September 2002
When
the music died away… leaving
echoes in the mind
My
impressions of B.I.G.
2002. Laura Lesley, a long-standing trustee of SDB and experienced
representative of us at Congress, writes the following:
I’m
sure everyone’s impression of BIG 2002 was unique to them, but for me
the greatest benefit came from the opportunity to meet overseas SD
Board members from Germany, Spain, France, Holland, Canada, USA,
Ukraine and R.D. Congo, and, of course, the international team from
Vancouver. I spent most of the week in intensive meetings on various
topics – so much so that one Subud member asked me towards the end of
the week whether I had been away and come back again!
Sometimes people doubt whether the costs of bringing overseas
visitors to meetings can be justified, but from my point of view it is
absolutely invaluable to meet people from sometimes very different
cultures, and to hear them speak about how they are trying to work in
the conditions at home.
I would like
to thank all those who supported our fund-raising efforts during the
week, and although we do not yet have final figures to put on this, I
feel sure they were successful. One
priceless moment occurred during our AGM, when Matthew D’Haemer, who
had been giving massages throughout the week, came up to the stage and
presented me with £100 in aid of ICDP.
This occurred just after our Treasurer, Mark McElroy, had
pointed out that although SD(B) has spent quite a bit supporting ICDP
in various countries, we received few donations from members for this
purpose.
This
‘serendipity’ seemed to keep happening throughout the week.
Although I did not resort to using my mobile phone to try and
keep in touch, it occurred time and time again that when I needed to
speak to someone – there they were !
BIG 2002 was a very special and important week, especially for
the Wings, and I feel certain we have planted seeds that, although they
may take some time to come to fruition, will carry us forward together.
“Oh,
for the Wings….”
(by
Lorena de Silva)
The kejiwaan and the committee work during the International Gathering at Spinkhill really seemed to demonstrate a turning point in our Subud consciousness where the Wings are concerned. After a long gestation period of laborious debate about the role and function of each of the Wings, this event gave birth to a clearer and deeper vision of the significance of the them. Unitedly they form the heart of the Subud that is each of us and all of us. Daniel Cheifetz, speaking at the SDI AGM on behalf of the international representatives, and to applause at the Final Gathering, announced new will to work as a team by Wing chairpersons. There was added relief and pleasure for many to hear that MSF will use the expertise available in the Wings both jointly and severally for MSF funded activities. At the heart of this is the understanding that Subud is the Wings and the Wings are Subud.
A personal
illustration of this came through the testing we undertook with
delegates to the Subud Britain Congress about Sica and Susila Dharma.
So often it had seemed to me, SICA was a bit of a closed shop,
interpreted as “arts related” in a narrowly applied translation of
“culture”.. I just
could not identify what SICA is in me.
But when we asked in testing, ”Where is SICA in each of us?”
I received it was a capacity in me to speak with the voice of
the oppressed on their behalf. To the question “Where is Susila
Dharma in each of us?” I
received it was latihan as source of an overwhelming compassion for the
oppressed throughout the world. It
was a receiving that left me overawed by the “otherness” of the
experience of the latihan. When
we all returned to the
general session after the testing it was with
warm agreement that I listened to the comment made ardently by
one delegate that we need to re-think our understanding of SICA.
It is so powerful and all-embracing, expressing that special
human quality developed through the latihan that is unique to each
individual and shared in our communication of it in the form that is
specifically our own.
This gathering and Congress was a strange mixture for me of being at rock bottom in physical and emotional energy and, in sharp contrast, amazing peace-filled moments of illumination, one of which I have tried to describe. So I move from the very small world of one SDB trustee’s experience to another much more important and bigger one described here by another of our Trustees, Michael Wisnom:
Susila
Dharma Vision Workshop for Subud Britain Delegates (by Michael Wisnom)
Because it had been so helpful, the SDB Board adapted the activities we used when we joined the Subud Britain Council earlier this year to explore our relationship to each other.
So at Congress, delegates were first asked to write down what their perception was of Susila Dharma. We then explored the meaning of Susila Dharma through testing.
“Where is Susila Dharma within each of
us?” and
“What is the significance of Susila Dharma
in the world?”
On our return we asked everyone to compare their initial perception with their receiving. For most this was a moving and revelatory experience.
Then we moved on to the supporting role of Susila Dharma (Britain) as an organisation representing all Subud members in Britain. We shared our Vision and Mission:
“To
stimulate and nurture initiatives by our members in Britain to
undertake and support humanitarian projects anywhere in the world that empower people and are participatory,
sustainable and in harmony with the local culture.”
To illustrate this Mission at work there were three brief presentations:
1. Raphael Bate showed how the Mithra school was helping to empower children in the slums of Bangalore.
2. Laura Lesley illustrated the participatory approach of ICDP in sensitising and enriching relationships between caregivers and their children.
3. Finally Lorna Dowson-Collins highlighted sustainability in her presentation of the TSLICK project which is developing sustainable livelihoods in central Kalimantan.
In all three examples, the projects really are “of the people and by the people” of the locality in which they operate – in other words, in harmony with the local culture.
Bapak’s vision was presented with a quote from one of his talks:
“What Bapak feels is an important need of Subud is that Subud actually faces the general public. In facing the general public we have to be seen to be fulfilling the ideals that we ourselves possess in Subud. Bapak cannot get away from the fact that social activities or charitable activities are for us Subud members, truly the will of Almighty God.”
Another important theme that emerged was that of the Wings working together. This was illustrated by the joint SD(B)/SICA calendar containing photos of works by SICA artists and of Susila Dharma projects . The enterprise element is in designing, printing and distributing the calendars, with the youth playing a role by selling them at BIG.
The finale of the session consisted of participants sharing receiving from their testing and summing up ideas
for the future that had been proposed during the morning.
B.I.G RIDE: MILES FOR MITHRA – from Raphael Bate
I would like to thank the many brothers and sisters who are
generously sponsoring my 2000 mile bicycle ride for Mithra from Canada
to Mexico in September-October 2002. £1330.55 was raised at Congress.
Could group chairs please return the pledges and any donations
collected in the sae provided to:
Mark McElroy, Treasurer SDB, 6, Lothlorien Close, Littleover, Derby
DE23 2RY.
You can follow my progress down the Pacific coast by going to Website: milesformithra.co.uk
FINANCES
Our
Treasurer, Mark McElroy, provides this financial information
Income
to August 26th 2002 of £37180 is made up of:
£7,930 from interest and shares etc
£29,250 from 122 members and 12 groups - not including BIG 2002 income
Expenditure of £43,803 is
made up of:
£35,480 to projects
Transfer to MSF of bequest made through SD(B) £3,920
£4,403 on administration including BIG 2002
Contributions
to SD (Britain): Please send
these to: Mark McElroy, SD(B) Treasurer, 6 Lothlorien Close, Derby,
DE23 2RY. If you pay
income tax don’t forget that Gift
Aid adds 28.5% to your
donation. Donation cheques should be made payable to Susila
Dharma (Britain).
For
further information go to our
website at: www.susiladharma.org.uk
Donation and Gift Aid
forms and information about making a will can be found on our website
at www.susiladharma.org.uk under "How you can help"
Acknowledgement of donations
I would ask donors to consider whether they really need a written acknowledgement of their donation and, if not, to so indicate when they donate. I am happy to `phone or to e-mail acknowledgements which are both the cheaper and quicker methods but I usually get the cheques into the bank at least fortnightly so that the donation will show on the next monthly bank statement. However, if a written acknowledgement is necessary it will, of course, be sent.
MILES
FOR MITHRA
On behalf of the
trustees may I offer thanks to all those who have sent sponsorship
money for the Miles for Mithra cycle-ride. There
are far too many for me to acknowledge in the normal way and many from
non-Subud members and members whose cheques were not accompanied by an
address. During, and since, BIG 2002 the sum collected is £1700.
SD(B) has already sent £4500 of the £9000 to be granted to Mithra
this year and `Miles for Mithra` is an attempt to match that funding.
Let us wish Raphael God speed.
WISMA
BATH APPEAL UPDATE
A total of £8200 has
been received to date for the assisted bath at Wisma Mulia. We are now
over half way towards our target - keep the donations coming please!
WANTED - NEW HON. TREASURER FOR SUSILA DHARMA (BRITAIN)
Mark McElroy, our
hard-working and efficient Treasurer, is going on an extended holiday
during 2003, and is looking to train a replacement to hold the fort
while he is away and to take over by the end of 2003. This is an
interesting and rewarding job for someone who is numerate and
methodical, and who has spare time and a computer with relevant
software. If you feel it
is for you, please contact Mark (email : mark@susiladharma.org.uk) or
Rosemary Harrison (email : rosemary@susiladharma.org.uk). See also in
The Bulletin
CALENDARS
Planning
ahead to organise your gifts for Christmas..?
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! Available from your Group Chairperson OR
Rosemary Harrison, email: rosemary@susildharma.org.uk
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