What Are the Benefits of Going to a National Congress?

By Anna Schroeder

It may sound cliche, but the benefits of going to national congresses have been life changing. When I was younger, I met people who are now my Subud family. People with whom I made connections and have seen again and again over the years. I have visited some and gotten jobs through others. They form vital links to the great milestones in my life.

I could not gloss over the latihans which steered my decisions such as my livelihood, my mate, and where I would move to live and work. The latihans have given me understandings of situations I have gone through, and how to face adversity.

Last, but not least, is the fun that can be had. The entertainment nights are amazing! Sometime you might have a late-night talk with old friends, or newly made friends. There is lots of laughter from all that fun, and sometimes from all the exhaustion. Going to a congress will usually whip you up, toss you around, and plop you down somewhere you never expected to be. You will not be bored!

Dancing Between the Raindrops

By Fayra Teeters

Years ago, when I retired from my “day job” as an event planner for Education Northwest, I became aware that stress from that job had settled into a permanent coughing disorder in my lungs. I was fearful that the cough would mean the end of my acting career, and at 64 years young, I wasn’t at all ready to give that up as well.

I remember attending a Menucha Gathering in November during which Isman Kanafsky announced he would be conducting SICA Testing following lunch. I shared my predicament with the group and asked if we could test regarding how to perform with physical blockages.

The testing questions were asked along the lines of: “How is my ability to perform when I use my will power?” With the resulting answer in the form of lunging forward with all my might, forcing my performance out, and thereby collapsing in a puddle of uncontrollable coughing.

When the test question asked, “How would God have me perform?” the resulting experience was coming from a space of remarkable grace, ease, and cultural flow, continuing indefinitely. I received the image of literally dancing between the raindrops. The rain would still be there, but I could dance around and through the rain, even use the rhythmic and musical sound of the rainfall to guide my movements.

Since that time of life-changing receiving, I’ve attended each Subud gathering with child-like anticipation, fully aware that another epiphany could happen around any corner, when I least expected it!

Benefits of Attending a National Gathering

by Roberta Hoffman

I am grateful for the opportunity to attend Subud gatherings — whether Latihan, local group meetings, or Congresses. Each gathering offers a chance to connect with people from many different backgrounds through a shared spiritual practice.

One of the benefits that is hardest to describe is the feeling of appreciation that grows through these experiences. Through attending Latihan together, conversations, shared meals, and working on projects alongside one another, I have come to value the kindness and humanity of fellow Subud members.

More than anything, these gatherings leave me with a quiet sense of belonging — not only to the Subud community, but to the larger family of humanity itself.

As an expression of gratitude, I am sharing a visual expression of appreciation:

Benefits of Attending a National Congress

By Jim O’Halloran

It seems that I’m generally gifted with one epiphany at each congress, something that sticks for quite a long time. My usual MO is to document these so they don’t fade away, or at least don’t fade as quickly.

Two years ago in Portland I remember an amazing receiving, but have no idea what the question was! The documentation sadly seems to be nonexistent. At any rate, the receiving was experiencing the absolute certainty that we are all interconnected throughout the world; sharing and deserving of love and truly being able to feel that interconnection and love coursing through all of us in the receiving. That alone was for me the peak of the weekend and sufficient reason for attending that national congress.

More prosaic, but also useful and lasting, was hearing numerous individuals make insightful statements that would have never occurred to me. These happen for me in all sorts of situations and times throughout the various congresses.

Finally, it seems that I am faced with challenging situations at congresses that provide me with the opportunity to grow. I often find the solution to be unexpectedly flowing and easy, which I have come to gratefully accept as an indication that the solution had come from the right source.