Like an Indonesian ritual

Part III

MANILA, Philippines—Jimmy was only supposed to take pictures, but right at that time I was feeling Samuel in the room, Jimmy started making noises through his throat, I think? He just dropped his camera and lay back on the chair,” Celia recalled.

“But since my eyes were closed, I did not know what was happening to him because he was getting affected by what was happening. All I knew was that everything would be okay. Although I was aware, because I could hear Jimmy, I was too relaxed in my state and was being told it was okay.

“Everything was recorded in that video. Jimmy’s hands also started moving in a very smooth way, not like him. The energy can lead anyone present in the room.

“What an experience! My lower back pain was so relieved. (My) stiff neck was gone. After the session, I could still feel the high. My body was still moving in that same motion.

“Once it is opened, it will always be there. And so now, I am able to do this inner dance on my own. It feels so great! It is a form of meditation that keeps you very focused.”

Ritual

When I first heard of this inner dance and after talking to Pi Villaraza about it, the process reminded me of the so-called latihan, an Indonesian ritual that was not a ritual.

I first came across this process in the early ’60s. Latihan is the main ritual or process of an Indonesian esoteric practice called Subud (if I recall the name correctly).

During latihan, participants, who may be complete strangers to one another, go inside a room. They are not told what to do or what to expect. There is no leader to lead the group or explain what will happen.

For a few minutes they start to wonder what the whole thing is all about. After a while they experience some uneasiness at the whole thing. Still, nobody talks or gives any hint of what is going on.

Somehow the energy in the room changes and one by one the participants in the room move or sway or drop to the floor. Others begin to roll all over the floor but nobody bumps into each other. Pretty soon, everybody is moving in whichever way the energy moves him.

After the latihan, everybody feels very good. This is similar to what happens during the inner dance. Pi does not so much lead as activates one or few persons and the rest begin to follow on their own with their eyes closed.

The second time I experienced the inner dance was with our small spiritual discussion group called the Areopagus, which meets once a month. I invited the members last year to meet Pi and be introduced to the Inner Dance.

Surprisingly, a great majority of them attended although I hardly told them anything about it except that the process was a very powerful experience that Celia and I had experienced.

If I recall, there were about 13 or 14 of us who attended that special meeting. Since they are publicity-shy and very private individuals, I cannot reveal their identities.

Remarkable & special

Almost everybody in the group experienced something remarkable and special during that inner dance session with Pi. He started by making Celia dance until everybody started moving on their own, propelled by an inner energy stored in their bodies.

At this time, something happened to me that I had not experienced before. I went into a trance and fell from my chair to the floor. Then I went into a journey back in time from my present adult life to childhood and then birth. I saw myself inside the womb of my mother. I crouched and assumed a fetal position for a few minutes, then I went forward in time again until I reached my present age. I went back in time and returned.

It was an inner dance—an inner rebirth. It was a very powerful experience for me and I found myself teary-eyed. It was a cathartic experience I could not forget.

Each one experiences the inner dance in his or her unique way. And each experience is not necessarily the same. About two members of our group said they felt nothing special. Maybe the place had something to do with it, maybe the group had something to do with it and maybe even the phases of the moon had something to do with these different experiences.

I wanted to find out more about it.

Source: http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20080121-113863/Like-an-Indonesian-ritual