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)