Subud

Subud
Family	International spiritual movement
Origin region	Indonesia
Founding period	1920s CE
Estimated adherents	Small international movement; estimates vary.

Subud is an international spiritual movement founded by Muhammad Subuh Sumohadiwidjojo, centered on the latihan kejiwaan, a spontaneous spiritual exercise.

Overview

Subud originated in Indonesia in the 1920s and spread internationally in the 20th century. It is often described as an interfaith spiritual movement rather than a separate religion, with the central practice being the latihan kejiwaan, or spiritual exercise.

Key beliefs

• The latihan allows direct inner contact with divine guidance or life force
• Subud does not require members to abandon their existing religion
• Inner development is emphasized over doctrine
• The name Subud is commonly explained through Javanese terms Susila, Budhi, and Dharma
• Members may interpret the experience through different religious frameworks

Practices

• Latihan kejiwaan
• Group practice sessions
• Quiet preparation and testing in some communities
• Personal reflection and ethical development
• Interfaith fellowship

Places of worship

• Subud houses or centers
• Rented halls
• Homes
• Retreat settings

Sacred texts

• Talks of Muhammad Subuh
• Subud association materials
• Personal accounts of latihan
• Community guidance documents

Holidays and observances

• No universal liturgical calendar
• Founding and association anniversaries
• Local retreat or congress dates

Branches and related traditions

• New Religious Movements - Subud is often studied as a modern spiritual movement.
• New Age spirituality - Some participants overlap with broader alternative spirituality.
• Islam - Subud arose in Indonesia and uses some Islamic background language, though it is not limited to Islam.

See also

• Religion
• Theology
• Philosophy of religion
• New Religious Movements

References

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