[SPNW version edited by Isabel Gates]
Susila Dharma Round Table at Seabeck
From Marilyn Schirk
Seabeck this year turned out to be a wonderful experience for me that I will treasure for a long time to come. The beauty of the place, the large group latihans and testing opportunities, the deep connections of friendship and community I experienced, the general sense of uplift and hope for the future, and much more made it an experience I want to keep treating myself to again and again!
As a result of our Susila Dharma Round Table workshop, the request went out to the National Helpers to offer four test questions on Susila Dharma to willing members after latihan on Sunday morning. With their greatly appreciated help, the testing was deep and very moving for many participants. I wanted to share my own experience of the first question: What is the meaning of our nonprofit charitable organization Susila Dharma for Subud in the world?
In response, I found my whole body growing into a tall, strong, and pointed structure with a light at the top – a lighthouse. The words came – a beacon for all ships lost at sea. With all the rigors and demands of fundraising for SD (absolutely necessary of course), it is easy to miss the larger meaning of SD.
Both aspects of the SD journey seem essential to me. If you would like me to send you all four questions on Susila Dharma for testing, please email me, and I will send them to you (mysusila@comcast.net). Hope to see you at Seabeck next year!
[All test questions from this session were
1. What is the meaning of our nonprofit charitable organization Susila Dharma for Subud in the world?
2. What is my inner Susila Dharma?
3. How might I bring what I’ve received into the my life?
4. How might I bring what I’ve received into the life of my group?]
From Liza Ramey Wolfgang, Regional Helper
I am so pleased with how well the Kejiwaan weekend at Seabeck went. The sense of community, acceptance, and love was so present and repeatedly commented on by participants. It’s all I could have hoped for, especially as part of the regional helper team charged with planning the event’s content. It’s a funny thing, trying to plan for the content of an event that is actually being provided by the Divine. You can’t plan that! As a planner and teacher, it’s a real-life lesson for me. I have my part to do, and God does the rest. I got to practice faith and letting go, trusting my receiving, trusting others, and knowing that God is ever present in our lives. One of my takeaways from the weekend was that we, the RHs and organizing team, provided the container, and everyone there filled it with their sincerity, their latihans, their trust, and their willingness to be present and open to the experience that unfolded for us all.
Some other highlights of the weekend: a powerful, World Congress-like latihan; experiencing the harmony of working together with the Seabeck team, our national helpers, and local helpers (with a bit of “rubbing of the rice” thrown in); the feeling of acceptance and openness of my sisters as we shared about our receivings; connecting with our Canadian sisters with the hope of more building across the divide; being in service as a helper; and making new friendships and connections with my Subud brothers and sisters.
I also really enjoyed our small circle breakouts on Saturday. The sharings were unique and honest, and vulnerable without feeling scary. We had built that trust in a short time so we could share ourselves and what was on our hearts. That was such a gift. Thank you to all who came for sharing yourselves, your love, and your latihans. I look forward to gathering again next year with ALL of Cascadia and beyond.
From Lucas Hess, Regional Chair
Excellent weekend. Good food, especially the salad bar. Inspired testing. Comfortable, clean, and pleasant rooms. Refreshing air and majestic vegetation. Excellent conversations and finally able to put faces to names, as well as being able to actually read the name on the neck lanyard. Thanks to everyone involved in this year’s Kejiwaan. It was a treat.
Entertainment Night Photos courtesy of Robina Page