Above: Underground Mouse, watercolor, by Roberta Hoffman

Notes From the Underground

Musings from the SICA-USA Board

By Jim O’Halloran and Fayra Teeters

This week’s article is a continuation of the musings initiated last week by Lawrence Pevec: “Does a bottle know the quality of the wine it contains?”
The following are thoughts expressed by Jim O’Halloran.

Dogma Vs. Experience

My feelings about these words (dogma and experience), in Subud culture, tend to give me the sense of shifting a grenade from one hand to the other, not knowing if the pin has been pulled. Not so great. It took quite a while to find what felt to be the right way to express this.

Given my unease, it seemed that it would be responsible to understand the definitions of “dogma” and “experience”; and to share a brief definition of those words. They follow.

Dogma:

A principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true. This is often coupled with politics and religion, or both – and in modern usage, is considered absolute; frequently with no possibility of change.

Experience:
The practical contact with and observation of facts or events, based on direct observation or participation. Perceptions may fall into this category of experience.

Dogma Vs. Experience

So why does this subject give me a sense of unease? Two reasons come to mind, one is that it feels to me like an expression of the divisions that we are currently witnessing in the United States. The second is due to the frequency of encounters with people who have used the words of Bapak to tell other people what to do.

My first introduction to Subud was thanks to my sister, Joyce O’Halloran. In the first few sentences of her introduction, I remember her saying “Nobody tells you what to do”. I was pretty much sold on the spot! You can imagine my disappointment after being opened and encountering people, generally sincere, who told other people what to do on a regular basis.

That being said, I have read Bapak’s words and found them invaluable and inspirational in illuminating my path and to serve as personal goalposts and anchors. In the past, Subud Seattle had a printed newsletter which included excerpts from Bapak’s talks. Those were SO valuable and frequently ended up being cut out and taped to household areas where I’d see them every day as a reminder of their importance to me.

Likewise, the Latihan has been an invaluable help in understanding my life, my path forward in all aspects, and for help in understanding others’ paths, which may be vastly different than mine.

Finally, I cannot express the gratitude for coming through Subud to observe Ramadan and all the blessings which have come to me.

I hope this is of use to you. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Love, Jim

And now for something somewhat different . . .

I recently tested to receive the difference between Judgement and Perception. Judgement felt very heavy with the image that I had VERY narrow blinders on and laser-like focus that blocked me from seeing the complete picture. Perception was the opposite: the feeling was very light, airy, with vision that included all that surrounded me. With Judgement came the obligation to DO SOMETHING about it! Perception was its own reward.

The same can be said for Dogma vs Personal Experience.

Dogma comes from a long, long lineage of Thou Shalts and Shalt-Nots aimed at True Believers who are required to fall in line, proceed according to plan, don’t rock the boat, “we’ve never done it that way before!” Purveyors of Dogma set themselves up as superior to those who don’t know or care to know the scripture, superior to those Rebels With-or- Without-a-Cause, and certainly superior to those belonging to other spiritual practices or tribes. However, Dogma can alleviate the pain of trial and error and the necessity of reinventing the wheel with every new endeavor – a consummation devoutly to be wished.

Personal Experience in Subud involves being open, receptive and perceptive to the many possibilities contained in each situation, in every encounter, in every new problem to be solved. It’s the willingness to say that “one size doesn’t fit all”, that each experience is different, that each person is their own unique version of Divinity. That’s a lot of work; it’s a full-time job; but ultimately “worth the whistle” (to quote from King Lear), and something I’m trying my dang-est to follow.

Yours in Subud,
Fayra Teeters