Indonesia, is an
archipelago country with its richness in cultures, ethnicity, race, religion,
abundant natural resources, biological resources, and the gift of having Unity
in Diversity. Being a big and rich country certainly cannot be separated from
various problems, one of which is intolerance where religion is manipulated to
gain power. I still remember well the riots in 1999/2000 in which religion was abused to reach power
and people had to bear the sufferings, such as forcely leaving school, losing
playing time, even our rights as children were taken away.
The real problem is just
simple but it killed thousands of innocent people because of religion conlict,
where one claimed truer than others, and the other did not accept to be treated
unjust by others. Intolerance is not simple, but it must be our focus to continue
in knitting love among people and religious communities, hand in hands promoting
human values of each religion as well as local beliefs in this nation.
Started from the bitter
past, I wanted to be able to learn and clarify my prejudices toward other
believers so that I would distinguish my prejudice about others and vice versa.
The opportunity came from Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta training on Multiculture and
Inter-religion Dialogue on March 6-8, 2020 at Wisma Pojok Indah with a theme
‘Together, Compiling Indonesia’. This training revealed obstacles in relating
believers and provided space to know and understand each other. I had
opportunity to discuss with friends from various regions, religions and
ethnics, even I was able to visit Karangdjati Monastery, the first time I
entered a Buddhist place of worship.
I was so impressed with their
hospitality to welcome us and how Totok Tejamano, S.Ag, as the head of the
monastery, explained about Buddhist values and how the monastery was open to
public regardless of religious, social, ethnic or occupancy backgrounds to come
for meditation. Meditation itself has goal to help people manage emotions, to get
rid of negative energy and to bring happiness in lives. If we can be happy then
we can think better to be able to build tolerance between religious communities
and how harmony is created. It is interesting for me when Vihara is open to
anyone without prejudice and I imagine the same situation for each religion so
that peace can be realized in Indonesia.
Thank you Stube-HEMAT
Yogyakarta for giving me the opportunity to visit Karangdjati monastery, meet
new friends from Aceh to Papua, and I clarify my own prejudice, now I believe
that all religions are good. If I find someone doing something that is not
good, it does not mean that his religion is not good, but it depend on the
person who has not been able to comprehend the religious teachings and apply in his/her daily life.
(EP)
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