Bagan ban: Myanmar stops tourists scaling prized pagodas

Yahoo – AFP, 23 February 2016

Built between the 10th and 14th centuries as part of a powerful early kingdom, 

Bagan's temples are deeply revered in the Buddhist-majority Myanmar and are also

one of the country's most popular tourist destinations (AFP Photo/Ye Aung Thu)

Yangon (AFP) - Visitors to Myanmar's ancient capital Bagan will no longer be able to climb the venerated pagodas for a view of the country's most famous archaeological site, following a government edict railing against "disgraceful" tourist behaviour.

The ban, which starts March 1, will end the daily ritual that sees hundreds of tourists and local pilgrims scaling the ancient structures to watch the sun set over a vast plain dotted with more than 2,500 Buddhist monuments.

Myanmar's Ministry of Culture said the move would protect the buildings, considered holy sites by many locals, while also averting potential danger for those climbing.

Tourists wait for sunset over the pagodas

in Myanmar's northern ancient town of 

Bagan (AFP Photo)

"Furthermore, despite warnings, people who climb the pagodas often behave badly, in a way that is culturally disgraceful such as wearing inappropriate clothing, dancing and sleeping (on the monuments)," the ministry said in a post on its official Facebook page.

"We would like to announce that no one will be permitted to climb on the pagodas for any reason from March 1 onwards," it concluded in the statement published on Monday.

Built between the 10th and 14th centuries as part of a powerful early kingdom, Bagan's temples are deeply revered in the Buddhist-majority nation and are also one of the country's most popular tourist destinations.

After years in the wilderness under an isolationist junta, Myanmar was quickly embraced as a hot choice for holidays after outright military rule ended in 2011.

The country began appearing on lists of must-visit destinations, often accompanied by bird's eye view images of Bagan's pagodas scattered across a mist-drenched landscape.

Even the Ministry of Tourism has declared that "a panoramic view of this land at sunset will leave you with a lingering sense of awe and wonder".

According to its figures, nearly half a million foreign tourists, including package tourists and independent travellers, arrived through Myanmar's main city gateway Yangon last year, more than double the number in 2011.

Many make a beeline for Bagan, a trend that is expected to continue despite the new rules.

"Bagan can offer other pleasures for tourists," said Naung Naung Han, of the Union of Myanmar Travel Association, which represents private tour operators.

But he said those not able to climb the structures to see a sunset at Bagan would be missing out.

Nearly half a million foreign tourists, including package tourists and independent

 travellers, arrived through Myanmar's main city gateway Yangon in 2015, more 

than double the number in 2011 (AFP Photo/Ye Aung Thu)

"For a foreign tourist, such an experience could be an unforgettable moment in their life," he told AFP.

Tour operator Phyoe Wai Yar Zar, who heads the Myanmar Tourism Marketing industry group, said there was likely to be an impact on business.

"Tourism is a way to display our cultural heritage and this news of a ban in the way heritage is shown will affect the tourism business," he told AFP.

Myanmar is eager to see Bagan designated as a UNESCO world heritage site.

But experts say haphazard renovation work on some of the temples under the junta, including building hundreds of new structures over ancient foundations, has irreversibly damaged the landscape.

China to 'blacklist' its unruly tourists: report

Yahoo - AFP, April 12, 2015

China to 'blacklist' its unruly tourists: report

Beijing (AFP) - China will create a "blacklist" of its tourists who behave badly overseas, state-media reported, after several embarrassing incidents involving Chinese travelling abroad.

The country's National Tourism Administration (NTA) will keep a database of travellers who commit offences, with their names passed onto police, customs officials and even banks, the official Xinhua news agency reported Saturday.

Offences that could earn obnoxious tourists a place on the blacklist include "acting antisocially on public transport, damaging private or public property, disrespecting local customs, sabotaging historical exhibits or engaging in gambling or pornographic activities," Xinhua said.

People will be blacklisted for two years after they offend, it added.

China's economy has boomed over the past decade, expanding the ranks of its middle-class who are hungry for foreign travel after the country's decades of isolation in the last century.

Chinese travellers took 100 million "outbound" trips -- including to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan -- last year, according to official figures.

But the surge of wanderlust has left some officials back home red-faced and the blacklist is the latest of China's efforts to control its citizens behaviour abroad.

Chinese tourists were reported to have outraged locals in Thailand this year by drying underwear in an airport, defecating in public and kicking a bell at a temple.

Several air rage incidents -- including Chinese passengers opening emergency exit doors and throwing boiling noodles at cabin crew -- have also been reported in the last year.

In 2013, a Chinese sparked online outrage after he wrote his name on an ancient carving in Egypt.

The NTA said in a 64-page "Guidebook for Civilised Tourism", issued in 2013, that tourists should not pick their noses in public, pee in pools or steal airplane life jackets.

Chinese travellers spent $102 billion overseas in 2012, making them the world's biggest spenders ahead of German and US tourists, according to the UN World Tourism Organization.

Related Article:

China desperate to improve image of its overseas tourists

Mysterious Ancient Palace Ratu Boko, the Perfect Spot to Catch Yogyakarta’s Sunset

Jakarta Globe, Wahyuni Kamah, Jan 14, 2015

Ratu Boko is the locals’ best-kept secret for sunset and sunrise viewing in the
 tourist spots surrounding Yogyakarta. The complex offers a wealth of history.
(JG Photo/Wahyuni Kamah)

When the chief executive of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, visited Indonesia October last year, he went to Borobudur Temple in Yogyakarta to watch the sunrise.

Following the tycoon’s lead I asked, where is the best site to view the sunrise? “Ratu Boko,” answered Ari, my Yogyakarta driver.

Out of curiosity, I asked Ari to take me to the site one afternoon to catch the sunset. Ratu Boko is about 18 kilometers to the east of Yogyakarta, situated at the top of a 196-meter-high hill.

The road to reach the site curves with sharp turns.

“It’s challenging for a big bus to pass this road,” said Ari. During the hot season all I could see from the road was the villagers’ huts on bare soil. “Water is scarce in this area during hot season,” Ari said.

The Ratu Boko complex is located across two villages, Sambirejo and Bokoharjo, in Prambanan, Sleman district, Yogyakarta.

As I approached the complex a number of visitors were taking selfies by the entrance. A number of people carried professional cameras to capture the sunset.

The Ratu Boko site’s location on the hilltop offers gorgeous surrounding scenery: the Prambanan Temple to the north with Mount Merapi in the background and villages in the area. Indeed a good spot for photos.

The complex has three levels, or terraces. On the first terrace, no ruins remain but the rock wall supporting the second terrace, several steps above.

A 3.5-meter wall of andesite rock divides the second and third terrace. A small tunnel which may have been a moat also marks the division. To the south, I could see scattered rocks of on-going archaeological works.

A few meters from one of the many second terrace entrances lies the small Temple of White Stones. Stepping to the second entrance, I reached the square in the center of Ratu Boko site.

The breeze blew softly. Before the dusk it generated a sense of quietness and serenity.

The path leading to Ratu boko. (JG Photo/Wahyuni Kamah)

Setting it aside from other ancient buildings in Central Java which are mostly temples and for religious purposes, this complex suggests it had once been a grand residence.

It is still not clear what Ratu Boko once was. Only archaeological evidence like inscriptions and artefacts can help to reveal its history.

According to the evidence, Ratu Boko is an ancient archaeological site that has both Hindu and Buddhist influences.

As written in the ancient Abhayagiri vihara inscription dated 792 CE discovered in the Ratu Boko complex, the site was originally built as a place for seclusion and spiritual tranquility, a monastery for the monks.

Remains of Buddhist stupas (structures containing relics, including the remains of monks) were also found on the site.

Other inscriptions told that the complex had then become a residential palace of Hindu ruler Rakai Walaing Pu Kumbayoni, a descendant of the Sailendra dynasty, beginning in the ninth century.

Some ceramics from the dynasties of China, including Ming (from the 14th to 17th centuries) and Sung (stretching from the 11th to 13th centuries) were also discovered.

In 1915, F.D.K. Bosch, a Dutch archaeologist, named the ruins “Kraton van Ratoe Boko.” The excavation of the complex begun in 1938 and continues.

Sunset at Ratu Boko. (JG Photo/
Wahyuni Kamah)

I stood for a while enjoying the spectacular panorama from the hilltop. When I looked up at the sky, I thought it a matter of luck to be able to catch the sunset as the cloud started to cover the sun.

The signage in the square pointed to the pendopo in the southeast which I would’ve liked to explore. However, on-going archaeological works left some scattered rocks making it too difficult. As the sunset approached, my best option was to follow the sign pointing towards the best view.

There are steps leading to the platform. On top is a small open house for visitors to view the surrounding scenery or to meditate. From there, I could see Prambanan temple in the distance.

At dusk, I was almost face to face with the sunset when the cloud unfortunately started to hide it.

Despite failing to catch the sunset it was a nice experience to be in the Ratu Boko complex — named after the local legend Roro Jonggrang.

According to the legend, it was the palace of Ratu Boko (literally “king of stork”), the king of Boko, who had a daughter named Roro Jonggrang.

The legend Roro Jonggrang also explains the origin of Prambanan complex.

With its mysterious background, Ratu Boko site is indeed attractive; the atmosphere, surroundings, ruins, the peacefulness and mystique are something not to be missed.

On the way out of the complex, I stopped by the Plaza Andrawina. This is the best spot to get a breathtaking view of the valley, part of Yogyakarta and different angles of Prambanan Temple and Mount Merapi in the distance.

Sunrise at Borobudur for Facebook CEO Zuckerberg

Jakarta Globe, Oct 12, 2014

Mark Zuckerberg at the Borobudur 

temple in Magelang, Central Java, on

 Sunday. (Photo courtesy of Facebook)

Jakarta. In Indonesia for an Internet.org meeting on Monday, Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg on Sunday first took some time off to visit the Borobudur temple, a Unesco World Heritage Site in Magelang, Central Java.

The chief executive officer of the Internet giant posted a picture on Facebook of himself sitting at the famous Buddhist shrine, explaining: “I just arrived in Indonesia and hiked up Borobudur to watch the sunrise. Tomorrow for Internet.org I’m looking forward to meeting with developers, operator partners and government leaders in Jakarta.”

Internet.org is a partnership of Facebook and five technology companies that aims to increase Internet access in parts of the world that have remained largely unconnected. One of the challenges in countries like Indonesia is how to use data and networks more efficiently, which is one of the issues that will be discussed at the meeting Zuckerberg attends on Monday.

President-Elect Joko Widodo on Sunday also said he may be meeting with Zuckerberg on Monday.

“Tomorrow [I will meet Zuckerberg],” Joko was quoted as saying by news portal Kompas.com, disclosing no further details.

A 19-Year Journey Into Javanese Folklore

Jakarta Globe, Ari Susanto, Sep 28, 2014

German archeologist and art historian
Lydia Kieven. (JG Photos/Ari Susanto)

Nothing exerts a pull on Lydia Kieven, 58, in life more than temple reliefs. For more than 19 years, she has searched for stone artifacts to reveal the mysterious story of the Javanese prince, Panji, and was astonished to discover a journey of spirituality rather than love.

Through her personal journey of learning ancient Javanese language, art and culture, the German archeologist became transfixed by the chronicles of Panji, which originated from the 14th-century Majapahit era. Kieven stumbled across the stories of Panji during a hike of East Java’s Mount Penanggungan sanctuary in 1996 to seek out reliefs depicting the epic Mahabharata poem’s Arjuna and Bima at Kendalisodo temple.

Unfortunately, her trip had been in vain as the panels were nowhere to be found. Instead, Kieven discovered four reliefs portraying a couple’s journey with the romantic backdrops of mountains, forests and the ocean. The woman had long, flowing hair, while her male companion seemed to be wearing a cap.

“[The reliefs] were beautiful; they caught my attention and reminded me of a photograph I had once seen of Panji,” Kieven says.

The archeologist returned to Germany and immersed herself in old literature about the prince written by Dutch authors, but none satisfied her curiosity, so she decided to return to Java, where she reconstructed the relief carvings that had captured her attention, instead of focusing solely on text.

The story of Panji can be traced as far back as the 1300s, appearing in various cultures and parts of Southeast Asia, including Kalimantan, Bali, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Cambodia. The tale was adapted in each tradition and given various titles but bore the same storyline. Throughout the centuries, the Panji epic has been developed into various artistic performance, including the shadow puppet show of Wayang Beber and the mask dance Topeng Dalang.

The series of stories followed the journey of Prince Panji (or Inu Kertapat) from the kingdom of Kahuripan and Princess Galuh Candrakirana (or Dewi Sekartaji) from Kediri. The two monarchies ruled in East Java prior to the Majapahit period. The narrative begins when the two engaged lovers are torn apart and must each embark on a journey — in disguise — to be reunited.

“The couple’s journey to find each other is not a love story, but rather a spiritual journey to seek sanctity, purity, and peace. In the reliefs, we could find Panji’s finger pointing at objects as if he is asking us to follow the path of spirituality, such as dipping in water — for purifying — and meeting the spiritual guru,” she says.

Lydia Kieven has dedicated nearly
two decades of her life to the ancient
Javanese folklore of Prince Panji and
his love, Princess Galuh. (JG Photo/
Ari Susanto)

What mesmerizes Kieven is not the story itself, but rather the symbolism found in ancient Javanese agrarian culture. Panji is a masterpiece that is completely different from both the Mahabharata and Ramayana, which feature gods and goddesses manifested in human forms.

“Panji represents a human, like us, who searches for [spirituality] through stages depicted in the reliefs. Both Panji and Galuh are presented as being modest and humble, leaving their royal lives for adventure,” she says.

Kieven’s mission to capture the lingering traces of Panji throughout Java, Kalimantan and Bali has not been without its challenges, but the archeologist says she gained inspiration from the ancient tale she has dedicated her life to.

“Panji and Galuh were very steadfast in their efforts to find on another. No obstacles could stop them,” Kieven says.

Two months after her first encounter with the reliefs depicting Panji and Galuh, doctors diagnosed Kieven with a malignant form of cancer that required surgery and chemotherapy. Despite her weakened condition, the German continued with her research paper on narrative sculptures and literary traditions of Southeast Asia, presenting a complete draft in September 1996, to the Netherlands’ Leiden University.

Then, while still reeling from the devitalizing effects of radiation, Kieven once again traveled to Java to complete her research. Back in the archipelago, however, she was faced with another obstacle: lack of funds. The resilient art historian didn’t let a debilitating illness stop her expedition, nor would she allow something as trivial as money to keep her away from Panji and Galuh’s adventures, so Kieven took up work as a travel guide, leading German tourists.

She continued her work, scrutinizing reliefs from temple to temple, including the Penataran, the largest Hindu temple complex of East Java and home to multiple intricately-carved reliefs and two statues of Panji and Galuh. In 2000 alone, she visited 20 sites for her research.

The two statues have since been moved and are now conserved separately: Panji is kept in the art library of the Bandung Institute of Technology in West Java, while Galuh is housed in Jakarta’s National Museum. Kieven hopes the two will once again be united, as described in the epic tale of their spiritual journey

Popular Taipei temple goes green, bans burning of incense

Want China Times, CNA 2014-08-25

People worship in Xing Tian Temple, Taipei, Aug. 24. (Photo/Chao Shuang-chieh)

Xing Tian Temple, a popular worship site in Taipei, announced Sunday that from Aug. 26, it will remove its big incense burner and offering tables to save resources and help protect the environment.

The decision was made in line with rapid changes in the environment and the increasingly serious global warming — trends that temple managers said remind them of the need to make better use of resources and treat all beings with kindness and compassion.

Instead of offering cakes, fruit and flowers and burning incense, the temple suggested that believers show their respect to the deities by simply clapping their hands and praying sincerely.

When lining up for the shoujing (a kind of exorcism) ritual, believers are advised not to chat, eat or use cell phones but rather to pray in a devout manner.

Xing Tian Temple, also known locally as Enzugong, promotes public good through charitable work and seeks to enlighten people's hearts, enhance spirituality and create a harmonious society.

To achieve those goals, the temple works to promote the concept of true faith, foster self-examination and respect for the deities, and devote itself to enlightening believers.

Xing Tian Temple also provides religious services such as exorcism rituals, services of prayers for peace and explaining divination results.

In Malang, Celebrating Nyepi With a Javanese Infusion

Jakarta Globe, Dyah Ayu Pitaloka, Apr 06, 2014

The various ceremonies that make up the Nyepi ceremony for Hindus in Malang,
 East Java, are a colorful blend of Balinese and Javanese culture. (JG Photo/
Dyah Ayu Pitaloka)

Malang. Rice cakes wrapped in palm leaves, or ketupat, is a usually a treat reserved for the Islamic holiday of Idul Fitri, but for Hindus in Malang, East Java, ketupat serves as a customary dish in celebrating Nyepi, the day of silence.

Ketupat and lepet, a similar type of rice cake, but mixed with coconut gratings and other ingredients and packed into an elongated shape rather than the boxy bulk of the ketupat, symbolizes the phallus and the womb — the two primary elements of conception.

Last week, 33 educational institutions and temples in Malang participated in a ceremony on Balekambang Beach to celebrate one of the biggest holidays in the local Hindu calendar.

The ceremony, called Jala Nidhi Puja, is held before Nyepi and it beautifully displays the diversity of Indonesia. In Sanskrit, “jala ” means sea, “nidhi ” means sanctity and “puja ” means ceremony.

(JG Photo/Dyah Ayu Pitaloka)

Dance of virgins

For years, thousands of Hindus in Malang have been meeting at Balekambang Beach in their worship dress. The women typically wear a kebaya and batik sarong with white head scarves. Others put on traditional Malang dresses.

On this particular Friday, nine teenage girls in colorful kebayas moved to the rhythm of the Javanese gamelan, dancing in a circle around a dancer in the instantly recognizable black and white Balinese sarong. The dance, called Nata Muda Karana , is considered as a sacred gesture to the gods, and may only be performed by virgins.

“Before we dance, we have to fast and follow a vegetarian diet for three days,” said Risa Sinta Dewi, one of the dancers. “We practice the dance for about three months.”

Risa goes to Tri Murti, a junior high school in Pakisaji, Malang, where the dance has been taught from generation to generation. According to Tri Murti’s dance teacher, Sri Wahyuni, the dance is usually performed in the middle of the first ceremony.

“This dance was created in 1973, combining elements of Bali with gending Java” — a type of gamelan music — “and the Vedas,” the oldest scripture of Hinduism, Sri Wahyuni says. “I am the second generation to pass it on to my students.”

(JG Photo/Dyah Ayu Pitaloka)

A different offering

Apart from the use of ketupat and the Javanese gamelan, Hindus in Malang also decorate their offerings differently from their better-known counterparts in Bali.

Every offering contains five mandatory elements: leaves, flowers, fruits, water and incense.

Suharsono, the chairman of the Indonesian Hindu Association (PDHI) in Malang, said that they customized their offerings according to the things that flourished in their hometown, but staples like yellow rice, bananas and yellow palm fronds were a common element.

Another way their offerings differ from those in Bali is that the bananas aren’t sliced thin, but rather offered up whole.

“We can’t decorate our offerings as beautifully as Balinese offerings,” Suharsono said, “but its religious function is the same.”

These offerings are served in a purification ceremony called Utuhnya . Each participating institution arranges its own offering and puts them in a palanquin, which they set loose at sea after the communal prayer.

(JG Photo/Dyah Ayu Pitaloka)

The Majapahit touch

Ismoyo Temple, which stands majestically in the center of the Ismoyo Island, has for years been witness to the Jala Nidhi Puja procession, and last Friday it did so again.

The roof of the temple, which was built in 1985, resembles a set of tapered stairs, in the style reminiscent of a typical Majapahit building. Even so, other ornaments that are carved on the temple reflect architectural and cultural influences from Bali.

“The building combines elements of Bali and Java, but the worship function is the same as in Balinese Hinduism,” Suharsono said.

Acculturation between Hindu and Javanese traditions has occurred since the time of the Majapahit, running from flourished from 1293 to around 1500 CE, when Hindu spread rapidly along with the might of the Majapahit.

Following the collapse of Majapahit kingdom in the 16th century, Hinduism spread to various places and blended with the local culture.

Dwi Cahyono, an archaeologist at the University of Malang, said there were various relics that reflected the cultural mix: layered roofs that first appeared during the Majapahit era are now commonly seen in mosques, such as the Mosque of Demak.

(JG Photo/Dyah Ayu Pitaloka)

Ogoh-ogoh

Taur Agung Kesanga , the second ceremony before Nyepi, took place at Karang Tengah in Malang’s Glangang Pakisaji subdistrict last Sunday, a day before Nyepi.

Some 1,500 villagers, 850 of them Hindus, built their own ogoh-ogoh , or papier-mache monster statues, to represent evil spirits.

It is customary to burn all ogoh-ogoh before Hindus start fasting during Nyepi, as a symbol of cleansing and starting the new year afresh.

“By burning down ogoh-ogoh, we invoke to the gods or negative elements in the universe not to bother us during Nyepi,” said Sucipto, head of Karang Tengah village.

After Taur Agung Kesanga, residents immediately went home. Nyepi started at the stroke of midnight on Sunday, and ran until Monday afternoon — again, differing from the Balinese observation of the holiday, which runs from 6 a.m. on the day of Nyepi to 6 a.m the next day.

But like their Balinese counterparts, Hindus in Malang are not allowed to engage in any worldly activities during this time and are encouraged to meditate.

The roads along Karang Tengah look darker than usual. Adults usually stay indoors all day, while teens meditate in temples. Only mosques and churches keep the lights on.

“Our Muslim neighbors also turn off the lights and do not hang out in the road, out of respect for Nyepi,” Sucipto.

The series of observations concluded on Tuesday with a ceremony to rekindle a fire and spirit called Ngembak Geni .

For this ceremony, worshipers usually head to the temples of Badut, Kidal and Singosari.

On Tuesday morning, people came from far and wide carrying trays of crops and food as a form of homage to their ancestors and a symbol of hope for abundant blessings in 1939 Saka year.

The Javanese influence is also strong here, and Ngembak Geni has adopted a lot of the traditions from the Idul Fitri celebration.

For one, those celebrating it go around to the homes of their relatives and neighbors to seek forgiveness.

“The kids will also get sangu ” — pocket money — “from relatives and neighbors, just like during Idul Fitri,” Suharsono said.

And so, for another year, the Hindus of Malang marked Nyepi in their own unique way — one rich in tradition and proud of its pluralist roots.

Meditation Can Help You Have Inner Peace and a Healthy Body

Putri Fitria recently visited a Buddhist temple on Bali, where she discovered the benefits of this ancient practice

Jakarta Globe, Putri Fitria, January 19, 2014

Besides helping to maintain a healthy body and mind, meditation can perhaps also
 bring us back to the core of our humanity: wisdom and compassion, in this complicated,
modern world. (JG Photo/Putri Fitria)

In facing the hectic and busy world today, there are many ways to maintain and ensure the safety of our sanity; plan a regular vacation, hang out with friends at a cafe or bar every weekend, go to the gym, spend the weekend under a comfortable blanket, or doing this modest activity: meditation.

When I traveled to Bali a couple of weeks ago, I went to a Buddhist temple, Vihara Buddha Sakyamuni in Denpasar. There, I met Andi Candra, 55, a pandita, or scholar, who has mastered the five sciences: language, logic, medicine, arts and spirituality, and explained to me the benefits of meditation.

“Through meditation, one will be able to reach serenity and the body will be healthy. It also trains our mind to concentrate. Meditation is not a form of medication, but it can help the medication process from the inside and cultivate our mind,” he explained.

Most people who come to this vihara are Buddhist. However, one does not need to be a practicing Buddhist to understand and practice meditation. Anyone from any religious background is allowed to meditate. When meditating in a vihara, though, we will need to follow Buddhist etiquette by minding our behavior and the way we dress.

Vihara Buddha Sakyamuni practices three techniques of meditating: metta, samatha and vippasana. Metta meditation focuses on compassion and can be practiced anywhere, at anytime — even while we’re busy with something — by repeating the chant “sabbe satta bhavantu sukhitatta” or “may all beings be happy.”

The samatha meditation trains our mind to focus on one object, which may be anything. When we close our eyes and enter the depth of meditation, our minds must stay with that object and nothing else.

The vippasana method of meditating is the opposite of samatha. With this method we train our mind to heighten awareness of our environment by recognizing every object that appears, moves and disappears. In vippasana, we are allowed to move our body and stand, walk slowly (cangkama), lie down and observe our movement and surrounding.

I was introduced to the vihara by my friend Tria Nin, 29, who shared a story about her meditation.

“I meditate every day, at home and at the vihara. When I meditate, I am aware of things that pass my mind. I am not looking for calmness, but I am aware of the vociferation inside of me and I do not reject it. I accept it as the way it is.”

The Vihara Buddha Sakyamuni temple in Denpasar. (JG Photo)

Other benefits of meditation is the burst of creativity. Abmi Handayani,27, a fiction writer, shared her experience and thoughts.

“After I learned and practiced meditation, I felt it became easier to come up with new ideas. It calmed me down by lessening my anxiety, it helped me cultivate my imagination and structure my writing.”

Although we instantly and unwittingly relate the word “meditation” to Buddhism, it is in fact a universal practice that has been developed for centuries by various prophets and spiritual figures.

The word derives from the Latin, meditatio, or from the verb, meditari, which means to think, contemplate, devise and ponder.

In the Sufi tradition, meditation or muraqaba was developed in the 12th century, and allowed followers to practice their breath control through the repetition of holy words or verses. This form of meditation may lead to the experience of receiving divine inspiration and lead to both emotional and intellectual awakening and liberation.

In Christianity, meditation is a process of deliberately focusing on specific thoughts and reflecting on their meaning in the context of the love of God. In the Baha’i faith, meditation along with prayer, is one of the primary tools for spiritual development, while in Hinduism, meditation is practiced to realize the union of one’s self or one’s atman, with the omnipresent and non-dual Brahman.

With the technology we have today, we are provided with an abundance of information on meditation while scientific research has given us a more thorough and logical understanding. By using machines such as MRI scans, scientists are able to see the physical transformation our brains go through when we meditate.

During meditation, our brains stop processing information as actively as they normally would; we start to show a decrease in beta waves, which indicates that our brains are processing information.

For all of its benefits and modesty, also in the context of preserving tradition and respecting history, I believe meditation is worth including in our daily “to-do-list,” even for a few minutes.

Besides maintaining a healthy body and mind, it can bring us back to the core of our humanity: compassion and wisdom, in this complicated, modern world.

How a Hunch Led to Stunning Claim on Buddha Birth Date

Jakarta Globe – AFP, Ammu Kannampilly, January 5, 2014

Monks chant under the Bodhi tree, adjacent to the Maya Devi Temple, in Lumbini,
some 200 km west of Kathmandu, on April 18, 2013. (AFP Photo/Kyle Knight)

Kathmandu. The two archaeologists had a hunch that the Buddha’s birthplace in southern Nepal held secrets that could transform how the world understood the emergence and spread of Buddhism.

Their pursuit would eventually see them excavate the sacred site of Lumbini as monks prayed nearby, leading to the stunning claim that the Buddha was born in the sixth century BC, two centuries earlier than thought.

Veteran Nepalese archaeologist Kosh Prasad Acharya had carried out excavations in Lumbini before in the early 1990s, when Nepal was still ruled by a king and a Maoist insurgency had yet to kick off.

The project ended in 1996 but Acharya remained unsatisfied with the results.

“My belief was that there was another cultural deposit below, which we had not uncovered,” the 62-year-old told AFP.

He headed back to his government job in the capital Kathmandu and waited to retire, restless to return to Lumbini.

The Buddha’s birthplace was lost and overgrown by jungle before its rediscovery in 1896, when the presence of a third century BC pillar bearing inscriptions allowed historians to identify it as Lumbini.

Since then, it has been designated a UNESCO world heritage site, visited by millions of Buddhists every year, with numbers expected to rise exponentially in the following decades.

Acharya had just retired from his last job, as the director general of the department of archaeology, when UNESCO asked him to co-direct an investigation of Lumbini’s foundations.

The cultural organization asked Acharya and his longtime collaborator, Robin Coningham, Britain’s leading South Asian archaeologist, to head a team that would examine the site so conservators could develop it for growing numbers of visitors.

“In 2010, our first year there, we were pretty much the handmaidens to the conservators,” Coningham told AFP in a phone interview from his office at Britain’s Durham University, which helped fund the UNESCO project.

“The Eureka moment came in 2011, when we came across a brick temple located below the existing Asokan temple, and below that a sort of void.

“It became clear then that there was much more to this excavation.”

Over the next two years, archaeologists, geophysicists and hired workmen from Nepal and Britain worked on the site, digging in the presence of meditating monks and nuns.

“It was a very moving, very special experience to dig for traces while pilgrims prayed and paid homage,” Acharya said.

They dug for a few weeks each year and sent the samples to laboratories for analysis.

Radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence techniques were used to date fragments of charcoal and grains of sand found at the site.

The archaeologists also found holes, apparently meant to secure posts, in the open void below the brick temple.

“The intact holes suggested that whoever had built the brick temple had taken care not to damage the ancient structure below, suggesting the site was always considered holy,” Coningham said.

Lab tests confirmed the existence of roots within the void below the brick structure, suggesting it may have been a shrine where a tree once grew, possibly the hardwood sal tree under which many believe the Buddha was born.

The discovery, revealed in November, sparked huge excitement, but some historians have urged caution, saying the ancient tree shrine could have been built by pre-Buddhist believers.

“The worship of trees, often at simple altars, was a ubiquitous feature of ancient Indian religions,” Julia Shaw, a lecturer in South Asian archaeology at University College London told National Geographic’s online edition.

“It is also possible that what is being described represents an older tree shrine quite disconnected from the worship of the historical Buddha,” Shaw added.

According to Coningham, however, if the Buddhists had appropriated the tree shrine from non-Buddhists, the site would not have survived relatively unscathed.

“Also, the inscriptions at Bodhgaya [where the Buddha achieved enlightenment] reveal a thriving culture of tree worship, which suggests continuity,” he added.

Much of what is known about the Buddha’s life has its origins in oral tradition. The earliest decipherable written records in the region, the inscriptions of India’s Buddhist emperor Asoka, are dated about 250 BC.

Prior to this discovery, most scholars said that the Buddha – who renounced material wealth to embrace and preach a life of non-attachment – lived during the fourth century BC, founding a religion that now counts 500 million followers.

Buddhists in Nepal and Sri Lanka, however, have always believed that the sage was born around 623 BC, a date that now seems more accurate.

“It’s one of the great puzzles, this discovery reveals the endurance of oral traditions,” Coningham said.

“This is one of those very rare times when tradition, belief and archaeology all come together.”

Agence France-Presse

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"THE RECALIBRATION OF BELIEF"– Aug 18, 2013 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Carroll)

Bali Hindus Angered By Sacred Temple Tourism Plan

Jakarta Globe – AFP, October 30, 2013

Hundreds of Balinese Hindus gather for worship at the Besakih temple, Bali’s most
 holiest site located in Mount Agung, in this file photo taken on March 24, 2009. (AFP Photo)

Hindu leaders on the Indonesian holiday island of Bali Tuesday lashed out at a government plan to attract more tourists to their most sacred temple as “degrading” to Hinduism.

The row highlighted concerns that Bali’s booming tourism industry is a double-edged sword, as it threatens to erode the Hindu culture which is part of the attraction for the millions who visit the tropical island.

The Indonesian Hindu Association’s concerns centered on a government decision to include the Besakih temple and the volcano upon which it sits on an official list of sites to be developed for tourism.

“These sites are the center of the universe for us Balinese Hindus, and we are worried that by making it an official tourist destination, our spiritual lives will be disrupted,” association head Ngurah Sudyana told AFP.

“We are concerned that our spirituality will be degraded and exploited if these sites are just seen as commercial.”

While the sites in eastern Bali already receive considerable numbers of visitors, they are far less crowded than the major tourist areas in the south.

Sudyana said he was worried the government plan would change this.

“We are worried big buildings for accommodation and entertainment will be erected,” he said.

The temple and volcano, in eastern Bali, were included in the list of 88 places across Indonesia to be developed for tourism over a 15-year period.

Besakih, known as the “mother temple” by Balinese Hindus, is a huge, stone complex which sits 1,000 meters (3,000 feet) up the side of Mount Agung, a volcano that has great spiritual significance for Bali’s Hindus.

The tourism ministry plans to improve tourism links and accommodation at the selected destinations to boost an industry that is often criticized as underdeveloped compared with neighbors like Thailand and Malaysia.

The list was first drawn up in 2011 but Hindu leaders have spoken out amid growing unease on Bali about the pace of development.

The tourism ministry defended the plan, however, and said it planned to hold consultations with Bali’s religious leaders to address their concerns.

“We are trying to conserve strategic tourism destinations, not cause any disruption to them. It will certainly bring benefits to the communities,” ministry spokesman Noviendi Makalam said.

“There will be no major developments there without consultations with the community first.”

As a Hindu-majority island, Bali is an anomaly in the world’s biggest Muslim-majority nation of around 250 million people and is known for its hedonistic party scene and comparatively relaxed social attitudes.

Agence France-Presse

Borobodur Temple to Get Solar-Powered Lighting

Jakarta Globe, October 15, 2012

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Greenpeace has started installing a solar-powered lighting system that will illuminate the ancient temple of Borobodur on the outskirts of Yogyakarta.

The lighting system is scheduled to start working on Oct. 28, the group said in a press release on Sunday.

The organization said that the project was part of a nationwide campaign, called the “Climate Rescue Station,” to promote awareness about renewable energy to people in Indonesia.

The project also aims to urge the government to implement a massive uptake of renewable energy sources and to decrease dependence on dirty fossil fuels like coal.

“Greenpeace intends to light up Borobodur to enlighten Indonesians about our vision of a clean and safer energy future. We want to remind Indonesians, particularly the government, that we can work together for a better future with renewable energy,” said Arif Fiyanto, climate and energy campaigner for Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

He said the government must make the switch to renewable energy to protect communities from the health and environmental hazards of coal pollution.

“We are calling on all Indonesians to be part of the solution and join the movement for renewable energy by visiting the Climate Rescue Station at Borobodur, or by signing up at our website,” Arif added.

Borobudur, the world’s biggest Buddhist monument, was built in the ninth century and has been Indonesia’s leading tourist attraction.

“Today, it is a symbol for enlightenment not only for Indonesians but for people around the world,” the group said. “Greenpeace is providing solar-powered lighting around the temple complex to show that renewable energy is not only possible but a viable alternative to meet Indonesia’s energy needs.”

Marsis Sutopo, head of Borobudur Heritage Conservation, voiced his appreciation to Greenpeace’s initiative.

“Our hope is that people grow increasingly aware that solar power is needed as an energy source, thus reducing our dependence on energy from fossil fuels,” he said.

Many experts have agreed that Indonesia’s position on the equator allows it to use the sun’s abundant supply of heat as an energy source throughout the year. But it’s something the country has not taken advantage of.

According to Greenpeace, the country’s abundant geothermal potential accounts for roughly 40 percent of the world’s total resource.

Latest government data shows that renewable energy contributes to less than 5 percent to the country’s power-generating capacity, according to the group.

Greenpeace said it is calling on the government of Indonesia to fast-track the development of renewable energy in the country by setting ambitious and binding targets for renewable energy, guaranteeing priority access to the grid for renewable power generators, providing defined and stable returns for renewable energy investors, and phasing out all subsidies for fossil fuels.

The group would also like fossil fuel companies to shoulder the social and environmental burden caused by their facilities.

“Renewable energy is a key building block for a fair and equitable green economy,” Arif said. “We call on Indonesians to sign up and join our renewable-energy campaign and be part of the movement that will steer our country to a better future.”