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simonelw
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Post subject: A quick couple of questions
 Posted: Oct 08, 2006 - 11:59 AM
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Jiwa Walker
Joined: Sep 17, 2006
Posts: 5
Location: Lewes, England
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Hi everyone.
I've been opened for about two months, and these questions are coming up the most...
If I have important but dull/stuff I've been putting off to get on with but I'd like to do latihan, how do I know I'm not just using latihan as a 'distraction'?
And equally if I don't feel like going to latihan because there are things I'd prefer to do, how do I know that I'm not just avoiding latihan as I've been told might happen?
Thanks,
Sophia |
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Post subject:
Posted: Oct 09, 2006 - 05:05 AM
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Jiwa Dancer
Joined: Nov 13, 2002
Posts: 22
Location: Redmond, Washington, U.S.A.
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Sophia,
You are asking pretty deep questions! I would guess they are ones that many of us struggle with over the years.
For me, before finding Subud I had already tried many different spiritual paths. When I finally experienced the latihan I pretty much knew it was what I had been searching for all my life. Nothing else matched that.
So your first question, "how do I know I'm not just using latihan as a 'distraction"? from the "important but dull stuff", from my viewpoint, is already answered. What could be more important than your own spiritual growth? But that does not mean you neglect your material situation. Both are important, but you have to decide the balance.
Your second question, "How do I know that I'm not just avoiding latihan as I've been told might happen?" is also one that I have had many times. I usually test within myself to see if that is true or not, but since you are so new in Subud, that option may not yet be available to you. The default answer would be to make efforts to attend the latihan until you have more experience. Then that particular question may not have relevance any more. You will be able to feel for yourself if your reluctance to do latihan comes from a higher or lower source, but until then you have to make the efforts to get to latihan in order to develop those spiritual tools.
We live in a material world filled with distractions which push and pull us in various directions. It is easy to be influenced by those forces. I have noticed that many times the latihan is the only thing that keeps them in balance.
May the Almighty always guide you on your path,
Rachman |
_________________
Rachman
http://subudinfo.blogspot.com/
http://www.trocadero.com/bothellj
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Post subject:
Posted: Oct 09, 2006 - 10:33 PM
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Jiwa Walker
Joined: Sep 17, 2006
Posts: 5
Location: Lewes, England
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Thank you Rachman, it's very interesting and helpful to hear your point of view!
Sophia |
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Post subject:
Posted: Oct 10, 2006 - 01:32 AM
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Jiwa Dancer
Joined: Nov 13, 2002
Posts: 22
Location: Redmond, Washington, U.S.A.
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Sophia,
How has been your experience of being in Subud so far? I am curious how you found it and what lead you to the latihan?
I have a Subud blog, listed below, and I am looking for short stories of how people found Subud and what it means to them. If you (or anyone else) would like to add yours please let me know.
My email address is rachmanc@netzero.net. |
_________________
Rachman
http://subudinfo.blogspot.com/
http://www.trocadero.com/bothellj
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Post subject:
Posted: Oct 10, 2006 - 10:30 PM
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7th Level Skirter
Joined: Apr 17, 2003
Posts: 161
Location: Britain
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I remember before I was opened I would enjoy watching some enjoyable TV programmes whilst my parents and older siblings were at Latihan. Sacrificing these was the most painful part of joining Subud and doing the latihan. 
So in fact, the idea of there being a conflict between doing work and doing latihan is a completely alien concept to me! If in any given latihan evening I don't go to latihan, then I know for certain the last thing I'll be doing is working. 
So, yep, can't help you, sorry!  |
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Post subject:
Posted: Oct 11, 2006 - 12:15 AM
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Directed Jiwa
Joined: Sep 11, 2004
Posts: 35
Location: UK
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Hi, I agree that there is a balance between what we have to do sometimes and latihan, and latihan can come second. Having to miss latihan should not be a guilt ridden experience as this could manifest into other feelings causing you to stop doing latihan. Try your best and if you are consistently missing it because of something in particular then maybe ask the helpers for advice if you can't find a way through.
So far as doing latihan to avoid other things (or seemingly so), don't end up blaming latihan or subud for future consequences. It is important to get some harmony going, but at least by going to latihan you will be doing something that has real value to you now hopefully and in the future. The more you go the easier this 'problem' will become. You will go through many other things like this so the best advice I can give is don't put it off if you can help it and make the time away from latihan as fruitful as possible.
Best wishes, Oliver. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Oct 11, 2006 - 12:50 AM
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Jiwa Walker
Joined: Sep 10, 2002
Posts: 12
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It's all about priorities. And in life, as we mature in age, our priorities hopefully become more refined and clear. Yet one thing is for sure, if you are in Subud doing the latihan of your own volition then it is the anchor that can inform all your feelings and actions. On latihan night when you feel different emotions and you feel the various excuses and distractions, go peaceful and say a prayer. Then go do your latihan. In turn, the latihan is the light that can clarify that activity which is important and that which is not. Similar to what Oliver said, other activities may take priority over going to latihan some nights. That said, they should never be used as an excuse to avoid doing the latihan.
In a wider sense, what are your priorities at this time in life. If they are elsewhere, perhaps you should give them the respect they require at this time in your life, so get on with those. When you are ready and you have a clearer feeling of why you were opened and how much you feel its importance, come do your latihan with sincerity and diligence, and you will see the all encompassing and guiding results. Of course without the latihan you may not be able to over come the forces that keep you in a state of confusion about what's valuable and what's not in life.
Better just to go to latihan until it becomes a natural thing to do.
Giovanni. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Oct 13, 2006 - 04:47 AM
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7th Level Skirter
Joined: Jan 11, 2006
Posts: 136
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For me, Giovanni's last sentence was literally true - i.e., "Better just to go to latihan until it becomes a natural thing to do."
I've always been resistant to the idea of going somewhere to worship. However, for at least my first year in Subud, I got nowhere trying to do latihan on my own. The difference between doing latihan with the group and doing it on my own was like day and night. Also it was obvious that something positive was happening in latihan so I couldn't very well fool myself into thinking it didn't matter how often I went - or didn't go.
So I think that one should commit oneself to attending latihan regularly until something "clicks", until you have a definite sense of whether Subud and the latihan is right or beneficial for you. I'm not sure that it's right for everyone. |
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