where community is primary
things happen like magic
outside the planning mode
two bottles of water
appear in our room,
the restaurant is closed
but next door a coffee shop opens,
a man walking by
invites Ren to a Subud men helpers meeting
"right now, well, after your coffee,"
a man Ren knows
invites us to his house to use the internet,
a ride is arranged for us to go to the
Subud gathering at Ibu Rihiyu's house
(the daughter of Bapak, the Subud teacher
and current International Subud leader)
that just so happens to happen
every six weeks--tonight
Everyone dressed up in their finest
a few attractively dressed covered women
Maybe 30 women, 20 men
greeting each other by
reaching out--hands interspersed
with each other and parallel,
touching and then pulling back,
very sweet feeling
matched with the Indonesian smile
that is a true heart melter
We watch a video of a talk
given by Bapak some 20 years ago,
then women's latihan (spiritual practice)
then the men's latihan
then some good food
Latihan is gentle and angelic
the Latihan hall spacious
carved posts, high beams,
gorgeous fine carpets
Reverent tour of the very fine house
where Bapak and family lived
at the time of his death
at age 86 in 1987
marble floors, blue/gray walls
grandly high ceilings
To my astonishment
we were prayerfully led
to Bapak's bedroom
every item exactly the way
it was--in 1987
except for the biggest fresh arrangement
of very fragrant flowers I have ever seen
This room with the best and most modern 1987 TV
still in the sitting room
is treated like a shrine
with people kneeling on the floor
in deep reverence
Indonesian custom for beloved teachers
Ren is glowingly happy and at home
His radiance spills over to me
But I'm, how to say this,
a bit stunned that my life has led me here
What an amazing thing
On the late night drive back to
the Subud compound
our driver shows himself
to be quite an artist
of spatial relationships
calmly, smoothly
weaving his way
sometimes only inches away
from motorcycles
never sudden braking