Oswald Norton

Ash Wednesday Reflections

I wanted to share with you an experience I had during an Ash Wednesday service at our church last week.  I’m sharing it with my Subud community because I know that a part of the reason I was able to have this experience has to do with what’s been opened in me through this spiritual training, this latihan.

I’ve been to a number of Ash Wednesday services, particularly as a child growing up in a Catholic family. In them I’ve heard the same phrase, “Remember, O man, that dust thou art, and to dust thou shalt return.” At my present church, the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Bellevue, we had an Ash Wednesday service last Wednesday to mark the beginning of Lent.

For reasons I’m still trying to understand, during this service, I came to understand to my core, that the body I inhabit now is nothing more than a vessel that my being – call it spirit, or just the image of the person that I represent – inhabits for the moment.

I guess, I, for the first time since observing this ritual, felt both a gratitude for and the temporal limits of this body, this mind, the energies that I’ve employed all these years to carry out the different tasks involved in my life. It was as if I finally was able to acknowledge, the gift of the possibilities, that inhabiting this body, in this place, with those I’ve shared this space with for the first time. Call it an awakening to what I’ve been given.

It came about through both the words and the actions of our minister the Reverend Lisa Horst Clark. As she spoke, she had before her, soil, in a simple baking pan.  The soil was in a small mound, as if unused, waiting. As she spoke, she shaped the mound first into the shape of a mountain, speaking of how we humans have built columns to try and reach to the sky to the world of the spirit. Something was shifting within me. I found that I could barely look at her and the work of her hands as she spoke, so I looked away.

Next she spoke of how, over the millennia the shape that was to become our human body, was created.  Specs of earth, and elements from the universe which have landed on our planet, evolved and evolved, until the human shape was formed. This body gradually evolved into the humans we are now with all of our thinking and feeling. Our thinking and feeling had evolved and created the environments in which we now live throughout this world.  Any yet, when we – those of us within the room of the service and those not there – completed our time in the bodies we now inhabit, and we died, these bodies will return to the basic elements that began the journey at the very beginning.

While she spoke, she shaped a body in the pan. Then, lifting up that body shape, let it fall back into the mound that was there in the beginning.

In me there came a new opening to the understanding of the temporary time I have to use this body. The time available to me is only the time I’ve been given. I have no way of understanding, or controlling, or lengthening through my own will the time available. What I can control is what I do during this time; this time I’ve been given.

So, during Lent, during this time of fasting and trying to grasp what is going on in my life that I could change, or react to in a different way, I’m going to remember that this is a temporary time. And, this body, this mind, these feelings I have are available to me temporarily.

To what end? That is what I’m going to try and understand and carry out.  Surely to create goodness and acts of kindness and love. Surely that. That is my hope.  That is my desire. So I’m going to reflect on that and see what comes of this reflection.

This is an exciting time for Subud Greater Seattle!  I just heard that Oswald Norton has tested and received to take on the treasurer’s job, which is wonderful news!  Whoever takes on the role of chairman will have a much easier time with Oswald in that position, but, of course, the final decision rests with the new committee.  The people in charge of the house and Airbnb rentals ( Paul and Debbie with many helpers and volunteers) are doing a great job and it looks like things are getting even better with new tenants and new opportunities for rentals for our property!  Adjustments are being made due to new taxes and other expenses related to those rentals but even so prospects are good!  All in all 2019 is looking to be a great year for our group with new projects and a great time to experience working for Subud!  Please take the time to consider if you would like to experience this life altering process in whatever capacity that feels right!  Our meeting for choosing the new committee will be Sunday, January 27th after the general latihan.  Please come and help in making this a successful event and find out who will be guided to fill these positions!

Subud Greater Seattle annual meeting with testing and election of new officers will be after Latihan in Seattle Sunday, January 27.

Subud Greater Seattle Officers
Please consider testing for chair, and vice-chair; and also for appropriateness of serving as secretary, treasurer, or committee member at large.  All positions are needed.  Bapak has stated that when you get the job, you get the energy to do the job-and that it has personal benefit.  Please consider if now is the time to step up.  Subud Seattle needs you!

From:   Debbie, Ricardo, Dawn, Marston and Paul

Overview:

The management team that keeps our “centerprise” working each day is happy to report that at year end we are in excellent shape and 2019 could well be a record year due to a major new client (University of Colorado) that will be booking daytime use for classes on a long term basis starting in September, which could bring in new significant revenue to the center into 2020.

Paul Nelson handles all the Airbnb rentals which had over 200 guests from all continents in 2018 and generated $76,500 in revenue.   This is a challenging job since with four guest rooms, there are constant emails from clients at all times and day and night. It is interesting to note that several Airbnb guests have become applicants.  

Paul also attended city hearings and helped with getting sections added to the code to cover non-profit use of Airbnb.   Starting Jan. 1, a new set of statutes come into effect regarding short term rentals. Also, a new tax will be added to each night’s rental.  This is charged by Airbnb and paid to the City of Seattle by Airbnb and is $10/night. We do not know if this will have any effect on our volume of rentals in 2019 since rates will increase.   Our Airbnb is still receiving high ratings from guests with 4.8 out of 5.0 average and we continue to have the coveted status of “Super Hosts”. This is due to a spotless, well located site with excellent customer service.  2018 had a busy summer with close to 98% occupancy on our four rooms.

Also, Sherwin O’Bar, our Treasurer, has now placed our Airbnb space on the tax rolls so we will now be in full compliance with taxes due on Airbnb rental space.   We also are now filing a Federal Tax return on this unrelated business income. This is all important to be sure we are in full compliance with all tax laws.

Event Rentals:

Debbie Machado-Santos is now our rental agent.  2018 was a slow year for event rental revenue but 2019 looks so far to be a much better year with several major clients signing contracts.  

Facilities Repairs and Maintenance:

Since our major revenue source is Airbnb, we give first priority to insuring that the four upstairs bedrooms are kept super clean.  In 2018, Owl Painting Co. repaired water damage in the dining room area ceiling and repainted plus painted and repaired the main bathroom.  In December the faucet in the main bathroom had to be fully replaced and now has a fully coded fixture. After getting quotes in 2018, 2019 will be our year to repaint the outside of the building which hasn’t been painted for over 12 years and a bid from Owl Painting has been approved.  The painting should be in May, weather permitting. A loan from the region plus some fund raising and reserves will pay for this $13,000 repair. We hope to do some upgrades on the downstairs kitchen in 2020. In February, we added new black out blinds to the Women’s latihan room (Chapel) which will reduce glare and enhance booking of classes in that space plus save energy.  Ricardo Santos, Debbie’s spouse, has also done lots of little fixes around the building and is an invaluable member of our team.

Twice a month, we have Rosy’s Cleaning Service comes in to clean the building which really helps keep the center very clean.   Also, we had a professional gardening service do a full leaf pickup and weeding plus clear our gutters. A new Subud member Aleta Blakeley  has also assisted with gardening work this winter and will continue into the Spring as needed.   Kudos too to Leandra and Honora for staining the disabled ramp.

Summary:

On behalf of all who work in our “Centerprise”, we are grateful to working for Subud and in harmony together.  The Centerprise is a key element in helping secure the building as primarily a space for Subud and the Latihan plus sharing it with the community and Airbnb guests from all over the globe.   We are all looking forward to serving the center in 2019. We especially wish to thank Jim (acting Chair) and Sherwin (Treasurer) who do an amazing job in supporting all this as volunteers on the committee.  We also look forward to working with the new committee who will be in place by February.  

Announcement #1

Subud Greater Seattle general meeting after Eastside Latihan Friday, January 11th.
This will be the last meeting before our annual meeting in Seattle on January 27th, when we will have testing and election of new officers.
We should have year-end reports from our esteemed treasurer, Air BnB manager, facilities manager, and event manager.
Hope you are able to come for Latihan and the meeting!

Announcement #2

Subud Greater Seattle Officers
Please consider testing for chair, and vice-chair; and also for appropriateness of serving as secretary, treasurer, or committee member at large.  All positions are needed.  Bapak has stated that when you get the job, you get the energy to do the job-and that it has personal benefit.  Please consider if now is the time to step up.  Subud Seattle needs you!

A regular practice of coming to group latihan is encouraged in order to reap the benefits of serving in any of these positions.

Announcement #3

Subud Greater Seattle annual meeting with testing and election of new officers will be after Latihan in Seattle Sunday, January 27.

Please come for Latihan and help select the people who will keep our spiritual group on course for the next two years.

Bapak 1975

Note from Rachman:  I found it easy to donate to Susila Dharma and Subud USA by going to the Subud USA site and filling out the form there.  It has a check box for donating to Susila Dharma and other Subud wings as well as to Subud USA with currently matching funds up to $15,000 till the end of the year!.  If you can afford it let’s help meet that goal!

A Message From Subud USA

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Thanks to the generosity of Subud USA members like you, in 2018, we were able to support many programs that will advance the Subud legacy:

– We allocated $28,000 to fund expenses of our National Helpers as they travel from coast to coast, visiting Centers and Regions in support of our Subud USA members.

– This spring, in preparation for the Freiburg World Congress, our members again answered the call, contributing $13,000 to the Melinda Wallis Fund to ensure that we could offer travel assistance to those in need.

– Over the last 12 months, $8,500 was donated to facilitate the cataloging, preservation and maintenance of our irreplaceable Subud archives, which are managed in the U.S. under the professional guidance of archivist Daniela Moneta.

– In the global arena, Subud USA earmarks over $36,000 in donations each year to support the operations of both the World Subud Organization and Zone 7.

There are other exciting developments across our Subud community as well. We are observing a surge in engagement of our younger Subud members, who are now moving into positions of responsibility as regional/national/zonal officers, helpers and representatives. This fall, many members who attend regional gatherings will be accompanied by their children, among whom are the next generation of Subud members and leaders.

The first steps, including approval from the regulator of the name and field of membership for the proposed Subud USA Federal Credit Union, have been completed. Although many steps are yet to be climbed before the credit union is established, we are excited about bringing to life what we believe is part of Bapak’s vision for Subud members in this world: a financial institution managed by Subud professionals that will support both our personal and organizational financial health.

We ask you today to donate to Subud USA (or continue your current gift) so that we can further our commitment to building a strong Subud family, both in the USA and around the world.

Please take a moment to complete our online donation form, which can be used either for one-time or ongoing financial gifts, or to indicate volunteer preferences. Help us bring Subud to all who wish to share in the gift of the latihan.

Sincerely, Lucas Boladian, Chair and Rafiq Dossani, Treasurer

A Message from Susila Dharma

Susila Dharma USA wishes you a very happy holiday season and a blessed new year!

Late autumn through the end of December is the season when we do our most intense fundraising. We hope that you pause for a moment to consider the wonderful work that Subud members have done around the world because of the inspiration of the latihan, and

join the Susila Dharma Network in supporting them. Please give generously; and, if you feel you can,  continue to give throughout the year by making yours a monthly donation. All you have to do is check off the box in the donation form on our website.  Donate now! With your help we continue to raise funds to support more than 20 projects here at home and throughout the world.