Subud and the Javanese mystical tradition

Subud is one of hundreds of mystical movements (aliran kebatinan) which have grown significantly in postwar Indonesia. Along with other movements like Sumarah and Pangestu, Subud has attracted people from the West and has now spread to about eighty countries. Despite the fact that Subud leaders deny any relation to the Javanese mystical tradition, it is one of the tasks of this study to show that the greater part of Subud's conceptual apparatus is firmly rooted in the cultural history of Java. Under the banner of change and renewal, Subud presents a message which, fundamentally, is one of continuity in a society in transition. In the first part, the author presents an overall picture of the history of Javanese mysticism, particularly the concept of God, the view of man, and the techniques recommended in order to bridge the gap between God and man. In the second part, the rise of mystical movements in post-war Java is discussed, along with a presentation of three movements which attracted the West. The following chapters deal with a biography of the founder of Subud, the basic concepts of Subud and the meaning of the Subud spiritual exercise (latihan kejiwaan).

The final part contains an analysis of Subud theory and practice and its relation to the Javanese mystical tradition, as well as a psychological interpretation of the spiritual exercise.

Type	Book
Author(s)	Antoon Geels
Publisher	Richmond: Curzon
Pub. year	1997
Pag. and ill.	262 p.; 23 cm
ISBN	0-7007-0623-2
Series	Monograph series / Nordic institute of Asian studies; 76
Notes	Includes index Includes lit.refs
Language	English
Keywords	mysticism animism hinduism buddhism islam cultural history java indonesia