Lanterna Rally

Author: Pangarisan Paul Sitompul

Publisher:

Published: 1974

Total Pages: 454

ISBN-13:

Susila Budhi Dharma is the full name of Subud--an international mystic movement originated in Indonesia. This study is concerned with one of the most rapidly growing religious movements in the present generation. Arriving in England in 1957, within a few years the movement had converted thousands of followers in scores of countries around the globe, including Europe, the U.S. and South America. The charismatic leader, Muhammad Subuh Sumohadiwidjojo, a typical Javanese guru of the priayi variant, claims, like many other religious leaders, that Subud is a long-awaited solution to the spiritual dilemma of all mankind. The thesis is that Subud is not necessarily unique, but that it is a part of the indigenous religion of Java. An introductory chapter is dedicated to this subject, providing the reader ample background of Subud. Of the numerous mystic sects in Java, Subud is the only one that has foreign followers. At the home base, Subud does not have a large following compared to some other mystic societies. Muhammad Subuh stresses that Subud would be more prosperous in the West than in Asia. The rapid growth of Subud originated with Husein Rofe, a British Jewish journalist, who landed in Indonesia in 1950. The study points out the importance of the fact that Rofe's first contact was with Subud, and not with any other kebatian society. As an Indonesian mystic movement, Subud is new to the West. In the past, the West was more familiar with Hindu, Buddhist, or Muslim mystic sects, primarily originating from India, Tibet, China or Japan. The reader will find that one or other reason for the rapid expansion of Subud was the timely arrival of Rofe in England among 12,000 followers of Gurdjieff, a Russian mystic guru, who died in 1949 and left a vacuum in leadership among his members. Former Gurdjieffs believe that Subud came with similar teachings as those of their leader. The healing of Eva Bartok, the Hungarian movie star and personal friend of Gurdjieff leader Dr. John G. Bennett, convinced the latter of the power of the latihan, and his influence brought the Gurdjieffs to accept Subud. The study also points out that although Subud does not require converts to leave their own faith, many foreigners have become Muslims, the nominal religion of Java, and have taken over many Javanese practices, such as selamatan, fasting, name-changing, and even habits like smoking imported Javanese cigarettes. Most of the indigenous sects of Java have little or no organization, but the study proves that with the influx of Westerners the movement became highly organized. Subud functions both in the spiritual as well as in the secular field. Subud operates businesses and enterprises. Latihan which is the central axis of the movement is the primary attraction of thousands of converts to the ranks of Subud. It is used in the solution of many difficult problems or curing illnesses. The study proves that other Javanese mystic sects also perform latihan, though some use different local terms for the same spiritual exercise. Subud generally restricts the use of its publications to its own members. It was, however, possible to base this study largely on primary sources obtained from Subud friends and interviews. Most Javanese mystic sects disintegrate with the death of the founder. Each sect begins anew, centering around a new guru. Subud with its highly structured organization, its thousands of foreign followers around the world and its many secular investments may survive.