Interfaith Prayer at Gunung Padang, Call for Ecological Repentance

Amid increasing threats of natural disasters and social upheavals, a spiritual initiative took place in the Gunung Padang area, West Java, on Wednesday, 22 April, coinciding with Earth Day commemorations. This interfaith prayer event was initiated by Dar Edi Yoga, Chairman of the Indonesian Cyber Media Editors’ Forum and Treasurer of PWI DKI Jaya. The prayers were centred at Terrace 5 of Gunung Padang, a space rich in meaning for reflection and awareness, involving monks, media professionals, and leaders from various communities. Several prominent figures attended, including Anrico Pasaribu, Chairman of the Legal Defence and Development Division of PWI Central; Raldy Doy, member of the PWI Central Expert Council; Romo Asun Gotama, Deputy Secretary General of WALUBI; officials from PWI Central and PWI DKI Jaya; members of the Indonesian Cyber Media Editors’ Forum; outdoor enthusiasts; and representatives from the Interfaith and Community Relations (HAAK) and the Jakarta Cathedral Church environmental community. In his statement, Dar Edi Yoga stressed that the event was not merely a ceremony but an inner call to restore human awareness of the earth and life. “We are not here to ask, but to prostrate in gratitude and awareness. The earth is not for unlimited exploitation, but to be protected. This is a call for ecological repentance,” he said. He assessed that environmental damage leading to disasters is not solely a technical issue but also reflects humanity’s treatment of the earth, increasingly distant from values of balance. “If humans forget how to respect the earth, nature will remind us in its own way. This prayer is an effort for Indonesia to return to being a friendly nation, free from disasters and upheavals,” he continued. Meanwhile, WALUBI Deputy Secretary General Romo Asun Gotama emphasised the importance of the spiritual dimension in preserving nature. According to him, ecological awareness cannot be separated from human inner awareness. “In Buddhist teachings, harmony with nature is part of the practice of wisdom. When humans live with awareness, compassion, and without greed, nature will be preserved. This prayer serves as a reminder that caring for the earth is part of spiritual practice,” he said.