The Latihan (from Bahasa Indonesian latihan kejiwaan, meaning "spiritual exercise") is the main practice of Subud. In it, participants allow themselves to be guided by the divine (God, or the "great life force"). This is said to manifest as an inner vibration that will express itself differently for each person. For example, participants may feel impelled or moved to walk around, shout, sing, or simply kneel or stand quietly. Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) is the official language of Indonesia and a remarkable language in several ways. ... Subud (pronounced /subud/) is an international spiritual organization. ...

The Latihan may be done individually, or in same-sex groups of Subud practitioners. It is not taught but "received," by being in the presence of others during a Latihan. For this reason outsiders are not allowed to witness the Latihan, unless they have requested to be "opened" (initiated) to God, the Latihan, and Subud.

Procedure

Participants begin by sitting in silence for five to fifteen minutes, during which time they may let go of the cares that normally occupy the mind. Afterwards those present stand up, and a "helper" says "begin please" or similar words. Within Subud, a helper (Bahasa Indonesia: pembantu pelatih, meaning“helping to train” or “assistant trainer) is a person who fills a certain support role. ...

Not only is the latihan different for different persons, but normally it is different for each person each time. Members doing latihan are always in full control of their actions and can stop or leave at any time. There is no direct interaction between members.

After about twenty to thirty minutes the same helper may suggest that members end their latihan by announcing "finish please" or similar words.

Experiences and interpretations

One anonymous informant describes the Latihan as

...a practice that simply involves becoming quiet and allowing the finer or higher energies within one to work spontaneously to effect their changes. The practice is an exercise that consists of putting aside one’s thoughts and desires, and following what happens effortlessly and naturally.

For most people, the practice of this exercise has three aspects, which develop side by side.

First, there is a process of becoming more in touch with one’s body, and opening one’s feelings. This results in a healing and purification through which one can become more fully oneself and live more in harmony with one’s own nature.

Second, there is process of understanding and illumination, which consists of learning from the deeper parts of oneself through the exercise. This may consist in obtaining insights regarding, for instance, one’s development, one’s work and relationships or, more generally, the nature of the world.

Third, there is a more mystical process akin to worship, through which one comes to freely love what is around and within one, and to transcend one’s ordinary individuality.

These experiences occur spontaneously and independent of one’s thinking, will and desire. One simply has to let them happen by following the exercise without preconceptions and expectations. The exercise does not have a specific, predefined, objective. It is something that happens to one rather than something one does. However, in order for this process to commence, one has to have an opening contact with the higher or finer energy within, and this opening consists in being inwardly receptive and quiet in the presence of a person who already practices the exercise.

The experience of the exercise can vary considerably from person to person and within each person from time to time, because its development depends very much on one’s own nature.