 

Current issues and back issues of the WSA eNews in four 

languages (sometimes Russian as well) are uploaded to 

www.subud.org and www.subudworldnews.com. 

Your own copy delivered to your Inbox? The WSA 

eNews is sent to National Committees for their groups 

and members. If you would like to receive your own 

copy directly into your inbox, send your email address 

and preferred language (English, French, Spanish or 

Indonesian) to wsa@subud.org 


Calendar 

APRIL - MAY 2013 

30 April - 5 May 

Zone 4 Gathering, 

Wolfsburg, Germany 

3 - 5 

Subud Japan National 

Congress 

AUGUST 2013 

15 – 25 

SYAI Creative Quest, Rungan 

Sari, Kalimantan 

20 – 25 

Subud Britain Gathering and 

National Congress, Great 

Malvern 

10 – 13 

Subud Ireland Kejiwaan 

Weekend, Kippur, Wicklow 

Mountains 

17 – 20 

Subud France National 

Congress, Loire Valley, 

France 

NOVEMBER 

2013 

1 – 3 

DECEMBER 

2013 

27 – 29 

24 – 26 

Subud Spain National 

Congress, Salobreña, Granada 

Subud India National 

Congress, Chennai 

Subud Netherlands National 

Congress, Laag Zuthem 

JUNE - JULY 2013 

16 – 28 

WSC Meeting, 

Poio, Ponte Verdra, Spain 

30 – 6 

Subud Family Mountain Camp, 

Salzburg, Austria 

JULY 2013 

4 – 7 

28 – 6 

El Camino Zone 3 Meeting and 

Gathering, Poio, Ponte Verdra, 

Spain 

6 – 8 

AUGUST 2014 

2 – 17 

14th Subud World Congress, 

Puebla, Mexico 

WORLD LATIHAN 

APRIL 6 

20:00 (Los Angeles) 

21:00 (Mexico City) 

22:00 (Bogota) 

23:00 (New York) 

23:00 (Santiago de Chile) 

19 – 24 

Subud Britain Gathering and 

National Congress, Great 

Malvern 

APRIL 7 

03:00 (GMT) 

04:00 (London) 

05:00 (Paris) 

10:00 (Jakarta) 

13:00 (Sydney) 

15:00 (New Zealand) 

Subud USA National Gathering 

University of New Mexico, 

Albuquerque, New Mexico 

29 – 4 

AUG 

Subud Germany National 

Congress 

Zone 7 Council meeting 

University of New Mexico, 

Albuquerque, New Mexico 

MAY 

03:00 (Los Angeles) 

05:00 (Mexico City /Bogota) 

06:00 (New York / Santiago de Chile) 

10:00 (GMT) 

11:00 (London) 

12:00 (Paris) 

17:00 (Jakarta) 

20:00 (Sydney) 

22:00 (New Zealand) 

WSA TEAM 

Luke Penseney, Chair, Canada 

Elias Dumit, Deputy Chair, Brazil 

Executive Chair, Maxwell Fraval, Australia 

Executive Vice Chair, Maya Korzybska, Indonesia 

Treasurer, Hammond Peek, New Zealand 

Secretary, Silvana Caradoc Evans, Australia 

Contact us anytime and if you would like to be added to our distribution 

list email us at : wsa@subud.org

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