Kenfield Vibe Found at Spinkhill
Howerd Oakford talks about
the 2004 Subud UK National Congress…
I arrived at Mount Mount St. Mary’s College in Spinkhill,
Derbyshire (a Catholic boarding school the rest of the year), on the Wednesday
night, ready for the Kejiwaan day on the Thursday. As
always at Subud congresses, I tend to stay away from the
business sessions, preferring to chat, talk about old times, and play music.
And latihans, of course. This is my account of what
happened…
I have left out names because
there is no way that I can remember everyone I spoke to, jammed with, or
latihaned next to. You know who you are!
Left
work at 4:30 to avoid the rush hour. Two and a half hours to get about 90 miles
over the Pennines from Liverpool – not bad.
Checked
in, meal in the canteen, latihan, Folk Rock
concert. Danced to the last few Irish
jigs ( I knew I had to pace myself ) - excellent. Apologised for not having
replied to a Christmas card from some old friends, and exchanged news. A nice
start to the congress. Off to bed 6 in
the Band Room – a dormitory in a quiet corner next to the chapel.
Breakfast,
latihan, testing, latihan, lunch, testing, latihan, dinner, Jazz concert ( excellent ). I signed for
testing in Stone Hall A, one of about a dozen venues. Since there was no
criteria given for which venue to choose, I asked a helper who very kindly put
my name down in the Stone Hall A list – a room conveniently located close to
the Band Room so that I could take a nap as required. Tested about mixing, and
how we should present Subud to the world. I asked whether I should put a link
to Subud on my website, as a simple example of “presenting
to the world” ( or at least the bit of it that surfs the ‘net ) – got a very
positive response. As for mixing, we concluded that it was very much an
individual thing as to what did, or did not, constitute “mixing”,
and we asked to receive how it felt if something we were doing was “mixing”,
even if we couldn’t define exactly what “mixing” was.
This avoided the sort of discussions about which level of Yoga was OK, just how
much “New Age” stuff was acceptable ( crystals on the TV – good, ritual
sacrifice – bad ) etc. Its all about attitude
- if you sincerely wish to follow the will of God,
you will be told. Maybe this is the real benefit of Subud
– to make something that has always been true so easy.
It
was hard to miss the “TV production room”
- music pulsating from a “soundproof” door on the way up to the top gym
men’s latihan hall. Many years ago, circa 1973, my parents took the family to Kenfield Hall, Kent, for what was then called a Subud
“gathering”, and is now called a “family holiday”. To say that I enjoyed it is
true, but misses the life-changing nature of the experience. Bapak
was around, giving talks, being the ultimate “helper” and just generally being
a loving father of his Subud children and
grandchildren. I had my first guitar lesson, went to an art class, built a
petrol powered go-cart ( well, a lawnmower really ) and picked up the Kenfield
“vibe”. Just being there with creative people, being encouraged to be creative,
and just – well – creating. Music, art, conversation, a feeling for the
potential that life has to offer. That’s what I call the Kenfield vibe. It’s the Subud
vibe really, something to do with Bapak and what he has
passed on to the world.
When
I got home I started playing the piano. I had given up piano lessons some years
earlier (with hindsight a mistake, I think), but this time I was just
“playing”, in both senses of the word. For me playing the piano has become a
relaxing hobby and a perpetual challenge – getting the fingers to play what I
want, learning how to read music, perform in public and play with others, and
searching for better tunes. Lots of work, but so much fun!
Since Kenfield many,
perhaps most, of the young people have grown up and had children of their own,
myself included. Hopefully we passed on this freedom to discover to our
children. Many of these “children” were there in the TV room, playing music,
and it sounded good. I eased myself into the room, aware of the age gap, and
helped out with the practical stuff – carrying speakers and amps – and setting
up a keyboard, but ended up playing with the “group”. I say “group” because
this was a flexible, ever changing line-up.
Everyone was different. Different age, experience, motivation, talent
even ; but everyone was accepted – encouraged to challenge their anxieties, to
be better. The audience took part too, providing new musicians as required
while the previous ones took a break, and grooving (can I use that word these
days?) to the music. It was really good.
Fortunately I have an
embarrassingly wide musical taste for an oldie, and nearly fell off my
speaker/seat when a general chord sequence turned into the Bees anthem (I am a fan), then I returned to
the audience for a spectacular rap by Faithless. I threw in a little Kanye West tune (I must learn the words!).
Awesome. Thanks guys!
Friday
Breakfast, latihan, rocket propelled object workshop, lunch, latihan, classical
concert. I had been to the rocket workshop two years previously at BIG, the
International version of the congress ; as it is my kind of thing I wanted to
go again. The rocket engines are small chemical charges in a cardboard tube
that the workshop participants fit into or onto the “object” that they want to
propel. There were a variety of rockets, ‘planes, cars and a sledge or two. I
worked on the construction of the “launch pad” – a cardboard structure which
held a vertical wire to guide the rockets as they were launched. It was an
exercise in problem solving and teamwork. Apart from a nearly disastrous fire
on the launch day caused by the rocket’s exhaust, it performed well. When the
main charge in the rocket engine is finished, it sets off a smaller one to pop
open the nose cone and release the parachute. I was pleasantly surprised by the
size of the crowd who had gathered to watch the launch of a dozen or so
“objects”. The winning rocket stayed in the air for more than 28 seconds – to
do this it must be light, but have big enough fins to fly straight, and the
parachute must open correctly to slow its decent. The heavier ‘planes and cars
were judged on how far they got, but my favourite was the “car“ that took off
in a crazy spiral – it didn’t get very far but it got there in style!
The classical concert in
the evening was so well attended that the corridor was used as an overspill.
What we lacked in audibility we gained in the spontaneous street theatre –
glass ball juggling and mime. Sweet.
Saturday
Latihan,
rocket launch, Subud Olympics, latihan, Krisis jazz
band.
As part of my policy of
pacing myself, I decided to go on the Short Local Walk advertised in the
programme. Time for a gentle stroll, some pleasant conversation and fine views.
But I had reckoned without the Subud Olympics, and somehow, thanks to the son
of a good friend who had only recently returned from Australia after some
twenty years, I ended up racing with an egg and spoon, 1.5 legs or whilst
carrying the youngest team member. This was fun – really! I particularly liked
the balloon race and “wrapping 3 people in loo roll” events. There were some
contentious decisions from the referees, and one team pulled out after the egg
broke – but a good time was had by all.
The Krisis performance
gathered many people together to dance to some stomping good jazz. Nice
atmosphere. After the show I wandered over to the TV room to see if there was
anybody jamming – just two people. We played acoustic for maybe half an hour,
then people started bringing amplifiers and speakers, bass guitars and
microphones. The room filled up, and after much cabling and tweaking of volume
controls, we were treated to some really fantastic music. One of the Subud
“children” had invited a non-Subud friend over – he seemed to be equally at
home on any instrument. The standard of playing was exceptional, and the
atmosphere “together”. I never really knew what that meant until then – the
audience and musicians really were “together”. The highlight of the year so
far. Maybe this is the answer to how to present Subud to the world – be
yourself, have fun!
Sunday
Since the previous night
had gone on until around 5:00 (and even then I stopped for a chat on the way to
bed!) I decided to miss breakfast and go straight to the 9:00 latihan.
Got there about 20 past, which I thought was pretty good. After latihan I said goodbye to a few people, then headed home.
Back to Earth
The news on the radio about
Beslan hinted at the darkness to come – a world gone mad. I reflected on the
weekend : a thousand conversations, following my feet, music and latihans. And I mustn’t forget to mention the food with
friends old and new around the campfire, B’s “Contact Improvisation” workshop,
the views and sunsets.
The world needs Subud. See you next time!
Howerd Oakford howerd@inventio.co.uk 2004 Oct 08
Glossary
of Subud words.
For
readers who may not be familiar with the Subud ( and other ) jargon :
God – the “Great
Life Force”, the creator of Heaven and Earth and all that lies between.
Probably does not have a white beard. Following God’s will is about trying to
do what is right, and maybe admitting that you are not sure what that is…
SUBUD - from the Javanese words “Susila Budhi Dharma” –
see www.subud.org and follow the links. A
spiritual organisation founded by Bapak Mohammed Subuh Sumohadiwidjoyo. My
mother joined when I was about 8 years old, then my father, and we enjoyed many
family holidays, like the one I describe above. As far as I can tell there is
nothing in Subud or Bapak’s explanations about it that goes against any major
religion. I think that Subud is a good thing.
Kenfield
Hall – a Georgian
country house in Kent, donated to Subud by a very generous family, and the
venue for many Subud events. Sold in the early 1980’s to help fund Anugraha ( a
hotel/conference centre near Windsor, UK ). Anugraha is a story for another
time…;)