Subud Books

Subud Publications International

Ibu Siti Rahayu Wiryohudoyo was born in 1928 on the island of Java in the nation now known as Indonesia.

Ibu Rahayu is the eldest child of Bapak Muhammad Subuh Sumohadiwidjojo, the founder of the spiritual movement, Subud, which has spread around the world.

Bapak Subuh first received from Almighty God in 1924, this way of inner guidance, purification and development known in Indonesian as the latihan kejiwaan Subud, the Subud training of the soul. Bapak later received that anyone who truly wished for the spontaneous inner contact of this way, could receive it for themselves by being opened in Subud.

Until his death in 1987, Bapak travelled extensively, passing on the Subud contact, and giving explanatory talks based on his own experiences, to ever growing numbers of Subud members: people of all races, beliefs, religions and nationalities. Bapak spoke spontaneously, without preparation. His talks were not intended to provide a new teaching. His talks simply helped clarify the significance and purpose of the experiences Subud members encountered in following the latihan, and contained insights into all aspects of life in this world and beyond.

Some time after Bapak's passing, Ibu Rahayu received the ability and strength to give talks to help remind and renew Subud members' understanding of the latihan and Bapak's advice and guidance. Ibu Rahayu has emphasized many times that she is not replacing Bapak, that no one can. She explains that in her own talks she is simply repeating, in perhaps simplified ways of expression, clarifications already complete in Bapak's talks. As Ibu Rahayu has said, if Bapak can be likened to a university professor in the complexity and scope of his explanations, then perhaps she herself is like an ordinary school teacher.