Nyepi and Human Complexity

Kompas/P Raditya Mahendra Yasa

One of the pedandas brings holy water to be sprinkled for Hindus who attend the Melasti prayer and ceremony at the Beach, Marina, Semarang City, Central Java, Sunday (27/2/2022). This holy water is a symbol to wash and cleanse oneself from sins ahead of the Nyepi celebration.

The Indonesian Hindu community celebrates Nyepi (Day of Silence), Saka 1944 (Balinese calendar), on Thursday, 3 March 2022. Traditionally, this holiday is interpreted as a time of abstention from all kinds of activity, as conceptualized in the four prohibitions, called Catur Brata, which are amati geni (no fire or light), amati lelungaan (no travel), amati karya (no work) and amati lelanguan (no entertainment). Remaining at home is a simple interpretation of these restrictions.

Since the 1980s, on the eve of Nyepi, called the day of Pengerupukan (vanquishment), Bali’s Hindu community has carried out a parade using ogoh-ogoh (a giant effigy symbolizing evil). Afterward, the effigy is burned. The parade first served as a strategy to prevent children from using bamboo oil-based bamboo firecrackers.

Yet with the lapse of time, the parade has been objectified by the tourism industry and has even been internalized as a social demand by the post-1980 generation. The symbol must be on an unnecessarily large scale. Its essence is to conquer avaricious desires within ourselves so that the purity of silence is achieved on Nyepi.

Meaning and benefits of Nyepi

Yet the meaning and benefits of Nyepi are not that simple. There is a strong social element capable of not only maintaining the universal balance, but also improving life and the capacity to fulfill aspirations.

To this point, Nyepi presents a message of the continuity of inventions, goals and aspirations. Nyepi is an inexhaustible resource to help us achieve objectives. It means that at this turning point during Nyepi, we can systematize and develop our inventions and aspirations.

Also read:

> Forget the Hustle and Bustle for a While

> The Day of Silence: From Awareness to Covid-19

Invention is actually the aim and aspiration of humans. On a scientific level, this is the state-of-the-art features we strive for, the core that can be used to develop other works. Invention involves cooperation and mutual help to achieve human advancement. Inventions are the innovations of independent creations.

In conjunction with this innovation, Nyepi is a pause (not a stoppage), which is a natural, necessary action and should be done by everyone. This pause, or reflection, is meant not only to examine more carefully our work and innovation, but also to reflect on ourselves. Complex elements are contained in both our work and ourselves.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Hindus follow the Mendak Tirta tradition at the Umbul Sitihinggil spring, Bendan Village, Banyudono District, Boyolali, Central Java, Saturday (26/2/2022). The tradition of taking water as a means of self-purification is carried out by Hindus as part of a series of rituals to welcome the Nyepi day of 1944 Saka..

This complexity should first be scrutinized. It is necessary in order to produce better inventions that are more useful, without disturbing the universe and humankind, to continue with greater dignity.

As a pause, Nyepi is reflection, a moment of contemplation for humans as individuals and groups, in how they hold themselves in social life. Humans need a break to make an evaluation of themselves as well as their work.

Honesty, serenity and sincerity are needed for this evaluation. In this way, the opportunity for self-criticism, criticizing group existence and viewing and accepting others’ strengths can arise. At the same time, the methods and thoughts needed to avoid any loss in our innovations will emerge.

There will be the urge to have positive and useful interactions with others and learn from their strengths. All this is for the sake of improving our own work as well as pursuing aspirations that are more useful for humans.

Also read:

> Music of Silence

> A Day After Nyepi, Balinese People Told Not to Leave Home

Human complexity is extensive, with attitudes ranging from the very good to very bad. Maintaining silence helps us search for the traces of the good and noble amid the binary oppositions of humanity as indicated by the philosopher Derrida. We should seek the best in those traces.

Nyepi helps humans synthetize the good in themselves and in their innovations. The search for the good in humans and their work helps us become capable of producing works that are most beneficial for humanity.

Once again, only at a time of honest reflection will there be the capacity to combine the good nature of humans with the work of humans. This will enable the development of technology and science so that it can really achieve the “state-of-the-art” features.

Nyepi and the younger generation

Amid the rapid growth of science and technology in the world, the people of Indonesia, the succeeding generation of Indonesia, is actively pursuing the nation’s advancement through their creations and aspirations. In sports,

Indonesian athletes have grabbed the Thomas Cup, become Asian champion of women’s badminton, reached the final of the AFF Cup football and won titles in the Asian Games and Olympics.

In entertainment, Indonesia’s films are recognized at international festivals, Indonesian scientists also perform well at prestigious universities abroad, and in health, Indonesia joins the competition to develop Covid-19 vaccines, touting its Merah Putih vaccine.

Nyepi does not mean halting our work, but instead continuing it in a better and more complete way so it is beneficial for the welfare of humanity.

Health development is the primary requirement of the country with a population of 270 million. The philosophy of Nyepi will offer unmatched superiority in the world to Indonesia’s future generation in the pursuit of its aspirations and creations.

A year-long celebration is obviously too long for reflection. But the Day of Silence should be broadly translated. Reflection should be done at least once in a year, but Nyepi can be observed monthly, weekly, daily or even every hour by individuals.

In doing so, we can measure ourselves, gauging our work so that it can be improved in the future. Nyepi does not mean halting our work, but instead continuing it in a better and more complete way so it is beneficial for the welfare of humanity. It is the pause that improves the various kinds of performance by humans. Happy Day of Silence, happy innovating for the country and nation.

GPB Suka Arjawa, Lecturer of Religious Sociology, School of Social and Political Sciences, Udayana University

This article was translated by Aris Prawira.