Customer Reviews

The Man from the East

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The title THE MAN FROM THE EAST comes from a statement made by J.G. Bennett describing the spiritual movement Subud: `It is a direct experience of the power of God available through "a man from the East". It requires no teaching and there is no dogma.' When Istimah Week heard this in 1958 it proved to be the most important turning point in her life.

The book describes Istimah's subsequent inner and outer journey through life as she practised the latihan-the spiritual exercise central to Subud-and followed the advice of Pak Subuh, the founder of Subud.

Outwardly, the journey took her and her family from New York to Indonesia, New Zealand and Australia, and on world tours with Pak Subuh in 1970 and 1977. She experienced the early pioneering days of Cilandak, Pak Subuh's home near Jakarta, and its development as an international spiritual centre in the sixties and seventies.

Inwardly, the journey is her very personal experience of growth, purification, expanding spiritual awareness, difficulties and times of great joy. Throughout this period of nearly thirty years, Pak Subuh's presence and guidance were a focal point in Istimah's experience. A unique feature of her story is the inclusion of excerpts from Pak Subuh's talks to members. These provide an explanation from him corresponding to Istimah's experience at the time, a juxtaposition that offers an unusual and most useful counterpoint.

The book is short (185 pages) and its clear, open feeling makes for easy reading. It is an excellent contribution to the literature on Subud and suitable for the general public.

Since 'The Man From The East' was published Istimah Week has received numerous positive comments from members of Subud and others. Here are four extracts.

A letter from a member of Subud, UK: `I have just read your book. I enjoyed it so much! An autobiographical account is so readable, but there are so few who can do it. I am so very impressed that you can describe your spiritual experience as it relates to your life-no theorizing. Congratulations and thank you for sharing your story, for writing so expressively and for the help it will be to Subud members and for those who through it will discover Subud.'

A magazine review by a member of Subud, California: I have just finished 'The Man From The East'. I found the language and style of writing compelling. I found the description of the writer's experiences easily understood almost as though I were experiencing them myself. I have since passed the book on to many friends. I feel this book has been a gift and as with all gifts I wish to thank the giver for writing the book, for sharing her innermost experiences, and for giving us the opportunity to visit those early days of Subud. It feels like a very important book.

A letter from a Jungian Analyst, Australia: `I am so glad to have read Istimah Week's book 'The Man From The East'. I was enthralled by it-by the direct supple way she recounted her experiences, and by Pak Subuh's explanations with their central emphasis on the spiritual exercise, the latihan, and the process of testing and purification. It is lovely to see those things spoken of so clearly. The experience of an inner, ever-present Source, of its guiding and purifying activity and the practical integration of that into everyday life seem to me the central discovery of our lives and the raison d'etre of all spiritual and psychological methods. Yet that can become so obscure. It is wonderful to see such a clear focus on that in Pak Subuh's message and in the book.'

A letter from a member of Subud, Spain: " 'The Man From The East' is clear without fantasy-straight forward and real. It is an important book. It is most worthwhile that a Spanish translation has been made." (Note. `El Hombre del Este' was published by Dawn Books, Australia, in 1999.)