Connect Magazine 2018 ENG

CONGRESS COUNTDOWN
CONNECT MAGAZINE 2018
1971
Wisma Subud, Jakarta, Indonesia
1979
Toronto, Canada
Looking back
Congress History
Congress Kejiwaan
WAITING
Bapak in Briarcliff, New York. Photo: WSA Archives.
1963
Briarcliff New York, USA
Bapak gave ten talks. A keynote was the
introduction and reliance on testing as a way to
guide the proceedings and resolve differences.
Congress attendance was approximately 350.
About 2000 members from 80 countries filled
the Wisma Subud village specially built for
this Congress. It was the largest international
gathering ever held in Indonesia and was opened
by the President of Indonesia. Subud world
was divided into eight zones with councilors to
meet every two years. An administrative system
was established on both the committee and
kejiwaan sides that went from the international,
to national, regional and local levels.
Bapak gave fifteen talks.
About 1600 members attended. Congress
Chairman, Varindra Vittachi, summed up the
themes as being “Subud minded” and equipping
ourselves to “stand on our own feet”.
More emphasis was placed on the Zonal
structure, on the need to provide Bapak’s talks
in languages other than English. There were
recommendations to improve archives. SBIF
became more clearly the social arm of Subud,
there was attention to education, the needs of
the elderly and support for Vietnamese refugees
in Subud. Much time was devoted to enterprises
and the functions of Subud Enterprise Services
(SES) and Enterprise Associations.
Bapak and party with John Bennett at Coombe
Springs. Photo: WSA Archives.
1959
Coombe Springs, United Kingdom
Bapak gave fifteen talks in which he clarified
the role of helpers and committee members. He
explained the need and purposes of enterprises
as a way to raise money for Subud and its social
work. Some 450 members representing 35
countries attended.
1967
Tokyo, Japan
This Congress focused on strengthening
the outer organization of Subud. World
Congresses became a permanent institution to
be held every four years. Subud Brotherhood
International Foundation (SBIF) was established
to administer Subud funds on a professional
basis. The International Subud Council was
formed. It delegated executive functions to the
International Subud Congress Committee (ISCC).
Officers of Council and Committee were chosen
by testing. Subud Technical Services (STS) was
also set up to organize the co-operation of those
with specialist technical skills.
Bapak at 3rd Subud World Congress, Japan. Photo: WSA Archives
Bapak and Ibu Rahayu at the 4th Subud World Congress in Jakarta. Photo: WSA Archives
1975
Wolfsburg, Germany
Bapak explained more about the relationship
between the latihan and outer activities such
as enterprises. A rapid increase and diversity of
Subud activities was acknowledged and given
a workable form. In the middle was the World
Subud Association consisting of Bapak, the
Congress, the Council of International Helpers.
Bapak gave twelve talks.
1983
Anugraha, Surrey, UK
A separate organization to which Bapak gave the
name Susila Dharma Association was set up to
take over Subud’s humanitarian activities. The
Subud International Cultural Association (SICA),
the Subud Youth Association (SYA), and the
Subud Interational Trade Association were also
established at this congress. Communicationswere
modernized and upgraded. SUBUDNET
came into being. Bapak gave twenty-one talks.
16 17