National Harmony is a Shared Responsibility

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Buddhists attend the commemoration of Vesak 2566 BE at Borobudur Temple, Magelang, Central Java, Monday (16/5/2022).

MAGELANG, KOMPAS — The harmony and welfare of the Indonesian nation is a shared responsibility. All Indonesians from different religions and beliefs, including Buddhism, are expected to be involved in making it happen.

"Through the momentum of Waisak, Buddhists are expected to continue to maintain togetherness and strengthen the bonds of brotherhood among each other," said Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas during the Waisak celebration at Lumbini Park, Borobudur Temple Tourism Park complex, Magelang regency, Central Java, on Monday (16/5/2022) evening. Also present at the event was Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo.

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Meanwhile in his remarks ahead of Waisak 2566 BE/2022 in the courtyard of Borobudur Temple, Deputy Religious Affairs Minister Zainut Tauhid Sa'adi said the Buddha’s example contained universal values that were important to be imitated and applied in everyday life.

"By applying all the teachings of the Buddha, full of love, tolerance, understanding, acceptance and good moral values, and by maintaining the spirit of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika [Unity in Diversity], let us together create true happiness within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia," said Zainut.

This is different from the celebrations for the previous two years that were held online.

Zainut said he was very grateful because in the transition period from the Covid-19 pandemic the government had started to relax rules and could give permission to carry out the Waisak celebration in an offline format. This is different from the celebrations for the previous two years that were held online.

Held with the theme “The Path of Wisdom to True Happiness”, the the Trisuci Waisak celebration was attended by 1,200 Buddhists. They went through the series of celebrations while still wearing masks and sitting apart, occupying positions marked with red stickers.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Buddhists prepare to take part in the commemoration of Vesak Day 2566 BE at Borobudur Temple, Magelang, Central Java, Monday (16/5/2022).

The health protocol was also implemented during the Trisuci Waisak celebration at the Sumberawan Temple Stupa, Toyomarto village, Singosari district, Malang regency, East Java, which was attended by hundreds of Buddhists.

Stop blaming

The start of Waisak 2566 BE/2022 fell at 11:13:46 a.m. In the midst of the hot sun, all the Buddhists who were present in the courtyard of Borobudur Temple sat under umbrellas.

Bikkhu (monk) Wongsin Labhiko Mahathera, as he the guided the Waisak meditation, said it was time for us to stop looking to see what other people were doing and focus more on what we do ourselves. “Stop blaming parents, blaming the sky and earth or blaming fate or destiny. Everything that happens to us is always commensurate with what we have done," he said.

He also asked the devotees to always practice the three main teachings of the Buddha, namely not to do evil, continue to increase virtue and always enlighten the heart and mind.

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Meanwhile, the chairperson of the Central Executive Board (DPP) of the Council of Buddhist Communities (Walubi), Siti Hartati Murdaya, said that the life of every human being was always filled with challenges and contradictions. In facing such situations, each individual must move on, using their power of wisdom and compassion in order to continue to attain self-enlightenment.

Chairman of the Indonesian Buddhist Association (Permabudhi) Philip K Widjaja said after going through two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, his party was very grateful to be able to celebrate Waisak in an offline way again. He hoped that the momentum of Waisak this time would also be an encouragement for all Buddhists to continue to practice having a sincere attitude, imitating and applying the teachings of Buddha in their daily lives.

(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo)