The Spiritual Practice of Subud, Known as the Latihan
At the heart of Subud lies a practice that emerged from a sudden spiritual awakening experienced by its founder. This practice, known as the Latihan, first spread through Indonesia and is now followed by Subud members of many faiths and backgrounds around the world. The Latihan is a way of reconnecting our inner selves with the divine presence that permeates the entire universe—a connection that has largely been lost in these times of rational thinking and materialism.
Latihan: A Spiritual Awakening
When we practice Latihan, we first quiet our minds then surrender to a power greater than ourselves. This leads to spontaneous movements, sounds, or prayers, each arising from divine grace. It is in this state that we are able to feel a deep sense of connection or spiritual awakening. Although these actions are free of thought or wilful intention, this state is neither a trance nor a loss of control; we always remain aware and can stop at any moment.
Discovering our True Inner Nature
Subud has no need of formal rules or teachings because the experience of the Latihan itself acts as our guide and teacher. Through the practice we are able to directly experience and learn for ourselves the spiritual reality of our lives. The absence of any doctrine means there is nothing in Subud to contradict any religion’s teaching, enabling people of all faiths to take part in the practice. As we engage in Latihan, we deepen our insight and each of us come to our own understanding of the meaning of the divine power that moves us from within. For some, this might be seen as God depending on one’s faith. For others, it may simply be understood as the universal consciousness or the Great Life Force.
A Typical Latihan Session
Subud members usually gather once or twice a week, with men and women practicing separately, reflecting the heritage from our founder on how to practise the Latihan. The session lasts around one hour and follows these stages:
- Participants sit quietly for 15 minutes, calming their minds and releasing the events of the day.
- A designated person, or helper, invites all to stand and begin receiving latihan.
- Everyone surrenders to the divine power moving within them. Each may make movements or sounds, for example to walk, dance, cry, laugh, remain quiet, or pray. This experience is unique to each person and can vary from one session to the next.
- The experience typically lasts around 30 minutes.
- Members return to sitting quietly for another 15 minutes before resuming their daily routines.
Next Steps
If you want to find out more about latihan, take a look at Living Subud, which outlines the benefits it has in a typical Subud member’s life. Additionally, Origins of the Training describes the founder’s spontaneous spiritual awakening, mentioned above, giving more insight into the practice.