Subud: An Indonesian Interpretation of Ṣūfism

Abstract

Subud is one of hundreds of mystical movements (aliran kebatinan) that have grown significantly in post-war Indonesia. Along with other movements like Sumarah and Pangestu, Subud has attracted people from the West and has now spread to 83 countries, divided into nine zones. The total number of members is estimated at close to twelve thousand. Despite the fact that Subud leaders deny any relation to the Javanese mystical tradition, it can easily be shown that the greater part of Subud’s conceptual apparatus is firmly rooted in the cultural history of Java. Under the banner of change and renewal, Subud presents a message that, fundamentally, is one of continuity in a society in transition. Subud’s ideas and practices underline not only the variety within Islamic sects and movements, but also the adaptability to local traditions, as the present chapter will try to show. Subud is an acronym for Susila Budhi Dharma, words of Sanskrit origin. According to Muhammad Subuh Sumohadiwidjojo, the founder of Subud, the meaning of these three words is “to follow the will of God with the help of the Divine Power that works both within and without, by way of surrendering oneself to the will of Almighty God.” As such Subud “may be attached to the whole of mankind in every religion.” This means that Subud also can be presented as an example of ‘glocal’ spirituality. Subud attaches to local spiritual traditions, including Hinduism, while simultaneously having the ambition to reach out globally. The focus in this chapter will be on a short biographical presentation of the founder, the basic concepts of Subud, its specific spiritual exercise (latihan kejiwaan), and, finally, the Javanese background of Subud, especially focused on the nineteenth century renaissance period and the rise of mystical movements in post-war Java.