Zen relevant to anything
Zen is a spiritual teaching and practice that dates back thousands of years, Zen first appeared in India, then spread throughout the world. Thousands of years ago, zen teachings were practiced by Hindu spiritualists, then Siddhartha Gautama practiced zen teachings and then passed them on to his students.
Zen is a meditation that is used to eliminate all human suffering naturally. In Zen teachings, suffering is a part of human life, every problem in this life will surely come. But zen practitioners can calmly face all suffering, even the suffering of life's problems is no longer a threat to be feared.
Are Zen teachings that have existed for thousands of years still suitable for today? The answer is Yes. Zen can be practiced by anyone and at any time because Zen will not disappear even though times have changed. Zen is not moral teaching to be obeyed blindly. We practice zen to make the mind clear and able to accept the changes that keep happening.
Zen is also a state of mind that accepts things as they are. Very different from the formulation of theory or excessive thinking. Everything that happens in this world will come and go, by practicing zen, we will be aware of all that until we can accept or live things that are not according to our will. By accepting all the circumstances that occur, then we will find clarity.
From this clarity, inner peace is born. With a peaceful mind, we will feel sufficient, neither lacking nor excessive. We will not be tempted by temporary worldly luxuries, because we know that things will change. Because we are not tempted by luxury and wealth, we will not be tempted to commit acts of corruption or take the rights of others for personal gain. This is true happiness, being content and comfortable.
With the clarity and inner peace that we have gained, we can take wise actions in dealing with the problems that are in front of us. Zen does not formulate rigid morals. There is nothing to be believed in blindly in Zen teachings, there is no particular dress or particular gender that should be prioritized in Zen teachings. Zen is very relevant to the circumstances of the times. Everyone will benefit from zen if they want to practice it. Be it from any profession, any social status, and even from any religion, everyone is allowed to learn and practice zen. Thank you.
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Land of Heaven trapped in the era of darkness
Once upon a time, there was a very beautiful country on the equator. Thousands of islands lie in the country. Nature is so beautiful, the produce is abundant, the soil is fertile, and the sun always emits its light in this country. Even the gods smiled when this land was created. Even Lord Vishnu said, "Among all the heavens, this land is the most beautiful paradise."
Many countries are jealous of the presence of this country because whatever is sown, it will grow easily. The culture in this country is very diverse and colorful. Many cultural events strengthen the brotherhood between humans and the universe. All beings live in harmony and peace. Because of the nobility of society and culture, the country became the center of dharma teachings. Many people from all over the world come to study dharma in this country.
As time goes by, a period of darkness approaches this heavenly land. The era of enlightenment had ended and was replaced by the age of darkness. Corruption is everywhere, people's money that should be used for education and health is stolen by the country's leaders. The people are now poor and fooled by the system. Incumbent leaders are thirsty for power and pleasure. None of the people's interests are being met.
Not only that, religion which is supposed to give peace and happiness has become a dirty political tool. The people were divided and pitted against each other based on religious differences. Minority groups are forced to submit to the majority in this country. Social inequality is very clearly visible in this country. Many people live in trash cans, while rulers and other corrupt people live in luxury in the palace.
Slums and poverty have become a common sight, especially in the capital city area. Because the country's leaders do not care, many problems cannot be solved, various kinds of crises continue to come to hit this country that is on the equator. It seems that the gods are casting relentless curses on this land, but the greedy leaders still don't see and hear about this catastrophe.
The capital city which is said to be drowned by the ocean, the air is not good to breathe, as well as global warming will devour the city full of greed. However, those irresponsible leaders will leave the big city. The poor and weak were left to face a terrible disaster.
The land that was once like a paradise filled with beauty and nobility of culture, is now trapped in a time of darkness. Conscience and a clear mind have been replaced by greed and hypocrisy. I do not know how long the dark period will end in this country. The land of heaven at the equator turned into a land of the terrible disaster. Hopefully, the country will find a leader who can turn the dark ages into the ages of enlightenment.
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Human Life in the Digital Age
Currently, we are in the era of digitization. Most people have lived in two worlds, namely; Virtual World and Real World. However, they are more comfortable in the virtual world so that life in the real world is just eating and going to the toilet. The basic human problem is Identity.
Have you ever questioned yourself about who you really would be if most of your life was only in cyberspace? Who are you if social relations between humans are no longer direct, but through WhatsApp or Facebook chat? Human behavior in cyberspace determines personal destiny and civilization.
The virtual world is a product of the digital revolution. Information is very abundant for us to get and also cheap. This creates opportunities as well as disasters for humans. Many humans today become merchandise. All searches made will be recorded, then the search records will be used for various purposes later, from marketing a product to political campaigns.
Human beings are currently determined by activities in cyberspace, self-esteem is also determined from how many likes are in each post, human existence is also determined by how often they show off themselves in cyberspace. The Maya world is now a place for human daily life. Social media accounts in cyberspace determine the human identity.
The virtual world can destroy and save humans. Therefore, morals and ethics are needed in surfing the virtual world. Humans need awareness in surfing in cyberspace. Consciousness I mean pure consciousness created by common sense and a clear conscience. That way, surfing in cyberspace will be a means of developing knowledge.
In addition, pausing in cyberspace is necessary. Because humans also need to live between green trees and blue skies. This is for human mental health itself. To increase human awareness in surfing in cyberspace, ethics in digital communication is very necessary. This ethics will determine the relationship between humans in cyberspace. So, with the virtual world, we must be wise in using it. Don't be trapped in a virtual world full of fakes, because you will lose your real self.
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Pure consciousness achieves true happiness
Since a long time ago, I was taught by my parents to achieve something so that one day I will be happy after being able to achieve something. I was forced and taught something fake to gain recognition from the people around me, especially my family.
I was taught by my family to earn a lot of money because, with a lot of money, I can be respected and get recognition from my family. If I can't earn a lot of money, I have to be famous. To be famous, I have to make a scene so that it can be known by the wider community. Somehow being famous can be equated with happiness.
Not only from family and parents but even advertisements in various media also teach something false to get pleasure and happiness. Starting from shopping and using luxury goods, being handsome, having a beautiful wife, to traveling the world. Otherwise, I'm considered an outmoded.
Of all that, no one taught or told me that all the pleasures and happiness one gets will end in a sense of emptiness. Pleasure and happiness appear only for a moment. Everything is so fragile and mortal. With the emptiness that is felt, alienation will be created.
For Karl Marx, alienation was born because of the injustice of social relations. I agree with that, but alienation is also born from the attitude of someone who pursues mortal ambitions that end in nothingness. The proof, many rich people suffer inwardly. His money, titles, and honors became torture for him. His mind becomes fragile, he can even commit suicide when there is a slight problem.
Although all desires come true, In the end, the void appeared. Why did it happen? Because everything in the universe is constantly changing, there is no perfect satisfaction in life.
What we think today can satisfy our desires, may become inner torment in the future. If today we get everything we want, the feeling of emptiness may disappear for a moment, but after that, the feeling of emptiness returns. The happiness that comes from contentment is only temporary.
Likewise, if we do not get what we want. We also feel miserable, feel like a failure, and feel useless. Unable to make the family proud. Really all this is in vain. Like a dog chasing its tail, it keeps turning and never ends.
If we think about it, getting what we want and failing to get what we want is like an old saying that says "*meet the simalakama fruit*", which means it is eaten mother will die, not eaten father will die. In the dharma tradition, it is called "**Samsara**", i.e. something that keeps repeating in vain.
To avoid "*samsara*", humans must be able to distinguish between things that are fixed and changing. In the dharma tradition, we call it "**Viveka**", i.e. considering something with common sense and a clear mind. Everything that changes is not worth pursuing. Don't rely on things that change, such as money, titles, honors, and titles. In the end, we will be disappointed.
Instead, we have to find the unchanging (stay). What is it that stays? That is pure consciousness. This pure consciousness is within us. We need to recognize the pure consciousness within us. Once we know this pure consciousness, then we will be able to let go of everything impermanent (which changes). We will also feel calm and peaceful even though we no longer have money, titles, titles, etc. We will meet true happiness.
By knowing pure consciousness, there is nothing to be pursued and nothing to be rejected. When things change exist, we can use them, when they don't exist or go away, we can let them go. That is true happiness. Find pure awareness within yourself, to find true happiness.
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Real of morality
Two days ago I was invited by a friend of mine to attend an online seminar on one of the websites. Actually, I was reluctant to attend the online seminar, but my friend kept asking me to register for the online seminar.
One of the speakers of the online seminar was a lecturer from Bandung State University. In the seminar, the speaker talked about morals. He said that all seminar participants should be moral. The moral he meant was to be obedient to parents, to be obedient to religion, to be diligent in worshiping, etc.
In my mind, I said, "Hey man, that's not moral, that's slavery". Such shallow morals are no longer needed. What we need today is creative, innovative, and critical thinking. Discourse like that makes me fed up because many hypocrites hide behind such morality.
Indonesia has many places of worship, in every place of worship, morality continues to be discussed, but corruption is still growing, poverty is still widespread, women are regulated in the way they dress and think, Children are educated harshly and forced to learn things that are not useful.
Why did it happen? From my point of view, I see that people in Indonesia have not yet understood true morality. Morality that is often conveyed is just a meaningless empty concept. It is time for us to change the basic concept of morals based on wisdom.
Before talking about morals, one must first understand wisdom. Then, what is meant by wisdom? People who have wisdom are people who can see the world as it is. A wise person also knows who he really is. In this way, wisdom becomes a strong moral root, and morality fully comes alive. Therefore, do not talk about morals until you understand wisdom. Thank you.
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The Crisis of Religious Essence in My Country
In ancient times, the human species lived in uncertainty. Many innocent people are victims of human moral corruption. Conflict is everywhere. Then, one of the humans comes to straighten the morals of other humans. A human being who straightens the morals of other humans is considered a messenger of God, then religion is created. With the birth of religion, social life and moral values are created.
With the development of religion, humans also get peace, not only peace in life but also inner peace is also obtained by human groups. That way, every human being can unite in life in harmony.
In religious teachings, moral rules are written in a book. In the book it is explained that humans are part of the great, they call it God, God, Allah, etc. The bearers of this religion also teach humans to let go of the ego and must unite with the great one. Until now, there have been many religions that have emerged. Every religion has different sects.
But, in my current country, religion has experienced a crisis. People in my country who follow religion no longer learn the essence of that religion, so religion becomes a justification for their selfish attitude. Some prioritize their religion but sacrifice the interests of other religions. Adherents of the majority religion become arrogant towards adherents of minority religions.
Then, what I see most often is that religion is used as a tool to achieve political power. Usually, in the run-up to the election, issues sensitive to religion are raised so that society is divided, forming dirty political camps. With the chaotic situation due to religious clashes, the rulers benefited from this situation.
Religious teachings in my country no longer teach the essence, so I hope that religious values must be instilled in religious adherents. We must realize that we live with other people, so we must also pay attention to the interests of other groups, so that religious tolerance can be carried out properly.
Make religion as enlightenment and peace for the life of all beings. Make religion teaching that is capable of educating, and civilized in every behavior. It is time for all of us to be wise in religion. Religion has too often been used as an excuse to justify human selfishness, religion has also been used too often as a tool for political interests. Hopefully, this will never happen again.
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Indonesia Needs an Education Revolution
A few days ago, I took my nephew to school. They study as usual. One of the students gave quite interesting and critical questions to the teacher regarding the lesson of the nation's history. Not the accepted answer, instead of the false accusation that one of the students got. It turns out that the education system in schools today is still the same as the system I used to run. Still unchanged, Indonesia still uses an ancient and dilapidated education system. No wonder the Indonesian nation has no progress at all.
When I was in school, we were not allowed to ask about communism, because communist ideology was strictly prohibited here. Even though I am someone who doesn't like communism, I have the right to know more about communism. If we are critical, we are seen as rebels at school and on campus. At school too much memorization. Students should be able to memorize the entire lesson even if it doesn't make sense. Teachers only obey government policies that make the education system like this, as a result, students become stressed in learning. Students are forced to obey and are not allowed to ask questions if the teacher does not allow them to ask. Education today really kills the spirit of learning in students.
Why does this happen? According to my observations, the Minister and education officials here complicate the problem of education, so that education in Indonesia becomes disorganized and chaotic. Thus, the Indonesian people are increasingly inferior and increasingly stupid. Even the public's interest in reading is almost non-existent, and also, the books sold in bookstores are of little quality, mostly fiction novels and religious books.
The Indonesian nation needs an educational revolution. The Indonesian nation needs education that is based on culture and life as a whole so that students become intelligent, critical, and skilled. Indonesia also needs a liberating education, so that there is not a lot of rote memorization and unreasonable obedience. Teachers must also be able to educate students to be independent.
There are still many systems that must be addressed in Indonesia. Don't use the outdated education system and also fool students. This is for the progress of the nation and the state. It is time for this system to be rearranged.
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Emptiness and openness in spiritualism
In the world of spiritualism, the ultimate goal is emptiness. Emptiness is not an object to be grasped. It is from this emptiness that we find openness. That way, the human mind will be open to everything. All concepts become silent, there is no longer good and bad, right and wrong, heaven and hell, merit and sin. There is only an open void.
To attain enlightenment, spiritualists can see the void. Like this world, only a void without a core. This world is constantly changing. This is mortality. So are we. It is always changing and nothing is permanent and complete. The self is also mortal.
If we think that the world and the self are real, then we are having an illusion. Because, for spiritualists, to think of the world and self as something real, then it is suffering.
Time goes on and changes. Everything will change both the world and the self. The ambitions we have in the world will surely disappear, the good and bad attitudes towards ourselves will also disappear.
If we realize that this world is only temporary and empty (impermanent), then we find inner peace and tranquillity. We are no longer enslaved to the temporary pleasures of this world.
Spiritualists recognize emptiness and openness in all things. If it is nearing death, the soul will be released from the body freely. Back to the universe with an open heart.
That is the essence of spirituality.
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Be Free in a wise way
In this life, I want an authentic life, I don't want to live in hypocrisy and live in pretense. No one wants to live the falsehood they live. Besides that, I also don't want to live in fear, I have a conscience and common sense that I don't want to deny (lie). Maybe in a short time, I am still willing to be oppressed, but in a long time, the desire for independence that I have rebelled out.
I live in a country ravaged by heresies that claim to be sacred, these heresies oppress women and destroy the ancestral culture that has existed for thousands of years. But this teaching is considered true by many people, even though this teaching destroys the tranquility of living in togetherness. I don't want this to happen continuously. Even though this colonization has been going on, my instinct for independence cannot be killed, because every human being like me refuses to submit to oppression.
I realized that rebellion must have a pattern in order not to be directionless. Rebellion without direction will cause chaos, like changing one problem and getting another problem. In an act of rebellion, a foothold is needed, that footing is the truth. What kind of truth is needed? the answer is the truth about reality. It is this fact that will lead me to wisdom and enlightenment. The thing we must realize about reality is that reality is constantly changing, like water flowing in a river without stopping. Reality is constantly moving so that it can never be subject to concepts and theories.
By grounding in truth and reality, I came to know that being free is not acting arbitrarily, I must be wise in achieving independence. In my opinion, people who act arbitrarily are not independent. Those who act arbitrarily but feel free to have been colonized. They are colonized by the desires and passions that are within them. They are not aware that desire and lust are the results of the influence of the social environment. Such people will never feel satisfied and will have a difficult life, what's worse, they will also make it difficult for those around them. So the point is, to be free you have to understand the truth and live wisely. Live as it is, according to the reality that exists. This awareness will eliminate desires that are not by reality. In this way, I also become a completely free man.
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Universal Philosophy
I just met an old friend of mine, a former schoolmate. When I took him home, he saw the graduation photo that I hung on the wall of my house. Then, he asked, "What major are you majoring in?" I said that I majored in philosophy. Then he asked again, "why did you choose philosophy in your study program?" I also told all the reasons I chose philosophy. But he was confused, because I told stories with many themes, from Zen, politics, religion, etc.
I assumed that this friend of mine was thinking specialists. What is specialism? it is an ideology that believes that nowadays, people should have only one skill if more or less, that person is considered to have no expertise. Ideology like this is not by reality, because reality is a complex and interrelated life. I see life is very broad, it makes me wonder and ask questions in my mind. From the admiration and questioning that I chose the path of philosophy since 8 years ago. I also chose a variety of themes for me to study. I learned many things in a rational, logical, and critical way. this is the method I follow in philosophy.
In the method of life that I live in the world of philosophy, I study everything by using rational common sense. I do not want to immediately believe in the words of wisdom, traditions, religious dress, to pressure from the authorities. That way I can use the logic that I have because logic is the art of thinking that must be done for everyone. In the world of philosophy, I critically study everything, all theoretical views I try with reality and my common sense. There is no dogma and adherence to everything I learn, If it proves to be good and true to reality, I will use it.
Returning to the topic of specialism that my friend holds, the ideology of specialism arises due to the increasingly bureaucratic state of the world. Administrative demands force people to have certain skills as if this is an identity attached to a person. For example, I studied philosophy in Germany, so people would think that I was studying German philosophy, but that's not necessarily the case. Although German philosophy is very interesting to me, German philosophy is getting more and more absurd, so that my interest in studying it has decreased. Administrative demands are understandable, but don't let them end your curiosity to learn.
My main interest in studying philosophy is life, from the life I learn about everything. By learning everything, I became more and more ignorant, so I felt I had to learn new and reflect on things. The more I don't know, the more I want to keep learning, that way I can meet great and interesting people, lots of people I have met from various backgrounds. I often get enlightened and interesting ideas when I study philosophy. By the end, I had gone beyond the concept. I live as it is, a life that has not been defined in language, words, and theory. This life makes the heart peaceful and serene.
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Knowing Your True Self
I am currently in a time full of lies and hypocrisy. Everything I see around me is lies and hypocrisy. Politicians and government officials promise prosperity and justice before they are elected, but once they come to power, they oppress the people and impoverish the people.
Not only politicians and governments, but even religious leaders are also full of hypocrisy. Religious leaders promise heaven for their followers who want to fight in the way of their religion, but they instead destroy local cultures and oppress women, and sometimes religious groups interfere with the comfort of many people's lives. The hypocrisy is very clear I see.
Then I saw various media, ranging from mass media to electronic media. Every media that I see also promises happiness, the media invites people to become consumptive, the media invites people to buy all kinds of products so that consumers are happy, even though it is not necessarily like that.
The motivators and business mentors also voiced, in a seminar, they said, "you will be happy if you are rich, you will be happy if you can show off your wealth on social media, your family will be proud if you have lots of wealth"
Cosmetics sellers also lie to women, they say that women will be happy if their faces are beautiful, white, and glowing. Not only women, but men are also the target of lies, clothing designers will say that men will be happy and look handsome if they wear fashionable and branded clothes.
Social media and advertisements continue to seduce users to buy products from the capital, they persuade us to become consumptive so that they become richer by being promised happiness that we do not necessarily get. They are today's liars.
Even though we are only briefly satisfied with wealth, beauty, and good looks, but that satisfaction will disappear, eventually we will seek to escape to get greater satisfaction, we will be entangled in a world that will make us more lost to achieve inner satisfaction. But still, you will not be satisfied.
Finally, we feel strangers, we feel strangers to other people as well as ourselves. This is what gives rise to depression. Some even want to commit suicide because of this depression. They are tired of living an unsatisfying life, starting from following the advice of the market, religious leaders, to the advice of their parents. It will still lead to inner emptiness. Life is full of distractions, from shopping, traveling, to being religious.
The question is, how can we get out of the trap of dissatisfaction like this? How can we fill the inner void? The answer is very simple, namely by being who you really are.
Then, who are we really? Our true selves are not thoughts and emotions, thoughts and emotions are just temporary things that reside within us, can come and go. We can be angry, but then the anger will go away, you become calm. Whatever is temporary is not real.
Our true self is also not a social identity because identities can change. The religion we profess can change, citizens can change, even gender can also change. Something that can be changed is not the real thing.
Something real doesn't change, something real is something that stays. What remains within us? The answer is awareness. This awareness is what observes all our actions. This constant consciousness is shared by all beings.
Self-awareness existed before concepts, thoughts, and emotions, but this awareness is stable, not changing when emotions and thoughts change. This is who we really are.
Then, how can our inner consciousness arise? For that, we have to train it. We must know our self-awareness, if we don't know self-awareness, then we will continue to be carried away by thoughts and emotions so that we will never be satisfied with what we have right now.
After knowing self-awareness, we must also be familiar with our self-awareness. We must be fully aware of what we are doing, we must be fully aware of the current state of affairs.
The world I live in is already very complicated, I need clarity. I must not get too close to the thoughts or emotions that I have, because thoughts and emotions will lead me to dissatisfaction. Clarity can only be obtained when I am familiar with consciousness. I have to observe my consciousness at all times. Consciousness is my true self, with full awareness, I am no longer lulled by the lies of an increasingly sophisticated world. I can be happy without any conditions. This is how I become my true self.
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Missing God and experiencing it
Hello, my friends, this morning, I just read a short story in a group on Facebook, the short story tells about a person who claims to be God until in the end he was killed by a group of religious fanatics. I think the short story has a deep meaning. On the previous day, I had also pondered about the purpose of life, then an answer crossed my mind. My goal in life is to experience God so that I can find true happiness. True happiness never changes nor is it disturbed by the changing world. In fact, we long for God, whether we realize it or not, God is like a real home that will make us feel at home and comfortable when we are in it.
As we know that religion aims to guide humans towards God, the purpose of religion is very noble. Religion was formed by humans with noble hearts to free humans from suffering and ignorance, but now the purpose of religion has been forgotten, religion is no longer a guide for mankind towards God, but religion has now become God, religion has become a goal worshiped by humans.
In the end, religion has become corrupted, religion has been ridden and used by a group of people for personal gain so that religion becomes a tool to divide society, religion is also often used to oppress and fool its adherents, Religion has become a place to show off worship, and even in some regions, religion also destroys culture.
Even so, Man must long for the true God, there is a great sense of desire to return to God. In a situation that is quite severe like this, many people, especially young people, are not satisfied with the teachings and religious formulas about God, they want to experience God directly. They want to free themselves from oppressive and stupid religious teachings, they are tired of meaningless rituals, they are tired of formulas and concepts that make their heads spin, they need to go home (back to God)
It is time for them to experience God firsthand with the Zen method. Yes, I say this because I have experienced it firsthand. Zen is the path to and experiencing God, meaning that we will be led to the source of everything. Experiencing God is experiencing our true selves, our true selves are completely clear and peaceful, beyond religious barriers and as vast as the universe.
What are our true selves like? our true self is God. It existed before concepts and theories, beyond the dualism of language, fully existed and merged with everything. Our true self is before the mind, this is a pure form of consciousness even though it has no name.
Our true self is infinite, as vast as the universe, formless but filling everything, This is the true cosmic. With the Zen method, we will experience our true self, we will experience God directly, uncomplicated, and very simple.
What are the characteristics of our true selves?
Our true self is empty, devoid of concepts and words, nor identity, but leaves room for all kinds of thoughts and emotions. With that emptiness, then we are very wide open, all things can arise and also disappear.
Our true selves are fully alive and aware, capable of perceiving the world. Without concepts, the true self can touch the world as it really is. Our true self is infinite, with its awareness, we can build a universe within us which is vast. So, empty, vast, conscious, and infinite are the characteristics of the true self. It existed before thought and language were spoken.
So, our true Self is God who is vast and not limited to personality, our true self is the universe. This is known as panpsychism in philosophy. By applying the Zen method, God is no longer a concept created by religious leaders, God becomes a real experience that can change our lives.
In that way, we too will experience liberation, becoming one unit of the universe. This can be called Yoga in Indian tradition, which is the pinnacle of purpose in life. When experiencing God, it feels like returning home, we feel comfortable and at peace. The True Home never leaves us, it's just that we often forget about it all. thank you
**The Lead Image by:** **newatlas** **&** **fandom** https://newatlas.com/cosmic-rays/28997/ https://powerlisting.fandom.com/wiki/Cosmic_Otherness
Let's Read Quality Books
Yesterday afternoon, I visited the Gramedia bookstore in central Jakarta, because I haven't visited in a long time and bought books at this store. But how surprised I was when I saw the state of this bookstore. The bookstore that I used to frequent was very big, comfortable, and lots of customers came to buy books or just read. But now the bookstore is almost closed, and few visitors come here.
The air conditioning (AC) in this bookstore is no longer working, so they just hang a fan in the corner of the room, the employees are only cashiers, and the books sold are also few, mostly just novels. This place is very sad now, much different from when I was a child, I still remember when I was in elementary and junior high school, how happy I was when I visited this bookstore, I often bought and read comics here, even when I was in high school and college I also often bought philosophy and politics books in this bookstore.
All my memories have faded because this bookstore seems to be closing permanently, Maybe this is because Indonesian people are very lazy to read. I've been to several bookstores, all of which have experienced a decline in sales and many are permanently closed. No wonder the Indonesian people continue to be poor and stupid in this century.
The reason I say that is because I was born and raised in Indonesia. Lots of people in Indonesia do things that are beyond common sense, I see on the highway there are five motorbikes without helmets, some like to litter, some move from village to village. cities to live like celebrities in soap operas and social media, etc.
Big cities in Indonesia are also getting worse, in this city only migrants whose jobs are not clear, motorbike riders, and minibus drivers just ride on the highway without regard for the safety of others.
Not only the people, but even the government in Indonesia also often do things that don't make sense, the policies they create fool and impoverish the people. The behavior of the government often makes the people hate them, even many governments are trapped in the desire to commit corruption, collusion, and nepotism so that the Indonesian nation is damaged.
The Indonesian people and their government do a lot of useless things in their spare time. Usually, they only see meaningless social media, ranging from celebrity gossip, conspiracy theories, to pornography. Few people like philosophy and science. Now everything is clear that many Indonesians do not have common sense because they are lazy to read books. So, their insight and thinking are very narrow.
Why are Indonesians so lazy to read? The main cause of lazy interest in reading in Indonesia is because the culture of reading and writing has not yet developed. Indonesians still use oral culture, so all knowledge must be conveyed directly, this causes knowledge to only be obtained by certain circles.
Not only that, in this case, the government has failed to increase people's interest in reading. There are no programs made by the government to increase interest in reading, even publishers and writers have never been supported by the government. So, what has the education minister in Indonesia been doing all this time? One more thing that makes Indonesians lazy to read is that they do not understand the benefits of reading, Indonesians have not felt the pleasure of reading quality books.
I want to invite my friends, especially Indonesians, to read books. Reading books is very useful, especially reading quality books, it will make us healthy and happy because the brain and body will be stimulated from the various knowledge contained in the book.
Not only that, reading books will reduce stress, make us smarter, make us civilized and moral, add insight, increase memory, increase the ability to focus on doing things, and entertain ourselves with ideas and imagination. There are so many benefits to be gained from reading books, right?
Therefore, we all must be diligent in reading books. Reading quality books is certainly very different when we read content on social media or watch the news on television. To be a superior and quality society we must have a healthy mind and conscience, this can be obtained by reading quality books. The government must also make programs and policies that can foster interest in reading for the community. That way we will all become a just and prosperous nation.
**The Lead Image Source by:** **https://unsplash.com/photos/-Yo1cWJVKFY**
Meaning of Freedom
During my stay in the city of Jakarta, I saw a lot of social events that were very silly and very strange. Minibus drivers who like to stop carelessly, even turn at will. If reprimanded, they will be indifferent and even often yell. Their classic excuse when yelling is "We're Just Making a living, Don't Disturb Us!" they said.
The same thing is done by motorcyclists (online motorcycle taxis). I often see them going in the opposite direction when on the highway, This is because they are lazy to turn even though they have a short distance. What they do is very dangerous, it can even cause an accident. If reprimanded, they will be indifferent and even often yell. Their classic excuse when yelling is "We're Just Making a living, Don't Disturb Us!" they said.
Another thing that happened in Jakarta was when a group of people was praying. They use loudspeakers when praying and sometimes shout very loudly with the loudspeakers. What if someone is sick and needs rest? what if a baby is sleeping? or meditators concentrate on silence, isn't that very disturbing? Things like this have been around for a long time, Their excuse is: "We are free of religion"
I quite understand their reasoning, because freedom is a natural human trait. Many people choose to die rather than be colonized or have their freedom taken away. In the world of philosophy of freedom, there are two definitions of freedom. the first is "freedom from" and "freedom to". Both are complementary and also one-unit. In my country, Indonesia, both types of freedom are protected by law, because my country has democratic laws. Law enforcers are also paid to protect these two freedoms.
However, I see that both types of freedom are increasingly being threatened. What makes these two types of freedom even more threatened are radical groups and religious extremists, their groups always force and often act violently. Then the capitalists and corporations like to suppress the rights of citizens such as evictions and land grabbing, it's because they are protected by the government and can bribe the authorities. And the last one is political leaders and corrupt governments, they deceive, fool, and even impoverish the people to this day.
The three groups (religious extremist groups, capitalists and corporations, government and officials) are very selfish. They want freedom, but they seize the freedom of others by oppressing them. They rejoice in the suffering of the people. This is not true freedom. Freedom must be properly understood, "Freedom to" must be limited to "freedom from". This is called true freedom. Individual freedom must respect the freedom of others as well.
Minibus drivers are free to earn money to provide for their families, but road users are also free to have regular roads. So the freedom of minibus drivers is limited by the freedom of other road users, so that minibus drivers can't go arbitrarily on the road. Likewise with motorcyclists and prayer. They must respect the freedom of others.
The first thing we prioritize is respecting freedom and respecting the rights of others, lest any freedom is sacrificed. That way, we can find a solution that is convenient for everyone. The need to earn money for life should not violate the needs of road users to be safe and comfortable. Likewise, the need for prayer must not violate the needs of people who want a quiet and comfortable environment.
Law enforcers who protect everyone's freedom must be firm, fair, and honest in their work. They should not be corrupt and accept bribes as is the case today. We even have to start having the courage to rebuke people who are selfish and violate the freedom of others. We must speak up and not be silent on anything wrong because we are a democratic society. Don't delay any more
**The lead image source by:** **https://unsplash.com/photos/5d20kdvFCfA**
Dangerous Cobras
In the 19th century, when the England government-controlled India, there was an epidemic that made the Delhi government stressed. The plague was called the cobra plague. Lots of cobras roaming there can even threaten people's lives.
The England government also had to intervene, the governments made a competition for the people of Delhi, For anyone who was able to catch a cobra and give it to the authorities, would be given a prize. The people in Delhi are happy and hunt cobras.
Despite such a policy, the number of cobras that roam in the city of Delhi has not decreased, but the gifts that must be given by the government are increasing. Incidents like this are very similar to the rat epidemic in the city of Hanoi when the French government took control of Vietnam.
After being traced, the cause of this problem was that many Delhi people were trading cobras at that time. Cobras are raised like cattle and bred. In the end, the government banned the activity and it became an illegal act. When there are people who keep cobras illegally, the England government arrests them, and the cobras are released from the cage. Finally, the city of Delhi was filled with cobras roaming the community.
Autoimmune Concept
In the medical world, there is a term called Autoimmunity. That is the state of the body that is attacked by the body's immunity. Immune, which is supposed to keep the body healthy, becomes a disease that attacks the body's cells.
Autoimmunity is a concept discussed by French philosopher Jacques Derrida when he talked about terrorism after the 9/11 attacks in America. According to him, it is a political Autoimmunity. The terrorists were formed by America itself. They were formed to protect America during the cold war against the Soviet Union. The terrorist group that was supposed to protect America attacked America back.
This event is an unwanted effect of a policy, and that adverse effect is called the cobra effect. Just like what happened in the city of Delhi in the 19th century, the England government's policy of wanting to solve the problem created a new, bigger problem.
The same thing happened in my country. The government's policy in dealing with Covid-19 cases has created fear and poverty. A policy like this may create the next terrorist movement.
There is an important thing that we must pay attention to regarding the cobra effect and political autoimmunity that has occurred, namely that both occur because of a lack of thinking. Governments who make policies only think technically, in thinking, critical and reflective power is needed. Don't just rely on technicals.
This lack of thinking is shaped by a narrow technocratic paradigm. Governments that make decisions in policy are only subject to data. The data is not always true, a lot of data is not the same as reality. Many of us are subject to data, this is because humans have lost their humanity.
The characteristics of humans who have lost their humanity are that there is no consideration of conscience, and even become deaf when people scream. Humans who still have their humanity will hear and know what the people need and want. This is what the government has forgotten in making a policy.
If the government has a clear conscience and is willing to hear what the people are going through, then the government will understand the source of the problems. The policies that are made will not create new, bigger problems. This kind of government figure is what the people need.
Mistake in taking a policy made by the government, usually due to dishonest interests. These policies only benefit themselves and their groups, so that the interests of the people are ignored and even sacrificed.
This wrong policy is sometimes also influenced by global pressure. Developing countries like mine follow the policies of developed countries like the European Union and the United States without critical thinking. The government is only submissive and obedient to global trends.
Avoid the Cobra Effect
The policy that was supposed to solve the problem created a new, bigger problem was the cobra policy. This must be prevented by the way the government and the people work together and can think critically and also reflectively in solving problems and challenges. Do not just rely on existing data, because the data is not necessarily true in reality.
Policies that are created must also be based on conscience and also rational. That way, the analysis of the root cause of the problem becomes precise, thus providing a useful solution to implement.
It is time for us to erase the personal and group interests that are carried out by bad governments. Only greedy corruptors put their personal and group interests first. Global trends should not be absolute views, everything must be viewed critically using rational common sense, not forgetting to use conscience and take sides with the people.
Wrong policies are created by wrong ways of thinking, this will destroy the nation and state. If this continues, what happened in India in the 19th century will repeat itself. The cobra effect and cobra policy will kill us all. Let's learn from historical experiences in the past, to create a harmonious and peaceful life.
**The lead Image source by:** **https://unsplash.com/photos/ys-5hNFH9HU**
Zen as a Method of Liberation from Suffering
Some of my new friends often ask me about my religion. They thought that I was a Buddhist. In fact, I was born and raised in a Muslim family. Even, I went to Madrasah (a school that learns about Islam), I currently practice Zen in my daily life, so my friends who are new to me think that I am religious. Buddhist.
What do you think? Is Buddhism and Zen practice a religion? For me, Buddhism and Zen meditation transcend religion. If I observe in detail, religion is nothing more than an institution that has a certain foundation of belief. Religion also binds every individual who adheres to it with all kinds of rules (especially the rules contained in the book). When viewed from the goal, religion wants to create an orderly life without chaos.
For me, Zen has that, to achieve liberation and enlightenment, Zen must adhere to the five basic precepts. The essence of the five basic precepts, no one should be hurt, no matter what the reason. That way, Zen that is practiced will give peace together. Zen to me, is more than a religion. Zen is a practice of human liberation that has a great method of bringing out human suffering for the actions of humans themselves. Even though Zen is very old, Zen and its methods are still practiced all over the world.
There are several reasons why I was drawn to practicing Zen and Buddhism. First, Buddhism and Zen can be studied by all groups, including certain religious circles, nobles, and commoners, to even atheists. So, Zen and Buddha can be used by anyone.
The second is, there is no absolute truth in Zen, all can be questioned and criticized. Unlike religious teachings which have absolute truth, so they should not be questioned and should not be criticized. Because the goal of Zen is to free man from the suffering created by his stupidity.
Third, Zen can be tested directly like a modern experimental science. Zen and Buddhist practitioners do not need to have excessive faith and belief. Those who practice and apply Zen can feel the benefits.
Fourth, Zen can educate everyone who practices it, because the basic goal of Zen is liberation and enlightenment. Zen provides knowledge and wisdom about how this world works as it is, including how the human mind and mind work accurately. It is because of this knowledge of Zen that man can escape suffering and ignorance.
If we deepen the teachings of Zen, it means that we also deepen the knowledge of religion as well as liberation, because, in the practice of zen, humans must understand that thoughts and emotions are empty and temporary, so humans do not need to pursue what they think. In addition, Zen also teaches us to understand who we are. Human identity and consciousness are pure and empty, yet fully alive.
In Zen where there is wisdom and knowledge, there is also the peace that humans need to find happiness. If we all embrace zen, the world will become more beautiful for every creature to live in. Because Zen also has moral foundations that are taught by the world's major religions in a rational, critical, and effective way to free people from suffering.
Without having to convert, without having to say any words, and without any baptism, we can all learn Zen to free ourselves from suffering and on the path of enlightenment.
***The Lead Image Source:*** ***https://unsplash.com/photos/Uq3gTiPlqR***o https://unsplash.com/photos/Uq3gTiPlqRo
The Violent Patriarch Who Refuses to Die
Woman. From her womb, we are all conceived, and born into the world. However, in a broken society, women continue to be victims. In various fields of life, women experience injustice. In every conflict, women are the biggest victims. They were not only killed but raped and tortured, before being forced to die.
Some Data
The National Commission for Women reported that there were 299,911 cases of violence against women in Indonesia. This is the official record. The case was handled by various institutions, ranging from the District Court, the Religious Courts, to the reference institution of the National Commission for Women. 79% of cases are cases in the household/personal realm. The total is 6480 cases. In it, there is 50% Violence Against Wives, totaling 3221 cases.
Dating violence occurred in 1309 cases (20%). Meanwhile, violence against girls occurred in 954 cases (15%). Other violence occurred with ex-girlfriends, ex-husbands, and violence against domestic workers. The pattern of violence did not change much, namely physical violence in 2025 cases (31%). This was followed by sexual violence in 1983 (30%), psychological violence in 1792 cases (28%), and economic violence with 680 cases (10%).
With all the progress of human culture and civilization, violence against women remains sustainable. In the century of a million information and convenience, our behavior in Indonesia is still far from civilized. Its roots are patriarchal culture. It is ancient, but refuses to die, and has even strengthened in this century.
Patriarchy is a way of thinking that gives birth to a social system, where men hold the main power and oppress women in various fields of life. Patriarchy becomes a set of teachings that justify the oppression of men against women. It can be a biological-physical explanation, even a theological-religious explanation. This word comes from a Greek word that means "rules made by the father".
Spread out
This understanding permeates the world religions that are spread in Indonesia. Religion is also a justification for the oppression of women. Oppression is justified because it is considered by God's will. Men are considered, by nature, to be wiser, and have the right to rule women's lives. So, the oppression of women by men is not only considered normal but also considered as something sacred.
In Indonesian politics, patriarchal culture is also widespread. Don't expect women to become presidents in Indonesia. It goes against religion and culture. In many cases, women also cannot work in politics freely, unless they have strong financial and political support.
In the economic field, women also tend to be paid less. This is happening not only in Indonesia but all over the world. With the same workload and responsibilities, women continue to be marginalized in terms of wages. Women are also more difficult to get a promotion than men.
In everyday life in Indonesia, women are constantly oppressed. They are forced to work at home, so they do not have sufficient economic resources to be independent. They tend to be victims of violence from men with a patriarchal mentality. Their bodies were feared, so women had to cover themselves from head to toe, like walking blankets.
In bed, women are also obliged to serve their husbands. Religion and culture justify all this oppression. In the media, women are always the object of sale. The beauty of her body is commercialized for sale.
Because of being oppressed for so long, many Indonesian women take this patriarchal oppression for granted. They gave up. They argue, oppression is something natural and willed by the Divine. Not surprisingly, many Indonesian women also have a patriarchal mentality. They celebrate the oppression of themselves and participate in the oppression of other women.
Understanding Roots
The oppression of women is not something natural. Nor is it God's will. The oppression is made by rotten rulers to preserve their power and wealth. The rulers also wore religious and cultural masks to justify their rotten attitude.
Not surprisingly, capitalism is very close to patriarchy. Capitalism wants to increase existing capital by all means. If necessary, suppression and violence are used. Women are the biggest victims of the spread of global capitalism.
A group of men has money and power. They want to keep it all and enlarge it. For that, they build the ideology of racism, patriarchy, and global capitalism. Religious leaders and intellectuals were also bribed to perpetuate all these injustices.
Way out
Five things could be done. First, we must be sensitive to the existence of a patriarchal mindset in various areas of our lives. At work, we must learn to be sensitive to this oppression. We also need to do the same in our families.
Two, we must also do deep self-reflection. Am I someone with a patriarchal mentality? Am I bullying women for my sake? Do my religion and culture still like to oppress women?
Three, of the two things, we must begin to dare to be critical of oppression. We must have the courage to speak up when we see the oppression of women. We must dare to criticize ourselves, as well as critique our community, whether at work, religion, culture, or family. We must not ignore the oppression of women, let alone participate in it because we benefit from it.
Fourth, we must also begin to actively participate in women's empowerment organizations or human rights as a whole. Social change can only be born from social movements. Social movements can only be born from organizations with noble missions that refuse to remain silent in the face of oppression. Such is the law of social change, as Noam Chomsky wrote.
Five, the resistance movement against patriarchy must involve many parties. Religious groups are invited to change and to fight. Political parties are also invited to do the same. Only by cooperating with various parties can the resistance movement against patriarchy be victorious.
Patriarchy is vile. They oppress and torment the wombs that gave birth to us. In this 21st century, it should not be allowed to exist. It's time, patriarchy becomes part of the study of history because it should be extinct from our way of thinking and social system.
**Lead image source by:** **https://unsplash.com/photos/GqYh4FQJeKY**
Licking Honey on a Sharp Knife
Good food makes you full. Hundreds of flavors dance on the tongue. Enjoy it for a moment. The price is expensive, the money comes out a lot, and the feeling of heaviness in the whole body, due to excessive satiety. Partying with friends is certainly fun. Moreover, if we party all night accompanied by good food or alcohol. However, in the morning, there was a price to pay. Headaches and stomach aches will usually come to visit. Body friction with the lover is exciting. The ultimate pleasure of having sex is also missed. Just a moment, then tired came knocking. If making love is done without commitment and true sense, guilt also often visits.
Bloody Honey
That is the hallmark of bodily pleasure. There is a price to pay afterward. Oftentimes, the price is so high that it leads us to suffer. It's like licking honey on a sharp knife: sweet but bloody and full of pain.
Some addictions beg to be fulfilled. If it is not fulfilled, suffering arises in the mind and body. This pattern has happened time and time again. However, we often forget and fall into a similar pit.
At first, it was a wish. If it does not materialize, suffering will come. If it materializes, greed comes. People want more because he is already addicted. This is the characteristic of the untrained mind.
So, realized or not, the desire will lead to disappointment. The desire that is realized will end in greater suffering. We are lifted, then we fall. The pain is much more real and lasts longer.
Oftentimes, the failure of a wish is a great blessing in life. We fell but were spared the bullets that hit. So, don't bemoan "failure". Unfortunately, we often do not understand this.
Keep Changing
The problem is not in enjoyment but the ever-changing nature of reality. Nothing is permanent in this world. What is born must die. Nothing escapes this eternal law.
In the past, certain things brought pleasure. After a while, the feeling went away. It becomes bland and tasteless. What was delicious in the past becomes disgusted at this time.
It's not just things that change. Humans have changed. His mind changed. His taste changed. What used to make him happy now no longer touches his heart.
Pursuing pleasure means getting lost in the ups and downs of life. It must be tiring. Not infrequently, the desire to end one's life comes to the fore. This would be the source of human suffering today.
So, peace does not come from pleasure. True peace and happiness are born experiencing the world as it is. From moment to moment, everything appears as it is. Love or hate is only a background that is no longer meaningful.
as wide as the ocean
We melt with the moment. There is no longer a separate "I" from "around me". This moment becomes eternal. It gives true peace.
The mind becomes like the ocean. It is calm and at the same time accommodates the roar of the waves. She is still graceful and accepting of everything. The mind becomes as wide as the ocean.
From the vastness of this ocean, we act. At times, new circumstances emerge. We spontaneously respond. Not less, and not too much.
Don't be tempted to lick the honey over a sharp knife. Don't fall into the same hole. Stay aware. Stay open to everything. As wide as the ocean.
**Lead image source by:** **https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-predator-woman-blond-licking-knife-image62924176**
The soul of the citizens of Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital city of the Republic of Indonesia. Until now, Jakarta is still the center of various political, economic, and cultural activities in Indonesia. In 2020, there were around 36 million people who officially became citizens of Jakarta, mainly due to transmigration for decades. The city is also the second-largest city in the world, after Tokyo in Japan.
I have lived for about 28 years in Jakarta. I was born and raised in Jakarta, so I experienced direct association with Jakarta residents. There is an impetus to provide an overview that is based on my experience and analysis.
Jakarta People
As a general framework, I developed an analysis of Mochtar Lubis' 1977 cultural speech at Taman Ismail Marzuki entitled Indonesian Man. Five things need to be considered. First, Indonesian people are hypocrites. I think the same characteristics are easily found in Jakarta people.
Hypocrisy is a characteristic of people who do evil but cover it with things that are considered noble. Religion is often a symbol of hypocrisy. Jakarta has a variety of places of worship, and the number is growing, although most are without permits. However, the level of corruption, intolerance, and violent conflict, especially against women and children, ranks the highest in Indonesia.
Two, the people of Jakarta do not want to be responsible for their actions. This is easily seen in traffic behavior as well as in terms of cleanliness. There is no concern for the way of living together, nor the preservation of the environment. The perpetrators of violations also often run away, if they see or will be dealt with by law enforcement.
Three, Jakarta people have a feudal mentality. They highly revere positions, be it military, religious, government, or economic positions. Personal content and original nature are not considered, as long as people hold positions that are considered important in society. These people also often act arbitrarily, such as violating existing rules and laws, without caring, because they can hide behind their positions.
The most visible behavior of officials. On the highway, they often cut people's paths. They don't want to queue. The police or the army are also used to split traffic jams. This is sad because they all live on public money.
Four, Jakartans are fond of the occult. They are diligent in praying, to ask for something, usually related to wealth or beauty. Facing disease, they often do not use the modern medical system, but rather a shaman whose background is not clear. Not surprisingly, when the COVID-19 pandemic reached its peak, Jakarta was badly affected.
Five, the people of Jakarta are weak in character. They like to steal and lie when the opportunity arises. They don't care about morality, etiquette, or the law, as long as no law enforcement officer is paying attention. Hundreds of times, I have experienced firsthand how it feels to be cheated by Jakartans with bad character.
Weak character is also evident from the management of emotions. Jakartans tend to get angry easily. Small mistakes can lead to fights, even death. Jakartans tend to be impatient, so it is difficult to queue, especially when driving.
They also tend not to be on time. As far as I remember, I have never met a Jakartan person who was on time, when he made a promise. They use rubber clocks. If it's late, there's often no reasonable explanation, let alone an apology.
The majority of Jakartans also often pray aloud. They disturb the surrounding environment. The sick, and the lovers of silence, will not be able to find peace in Jakarta. The issue of worshiping loudly, and disturbing the peace together, has become a long-standing problem in Jakarta that has never been handled properly by its leaders.
Distance from Jakarta
After all, I am a Jakartan. This almost submerged and chaotic city is my hometown. I was lucky because I studied philosophy, so I can be quite reflective and critical of my own culture. This is not obtained by many people in Jakarta.
A bright spot also appears behind the darkness of the city of Jakarta. The people are very friendly, especially if you have the same interests, such as automotive, art and so on. I have been repeatedly greeted on the street by people I don't know, but who have the same type of motorbike. On the sidelines of the chaos of the capital city, this hospitality often refreshes the mind.
Can these six things also apply to describe Indonesian people? I think it's more or less the same. Several differences arise, due to geographical and cultural differences. What do you think?
Multiple Analysis
The general description above is not meant to be flat. Of course, there are some exceptions. There are people from Jakarta who are quite open, solidarity with those who are in need, and have a capable character. However, this is still a small exception to the whole that exists.
The number of immigrants also affects the atmosphere of Jakarta. For the newcomers, Jakarta is just a place to make money. There is no meaningful inner bond, so they tend not to care. This is rooted in four things that need to be noticed.
First, Jakarta is poor in its political example. Its political leaders do not set an example of a good nation and state life. They tend to be snobby, and don't care about the plight of the people who voted for them. Several strong allegations of corruption are currently taking place at the top of Jakarta's leadership.
Two, political mismanagement has a direct impact on the state of the economy. Jakarta is a very slum city. There are so many slums scattered all over Jakarta. This was accompanied by the presence of several super-luxury settlements which made the situation even more absurd. This situation is allowed to continue, especially by the leadership of Jakarta in 2021.
Three, as a democratic legal state based on Pancasila, the law plays an important role. The law will only be effective, efficient, and fair if its enforcers have integrity. Unfortunately, law enforcement in Jakarta is selective and is still very open to the practice of bribery. Political, economic, and corrupt rulers tend to get relief. Meanwhile, the helpless poor people continue to be dealt with firmly.
Fourth, the deepest root of course is the very low quality of education. A culture of rottenness, reverence, and blind adherence to both tradition and religion destroys education in Jakarta, as well as in Indonesia. Humans who graduate from the education system also tend to be of low quality, shallow, intolerant and radical in religion. Jakarta's education system has been wiped out by the religious radicalism of death.
Five, radicals will always be there. However, if they were dealt with firmly to the root, they would become powerless. This does not happen in Jakarta. Religious radicals are nurtured and used for the narrow interests of political and economic rulers. Religious life in Jakarta has become of very low quality, starting from the spread of terrorism to noise pollution that is almost unbearable.
Jakarta's Future
Can Jakarta still be saved? The answer is of course positive. Technology and science have enabled humans to deal with various natural phenomena that are full of uncertainty. However, a change in the way Jakartans think and live is necessary.
Hypocrisy must be raised clearly. Don't let religion or morals be used to cover up rot. We must also learn to be responsible for our lives, as well as for the environment around us. Feudal culture must be bulldozed to the roots. All humans are equal before the law and before the Creator.
A culture of scientific thinking must be developed. Common sense and a clear conscience must be empowered. The occult and radical mentality in religion must be lost to the roots. It all starts with daring to develop a capable self-character, starting from being punctual, honest, obeying the law, and being religious in a civilized manner.
The quality of political leadership certainly plays an important role. So, the people of Jakarta must choose the right governor. Do not be fascinated by sweet mouths, but corrupt and radical in religion. Pay attention to real performance.
Only in this way, economic and legal problems can begin to be corrected. Education can be developed by eliminating the culture of rote, blind obedience, and reverence. Religious radicalism can also be eliminated from Jakarta's education to its roots. If all this is done, Jakarta can become the capital of Indonesia.
Jakarta can be a role model for all other regions. Don't delay anymore.
**Lead image source:** **https://unsplash.com/photos/mAxA2OmTmKA**
Returning the Dharma to the Archipelago
About 1000 years ago, Indonesia was the home of knowledge. Many people from various nationalities come and study here. Of course, at that time, there was no Indonesia. At that time, Indonesia was a collection of several kingdoms that had wide political, cultural, and economic influence.
You could say, at that time, Nusantara, Indonesia, was a Dharma country. The eternal laws of nature are clearly described and applied in life. Man attains admirable moral, spiritual and intellectual enlightenment. Our archipelago has become a magnet for wisdom seekers.
Dharma is not just a matter of theory. It is a view of life that must be a daily action. It not only gives birth to understanding but also true wisdom and happiness. It brings people to deliverance from the sufferings and sorrows of the world.
Everything is Temporary
However, the Dharma also states, that nothing lasts forever. Nobility must end when the time comes. Evil must also flourish when the time comes. The great kingdoms of the archipelago collapsed under civil war and colonization for more than 500 years. The archipelago has become a state of Adharma, namely a country, where ignorance and crime are rampant, until now.
Pantha Rei, everything flows. So said Herakleitos, one of the ancient Greek thinkers. Ignorance and evil are part of nature. So, he has the right to live and develop. The universe has a place for all, including those that are considered dilapidated and disgusting.
However, in 2021, we are fed up with stupidity and evil. We are tired of seeing politics filled with corruptors and religious radicals. We are saddened to see religion reduced to a tool to justify stupidity and conflict between people. In this 21st century, especially in 2021, Indonesia is in a Dharma emergency: we need Dharma as soon as possible.
Returning the Dharma to the Archipelago
The most important element of Dharma is living following reality as it is. This is deep in the traditions of Asian thought, especially from India and China. For that, two things become very important, namely common sense and clarity of conscience. Indonesian people need to sharpen their senses and listen to their conscience clear so that they can live together in a just and civilized way.
Two things would need to be done. First, Dharma views should be spread as widely as possible. We are lucky because we live in an era of rapid development of information and communication technology. We can search for data and share it immediately. Here, Dharma should be the top priority.
Two, Dharma is not just a theory, but a way of life. Thus, the Dharma practice community should be as wide open as possible. These communities must be supported in various ways so that they can plant the seeds of Dharma not only in the archipelago but also throughout the world. The seeds of Dharma are to train awareness, hone wisdom, develop love, common sense, and a clean conscience.
In a country pierced by ignorance and evil, the challenge of spreading the Dharma is indeed great. Even if it can be done, the fruit of success cannot be reaped immediately. What is sown now may only be reaped in future generations. However, here and now, we who are still alive must try our best. All for the safety of the universe.
We must keep in mind that returning Dharma to the Archipelago is a difficult task, but a very noble one. We should also continue to develop our insight and practice mindfulness under the umbrella of the Dharma. Sometimes, we fail and drift away in anger or stupidity for a moment. We just have to go back to the moment, and start again, without ever stopping.
Hopefully, the Indonesian Archipelago can return to being a Dharma House that brings peace to all creation.
**Lead image source:** **https://unsplash.com/photos/wIyAsunhuOY**
Be a Dog or a Lion
The program to limit community activities is not finished. October 2021, that torturous policy continues. People are tormented in poverty and uncertainty. Meanwhile, government officials and political leaders live comfortably in their official homes, with fixed salaries every month from public money.
That's probably what torments the mind of a friend (and me too). Amid the void of activity, his mind wanders to the past. He remembered his bloody divorce. It happened a dozen years ago, but it feels like it happened yesterday.
It wasn't just the past that tormented him. Uncertainty about the future is also gripping. How to run life, if there is no definite income? How to live in a country that continues to fool and impoverish its people?
In his turmoil, he remembered the family in the village. He was ashamed to go home, because there was no cost, and would only trouble them. Anxiety is getting higher. He was not only worried but also homesick.
Physical symptoms began to appear. The heart beats fast and hard. A cold sweat. Headache stabbing. Did he have a heart attack? Or maybe a panic attack?
This is a story that happens a lot in my country. The policy of limiting activities without stopping, without adequate economic policies and social assistance from the government, is killing the people. Many people are angry but still helpless. In poverty and loneliness, and far from the homes that are longed for, my friend is drifting more and more in a vortex of suffering.
Become a Dog
Dogs are man's best friends. She is so beautiful. He is so loyal. In many ways, dogs are more perfect than humans.
When playing toss the ball, the dog chases the ball. It keeps doing it automatically. Anything threw, he will chase it. It's an almost irreversible pattern of dog behavior.
Oftentimes, we too are like dogs. We chase our thoughts. Our thoughts are toward the past, we are chasing it. Thoughts to the future, we are chasing it. We chase illusions, then tire ourselves out.
There's something good, we're after it. There is something ugly, we run away from it. Mind we keep running. It never settles down in the here and now.
We also chase memories. We feel it is real. Trauma, we follow. Anxiety and fear, we follow. Our lives are swayed by our inner turmoil.
Forms and thoughts are illusions. It doesn't exist in reality. Everything in the real world is our inner creation. Modern physics and neuroscience studies have come to this conclusion.
My friends, and sometimes me too, are like dogs. We're both chasing our minds. We are both after material things. It was all an illusion. It is constantly changing and has no real essence of its own.
We are like a dog chasing its tail. We're tired. We are frustrated and suffering. Also, no results were obtained.
Become a Lion
What happens, if we throw a stick in front of a lion? He will attack us. The lion doesn't chase the stick. He chased the stick thrower.
It's chasing the source. He is not affected by things that change. He looks for the origin of the throw. We need to learn from the lion.
We don't need to chase after material things or thoughts that arise. We don't need to chase memories. Instead, we need to find the source of these thoughts and memories. Here, we move from illusion to reality.
When we seek the source of thought and memory, we will meet consciousness. We will escape the illusion. We will wake up to reality as it is. We will wake up to the truth here and now itself.
Everything is a creation of consciousness. Colors smells and forms are creations of consciousness. It is all formed in a complex mechanism with the human brain and nervous structure. So, what needs to be touched is not thoughts, memories, or material things, but the consciousness that is the source of all these things.
Consciousness is life. He is the creator of all things. It is empty, yet fully conscious. It also has no limits.
We need to stay there. Moment by moment, direct our attention to the source of everything within. Don't chase material things. Don't chase thoughts or memories.
We too live in the truth. We come out of our illusions. We also escape from the gripping suffering. We too experience true freedom.
Criticizing Activity Restrictions
In times like this, we are asked to keep our distance. We are asked to stay at home. If we learn from the lion and touch the source of both thought and memory, then we will be at peace with ourselves. We still feel peaceful, even though there are not many activities, and away from the crowds.
Only after that, we can quite clearly see the situation. We can start strategizing to survive. We can criticize a government that makes fools and impoverishes its people. Then, we can also do something to help people who are in trouble.
We stop imitating the behavior of dogs and start to become the lions in our lives. Don't delay anymore!
**Lead Image Source by:** **https://www.pinterest.at/pin/390828073886744909/**
We have to let go of something rotten
Humans are unique creatures. On the one hand, they can be so enlightened and wise. The values of life and the great civilization he built. However, on the other hand, they can be so mean and stupid. They can be so stupid in the face of decay. Something is destructive. However, they did it anyway. They didn't take it off. As a result, his life becomes chaotic and makes other people also restless.
Destructive But Maintain
There are five common examples. First, in politics, the culture of corruption, collusion, and nepotism threaten the integrity of the nation. The people became poor and divided. The country is in danger of being destroyed.
Two, in various organizations, the mental of reverence continues to be sustainable. Performance is ignored. What counts is praise and false bullshit against the boss. As a result, the organization is filled with sycophants, performance is chaotic, and ultimately also in danger of being destroyed.
Three, the religion of death also remains firmly held. This religion has damaged the noble culture of the nation, disrupted living together, killed innocent people, and made a fool of society. The religion of death also makes the nation poor for a long time. Amid various crises, due to the influence of the religion of death, we continue to sink further and further.
Four, we continue to curry favor with foreign nations. We miss investment, aka foreign capital injections. We forget our own nation's resources. Systematically, the government continues to impoverish its people with various misguided policies.
Five, overall, our nation is lazy to use common sense. We are ignorant in the face of decay. We silence the damage. Old problems have not been resolved, even bigger, while new problems have appeared before our eyes.
Why Are We Stupid?
There are five root causes. First, we don't think critically. We do not see any other possibility of the existing situation. We are trapped in destructive habits, in a corrupt culture, with neither the will nor the courage to question them.
Two, our nation is not used to learning. We are not used to digging for information that is based on common sense and a critical attitude. As a result, we remain stupid. We stay stuck in old destructive habits.
Three, the root of all this is the very, very low quality of education. Ministers and education officials do not understand the true nature of education. The content and education system that is built does not match the changing times in the 21st century. This makes us poor in common sense and critical reasoning so that we are unable to make the necessary changes. In the 21st century, we remain a stupid and poor nation, due to mismanagement.
Fourth, many people are already aware of the various damages that have occurred. However, they are afraid to change. They are afraid to speak up, because of the social pressures of death's culture and religion. They are afraid of being ostracized, or excluded, from social interaction, and even afraid of going to prison in a corrupt legal system.
Five, people who are aware of it are also often frightened by the threat of an empty hell. If you think well and think critically, say the proponents of the religion of death, people can go to hell. In fact, for thousands of years of the existence of religions, there is not a single real proof that hell exists. It is precisely those who spread the religion of death that make life in this world full of poverty and ignorance, like in "hell".
Then, how?
The solution is to reverse the five causes above. We must dare to question old habits. We must become human beings who continue to learn with common sense and a critical attitude. We must push for a total change in the content and system of education in Indonesia towards the development of a critical attitude, common sense, and the sharpening of conscience.
We must have the courage to face social pressures. We must be agents of change in our families and our work. We must have the courage to reject the false teachings of the religion of death. For too long this nation has been fooled and impoverished by the religion of death. On the other hand, we must dare to develop the religion of life, namely a religion that is culturally friendly, educates the people, is fair to women, and builds peace in living together.
A fool is like eating rotten fruit but doesn't want to have a stomach ache. This is stupid. If extended, he could die and trouble many people. It's time we put an end to this stupidity. Wake up!!
**Lead image source by** **https://unsplash.com/photos/vf4O1OwtPnk**
The Art of Reading “Books/Scriptures”
We think, there is what is called a book or scripture. The book was written by the holy people. In fact, the book is considered descended directly from the Creator. Its contents are considered absolute truth, and should not be questioned again.
This assumption is very wrong. There are no holy books in this world. All books, without exception, are the work of humans. It was written at one time with a specific purpose.
So, there are no holy books. There is a "book that is considered sacred". Its sanctity depends on our agreement alone. We, by the power of our wills and thoughts, give the impression of holiness to the books.
Dangerous Thought
The notion that a book is a direct work of God is not only naive but also dangerous. The book is used as the only guide to life, thus justifying our stupidity. We become lazy to use our common sense and our critical attitude. We also become deaf to our conscience.
We also often use the book for violence. We kill people who disagree. We are being unfair to the general public. We carry bombs, only because of the contents of the (heretic) book.
So, the various “books that are considered sacred” must be read properly. It should not be read carelessly. It cannot be read literally. It cannot be taken for granted.
All books, including “books that are considered sacred” should be read with common sense. It should be read with a critical attitude. It should not make people deaf to the voice of conscience. For that, four things need to be considered.
Four Principles
First, we must understand the original language of the book. We must also understand the original meaning of the language at the time the book was written. If we only read translated works, we easily fall into misunderstandings. Finally, we can hurt ourselves, or others, because of these misunderstandings.
Second, we must also understand the circumstances, when the book was written. We must understand the political, social, economic, and cultural conditions at the time when the book was written. In this way, we understand very well the main purpose of the presence of the book. We do not fall into misunderstandings that lead to stupidity, or conflicts with other people.
Third, we must also be aware that the world is constantly changing. Reading a book that is considered sacred must also pay attention to the changing times. The meaning we perceive must also change, according to the times and human consciousness. A text from a "book that is considered sacred" must have a dialogue with an increasingly complex era. Only in this way, the book can offer good value in the changing times.
Fourth, the contents in the “books that are considered sacred” should not stop us from thinking with common sense, critical attitude, and conscience. The book should not be an excuse for stupidity. Nor should it be a basis for violence, whatever its form. The reading of the book which is considered sacred must preserve and develop all expressions of life, without exception.
True Spirituality
In the end, we must realize that these “books that are considered sacred” are the way to God. It is just a tool. The contents of the books are not to be deified or to be believed blindly. If its contents keep us away from love and wisdom, then the book should be read differently, or put away.
We must also not forget that the spiritual journey must transcend all forms of books. We must touch that which is beyond words and concepts, namely God Himself. This is the highest peak of the spiritual journey. Don't let books that are considered sacred make us cling and get lost, so we can't touch God directly.
To touch God is to touch universal love itself. We come into contact with true peace and happiness. Then, we can act as needed. If it is necessary to be firm and strict, for the sake of justice and humanity, we will do so. If it needs to be gentle and warm, we will do that too.
If everyone reads the books that are considered sacred properly, then there will be no stupidity and conflict in the name of religion. The world will be much better. Religion can bring the blessings of true happiness and peace. Isn't that what we all want?
**Lead image by** **https://unsplash.com/photos/W8Qqn1PmQH0**
Is this life Meaningless?
Albert Camus, a French existentialist philosopher, has an interesting point of view. For him, there is only one important thing to think about in life, namely whether we should kill ourselves or not? Is life worth living, or not? He asked like that because life is absurd and makes no sense.
From childhood, we learn. We work. We continue to develop ourselves. But, eventually, we have to get sick, grow old and then die. Isn't this absurd?
All our efforts disappear when we die. All our struggles are in meaningless when we die. Money, power, and intelligence, fought for for years, vanished in the blink of an eye. It's as if life is meaningless.
We try to do good. However, the bad and corrupt people are getting richer and more powerful. We try to work honestly. However, luck did not come.
We believe and pray. However, not many changes have come. In fact, amid the economic crisis and pandemics, life is even more difficult. The religion we love is used to divide society.
Life is absurd, Camus said. However, we cannot be discouraged. Instead, we should celebrate that absurdity. We should rejoice in all of it.
We need to enjoy the whole process. We need to be people who persevere in business. The results are not in our hands. Often, although accompanied by hard efforts, the results also never arrive.
Mandala Sand Painting
In Tibet, there is a tradition of sand painting. The object of the painting is the Mandala. It is a symbol of the world in its most idealized version. It is balanced, detailed in design, and very pleasing to the eye.
Mandalas are painted to purify the world and are considered to be able to heal the world from suffering. This kind of suffering comes, because of human stupidity. They are greedy and hate each other.
Mandalas are more than just ordinary paintings. It is made of sand. The process is very complicated. There are millions of grains of sand that are assembled to paint a detailed mandala with a variety of colors.
It had to be painted by several people. At a minimum, one mandala painting takes 2 weeks to make. The larger the size of the sand painting, the longer and more complicated the process. Hundreds of ancient colors and symbols are very detailed in it.
Usually, it is the Tibetan Buddhist monks who paint. They have to duck for hours to do it. One by one the grains of sand are assembled in detail. For them, it is the practice of meditation. They direct their awareness to a community project that is done together.
After weeks, even months, of working, the Monks prayed together. Then, they destroyed the painting. The detailed and beautiful sand painting was destroyed in a matter of seconds. There's nothing left.
Usually, the sand leftover from the painting is distributed among the people. Some are also dumped into the nearest watercourse. The magnificent painting that was made with great effort by many people was deliberately destroyed. In just a few seconds, months of hard work vanished in an instant.
Looking for the Real
Isn't this absurd? But, that's life. The message from Camus and the Tibetan Monks is similar, that everything is temporary. All efforts will end in nothingness. All things that appear will also come to an end.
Life is beautiful. But, not real. It is precious, yet so fragile and temporary. This is a lesson we must always remember.
Everything, however beautiful, will disappear without a trace. The greatest people in history are now buried in the ground. The mighty kingdoms of the past are now just stories. Once upon a time, humans did not exist. Now, we exist and rule the world. However, one day, we too will be gone.
We can be smart. We can be rich and powerful. However, it was all temporary. Soon, we will age, get sick and die. The pandemic seems to have accelerated that.
Therefore, in this short life, we need to do important things. We can't get caught up in all that is temporary. We must seek what is eternal and sacred within each one of us. This is the essence of the spiritual path.
The spiritual path transcends religious boundaries. The spiritual path leads us to our original selves, i.e. the pure consciousness that is the observer of everything. This pure consciousness is the essence of life itself. It was never born, and will never end. this is eternity. This is the energy of the universe itself. This is "God".
Touching pure consciousness means transcending life and death. This is the essence of enlightenment and liberation from suffering. The body can be destroyed. The ability of the mind may decrease. We can age, get sick and die.
However, we will be far from suffering. We will always have the clarity and peace needed to deal with any situation. The key is to know our true selves through meditation or other spiritual paths (Zen, Yoga, Dzogchen, and Advaita).
**Lead Image Source by** **depositphotos.com** https://id.depositphotos.com/stock-photos/pasir-mandala.html?qview=50493805
When Reason Dims, What's the Price?
Humans are creatures that can reason. This all happened, thanks to millions of years of evolution that developed the structure of the brain. The newest part of the brain, namely the Prefrontal Cortex, is here to provide reasoning abilities for humans. With this, humans can analyze the situation, consider it rationally and make decisions that suit their needs.
With this ability, humans can survive. The human physique is weak compared to other creatures. Nature tends to be cruel to the weak. However, with the power of reason, and the ability to work together, humans can survive amid the ferocity of nature.
With reason, humans can develop culture. Literary and artistic works developed in various parts of the world. Magnificent buildings stand tall adorning the land and mountains. Humans are also the dominant creatures on this earth.
Unfortunately, because of hundreds of years of colonialism (from the Netherlands, England, Japan, the New Order to the Order of the Oligarchy), common sense in my country did not develop. Education kills common sense and critical attitude. our nation can only be a nation of obedient and mindless followers. Poverty and ignorance spread so fast and so deep here.
What's the Price to Pay?
When reason dims, what is the price to pay? There are seven important things. First, the religion of death is widespread here. The religion of death is a religion that kills culture, creates conflict, and destroys the weak, especially women and children. The religion of death perpetuates the ignorance of its people with unreasonable teachings that are heretical and outdated.
Two, state policies are not appropriate to develop their people. Foreign influences, especially from the Middle East, entered the local wisdom. The economy is controlled by a handful of greedy and corrupt people. Religion, with its false offer of heaven, becomes a shield of justification for all the irregularities that exist.
Three, with time, we have become increasingly filthy and poor. The capital that is getting destroyed is drowned by greed and the destruction of nature. An island that is sinking deeper into slums and poverty. In the midst of it all, a few people steal treasures and become rich amid the poverty of hundreds of millions of people.
Fourth, a nation whose reasoning dimly stutters in the face of a crisis. The crisis is part of national and global politics. Crises, ranging from economic crises, environmental crises to pandemics, always hit so hard and created so many victims. A nation with dim reasoning, like us, will continue to be rocked violently by the crisis, until it is destroyed.
Five, in the relentless crash of crisis, nostalgia was born. The past seems more beautiful. A nation with dim reasoning will glorify the past while forgetting to build both the present and the future. The invitation to think and dress like an old-fashioned person was strengthened.
Sixth, with the dim of reason, democracy becomes flawed. Elected leaders tend to be corrupt and shallow. They only care about false image and appearance. Placing banners is more important than real work achievements to build the nation.
Seven, the dim of reason will destroy the nation. We have seen examples in Middle Eastern countries. Politics, religion, and the economy are managed with dim reasoning. Until this moment, the Middle East continues to be hit by endless bloody conflicts.
Why Dim Reason?
There are three basic reasons. First, the reasoning of a nation is dim, because its people are cowards to think critically. They are enslaved by traditions and religions that kill beauty and destroy the order of living together. Cowardice to think critically will spread a religion of death that destroys the fabric of living together.
Two, the lack of reason is the fruit of the low quality of education. The quality of education here is very, very low. Its officials do not understand education and continue to make destructive policies. As a result, education here is finished off by religious radicalism, which fools and impoverishes the nation.
Three, our nation is poor in exemplary from society. There are no examples of good statesmen or public figures. Most are greedy, shallow, and trapped in religious radicalism. Forward-thinking and critical individuals tend to be marginalized.
These three things are not absolute. It has long been a disease of the nation. The elected leaders seemed unconcerned about this. It's time it stopped here. We must show civic courage to reason critically and soundly, especially in politics, economics, and religion.
We must have the courage to pressure the government to elect enlightened education officials. We must also have the courage to exercise social control over leaders who are corrupt and touched by religious radicalism. For too long this nation has been immersed in the darkness of common sense. Wake up!
**The lead image source:** **https://unsplash.com/photos/5p-3r7kBhKc**
Dzogchen: Pearl from Tibet for the World
We live in a world that is gripped by fear. Families and relatives are threatened with life by the COVID-19 pandemic. News of death strikes every day, also from close relatives and relatives. Every second, our lives feel like they are on the brink.
In addition to living healthy, we also need to stay sane. The two cannot be separated. Being sane means that we can still reasonably well, even though circumstances are constantly changing. We can remain calm and clear in the face of a crisis that continues to haunt us.
It is at this point that spirituality becomes important. Spirituality is not filled with unreasonable rules. nor is it filled with the threat of hell or unfounded hopes of heaven. On the other hand, spirituality offers the peace and clarity needed to overcome life's various challenges.
As far as my experience goes, Buddhism goes into detail about this spirituality. Close to my heart are the teachings of Zen. It aims to help people experience their true selves before conceptual thoughts and emotions arise. I am also close to the Yoga and Advaita Vedanta traditions of India.
Recently, I came across a meditation school of Tibetan Buddhism. His name is Dzogchen. The meaning of this word is "Great Perfection". This sect is widespread throughout the world, transcending religious, ethnic, and racial boundaries.
Dzogchen is a flow of meditation that touches the deepest and subtlest elements of the human mind. It is considered the highest meditation school in Tibetan Buddhism. It directly brings people to touch the pure consciousness (rigpa) within them. In the blink of an eye, people realize the Buddha within them.
Buddha is pure consciousness (rigpa). It is the basis of all human inner experience. All humans have it. However, because it is buried for a long time by thoughts and emotions, and has never been trained to be recognized, it is as if it does not exist.
By touching rigpa, good things will naturally flow, including wisdom, happiness, and compassion. In various Tibetan Buddhist schools, Dzogchen is often taught as the highest level of meditation. It is so simple, yet so difficult and subtle at the same time.
There are three characteristics of Rigpa. The first is empty. Rigpa has no object. It is silent and empty of all concepts.
Concepts are always dualistic. That is, there is a subject and an object. Rigpa can be recognized, when human consciousness is aware of itself. Here, dualistic knowledge is transcended, and we arrive at the experience of oneness, without objects.
The second is awareness. Even though it's empty, Rigpa is always conscious. He can know what is happening here and now (cognizant). It is alive and will never dim.
The third is infinite. Rigpa has no fixed space. It fulfills all that exists. It exists in man, as well as in various other places.
Dzogchen is a direct and natural process of recognizing the rigpa on an ongoing basis. We just need to be completely still, and completely natural. We are then open to pure awareness within ourselves, as well as around us. To know pure consciousness is to know life itself.
Rigpa never left. It is the eternal energy that is within everything. We just need to learn to see and recognize it. Then, we need to stay conscious with him, as often as possible.
Dzogchen does not teach any particular method of meditation. There are no techniques to learn. Dzogchen also does not teach mindfulness. All of these are human efforts that have kept him away from Rigpa.
Anything that takes effort is unnatural. Anything unnatural keeps man away from his pure consciousness, from rigpa. This is the danger of the practice of meditation and Yoga which becomes a new prison for humans. He is even further away from true inner liberation.
Becoming a Dzogchen practitioner means living in the rigpa at all times. We recognize pure consciousness within, without stopping. All activities, both mental and physical, are carried out in recognition of rigpa. We just need to be as quiet and natural as possible, then feel the life pulsating in our every vein.
In an era that is being torn by crises that are constantly changing, it is very important to live in this kind of clarity. Dzogchen is very simple, direct, and natural. It is the highest achievement in the human process of finding true freedom. In the rigpa, all the problems of the human mind seem distant, and no longer meaningful.
No book should be worshiped blindly. There are no rules to be scared to death. Just recognize the rigpa inside, and maintain that recognition for as long as possible, as natural as possible. Find wisdom, happiness, and compassion within you.
**The lead image by:** **https://pixabay.com/photos/tibetan-letter-buddhism-lungta-red-734041/**
Not all religions are good for life
*The Lead Image Source by:* *https://www.uckg.org/life-or-death/*
Not all religions are good for life. Just like not all food is good to eat. There are many religions in the world. However, not all of them are suitable for the development of life.
The more I delve into the world's religions, the more I see that there are two kinds of religion. The first is the religion of death. The second is the religion of life. The religion of death destroys life. The religion of life preserves life. As simple as that.
Religion of Death
Developing from the thoughts of Sam Harris, the religion of death has bad teachings. The teachings are defended blindly, and also poorly (held for bad reasons). This will result in the bad behavior of religious people. The whole society will be bad (bad society).
The religion of death is a religion that is fixed on life after death. As a result, they destroy life. They disturb the order of living together. They kill and destroy the lives of other creatures, including other animals, plants, and humans.
There are seven characteristics of the religion of death. First, the religion of death kills the local culture. When entering a place, the adherents of the religion of death forbid traditions and cultures that have existed before. They slaughter local wisdom in the name of narrow and misguided interests.
Two, the religion of death often oppresses the weak, especially women and children. Women's rights are shackled. They are socially imprisoned. The way they dress is strictly regulated, like an object that has no brain.
Three, the religion of death interferes with common interests. His religious rituals destroy the common peace. They only think about the interests of their religion. They do not care about the interests of the wider community.
Fourth, the religion of death breeds violence. They gave birth to many radicals who are ready to commit violence against other creatures. They do not care about the right to life of other religions, or other creatures. For them, the blood of people of other religions may be sacrificed for the sake of their religion of death.
Five, the religion of death likes to cause trouble wherever they are. They often create conflict with other religions. They also often come into conflict with pre-existing values. Wherever this religion is spread, poverty, conflict, and ignorance must also spread.
Sixth, the religion of death fools its people. They kill the common sense and critical attitude of their people. They ask their followers to believe blindly in false and unreasonable teachings. The religious leaders of death live rich from the poverty and ignorance of their people.
Seven, the religion of death is afraid of criticism. His religious views are unreasonable, so they are easily crushed on one small question. As a result, its adherents are unable to make a sound argument. They are very sensitive and ready to use physical violence if criticized.
Religion of Life
The religion of life has the opposite characteristic. It preserves life. He is not fixated on life after death. He maintains and develops life to the highest level, namely inner and outer happiness for all beings.
There are seven characteristics of the religion of life. First, the religion of life preserves and develops the existing culture. They are at peace with local wisdom. The religion of life takes local values as an expression of its religiosity.
Two, the religion of life protects and develops the weak. They educate children in a rational way of thinking, and sensitively listen to the voice of conscience. They provide a free space for women to display their personalities. The religion of life empowers people towards enlightenment and does not force people back to the backward era of thousands of years ago.
Three, the religion of life pays attention to common interests. Their rituals and worship are calm, polite, and pleasing to the eye. Religious values can also be learned by people from other religions, without them having to change religions. The religion of life preserves all life, without favoritism.
Fourth, the religion of life rejects violence in all its forms. The religion of life will not retaliate when they are hurt. The religion of life will offer love and kindness to all, unconditionally. The adherents of the religion of life value the life of all beings.
Five, the religion of life trains its people to think critically and to reason. They do not allow their people to live in poverty, ignorance, and suffering. Instead, they want their people to be intelligent, and sensitive to the voice of conscience. The religion of life also sharpens the sense of beauty in its people. The religion of life is the inspiration for art in all its forms.
Sixth, the religion of life develops life wherever it is. The adherents of the religion of life love peace. They will not interfere with other people's lives. Instead, they will help all creatures live. The religion of life is far from terror, conflict, hatred, or revenge.
Seven, the religion of life is open to dialogue. They are not afraid of criticism. They are not afraid of questions. This happens because the religion of life has a strong basis of argument, so it can survive healthily, even though it is criticized from various directions.
The situation in My Country
My country is filled with the religion of the dead. This is of course very unfortunate. In many places, religious issues have become hard and sensitive. Many people choose silence, and live in injustice, rather than talk about religion.
The religion of death is the source of our nation's problems. The perpetrators of corruption seek justification from the religion of death. Discrimination is carried out in the name of the religion of death. Efforts to manage the COVID-19 pandemic have also become difficult, due to the presence of the religion of death.
Thus, the religion of death must continue to be resisted. They must continue to be criticized from various quarters. Civilized society is brave and strong in responding to the religion of death. Only by expelling the religion of death, our nation can become a developed nation.
Writing this article, I am ready to be attacked by adherents of the religion of death. That's how they are sensitive. They are unable to think critically and reason well. Hopefully, one day, with the various struggles that exist, the religion of death can be expelled from our homeland.
I am a believer in the religion of life. How about you?
Mirror, Cup, Sky, and Sea
Our true selves are always at peace, and always in joy. However, thoughts and emotions cover it, so we suffer. Because it has been going on for years, the thoughts and emotions are getting thicker. It is increasingly difficult to see in reality as an illusion that comes and goes.
Within the contemplative-meditative tradition, there are many ways to explain this. One of them is by using an analogy. This understanding, that our original selves are always peaceful and joyful, does not come from blind faith. It comes from experience that can be tested directly.
Like a Mirror
Our true self is like a mirror. It is ready to reflect all objects, without exception. It is also always clean again when the object is gone. It always returns to its original state.
The mirror object is like our thoughts and emotions. They come and go. They can be so big and scary, or small as if they were nothing. However, they too will pass.
We are mirrors. Thoughts and emotions are just objects that change in front of a mirror. Stay as a mirror. Whatever happens, we will find the peace and joy we need.
Like a Cup
Our true self is also like a cup. It can be filled with anything. It can be filled with water, coffee, tea, and so on. However, after washing, it returns to its original state.
Water, coffee, tea, and so on are like our thoughts and emotions. They change endlessly. They can be so thick, or tasteless. However, all of that is only temporary.
We are like cups. All the thoughts and emotions that come are just the contents of the cup that keeps changing. So, we need to be aware of this cup-like consciousness of ours. Amid a constantly changing mood, due to external circumstances that are also constantly changing, we can find inner peace and stability.
Like the Sky
Our true self is also like the sky. Sometimes, it is covered by dark clouds. Sometimes, there are a few clouds. Sometimes, too, it's clear blue.
All clouds, and other weather conditions, are like changes within us. Dark clouds are like bad emotions, like anger and fear. Bright clouds are like pleasant emotions, like when you get a fortune. Whatever it is, clouds are also something very temporary.
The real us is the sky itself. All mental states are like clouds and the weather is constantly changing. We need to keep training our minds so that we can experience this fully. Only then can we find peace amid a life that is constantly changing.
like the sea
The sea is just choppy on the outskirts. In the middle, he is calm and steady. So is our mind. Ripples of thoughts and emotions exist only in the mind. Our original core is always calm and stable.
The sea also embraces all. He accepts all. There is no refusal at all. Our true mind is like that too. It can be a place for all kinds of thoughts and emotions.
Anger is just like a hurricane. He came and left moments later. The joy is the same. The sea remains and is ready to accommodate all types of weather. Our mind remains conscious and ready to accommodate all mental states that occur.
Our True Self
Our real self is the Buddha himself. Buddha is not human. It is a mental characteristic that is always calm and stable. We all have it. That is, in truth, we are all Buddhas.
The Buddha's mind accepts all emotions. It also accepts all thoughts that come and go. He watched but didn't get lost in it. He is a gentle observer.
Mental objects, such as thoughts and emotions, are quite gently observed. It is enough to be observed and realized with love. It's like a mother watching her child cry. She tried to gently approach and calm her down.
Everything that is inside us, be it bad or good, is a characteristic of our humanity. It is a sign that we are still alive. Don't expect that thoughts and emotions are always beautiful. It is enough to practice to observe and be aware of all forms of emotions and thoughts that come with tenderness and compassion.
This is the most important thing we need to master. Everything else is just a matter of survival. If death comes, usually preceded by pain, it is enough to observe and realize it all gently and with compassion. This pure, peaceful, and stable consciousness is the true liberation of the mind.
**The lead image source by** **https://unsplash.com/photos/DKix6Un55mw**
The land above the clouds
Mid-May 2021, I continue my trip to Bali. No plans were made. There is no fixed schedule. Where the heart leads, there the feet go. After being immersed in the natural and cultural charm of Ubud, Bali, I chose to go to the mountains. The closest is Mount Batur, Kintamani, Bali.
In my heart, mountains always have a special place. Around, or at the top of, mountains, I always feel at peace, and at one with everything. I decided to leave at 6 am. The journey between Ubud to Mount Batur is accompanied by bone-chilling cold weather.
My jacket is not thick enough for this kind of trip. As a result, every few kilometers, I stopped at the side of the road. While pausing, I enjoyed the situation. I took a deep breath of cool fresh air. My eyes are filled with nuances of Japanese Flowers in every inch of Bali. Balinese fences also stretch as far as the eye can see.
I enjoy the uniqueness of that kind of Balinese architecture. In contrast to Jakarta, which has been deprived of its distinctive Indonesian taste, Balinese people are truly proud of their culture. They take really good care of it. It is the same culture that inspires beauty throughout the world.
One interesting thing: the ride was very smooth. Maybe, because it was still early, so the streets were quiet. It's also possible, because of the pandemic, people are limiting many activities. What is clear, for me, the morning trip was very pleasant.
Before long, I entered Penelokan Highway. The sun had just risen. I chose the way down to Lake Batur. Oh, the view is amazing. I was surprised too. Spontaneously, I quit. The sun is golden.
The streets are quiet from traffic. Bone-chilling cold air. Everything is so bright and scintillating. It's like in heaven. Slowly, teardrops appeared. I cried, not because I was sad, but because I was touched by a beauty beyond words. This is the charm of the land above the clouds. No words can express it. There was no tone to say it.
In silence and beauty, I fell silent and shed tears profusely. Being touched by beauty is like being touched by God. No language can describe it. The chest overflows with a feeling of immeasurable joy. There was unspeakable gratitude rising in the chest.
Nature is God. Such is the view of pantheism in philosophy. Many thinkers have said it. To be with nature in its entirety is to be with God Himself. Nature is not something without direction and patterns. Nature has its laws.
This is called Dharma. By living according to the Dharma, one will find enlightenment and liberation from the sufferings of life. As natural law, the Dharma is universal.
There are two pillars. First, things change. There is nothing to hold on to in this life. Everything is like water and sand. Gripped tightly, then it will go. Gripped gently, it will settle down. Although, over time, it will still change.
Second, nothing in the world will be able to provide true satisfaction. Things change, so their values change. Wealth is not only a blessing but can be a curse that invites greed. Warm love relationships are also very likely to turn cold and murderous. True satisfaction lies only within.
One needs to look within, that is, to the consciousness that resides within him. That's where the house that gives complete happiness. Not anywhere else. Balinese people have their understanding of Dharma. They call it Tri Hita Karana.
This word means "Three Causes of Happiness and Prosperity of Human Life.". The three causes are harmony with God, harmony between humans, and harmony with nature.
These three things can be seen in various forms of cooperation in society, to realize this harmony. Religious rituals and offerings are regularly given to the Gods.
Natural beauty is cared for, so that life as a whole can be sustainable. With Tri Hita Karana in the hearts of the Balinese people, all the natural and cultural beauty of the island of Bali is very well preserved. Beautiful nature. Culture is maintained. Residents also find happiness and prosperity in their lives.
Isn't this the perfect life?
Balinese architecture as a whole also reflects this kind of understanding of Tri Hita Karana. What is also unique is that Subak (a community organization that specializes in irrigating rice fields), a typical Balinese rice field management system, is directly a reflection of Tri Hita Karana.
They reflect the harmonious interrelationships between the different elements. God, Man, and Nature are in a balanced and harmonious relationship with each other. Under the morning sun Batur, I continued my journey. I was like being embraced by the morning weather.
The morning mist was still thick, but immediately accompanied by sharp sunlight, and the weather was piercingly cold. Unconsciously, it was time for breakfast. I decided to go around Lake Batur. The water there reflects the sunlight.
It is like an amazing clear mirror. While calming my hungry stomach, I paused for a moment, absorbing the nuances of the land above the clouds.
There was one small spot that caught my eye. It is located right in front of Mount Batur. It was like in a fairy tale. It is above the clouds. I continued my journey there. Since it was still early, the place wasn't open yet. For a moment, I waited. Before long, two people came to me. They are a husband and wife couple who own and manage the restaurant.
With a big smile, they let me in. I also ordered food from the available menu. While preparing the food, I also chatted with them. I ask a question about the current state of Balinese society.
Bali is indeed undergoing a major purification, they say. Money that used to be so easy and fast has now stopped. Kintamani, which was once so crowded with tourists from all over the world, is now deserted. Bali is invited to purify itself, and return to its original identity, said Pak Wayan, the owner of the small restaurant.
In fact, in a crisis, we are tested, he said. Balinese people must maintain harmony with God, fellow human beings, and nature as a whole. Good deeds must still be carried out so that the whole society can go through all these crises safely. Various religious rituals, and efforts to protect nature, also need to be carried out.
Religion must guide people towards the nobility and harmony of life. Religion should not spread violence, let alone carry bombs to kill other people, he said.
Mr. Wayan was devastated by the Bali Bombing tragedy. He felt that Indonesia should learn from Balinese spirituality, namely the Tri Hita Karana. Before building this restaurant that directly faces Mount Batur, Mr. Wayan was a waiter at a hotel. He decided to do business by borrowing from institutions in his village.
While eating breakfast, I contemplated in front of Mount Batur. How long will this purification continue? In July and August 2021, things got even worse. The government made it difficult for all roads to enter Bali.
The reason remains the same, namely reducing the spread of COVID 19. Balinese people are very obedient to health protocols. They are also mandatory for vaccination. It seems the spread is really difficult to stem now. We can only prepare adequate health facilities and take care of each other's health.
How long will Bali, and all of us, have to continue to undergo purification, due to the COVID-19 pandemic? The answer is still a mystery to all of us.
Timeo Ergo Sum (I'm Afraid, So I Exist)
In an interview by **Deutsche Welle**, German National Television, **Heinz Bude**, the German thinker, was asked a short but sharp question. What is the opposite of fear? The answer: Hope. Why?
Hope, said Bude, rests on the understanding that the current situation is not the last state. Changes for the better are still possible. This moment, which may be painful, can still be surpassed. Hope is the greatest enemy of fear, Bude insists.
Amid the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, and government policies that kill its people, is there still hope? The government and the media continue to hit the people with the bad news that breaks the heart. The policies issued are full of common sense holes that insult the intelligence and impoverish the people. This is not just an abstract discourse but directly hit my personal life.
Systematically Impoverished
Early June 2021, I tested positive for COVID 19. At least that's the result of the PCR test I did. No symptoms. No complaints at all.
I did a PCR test because I had to go to Bali. Those are the requirements requested by Jokowi, the President of Indonesia. The price is very expensive. However, because there was an urgent need, I did it anyway.
He said I am OTG (Asymptomatic Person). My critical sense is at work. Asymptomatic people don't mean healthy people? If I'm completely asymptomatic, then why am I positive for COVID-19, and have to self-isolate? This whole argument about COVID 19 is very suspicious indeed.
My brother also experienced the same thing. No symptoms at all. Healthy and strong, but recorded positive for COVID 19. He was forced to take a PCR test because his office required him to.
He and his family were scared. Moreover, being pounded every day by news of COVID 19 in various media. If it wasn't COVID 19, maybe it was fear that would make him sick later. I am not afraid at all.
I eat healthy (always). I exercise (always). I meditate and do Yoga (always). After 7 days, I tested negative (after paying a lot of money again), and flew to Bali.
Another spooky news is back. My brother remains positive for COVID 19, after the second test. He was confused again. Body healthy and fresh, but labeled sick. Provided?
Again he must self-isolate. After about 2 weeks, he came back for a PCR test, and it was negative. Imagine, how much money has been spent? How much will the pharmaceutical and medical device industry gain from all this?
The disaster seems to have never ended. After returning to work, he was laid off. Can you imagine the psychological pressure he and his family faced? Newly labeled negative by an expensive PCR test, then laid off from work.
This is the umpteenth time he has had to change jobs. I remembered my father. He worked in the same company for 40 years, since graduating from high school. His company is his family, even closer than his own.
Compare my father's experience with mine and my brother's. Over the past 20 years, I've changed jobs four times. Even now I work in several places. During a pandemic, the threat of dismissal is always real.
No job is safe today. A dozen years of a career can be ruined just like that. Businesses that have been pioneered for decades can just go bankrupt. The situation is increasingly uncertain, and filled with fear.
This is not just an abstract theory for me. I experienced it firsthand. I also hear from people who have experienced it firsthand. If you don't get fired or go bankrupt, people can be deeply in debt.
A World Full of Fear
This is discussed in depth by Heinz Bude, a German thinker. He wrote a book *entitled Gesellschaft der Angst* (Society of Fear) in 2014. Amid an era stabbed by a pandemic and the depravity of the rulers, this book becomes very important in 2021. There are four important arguments that he put forward.
First, fear is now a basic human experience. It is no longer an exception, for example, fear in the presence of danger, but has become a daily routine experience. “Fear”, Bude wrote, “shows us clearly what is happening to us.” This is connected with the next view.
Two, in modern society, fear is the theme for all. It knows no boundaries. Rather, it is the existence of fear that gives the modern world a thrill. Modern civilization was born from and cultivate the fear experienced by humans. Angst als Erklärungsprinzip (Fear as an explanatory principle), as Bude said.
Three, fear is now a social phenomenon. It is no longer a symptom of someone's psyche. Fear is a concept that operates at social, political, and economic levels. It is a political category. A similar pattern is found at the global level. The world moves with fear. All policies are made no longer with common sense and a clear conscience, but with fear. Timeo ergo sum, I'm afraid that's why I exist, I hope it's not too much.
Fourth, as a global phenomenon, fear has also strengthened, due to the destruction of social and economic stability of the middle class in various countries. The gap between the rich and the poor is getting bigger. Bude wrote before the COVID-19 pandemic occurred. In 2021, this analysis is increasingly finding the truth.
These four things happened, because of the failure of political and economic governance in various countries. From an economic perspective, the world is moving to the right, which is becoming more conservative. Workers' rights are brushed off. The big-cap businessmen, who play corruption with state officials, are becoming more and more special.
Something similar happened in my country. Politics is ruled by rich businessmen alone. They do not have sufficient national insight and political leadership to organize a very young and diverse republic. As a result, the government cannot provide a sense of security to its people. On the other hand, in my country, the government becomes a terrorist (spreader of fear and uncertainty) for its citizens.
This is all coupled with an endless pandemic. The COVID-19 virus continues to mutate, making it even more dangerous. In my country, this pandemic has exposed the government's failures so far in the development process, especially in the fields of education (people's mindset) and health (health system). However, as usual, it is the people who have to pay the consequences of the impoverishment and terror of COVID 19 which continues to spread every day.
Heinz Bude's views in Gesellschaft der Angst may be compared with those of Steven Pinker in The Better Angels of Our Nature: A History of Violence and Humanity. Pinker argues, that in this era, humans are becoming more human. Fewer people are dying, as a result of the brutal violence. Humans are getting better day by day.
Bude catches the paradox in this view. On the one hand, from the available data, brutal violence is decreasing in the 21st century. However, on the other hand, the fear is getting bigger, just when the world is getting safer. That is, the presence of fear is not in line with the existing reality. How should we respond to all of this?
What Can Be Done?
Considering these various circumstances, four things can be done. First, we need to clearly and critically read the news. The majority of news in the mass media and social media is not balanced. They only aim to create mere sensations, including fear, to invite sheer economic gain.
This view has been discussed in depth by Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky in their book Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of Mass Media. People's views are shaped by media coverage that is full of narrow interests. Not surprisingly, even though the world is much safer, the fear of the global community has increased sharply.
Rutger Bregman's warnings in his book Utopia For Realist: How Can We Build Ideal World Today should be heeded. Something makes news because it rarely happens. Crime is in the news because crime is rare. What happens a lot is kindness between humans. If crime continues, it will no longer be in the news, because it has become commonplace.
Two, it is necessary to continue to control the government's performance. This is the heart of democracy. The community actively communicates with the government about various issues, so that they can find the root of the problem and find a common solution. As stated by Jürgen Habermas in his book Faktizität und Geltung: Beiträge zur Diskurstheorie des Rechts und des democratizes Rechtsstaats, that democracy is a free, rational and open conversation without stopping.
In particular, the quality of the nation's education must be improved. Education is not only about infrastructure but also about the content and spirit of education itself. Education officials, especially the education minister, must be replaced with truly competent people. Education, quoting Julian Nida-Rümelin in his book Philosophie einer humanen Bildung, must build the entire human dimension, and free humans from various kinds of shackles.
Three, in this fear-stricken time, people need to cultivate their mind. He needs to find a deeper dimension, so he can remain peaceful and calm amid an increasingly uncertain world. This is where the importance of spirituality goes beyond religion. Spirituality unites us all with all living beings, while religion separates us from one another.
Hope can only exist, if we see the world. Clarity comes not only from intellectual intelligence but also from spirituality. This is what is lacking in Indonesia today. For that, we might need to learn from Willigis Jäger in his book entitled Westöstliche Weisheit: Visionen Einer Integralen Spiritualität.
Jäger asserts, that within humans, there is a stable background of consciousness. It becomes the background of all emotions and thoughts that arise. He is unchanging, and always in a state of calm. We must all learn to recognize the background of that consciousness, to remain calm when the storms of life hit.
This background of consciousness is like a sky with ever-changing clouds. It is like a movie screen with movie scenes that keep changing. He is like a mirror and the object of reflection that keeps changing. Only by touching this background of consciousness can humans truly be liberated from fear. Only by living immersed in this unchanging backdrop of consciousness can humans build hope for a better future.
**The lead image by:** **https://unsplash.com/photos/j8a-TEakg78**
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