Buddhist spiritual leader calls for introspection

Buddhist spiritual leader calls for introspection

JAKARTA (JP): A Buddhist spiritual leader is calling on
Buddhists all over Indonesia to observe Buddha's Day of
Enlightenment on Monday with introspection.

Ashin Jinarakkita, chief of Sangha Agung Indonesia, suggests
that Buddhists ask themselves if they have implemented the
teachings of Buddha over the past year.

"Buddhists should always be introspective so that they can
comprehend themselves and practice Buddha's teachings better,"
Jinarakkita said in a press statement.

Indonesian Buddhists will observe Buddha's Holy Day of
Enlightenment 2539. The religious ceremonies will be centered in
the famed Borobudur temple in Central Java.

Comprising 1.03 percent, or close to 2 million, of Indonesia's
190 million people, Buddhism has the smallest number of religious
followers in Indonesia. Buddhism, however, is the oldest religion
in Indonesia.

"We witness violence, murders, manipulation of truth and
dishonesty everywhere in the world. But if we stick to the
teachings of Buddha, we will not be carried away by those evil
deeds," Jinarakkita said.

The leader said that sticking to Buddha's teachings will
enable Buddhists to clearly distinguish the bad from the good.
"Correct thinking will lead us to correct actions," he said.

Meanwhile, secretary-general of Sangha Agung Indonesia Bikkhu
Aryamaitri said that local Buddhists, who are mostly of Chinese
descent, should adhere to the state ideology Pancasila.

"Buddhists as part of the Indonesian nation should put
Pancasila in their daily life," he said.

Pancasila consists of five tenets: belief in one God, national
unity, consensus through deliberation, humanism and social
justice.

Aryamaitri said Pancasila is in accordance with Buddhist
teachings. (pan)