Latihan Meditation: A Guide To Inner Peace

Latihan is a form of spiritual practice, or meditation, that originated in Indonesia. It is the principal practice of the Subud organisation, derived from the Javanese kebatinan or kejawen tradition. The name is derived from the Indonesian latihan kejiwaan, meaning spiritual exercise or training of the spirit.

Latihan is a spontaneous practice that is unique to each individual. It involves neither teacher nor method, and is instead an unstructured exercise where the practitioner surrenders to what arises from within.

The practice usually begins with a period of sitting quietly, before the practitioner stands and relaxes, and then the exercise begins. During the exercise, practitioners may find that they move, make sounds, walk around, dance, jump, skip, laugh, cry or do whatever else their body leads them to do.

Latihan is usually performed in groups, with men and women participating separately.

Latihan is a spiritual exercise, a form of dynamic meditation

Latihan is about letting go and surrendering. It is not about focusing the attention but about dissociating. You surrender your will, your intellect, and your perceptions. You continually try to surrender everything that comes into your consciousness. The technique is called "surrender". However, the word "surrender" may not resonate with everyone, so other words that convey the same idea include "letting go", "opening", "waiting", "listening", or "trusting in the mystery".

Latihan is a form of dynamic meditation as it involves spontaneous movements and sounds that are completely individual and can vary enormously. Some people wander around randomly, while others sing and make odd noises and movements. The founder of Subud, Bapak, talked about "waking up the body parts" in the latihan. People doing the latihan are usually making spontaneous movements and sounds.

To prepare for latihan, you should relax your body, heart, and mind. Let go of thoughts, worries, problems, successes, and relationship concerns. You should also be patient and trust the process. During the latihan, you stand quietly and wait until the latihan or vibration begins in you before you move. You should not focus on any image or recite any mantras. Simply intend to surrender to the Divine or the will of God. You are free to substitute any interpretations that you feel more in tune with. You can move, make sounds, walk around, dance, jump, skip, laugh, or cry.

Latihan is a good method, but it is important to stay conscious and aware during the practice so that you can stop when you want. If you lose consciousness during latihan, you might not be able to stop, and you could burn yourself out. It is recommended to practice latihan for around 30 minutes, twice or thrice a week.

It involves surrendering to a universal power and letting it govern your body's movements

Latihan is a spiritual exercise that originated in Indonesia in the early 20th century. It is a type of meditation that involves an altered state of consciousness, where one surrenders their will, intellect, and perceptions.

The process of Latihan begins with a quiet period of about 15 minutes, where people sit and relax their bodies and minds, letting go of thoughts, worries, and emotions. This is followed by the Latihan exercise, where people stand with their eyes closed and begin to move about, sometimes making sounds or singing. The typical length of this exercise is 30 minutes. At the end, there is another period of sitting quietly to readjust to normal consciousness.

During the Latihan exercise, one surrenders their will, intellect, and perceptions, and lets the universal power govern their body's movements. This involves letting go of control and trusting in a higher power or energy. The movements and sounds made during Latihan are completely individual and can vary enormously. Some people experience spinning, crawling, or even vomiting during their early Latihan sessions.

Latihan is about letting go and dissociating. It is not about focusing attention but about surrendering everything that comes into your consciousness, even your awareness of yourself. This process is subjective and unique to each individual.

By surrendering to a universal power and letting it govern your body's movements, one can experience a sense of freedom and peace. It allows you to flow in the present moment and see things as they are. It is a way to open yourself up to the universe and receive its guidance.

It is recommended to practice Latihan for no more than 40 minutes to avoid exhaustion and burnout

Latihan is a spiritual exercise that originated in Java, Indonesia, in the early 20th century. It is the principal practice of the Subud organisation. The exercise is open to individual interpretation and is not something that can be easily described or categorised. However, it is often regarded as a type of meditation.

Latihan sessions are typically held two to three times a week and last for around thirty minutes. They begin with a quiet period of sitting and becoming still, which usually lasts for about fifteen minutes. This is followed by the latihan exercise, during which practitioners stand with their eyes closed and move on to the next part of the exercise when instructed by a 'helper'.

The Latihan exercise is strenuous and can be exhausting, which is why it is recommended to limit the practice to no more than 40 minutes to avoid exhaustion and burnout. The exercise involves a lot of physical movement and vocal activity, such as dancing, jumping, skipping, laughing, and crying. It is important to note that the experience is unique to each individual, and one may need to find their own balance in terms of frequency and duration.

After the active part of the exercise, there is usually a period of sitting quietly to readjust to normal consciousness. This is an important part of the practice, as it allows practitioners to "see" or interpret the gifts they have received during the Latihan.

While Latihan can be practiced alone, it is often done in groups, with men and women participating separately. The capacity to engage in Latihan is said to be transmitted by the presence of experienced practitioners.

It is important to approach Latihan with an open mind and minimal theorising or mental imagery. The exercise is about letting go and surrendering to the Divine or the will of God. One should not focus on any image or recite any mantras during the practice.

Latihan is regarded as a way to access a mystical experience and is compatible with a busy modern lifestyle. However, it is important to be aware of potential risks, as some people have gone mad or experienced detrimental effects from the practice.

Latihan is best experienced with minimal theorizing or mental imagery

Latihan is a form of spiritual practice, a "spiritual exercise" or "training of the spirit", which originated in Java, Indonesia. It is the principal practice of the Subud organisation.

Latihan is best experienced with minimal theorising or mental imagery. It is not something that can be thought about, learned or trained for. The exercise is unique to each individual and the ability to "receive" it is passed on by being in the presence of another person who already practises it.

During the exercise, practitioners are advised to surrender to "what arises from within", not expecting anything in advance. One is recommended not to focus on any image or recite any mantra, but simply to intend to surrender to the Divine or the will of God. The term "God" is used here inclusively, and an individual is free to substitute interpretations as they see fit.

The exercise often manifests as physical movement and vocal activity, which vary greatly over time and between individuals. It proceeds spontaneously, involving neither teacher nor method, and is unstructured except for basic rules relating to group practice.

The founder of Subud speculated that the spontaneous movements that characterise latihan are similar to those of early meetings of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).

Latihan can be practised alone or in a group, with men and women usually practising separately

Latihan is a form of spiritual practice that can be done alone or in a group. It is the principal practice of the Subud organisation.

Group latihan is normally held two or three times a week and lasts for about thirty minutes. The sessions are segregated, with men and women practising separately.

Group latihan starts with a quiet period of about fifteen minutes, where members sit and relax, letting go of thoughts and worries. Then, a 'helper' will ask the members to stand and relax, before announcing the start of the exercise. Members then stand, usually in a circle, with their eyes closed, and wait for the exercise to begin. The helper will say ''begin' and sometimes 'relax' before this.

During the exercise, practitioners may move, make sounds, walk around, dance, jump, skip, laugh, cry, or do whatever else they feel like doing. They are free to stop the exercise at any time.

At the end of the exercise, there is another period of sitting quietly, which usually lasts for at least five minutes. This is to help members readjust to normal consciousness.

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