Bapak Muhammad Subuh Sumohadiwidjojo
Bapak Muhammad Subuh Sumohadiwidjojo
1901 - 1987
(photo by Simón Cherpitel)
“[MSF] is like a go-between, an intermediary body to receive the funds derived from the enterprises of Subud members and distribute them to the various Subud centers for the establishment of latihan premises, guesthouses, hospitals, schools, and the homes required for the old and needy.”
Extract from a talk by Bapak; Recording 71 TJD 16, 26 August 1971, Cilandak, Indonesia
Copyright © 2007 the World Subud Association

MISSION
The Muhammad Subuh Foundation honors the name of the founder of Subud, Bapak Muhammad Subuh Sumohadiwidjojo. It serves to build a lasting financial capacity for the Subud community, with emphasis on the long-term aims of the World Subud Association.
VISION
The Foundation envisages a Subud community that is active and effective in the world, in many fields of human endeavor. It supports this vision by providing financial and other assistance to a wide-range of activities and programs, aimed at improving the condition of the communities they serve, including social and humanitarian work, cultural endeavors, child and youth projects, and others.
VALUES
As trustees of the Muhammad Subuh Foundation, we are guided in our work by the following values:

Integrity
In making decisions and carrying out our actions we are committed to working through personal integrity and best practice combined with inner guidance and common sense.

Openness
We base our relationship with donors, recipients and the community on transparency, candor and mutual trust.

Diversity
We value diversity of the human spirit and recognize the uniqueness of each human being and culture.

Sustainability
We believe in effecting sustainable change that has transformational goals and measurable positive outcomes, recognizing that how things are done is as important as what is done.
Programs

Programs of the Foundation

The Foundation was established to provide for the long term needs of Subud, and the programs we support reflect this aim. Seven strategic goals of the Foundation were established in 2011 to further clarify and delineate how this long-term aim is expressed through Foundation-supported programs. These goals were selected for their long-term impact and are listed in their order of importance for the Foundation:

1. Building long-term financial capacity for Subud:

This must be the Foundation’s first priority in order to be able to provide continued funding, over the long-term, for the other six goals. Prudent care for investments and increasing the number of bequests, legacies, and contributions are two key components of this goal.

2. The preservation and dissemination of Bapak’s and Ibu Rahayu’s talks:

This is a core goal for the Foundation, the heart of our Subud legacy from which flows our inspiration, guidance and direction. This legacy must be preserved in order to be able to provide it for the generations to follow us.

The activities of this goal can be subdivided into:

(a) Archives: to preserve and protect Subud’s inheritance to the highest standards available.
(b) Translations: to ensure that translations from the original Indonesian are as accurate as possible and to enable member access through as many languages as needed.
(c) Promotion: to ensure that members are aware of the importance of Bapak’s and Ibu Rahayu’s explanations regarding Subud and the process of the Subud spiritual practice known as the latihan kejiwaan.
(d) Distribution: to facilitate cost-effective access for all Subud members in a variety of media.

3. Non-financial assets:

This goal covers caring for the assets the Foundation holds on behalf of the World Subud Association, such as Adi Puriat at Wisma Subud in Jakarta, the Muhammad Subuh Center in Rungan Sari, the meeting hall at Wisma Subud, and the great hall at Amanecer, which are managed by our related organizations: Yayasan Muhammad Subuh, Yayasan Subud, and MSF Colombia.

4. Subud houses and their utilization:

This goal focuses on fostering the creation of new Subud houses around the world as well as improving current facilities, emphasizing the utilization of these assets by the owners to generate income streams to enable and sustain the maintenance and running costs into the long term.

5. International Helper work/travel:

The Foundation acknowledges the very important work of the helpers in providing guidance and enthusiasm to the members around the world. Therefore, supporting this goal, with emphasis on supporting the international helpers, is essential for the long-term development of Subud.

6. Capacity-building:

In many instances, what is needed most to help strengthen and develop Subud organizations and projects are non-financial contributions, such as information, guidance, skills, expertise, and good governance. The Foundation recognizes the importance of these needs and endeavors to provide such support.

7. The “Wings” (related Subud organizations):

The Foundation’s emphasis is on capacity-building for the related Subud organizations. The expressions spontaneously arising out of the practice of Subud to improve human life and conditions manifest in many different ways within each member. The Foundation seeks to support these expressions in the areas of:
(a) social work, in cooperation with Susila Dharma International Association;
(b) educational/cultural projects, in cooperation with Subud International Cultural Association; and
(c) educational & humanitarian support for Subud members & their families, in cooperation with the WSA Care Support Program.

Funding for selected programs of the World Subud Association

On an annual basis since 1996, the Foundation has been providing supplementary funding to ensure continuation of the services and projects of the World Subud Association which are compatible with Foundation objectives, such as:

  • Bapak’s talks
  • Tape Preservation Unit
  • International Archives
  • History of Subud project
  • International helper travel
  • The Care Support Team

Projects Supported