Nyepi is a "Day of Silence" carried out by the Hindu people in the Island of Bali to commemorate every Saka New Year which this year is on 5 March. It is a Day of Silence, Fasting and Meditation from 6 a.m that day until 6 a.m the following morning.
Nyepi is reserved for self-reflection and as such, anything that might interfere with that purpose is prohibited. The main prohibitions are: no lighting fires (and lights must be kept low); no working; no entertainment or pleasure; no traveling; and for some, no talking or eating at all. The effect of these prohibitions is that Bali’s usually bustling streets and roads are empty, there is little or no noise from TVs and radios, and few signs of activity are seen even inside homes. The only people to be seen outdoors are the Pecalang, traditional security men who patrol the streets to ensure the prohibitions are being followed.
Although Nyepi is a Hindu holiday, but non-Hindu residents of Bali followed the Day of Silence as well, to respect for their fellow citizens. Even tourists are not exempted; although free to do as they wish inside their hotels, no one is allowed onto the beaches or streets, and the only airport in Bali remains closed for the entire day. The only exceptions granted are for emergency vehicles carrying those with life-threatening conditions and women about to give birth.
One day after Nyepi, known as Ngembak Geni, social activity picks up again quickly, as families and friends gather to ask forgiveness from one another, and to perform certain religious rituals together.
Source : Wikipedia.
Showing posts with label Religion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Religion. Show all posts
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
What's wrong with Ahmadiyah ?
Ahmadiyah is a religious movement founded in India at the end of the 19th century, originating from the life and teachings of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908), who claimed to be the last prophet of Islam, which is contradictory to the belief on mainstream Muslim that Muhammad is the last prophet of Islam..
Due to this fact, Ahmadiyah has been rejected by mainstream Muslim all over the world although it is also based on the Al-Qur'an.. Some countries like Malaysia and Brunei have even declared it as illegal. Whereas, Pakistan which has 4 million Ahmadiyah members, has declared Ahmadiyah as Non-Muslim..
Ahmadiyah came to Indonesia around 80 years ago, and was registered as a legal entity in 1953. Several public figures were reported to be members of Ahmadiyah among others WR Soepratman, composer of the national anthem Indonesia Raya, and the late activist Arief Rahman Hakim.
Public opinion in Indonesia is split in three ways on how Ahmadiyah should be treated: (a) some hold it should be banned outright on the basis that it is a heretical and deviant sect that is not listed as an officially recognised religion in Indonesia; (b) others hold that it should not be banned because of the freedom of religion article in the Constitution, but also should not be allowed to proselytize under the banner of "Islam" on the basis that this is misleading; (c) still others hold that it should be free to do and say as it pleases based on the Constitutional right to freedom of religion.
In 2008, the Minister of Home Affairs, the Minister of Religion and the Attorney General issued a Joint Decree saying that Ahmadiyah is not allowed to spread its teachings to others who are not member of Ahmadiyah, but did not ban Ahmadiyah.
Clashes between mainstream Muslim and Ahmadiyah occurred many times, among others in Lombok in 2001, the latest one was last Sunday in Cikeusik, Banten, in which 3 Ahmadiyah members were killed.
In my previous post, I have hoped among others that the Ahmadiyah case could be be settled peacefully through dialog between government, Muslim leaders and Ahmadiyah leaders to find a " win-win " solution.
If Ahmadiyah members want to be Muslims, they should accept Muhammad as the last prophet, otherwise they should declare Ahmadiyah as a new religion.
Due to this fact, Ahmadiyah has been rejected by mainstream Muslim all over the world although it is also based on the Al-Qur'an.. Some countries like Malaysia and Brunei have even declared it as illegal. Whereas, Pakistan which has 4 million Ahmadiyah members, has declared Ahmadiyah as Non-Muslim..
Ahmadiyah came to Indonesia around 80 years ago, and was registered as a legal entity in 1953. Several public figures were reported to be members of Ahmadiyah among others WR Soepratman, composer of the national anthem Indonesia Raya, and the late activist Arief Rahman Hakim.
Public opinion in Indonesia is split in three ways on how Ahmadiyah should be treated: (a) some hold it should be banned outright on the basis that it is a heretical and deviant sect that is not listed as an officially recognised religion in Indonesia; (b) others hold that it should not be banned because of the freedom of religion article in the Constitution, but also should not be allowed to proselytize under the banner of "Islam" on the basis that this is misleading; (c) still others hold that it should be free to do and say as it pleases based on the Constitutional right to freedom of religion.
In 2008, the Minister of Home Affairs, the Minister of Religion and the Attorney General issued a Joint Decree saying that Ahmadiyah is not allowed to spread its teachings to others who are not member of Ahmadiyah, but did not ban Ahmadiyah.
Clashes between mainstream Muslim and Ahmadiyah occurred many times, among others in Lombok in 2001, the latest one was last Sunday in Cikeusik, Banten, in which 3 Ahmadiyah members were killed.
In my previous post, I have hoped among others that the Ahmadiyah case could be be settled peacefully through dialog between government, Muslim leaders and Ahmadiyah leaders to find a " win-win " solution.
If Ahmadiyah members want to be Muslims, they should accept Muhammad as the last prophet, otherwise they should declare Ahmadiyah as a new religion.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
The Government has been Lying
Last Monday, nine leaders of five religions in Indonesia alleged that the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono (SBY) has been lying to the people.
For details about this, please read the following article that I have quoted from The Jakarta Post.
The Coordinating Minister for Politics, Laws and Security Djoko Suyono stated that the government has never lied to the public.
I hope that the government would pay very serious attention to the above statements and work much harder, much smarter and stop whining or making excuses.
The nine leaders, along with nine prominent activists on the environment, economy, society and human rights, said the government had told at least nine old lies and nine fresh ones.
Noted Islamic scholar Ahmad Syafii Maarif said the most embarrassing lie the government told its citizens was related to poverty.
“The government has repeated its claim on poverty eradication success, the latest figure stated 31 million live under the poverty line,” the leader told activists at the gathering hosted by Maarif Institute.
“But the same government said in 2010 that 70 million were eligible for the rice for low-income earners program, and 76.4 million were eligible for low-income earner health subsidy.”
“It claimed that 5.8 percent of economic growth was a success, yet, small people did not feel the benefits.”
The list of new lies includes President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s promise in his speech in August last year on upholding pluralism, tolerance and freedom of religion. The fact was in 2010 there were 33 attacks in the name of religion, the group said in the discussion titled “Fight against Government Lies”.
Din Syamsuddin, chairman of Indonesia’s second-largest Muslim organization Muhammadiyah, condemned the government as “not only lying, but not keeping promises”.
Senior Indonesian Buddhist monk Sri Pannyavaro Mahathera said that it was most dangerous if the leaders were lying and they did not feel it was wrong. He said he feared such lies eventually became a normalized mental attitude accepted by the public. “If the government makes no improvement, the fight against the lie will be in vain,” he said.
Chairman of the Communion of Indonesian Churches (PGI) Andreas Yewangoe said people often let depravity in the government occur.
He feared that at some point the public might embrace such lies, saying that one lie led to another, which at some point would be perceived and accepted as the truth. Hindu leader I Nyoman Udayana Sangging said that the reality did not fulfill the people’s expectation.
“Therefore, we are determined, according to each teaching of religion, that lies should not be maintained and truth must be disclosed,” he said.
Maarif added that, “If the government does not listen to the religious leaders who just like hermits come down the mountain to give moral lessons, then, who will the government listen to?”
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) deputy chairman Shalahuddin Wahid, head of the Indonesian Council of Bishops (KWI) Martinus Situmorang, Catholic priest Franz Magnis-Suseno and Catholic priest Benny Susetyo were among the nine religious leaders.
Among the activists were Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence coordinator Haris Azhar, Econit Advisory Group director Hendri Saparini and Migrant Care executive director Anis Hidayah.
Anis said among the President’s lies was his promise to equip migrant workers with mobile phones.
The nine old government lies according to the leaders and activists were on poverty statistics, food security and energy, access to basic needs, the fight against terrorism, human rights protection, education budget, adequate settlement for Lapindo mudflow victims, case handling on Newmont, which was accused of dumping untreated mine waste in to the sea, and Freeport’s unfulfilled contract renegotiation promised in 2006.
New ones include religious freedom and national unity, freedom of the press, protection of migrant workers, government transparency, the fight against corruption, the handling of polices’ dubious “piggy bank” accounts, clean politics, handling of the judiciary mafia case and the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia in relation to the arrest of three officers of the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry in Malaysia recently.
For details about this, please read the following article that I have quoted from The Jakarta Post.
The Coordinating Minister for Politics, Laws and Security Djoko Suyono stated that the government has never lied to the public.
I hope that the government would pay very serious attention to the above statements and work much harder, much smarter and stop whining or making excuses.
Government tells lies: Religious leaders
Ina Parlina, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 01/11/2011 10:34 AM | Headlines
Nine prominent religious leaders of five religions in the country gathered on Monday, calling for the government to explain “at least 18 lies” within four days and end the lies altogether this year. The nine leaders, along with nine prominent activists on the environment, economy, society and human rights, said the government had told at least nine old lies and nine fresh ones.
Noted Islamic scholar Ahmad Syafii Maarif said the most embarrassing lie the government told its citizens was related to poverty.
“The government has repeated its claim on poverty eradication success, the latest figure stated 31 million live under the poverty line,” the leader told activists at the gathering hosted by Maarif Institute.
“But the same government said in 2010 that 70 million were eligible for the rice for low-income earners program, and 76.4 million were eligible for low-income earner health subsidy.”
“It claimed that 5.8 percent of economic growth was a success, yet, small people did not feel the benefits.”
The list of new lies includes President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s promise in his speech in August last year on upholding pluralism, tolerance and freedom of religion. The fact was in 2010 there were 33 attacks in the name of religion, the group said in the discussion titled “Fight against Government Lies”.
Din Syamsuddin, chairman of Indonesia’s second-largest Muslim organization Muhammadiyah, condemned the government as “not only lying, but not keeping promises”.
Senior Indonesian Buddhist monk Sri Pannyavaro Mahathera said that it was most dangerous if the leaders were lying and they did not feel it was wrong. He said he feared such lies eventually became a normalized mental attitude accepted by the public. “If the government makes no improvement, the fight against the lie will be in vain,” he said.
Chairman of the Communion of Indonesian Churches (PGI) Andreas Yewangoe said people often let depravity in the government occur.
He feared that at some point the public might embrace such lies, saying that one lie led to another, which at some point would be perceived and accepted as the truth. Hindu leader I Nyoman Udayana Sangging said that the reality did not fulfill the people’s expectation.
“Therefore, we are determined, according to each teaching of religion, that lies should not be maintained and truth must be disclosed,” he said.
Maarif added that, “If the government does not listen to the religious leaders who just like hermits come down the mountain to give moral lessons, then, who will the government listen to?”
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) deputy chairman Shalahuddin Wahid, head of the Indonesian Council of Bishops (KWI) Martinus Situmorang, Catholic priest Franz Magnis-Suseno and Catholic priest Benny Susetyo were among the nine religious leaders.
Among the activists were Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence coordinator Haris Azhar, Econit Advisory Group director Hendri Saparini and Migrant Care executive director Anis Hidayah.
Anis said among the President’s lies was his promise to equip migrant workers with mobile phones.
The nine old government lies according to the leaders and activists were on poverty statistics, food security and energy, access to basic needs, the fight against terrorism, human rights protection, education budget, adequate settlement for Lapindo mudflow victims, case handling on Newmont, which was accused of dumping untreated mine waste in to the sea, and Freeport’s unfulfilled contract renegotiation promised in 2006.
New ones include religious freedom and national unity, freedom of the press, protection of migrant workers, government transparency, the fight against corruption, the handling of polices’ dubious “piggy bank” accounts, clean politics, handling of the judiciary mafia case and the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia in relation to the arrest of three officers of the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry in Malaysia recently.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Borobudur Visitors Must Wear Sarongs
The Borobudur Temple in Central Java is an ancient Buddhist temple that was built during the golden era of the Buddhist kingdom in the eight century, and until now it is a holy place used for religious prayers, rituals and ceremony.
Considering this fact, the government plan to ask visitors to Borobudur to wear sarong. Please find below an article from Kompas.
Indonesia Asks Borobudur Visitors to Don A Sarong
Kamis, 4 Februari 2010 | 08:10 WIB
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Visitors flashing their knees at Indonesia’s number-one tourist attraction, the ancient Borobudur temple, will have to wear government-issue sarongs under a new plan to protect the site’s dignity. Officials said tourists wearing shorts and mini-skirts would be politely asked to don a sarong for the duration of their visit to the Buddhist temple, erected between 750 and 850 on a verdant plain in central Java.
“When visitors enter a sacred place, they must show their respect. They shouldn’t wear shorts or mini-skirts because it’s impolite,” temple manager Purnomo Siswo Prasetyo told AFP on Wednesday.
“It’s like in Bali — when tourists visit temples there, they also have to do the same thing,” he said, adding that the rules were put in place after locals and visitors complained about the attire of some tourists. During a month-long trial, tourists will also be required to wear rubber sandals to avoid damaging the temple’s intricately carved stonework, he said.
The optimal footwear to ensure as little damage as possible is done to the temple’s volcanic stones is made of woven dried pandanus leaves, he said. Such items were not yet available but they had been ordered from the local community and could soon be added to the list of things inappropriately attired tourists will have to wear.
No fee would be charged for use of the sarongs and sandals during the trial, but Prasetyo said he could not rule out a charge at a later date. “We hope this will open up job opportunities for surrounding communities and lead to economic growth,” he said.
Some 2.5 million tourists visited Borobudur last year. Indonesians pay 15,000 rupiah (1.60 dollars) to enter the compound while foreigners are charged 15 dollars.
As Islam spread through Java after the 12th century, the “temple mountain” of Borobudur was abandoned and lost to the jungle. It was “rediscovered” in 1814 by English colonial trader Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles and was restored with the help of UNESCO in the 1970s.
Considering this fact, the government plan to ask visitors to Borobudur to wear sarong. Please find below an article from Kompas.
Indonesia Asks Borobudur Visitors to Don A Sarong
Kamis, 4 Februari 2010 | 08:10 WIB
“When visitors enter a sacred place, they must show their respect. They shouldn’t wear shorts or mini-skirts because it’s impolite,” temple manager Purnomo Siswo Prasetyo told AFP on Wednesday.
“It’s like in Bali — when tourists visit temples there, they also have to do the same thing,” he said, adding that the rules were put in place after locals and visitors complained about the attire of some tourists. During a month-long trial, tourists will also be required to wear rubber sandals to avoid damaging the temple’s intricately carved stonework, he said.
The optimal footwear to ensure as little damage as possible is done to the temple’s volcanic stones is made of woven dried pandanus leaves, he said. Such items were not yet available but they had been ordered from the local community and could soon be added to the list of things inappropriately attired tourists will have to wear.
No fee would be charged for use of the sarongs and sandals during the trial, but Prasetyo said he could not rule out a charge at a later date. “We hope this will open up job opportunities for surrounding communities and lead to economic growth,” he said.
Some 2.5 million tourists visited Borobudur last year. Indonesians pay 15,000 rupiah (1.60 dollars) to enter the compound while foreigners are charged 15 dollars.
As Islam spread through Java after the 12th century, the “temple mountain” of Borobudur was abandoned and lost to the jungle. It was “rediscovered” in 1814 by English colonial trader Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles and was restored with the help of UNESCO in the 1970s.
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