 |
 |
 |
 |
| Who's Here |
| Currently no members online. | 
You are an anonymous user. You can register for free by clicking here |
|
|
| Site Stats |
|
Members:
|
|
Total:
|
2075
|
|
|
Last:
|
Rafaelafarinha
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
How do we create a culture of enthusiasm, trust in one another and above all....
(
1920
Reads
)
Posted by
HarunKennedy
Saturday, November 02, 2002
|
|
How do we create a culture of enthusiasm, trust in one another and above all.....
..... a sense of giving on every level?
I have written this article because I and I believe many others in Subud wish to form a consensus on moving forwards. Many people probably feel that we have had one too many financial and project based let downs. Hey life's tough. Or on the other hand, there exists in whatever measure a culture of condescension and cultishness wherein there is a hierarchy of those who "know how it should be" and there is resulting conflict with others. The net result of which has been an overall sense of failure, a reduced trust in one another and this abstract "separate" organisation called the Subud Organisation. Above all there is a despondency when it comes to the matters of financial and practical management. Which in turn has lead to a sense of stagnation and drift in our organisation because of people's fear of a repeat of past hiccups and 'hurt'.
I don't believe anyone thinks all is lost and we shall never really achieve much of the receiving that Bapak had envisioned for Subud. However, many people do the Latihan and don't pay much effort or attention to the wider organisation, which they would have enthusiastically done when Bapak was around. ...........READ ON
I am a 26 year old who's family is in Subud, I have been brought up in a climate of Subud family and gatherings, where there is a trust in one another, where we were touched by Bapak's receiving and direction, and realised and continue to realise some of what he presented. There is no need to have what Bapak presented to us as a stagnating weight on the present membership. Nor is it a stick with which to point righteously at one another. Its something most people steadily realise with time, have a deep love, reverence and willingness to be open to its truth. It is here as guidance or as a guidebook for when we are unable to form our own consensuses from our conscience and action. Without it we would just have our individual values and cultures, our instinctual egos and prejudices often colliding with one another.
We have all been opened to the Latihan. That essentially is what we have in common. Everybody is welcome to let that remain all that we have in common. Nobody need feel the pressure to contribute anything more, whether financial or the sense of being part of a wider organisation. However, I am not one of those people. And to a greater or lesser extent I believe most others are the same. Most people will probably say that one has tested about this or an aspect of its wider question and in reality it's a case of trusting in God, and we should just let the latihan personally and more widely take shape. I agree with that to an extent. However, I believe that doing the Latihan is not enough. Bringing it into our daily lives is an imperative. What this means is practical action as fruits of our receiving. Many people in Subud have an individual vision(s) and they actively seek to realise it. For whatever reason it often doesn't get very far and really something else was important. A lesson rather than a tangible result say.
Everybody at one time or another has heard about the importance of enterprise, in essence it is the fuel by which we will power our organisation. Yet few of us feel empowered or clear about how we could start or realise one. Enterprise of course doesn't have to be a strictly business oriented affair. Enterprise is about human talents and gifts, enterprise is about cultural expression or about a social welfare aim - the list goes on and on. Subud through the Wings, and through the support of a united and empowered local group/region can support people's effort toward enterprise. In turn be the tangible example that a material world takes note from.
Some people now think we should not support Subud lead Enterprises /Projects, but rather Subud individuals enterprises. To quote Rashad Pollard's article: "A Proposal to Redefine The Function of our Wings" and more precisely Bapak:
"The way to run enterprises is not for A, B, C, and D each to act in his or her own. Don't have individual enterprises. It is better to act collectively, in cooperation, because if each of you runs an enterprise on your own, you will then always be using the profits for your own purposes; you will each work for your own profit. Whereas if you act collectively, gotong royong, as it is called in Indonesia, helping one another in a cooperative way, it will make you closer in brotherliness. For the progress of one is the progress of all; together you go forward, together you loose ground, meaning that if there is profit, it will benefit everyone."
Without joint enterprises (in the broadest sense of the term), without evidence of the latihan in action such as personal integrity and example - virtually every aspect of our organisation's operation, and its support for related work no matter what (from helper travel, property, or the development of Wing initiatives), splutter there way through life.
Essentially, we lack consensus(s), we lack direction and above all we have lost the culture of sisterly/ brotherly trust. When Bapak was around, we had a direction, we felt lead, or at least we as individuals wanted to listen and maybe learn something. Now, we don't have a natural leader or father (no reflection on Daniel Cheifetz) like that of Bapak. So we have the awesome burden of responsibility on our own shoulders. With this comes the need for vision, clarity, effort and loving consensus. We have the structure in place to facilitate this - right from the WSC (the effective replacement of Bapak), to the Zonal, National, Regional and Group councils. The WSA structure and the organisation in no way needs to change, we as individuals need to grow and develop. Subud the organisation has not failed, nor have all the receiving and ideas that we made/make or heard from Bapak. We have just not managed to realise them in the right way. We are like children who squabble and cry when things go pear shaped in our effort to realise some of them. All of the above doesn't happen unless there is a will to achieve it. When Bapak was around, people would put money forwards at the drop of hat. Bapak spoke and five star hotels were packed to the rafters. People followed his example some might say blindly, I'd say as children learning from a teacher.
The culture of trust and action has been stymied. What exists now is drift. In particular a frugalness in finance, and a mistrust and hurt. I don't believe that our mistakes in terms of business enterprise the classic examples being Anugraha, the S.Widjojo office building or more recently Premier Hotels in Britain deserve any more time and heartache over. If anything they are examples of failure, but they are also invaluable lessons and models to utilise further. Why should an organisation and people be so downbeat and negative, despondent and bitter, such as various members appear to be. People lost money and they felt betrayed. I have effectively lost £3000 of personal money in a Subud Project (none of the aforementioned). It is probably gone for good. I put such money in because I felt the project would facilitate the growth or acquisition of Latihan spaces. I also did so because I trusted the people who developed the project. I still do. I did so because they shared the same hopes and expectations that I do to. I believe that Anugraha, the S.Widjojo office building or more recently Premier Hotels made some silly mistakes, but they were done on the most positive intentions. I remember we lauded them when they were succeeding now we treat them as examples of a crime and treachery. Frankly this is a reflection of how awful we are. Myself, my father, and others like us have lost whatever amount of money. Others have lost houses, or incurred financial burdens too much to bear. This is a tragedy, but in many ways we should take responsibility for how much we are prepared to give - give lots but not to risky excess. Give and have no strings attached. If you aren't prepared to give your blessing and then let go, well.... I am prepared to lose more money, but I know that as a member of a wiser organisation we will achieve, more often than fail. Besides the alternative (stagnation) is not my way of doing and being. Losing money is hard, but it doesn't deserve the anger and attention that we often give it. Perhaps rather than feeling anger or sense of betrayal we should start again enriched by the experiences. It's a classic entrepreneurial reality that to fail is good. The strong and real success stories are often by those people that have fallen down and now picked themselves up. We as an organisation are at that very point.
Let's go forwards the wiser, I know that various individuals have made effort to put into effect worthy business guidelines. Guidelines, on the nature and issues that go with giving money or whatever it might be to Subud Enterprises. However, whilst these are great, I am referring to the culture of giving, to the sense of learned trust and above all a belief in getting on with success. If an idea or vision for a project(s) is positive and has realisable qualities then the membership will follow. If talking on about enterprise gets people irritated, then come up with an alternative. For doing nothing, as we painfully seem to do at times is a recipe for stagnation and drift. Enterprise is the fuel of our organisation. I once again refer to Rashad Pollard's article: "A Proposal to Redefine the Function of our Wings." I believe this a really positive and constructive approach. If others in Subud decide not to get involved that is their right. If others have better ideas, as I said before present them.
So where do we go from here?
We can start by taking personal responsibility for ourselves and make a new or refreshed effort to go to Latihan regularly and to sincerely bring it into our daily lives. We can then stop feeling hurt or the need to blame others, but to be broad shouldered and absorb the 'bad' stuff of others. The ultimate organisation starts at No1's door, everybody else should not be an issue.
I feel it important to present some examples of why we should support our organisation both in a few pennies financially to whole lot of money or to active participation in the Subud organisation.
Subud when working well has a magnificent impact on people and their relationships with others. The Latihan, which underpins the ultimate development project, can dissolve the greatest or 'insurmountable' obstacles in the way to a better world. When we are getting it right and using our latihan in our daily lives people outside of Subud are touched and take note.
Susila Dharma has projects in many countries, but has a budget of little more than a couple of million dollars. Its impact already is awesome, it has been recognised by the UN; it is looked at with respect by development professionals it comes into contact with; it is forging a model of harmonious and holistic development that is the answer to all the development impasses. Human social and economic development is at the root of many problems in the world. Misused Religion and human arrogance are often a close contender for the causes of conflict and human misery, but social and economic deprivation is its root cause. The development 'industry' is often a wasteful and bottomless money pit, driven by donor imperatives and harmful and culturally ignorant policies. SDI represents most of humanity and works form a truly universal outlook. Whilst SDI is a separate legal entity it is largely run by Subud members (often requiring our support both financially and in terms of active support) - it is a vital organ in the World Subud body. People outside of Subud are touched and take note of its work.
The Latihan Hall is the heart of our organisation and should be at the heart of life on Earth. Most of us do latihan in substandard conditions. I am sure Bapak spoke of the need for space between people during the group latihan. For many (which I feel is an incitement on our organisation's development) the hall is a squash. Latihan premises the focal point of Subud projects and activities are a top priority, yet the WSC, MSF and the various Housing initiatives that exist work on pitiful budgets. All I say is dream about your ideal latihan space and then put money into your group funds (regularly).
The Latihan itself, which should be for all of humankind, and a responsibility of all, will be spread by example. Most people outside of Subud only take note when we are a tangible and presentable organisation. Our projects, our enterprises, our heavenly latihan spaces will all be the defining example that people will see.
The Latihan whilst needing a hall, often needs the support of a developed and harmonious helper dewan to resolve the difficulties many new and old Subud countries, regions and groups face. Helper travel should not be funded out of the helper's pocket as it often is - because they feel the WSA struggles to support them. Further to this, helpers don't travel enough because there isn't the budget.
I don't expect a response from people, what I ask for is that we can realise a new consensus once more. That we can feel that we are in a truly wonderful organisation one in which there is a culture of enthusiasm, trust in one another, and above all a sense of giving on every level.
Lets feel carefully how we can realise a calm and happy consensus about our financial position. How can we bring back a big project(s) that all the organisation (or at least those that want to join in) can possess as their own, to be empowered around, to add one's vision and ideas to. In doing this we will journey on forwards as a strong and powerful organisation able to do God's bidding where it is appropriate in the World. We don't need a mega project for the sake of having one. Yet we do need projects, ones that are not just for our individual benefit, but, ones that empower our feelings and dignity after all the sorry tales. And to act as model(s) on every level, for future development and as evidence of the Latihan in action.
Harun Kennedy.
|
|
| How do we create a culture of enthusiasm, trust in one another and above all.... | Log-in or register a new user account | 1 Comment |
|
| Comments are statements made by the person that posted them.
They do not necessarily represent the opinions of the site editor. |
Re: How do we create a culture of enthusiasm, trust in one another and above all....
(Score: 0)
by Anonymous on Nov 12, 2002 - 11:53 PM
|
|
Harun, you seem very wise for your age! I just turned 60 last week. I am in agreement with what you say, but I feel something new is happening in Subud, perhaps a new cycle or wave is coming. After many years of withdrawal from the organization, I just received to be active again and became the chairman of our local group. I also started receiving things about how to help the growth of Subud (See my article about the Menucha retreat). It seems something dormant in me has finally awakened and I can move again! Maybe I am not the only one. Hang in there!
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Frontpage 
