"Every person will find for himself or herself the right way towards God, and what may be the right way for one may be completely wrong for another. Therefore, you must become your own self and develop your inner self if you want to find the way to God. You must not follow or imitate anyone else."
Y.M. Bapak M.S. Sumohadiwijojo, 1901 - 1987, Founder of Subud
Subud is a worldwide spiritual community of men and women who believe in the possibility of being in touch with one's true self and one's real humanness through surrender to God. In fact, the name, Subud, is an acronym derived from three Sanskrit words, Susila Budhi Dharma, which together symbolize this possibility.
Subud embraces all religions, all races, and all cultures. It has no special religious bias or preference and is not based on a special dogma or creed. There are no teachers or priests. The only teacher is one's own inner self. If religion can be compared with a vessel, Subud can be compared with the water the vessel might contain — the inner content, but not the form.
What one experiences in Subud is an awakening of one's own inner self. This is received spontaneously in the spiritual exercise of Subud — the "latihan kejiwaan" or "latihan" as it is often called — which has its origin in the Grace of Almighty God.
Because the latihan is a gift of Grace and not a teaching, it serves as a companion to whatever religion a person might have, for it enables a human being to feel God's guidance in life and to see that guidance in the teachings of God's Messengers and Prophets. From the Subud perspective, then, the choice of one's religion is entirely up to each individual.
Subud is in more than 70 countries and welcomes members of all races, religions, and nationalities. Subud International Cultural Association (SICA) and Susila Dharma International (SDIA) are its cultural and social/humanitarian affiliates. Subud Enterprise Services (SES) and Subud Youth Association (SYA) act as Subud support associations for Subud entrepreneurs and young people respectively. Subud supports itself and its cultural and social endeavors through voluntary contributions and its own enterprises.
There is generally a three month waiting period before new members are given this contact with the Power of God — "opened" — in Subud. The waiting period gives people interested in joining Subud the time and space to make a thoughtful decision about whether they really wish to come into Subud or not. It also inwardly prepares them to be able to receive the contact at the moment of their opening.
Membership in Subud is free.