Abstracts Philosophy, Religion, and Theology

Islam and mystical movements in post-independence Indonesia : Susila Budhi Dharma (Subud) and its doctrines

by Chuzaimah. Batubara

This thesis deals with the rise of mystical movements (Aliran Kebatinan) in post-independence Indonesia, focusing on Susila Budhi Dharma (Subud), founded in 1925 by Muhammad Subuh. Despite that Subuh had been raised as a Javanese man and was heavily influenced by Javanese culture, he also learned from a S&dotbelow;ufi master who introduced him to certain fundamental concepts of Islamic mysticism. The aim of this thesis is therefore to observe the possible influences on Subud doctrine from both Javanese and Islamic mystical traditions. The major themes of this thesis are three in number: first, to discuss the historical background of the emergence of mystical movements in Java, and to present two mystical movements; second, to give a brief account of Muhammad Subuh's biography and the basic concepts of Subud; and lastly, to analyze Subud theories and practices and see its relation to both Javanese and Islamic mystical traditions. This work also addresses the question of why this movement and other Aliran Kebatinan held such an appeal for Javanese and Westerners alike, and why they gave rise to such bitter polemic amongst Indonesian scholars. In the case of Subud the answer to both of these questions lies in its blend of Javanese and Islamic tradition, which attracted the spiritually inclined but at the same time not alienating the shari'a.