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WSA Rocket Science & Wing Soup - Role of the WSC chair

MahmudHenry - Aug 07, 2005 - 05:53 PM
Post subject: Role of the WSC chair

I went to one of Daniel Chafitz’s late night forums at congress. Aside from all the talking about the need to create space and release energy, what concerned me was the way Daniel viewed his position as the WSC chair to be both a kejiwaan and committee position. I’ve always had the understanding that in Subud the committee and the kejiwaan are meant to be kept separate. Hence you are not meant to be a helper and a committee member at the same time.

Of course, Daniel is no longer the WSC chair, so there is no point in taking it up with him any more, but the issue is still relevant, so does anyone have any views on this?

Merin - Aug 09, 2005 - 01:24 PM
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I think the idea is that kejiwaan and committee are supposed to be separate apart from the position of WSC chair, this exception envisaged as sort of the sole link, resembling the role Bapak had.

MahmudHenry - Aug 09, 2005 - 02:09 PM
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Really? That seems a bit odd to me, since there were WSC chairs before Bapak died. I've never thought to WSC chair as a replacement bapak. Do you have any reference to that in any subud publications, talks, or anything similar?

robdodson - Aug 09, 2005 - 03:19 PM
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Maybe the problem is that the position is not well defined anywhere?

Merin - Aug 10, 2005 - 12:27 AM
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I can't remember where I read it. My memory is weak about this, although I seem to recall Bapak approving of the general concept, back when Varindra Vittachi was around. Sorry I don't have details.

MahmudHenry - Aug 10, 2005 - 04:53 PM
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Sorry if I sound skeptical about it. But it just sounds like someone with a big job wanting to be more important. There aren't meant to be chairmans amongst helpers, to my understanding.

robdodson - Aug 11, 2005 - 03:28 PM
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Maybe part of the problem is this: for years the WSC chairman was Virendra Vittachi, a very interesting, wise, entertaining, and knowledgable man. There is no one in Subud like him since he passed away. He was also very close
to Bapak. He defined the role of WSC chair simply by being himself. Now the mere mortals who get the position don't really know what to do with it. They can't fill
Virendra's shoes. I agree that it is a committe position and that it's not a kejiwaan
job, but most people in Subud have a hard time keeping the two seperate. I think Osanna has a good chance of doing the job right and actually getting something positive done. But, maybe her first task is to make sure the position is clearly defined and that everyone else understands it.

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