October 2002
SD(B) NEWS OCTOBER 2002
From Raphael Bate’s fascinating Miles for Mithra Diary.
(For entries for October 6th, 7th, & 8th
see The
Bulletin)
"Things are always different from what they
might be". (Henry
James)
Thursday
Oct. 3
I went for an early morning walk in Golden Gate Park. I was surprised
by a “sabi" experience as I entered the fresh eucalyptus,
hibiscus and pine aromas in the healing spaces created by the tall tree
shaded coolness. Ah ha! Yes this is it! Sort of a feeling. After
chewing the fat about this and that bikey stuff I wandered down Haight
Street for old time hippie sake. Each of the shop fronts is an artwork
in a funky way.
Keith Ryan drove me to Santa Cruz to be in time for a presentation to
the group and as many of the public as wanted to respond to the local
media announcement. Rifka and David Lynch had brought food and
musicians for the occasion.
The Subud premises were marvellous, spacious and
comfortable. Many people in this area have to change jobs due to the
high tech bubble being burst! Computer Nerds are becoming builders and
fixit men.
I was billeted with the Martins in their fascinating rural house with
smallholding and complete with veggie plots, lamas, chickens and
nocturnal marauding skunks. Most of the family is committed to a raw
food diet as a way to good health. I was, however, to discover a bag of
organic coffee in the back of the freezer.
Q “Why do you keep going to latihan?”
A "It disentangles me".
A " It’s like a homing bird flying long distance, I don’t know
any thing else".
Friday
Oct 4: A Santa Cruz Day
9.00 a.m. Full
American breakfast with Simon and tour of the city highlights. 11.00 am
Went with Robert Goonetillake to the university to see a photography
exhibition about young girls who work in the Machadero: factories owned
by US companies in Mexico. They suffer the poor conditions and
treatment and are under age. There was a link with the girl labourers
of Bangalore.
1.00 p.m. Lunch at Asian
Rose, a Sri Lankan restaurant.
3.00 p.m. Saw a film about
Andy Goldsworthy’s work "Tides and Rivers".
4.00 p.m. Walked on the
wharf and admired the barking Sea Lions lounging on the crossbeams
below.
7.00 p.m. Talk by Umi at
the local spiritual bookshop Gateway. Umi was a self-realised man. Most
of what he said was to do with the practice of the present moment. The
questions from the spiritually sophisticated audience seemed to be
nearly always introduced by setting out their own spiritual pedigrees,
except for one chap who asked, "Why do you wear a blue
shirt?"
Saturday
October 5.
Lots of great conversations in the Martins’ household.
They were keen for me to meet a friend Leonard who was a healer
and teacher but he was not well! Rachmat
degreased my chain and cleaned one month’s gunge from it and we went
for an evening bike ride to a special tree place and stream where the
fading light enhanced the presence and quiet power of the giant
sequoias. A raw food feast was enjoyed with the extended family with a
particular basil sauce with attitude. A young couple arrived and the
non-Subud girlfriend said:
" I like coming here because you seem to love
one another and at my house they argue all the time."
Sunday
October 6
Latihan with the SC group at 9.30
Brunch with several members at Dharma’s in Santa Cruz.
2.00 p.m. Heading south to
Monterey. Got lost several times trying to avoid the Freeway as it
prohibited cyclists.
3.00 p.m. Eventually I
found a wonderful bike route next to the dunes. But the way was
blocked, as there had been a car accident in which a cyclist had been
hit when the cars spilled over onto the bike trail.
4.00 p.m. After pleading
"foreignness" the police walked me through the crawling
traffic past the roadblock.
5.00 p.m. I arrived at John and Olivia Panopolous’ place in Seaside
to the north of Monterey.
The Monterey group, at very short notice, arranged to get together and
I gave a presentation. I did not walk away with any checks for Mithra
but I feel that something will happen in the near future as the group
seemed to be moved and Rohana LoShiavo was particularly interested.
I think that the Miles for Mithra ride has turned out to be more than
simply fundraising. It has
also been a bit of fun raising and encouraged people to consider how
Susila Dharma is brought alive in themselves, or their groups.
People may not have money but there are a fantastic number of creative
souls in Subud. Offerings
of prayers and creative thinking for the project would be gratefully
received by the Mithra Foundation.
Melinda Wallis phoned to say that she would be putting Mithra as the
beneficiary for her annual Kirkland Charity Fair in November.
Raphael
Bate /9 Oct/Paso Robles
For further interesting entries in
Raphael’s Diary go to
the website at: www.milesformithra.co.uk
REFLECTION
Raphael is using his capability and interests to fund-raise for a Susila Dharma project which makes a qualitative difference to the lives of the really underprivileged and poor in Bangalore. Susila Dharma Britain helps other equally valuable projects, all of which need support. We each have something we can give. We can’t all undertake such gruelling, physical activity, but there are possibilities that won’t make anyone saddle-sore yet, without which, the funds raised cannot be made to do their work. If your skills are financial (you don’t need to be an accountant!), and you can easily access a computer,
PLEASE, do your own “bike ride”: give serious consideration to supporting these projects by becoming the Treasurer for Susila Dharma Britain.
This is a critically important role, without which the money doesn’t move. We now need someone to take over from Mark as soon as possible so that a smooth hand-over can be made before he bows out. Mark has done a sterling job on behalf of you all, but no one can go on forever. Please don’t turn a blind eye or deaf ear, or our work will be seriously hampered and we will lack the essential back-up for an undertaking such as Raphael’s bike-ride and for managing your donations efficiently.
Contact Mark to find out more and/or then communicate your interest to Rosemary Harrison, Chairperson, SD(B).
Addresses below.
To encourage you, Mark
writes the following:
“All good things
eventually come to an end” - so it is said. This is how it will be
for me when my period as treasurer of SDB finishes. My largish family
is now spread about the country, nay
the globe, and to spend time with them Vivian and I need larger chunks
than ever of `time out`; so I have given notice of leaving. A willing
Subud member is needed to stand in for me in the early New Year when we
go to stay abroad for up to two months. Ideally, therefore, a new
treasurer should be in place by January 2003. The sooner, the better, really so that I can hand over and
work alongside if needed before we leave the UK!
I would like to embark on these essential family visits with a
quiet mind. That would be
a few steps closer if I knew that the financial management support for
the SDB Board was in secure hands.
I find SDB work always interesting, at times very
stimulating and surprisingly satisfying. Needless to say it can also be
hard work, for a two-fingered typist like me! I forebear to analyse the
origin of these sentiments but need to express my gratitude for having
the opportunity to bask a little in the achievements of the current
Board. Whoever takes over from me will find that an excellent team
spirit and cumulative effort pervades the work. For sheer work
satisfaction, I can recommend the job wholeheartedly. I might add that
I came to this post on a Night of Power in Ramadan 1999. Perhaps this
year`s fast will suggest my successor.
Mark McElroy
REMEMBER your gifts for Christmas can help our Projects – which are your Projects!
2003 Calendars, SICA/SDB, are £5.00 each. 50% of the proceeds will be split equally between SICA and SDB if we can sell all 1000 of them!
The Calendars are suitable for Subud and non-Subud people so why not buy one for a friend for Christmas? That would help Subud and maybe provide a door into it for someone else! Available from your Group Chairperson OR Rosemary Harrison
For
Music-lovers:
Robert Millard’s Piano
Recital: Rachmaninov & Liszt.
is now available from: DJC Records, 104 Constitution Hill,
Norwich, NR3 4BB. E-mail: clague@paston.co.uk