Nation's Buddhists observe Waisak at Borobudur<\/p>\n
Suherdjoko, Magelang, Central Java<\/p>\n
Thousands of Buddhists from all over Indonesia and abroad visited
\nthe famed Borobudur temple in Magelang, Central Java on Thursday
\nto celebrate Buddha's Day of Enlightenment, or Waisak.<\/p>\n
Waisak celebrates the birth, the enlightenment and the death
\nof Siddhartha Gautama, who became Buddha (the enlightened one).<\/p>\n
This year's Waisak observance was 2,548th, according to the
\nBuddhist calendar.<\/p>\n
Buddhist priests opened the ceremony by carrying the sacred
\nflame and water from the Mendut temple on a five-kilometer
\nprocession to the Borobudur temple.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Buddhist priests took the sacred water from the
\nUmbil Jumprit village in Temanggung, Central Java and a flame
\ncalled the fire of nature from a natural source in the Central
\nJava town of Grobogan.<\/p>\n
They put the water and flame in the Mendut temple before
\ntaking them on the procession to the Borobudur temple ceremony on
\nThursday morning.<\/p>\n
Among those who took part in the procession were chairwoman of
\nthe Indonesian Buddhist Association (Walubi) Siti Hartati Murdaya
\nand chairman of the Walubi Central Java chapter David Hermanjaya.<\/p>\n
Along their route, performers participated in the traditional
\nChinese dragon dance.<\/p>\n
After the procession ended at around 9:30 a.m. ordinary
\nBuddhists and priests began the Pradaksina ritual, in which they
\nwalk around the temple in a clockwise direction.<\/p>\n
At 11 a.m., the moment when the Waisak Enlightenment
\nsupposedly occurred, devotees started to meditate along with the
\nBuddhist priests.<\/p>\n
After the meditation, Priest Bhante Wongsin Labhiko Mahatera
\nsaid in his sermon that Buddhists had to live by Buddha's
\nteachings, namely resisting vice and promoting good deeds.<\/p>\n
Another priest Dutavira Mahastravira said that the country's
\nfuture leaders must follow the footsteps of Buddha. "Future
\nleaders must use their power to create prosperity, justice and
\nharmony... Buddha was even willing to relinquish his throne for
\nhis people," he said.<\/p>\n
Murdaya said that Buddhists should use their conscience in
\nselecting a president on July 5.<\/p>\n
"Use your conscience, as whomever you choose, he or she is the
\nchild of the nation," she said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will hold its first direct presidential election on
\nJuly 5 with five candidates vying for the top spot.<\/p>\n
They are Gen. (ret) Wiranto, incumbent President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri, People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais,
\nGen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and incumbent Vice President
\nHamzah Haz.<\/p>\n
In the past, Walubi had been criticized by Buddhists for its
\nclose ties with the Soeharto political establishment. When
\nSoeharto fell in 1998, other Buddhist organizations emerged and
\nhave held their own ceremonies.<\/p>\n
Hasyim Muzadi, Megawati's running mate, stole the spotlight
\nbriefly during the celebration, when he made a sudden appearance
\nand delivered a speech about promoting pluralism in the country.<\/p>\n
"Indonesia is comprised of different races, cultures, customs
\nand ways of thinking. We must turn this into the nation's
\nstrength instead of something that will fuel conflicts," he said.<\/p>\n
Aside from Hasyim, also in attendance at the ceremony were
\nsecretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
\n(PDI-P) Soejipto, Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob
\nNuwa Wea, secretary-general of the Indonesian Ulemas Council
\n(MUI) Dien Syamsudin and Central Java Governor Mardiyanto.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nations-buddhists-observe-waisak-at-borobudur-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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