May 2011 - Subud Voice
May 2011 - Subud Voice
May 2011 - Subud Voice
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
WSA and the world<br />
Osanna Vaughn, former chairlady of WSA, writes about WSA<br />
interfacing with the world community...<br />
I was first led into the External Relations aspect of our <strong>Subud</strong> life<br />
when invited, as WSA chairlady, to attend the World Conference of<br />
Religions for Peace in Kyoto in 2006. This was not the first time a<br />
WSA chairperson had attended, but this time I spoke about it in<br />
advance with members, to get a sense of the interest.<br />
Apart from announcing my intention to attend about 5 months before<br />
the event, I organized working groups/listservers on the subject. I was<br />
surprised and delighted by the participation and interest. After I had<br />
attended the Kyoto event (along with about a dozen other <strong>Subud</strong><br />
members, including a Zone Rep and an International Helper), I wrote a<br />
report which also received positive feed-back from many members<br />
around the world.<br />
Osanna Vaughn, former Chair of the<br />
World <strong>Subud</strong> Association<br />
When I was in Kyoto, I asked one of the event organizers why I had<br />
been invited, as <strong>Subud</strong> is not a religion. His response was, “because we see a need to include more 'spiritually'<br />
focused associations – ones that are not tied to one particular religion.” As far as I could tell, the WSA was the only<br />
such association present at that time.<br />
Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela<br />
When asked to speak about <strong>Subud</strong> at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in 2009, I had no concern in doing<br />
so. About 200 <strong>Subud</strong> members were present among the 1500 or so people filling the pews. I cannot begin to<br />
express the feeling of 'appropriateness' (in the sense of place and time) of speaking openly there about <strong>Subud</strong>. I felt<br />
a strong sense of community among us all – the <strong>Subud</strong> members, the pilgrims, the tourists, and the clergy<br />
(including bishops and priests from as far away as the Philippines and Argentina).<br />
The priest's sermon immediately afterwards, picked up on aspects of what I had read out about <strong>Subud</strong>. This was a<br />
beautiful moment. Even <strong>Subud</strong> members who had formerly been sceptical about our interface with the world were<br />
moved with an added sense of confidence to be more open about <strong>Subud</strong> themselves. After I wrote about it, I got<br />
much positive feed-back and requests for copies of what I had read out.<br />
During my whole term I frequently wrote open letters, and the theme of our presence in the world came up more<br />
than once. I received hundreds (no exaggeration) of replies and, in the whole 5 years, only one member ever<br />
expressed vehement opposition to our being involved in interfaith and intercultural events. Interestingly enough, in<br />
the videoed message Ibu Rahayu sent to the Thank You event soon afterwards. She also said it was quite right for<br />
us to participate in such and other international forums.<br />
In 2009, when I attended a meeting in Melbourne with the Coalition in support of a UN Decade for Peace and<br />
Understanding, I was amazed to meet friendly, open people, some of whom knew about <strong>Subud</strong> through working<br />
with Katherine Carré at UN NGO meetings in Geneva. It was a relief to be with non-<strong>Subud</strong> people who were<br />
positively predisposed towards us and just as open to our input as to anyone else's. The same was evident in a<br />
follow up meeting in Geneva in 2010.<br />
The Parliament of World Religions<br />
The Parliament of World Religions was held in Melbourne just before World Congress. Around 20 <strong>Subud</strong> members<br />
attended, of which about 3⁄4 did not hold 'official' positions. The WSA (after discussion with the council and in collaboration<br />
with the GHFP) had submitted three themes for presentations – one on <strong>Subud</strong> itself, one on education,<br />
and one on peace. The Parliament asked us to talk about <strong>Subud</strong>.<br />
Again, we informed the membership in advance of all this, and got much support and interest. Members, from<br />
various countries, including France, USA, Israel, New Zealand and of course Australia were inspired to participate.<br />
Apart from the enormous benefit personally felt of being at the Parliament, the interaction with other people <br />
SUBUD VOICE PAGE 8 MAY <strong>2011</strong>