Ya, SEB lahir dari Asia. Buddhisme lahir dari Asia juga. Jadi
teringat kata Ajahn Chah bahwa Buddhisme di Asia bagaikan pohon yang
sangat besar tetapi tidak ada buahnya, sedangkan Buddhisme barat
adalah pohon kecil yang mempunyai potensi berbuah.
Saya merasa, orang barat cenderung kepada action; bersedia berbuat
sesuatu. Jadi teringat STERIOTIPE ras manusia: ras kulit putih atau
bule memandang kedepan, ras asia suka ke masa lampau membicarakan
kejayaan kakek/nenek atau Sang Gurunya, orang kulit hitam cenderung
hidup pada masa kini; buah-buahan di pohon, berburu, memasak, dan
kalau Negro Amerika, hura-hura, atau seperti orang Ambon. Entah
STERIOTIPE ini benar atau tidak.
Semoga ada donatur alias dapet duit dari luar negeri (walaupun dari
individu-individu sana yang menyumbang sendiri-sendiri). Bagus lagi
kalau yayasan atau Sangha sana dan Sangha Indonesia saling
mengetahui mengenai pandangan(ikatan) akan pembangunan socially
engaged buddhism. Kok ya sudah saya lakukan: Sangha Theravada
Indonesia sudah saya kirim surat, juga replay dari orang (individu)
Amerika itu saya lampirkan juga. Juga, pihak Amerika / Australia ya
saya sudah surati ;-)
Maju terus, gerak cepat ada baiknya, walaupun kalau kecepetan, akan
kececeran. Walaupun kececer, saya rasa masih ada hikmahnya; yaitu;
ide (benih) sudah masuk (tertanamkan) dulu.
Ayo kawan, apa bank account dan keorganisasian Dharmajala? Mau
kemasukan duit dari orang-orang luar negeri yang simpati, kan? ;-)
Salam perjuangan,
Michael S
--- In Dharmajala@yahoogroups.com, "pelayan_buddha"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Dear Brother Michael,
>
> Sekuntum teratai untuk anda, seorang calon Buddha.
>
> Ijinkan saya untuk memberikan info tambahan.
>
> Sebelum menapak lebih jauh lagi, saya sarankan untuk mempelajari
> lebih dalam lagi mengenai Gerakan Socially Engaged Buddhism (SEB).
>
> Socially Engaged Buddhism started in Asia not in the west and not
by
> westerner!
>
> Memang, SEB kemudian mendapatkan dukungan yang luar biasa dari
> westerner. Justru agama Buddha yang paling berkembang in the west
> adalah yang bernuansa SEB. Tapi, seiring dengan berjalannya waktu,
> terjadilah pendangkalan makna in the west. SEB bukanlah Protestant
> Buddhism atau Social Activism.
>
> Saran saya, galilah dari sumber2nya di Asia sebelum tengok ke
Barat.
> Pelajarilah:
>
> 1. Siapa itu Y.A. Maha Biksu Thich Nhat Hanh dan gerakan beliau.
>
> 2. Siapa itu Ajahn Buddhadasa dan gerakan beliau.
>
> 3. Siapa saja selain Dalai Lama di lingkup Tantra yang
mempraktekkan
> SEB.
>
> 4. Siapa itu Biksuni Cheng Yen dan gerakan beliau.
>
> 5. Siapa itu Ajahn Sulak Sivaraksa dan gerakan beliau.
>
> 5. Siapa itu A.T. Ariyaratne dan gerakan beliau.
>
> 6. Siapa itu Dr. Ambedkar dan gerakan beliau.
>
> 7. dsbnya.
>
> Ohya, satu hal lagi. Di Indonesia, komunitas Buddhis tidak hanya
> terdiri dari STI saja. Longoklah ke sekeliling, niscaya Michael
akan
> menemukan dunia yang lebih luas dari sekadar 2 venerables yang
telah
> Michael sebutkan di bawah.
>
> Anyway,
>
> You are doing a great job. Keep moving.
>
> Anumodana
>
> Be Mindfull
>
> Salam Perjuangan
>
> JL
>
>
>
>
>
> --- In Dharmajala@yahoogroups.com, "Michael suswanto"
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >
> > >--- Michael suswanto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > > > Hello Jeff,
> > > > please help me to gather contacts of Viharas
> > > > (temples) all around the world
> > > > with the Abbot's name. Countries like Thailand,
> > > > Japan, Taiwan, USA, England,
> > > > Europe, Australia, etc. Little by little as what you
> > > > know or what you could
> > > > help, would be appreciated.
> > > >
> > > > It's for the project: the wellness of Buddhism - a
> > > > Socially & Formally
> > > > Engaged Buddhism on Earth.
> > > >
> > > > Kindest regards,
> > > > Michael Suswanto
> > > >
> >
> >
> > >From: Jeffrey Brooks <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > >To: Michael suswanto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > >Subject: Re: Please help Engaged Buddhism
> > >Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2005 08:54:37 -0800 (PST)
> > >
> > >Hello Michael, I would be more than happy to help you
> > >reach out to the international community of Buddhism
> > >for reinvigorating Asian Buddhism. However, there is a
> > >wonderful international directory of Buddhist
> > >resources on Buddha Net at this URL
> > >http://www.buddhanet.net/ Through this directory you
> > >will be able to find Buddhist Viharas all over the
> > >world. I do have a directory of viharas in the USA,
> > >which I would be very happy to send to you, however, I
> > >will need to know what kind of format you want it in.
> > >The file is currently in Filemaker Pro format. I can
> > >export it in various formats. However, if you could
> > >use it in its original Filemaker Pro format I believe
> > >you will find it most useful. The most universal
> > >format is, however, is "tab delimitated."
> > >
> > >I would be more than happy to use the computer and web
> > >resources of the GWV to aid you in your endeavor. I
> > >could easily send out emails to the Buddhist community
> > >if you think that would help. If you would like we
> > >could compose a series of messages to be sent out to
> > >the Buddhist community. I have a listserv of 615
> > >Buddhist viharas in the USA. I also subscribe to 279
> > >Yahoo groups, so I could very easily broadcast your
> > >message to a very large International Buddhist
> > >community. Since your needs are international I could
> > >also, with some time and effort, capture the contact
> > >information of every vihara that is listed in the
> > >Buddha Net directory.
> > >
> > >I believe the Great Western Vehicle needs some kind of
> > >engaged outreach program that serves as a vehicle for
> > >the betterment of all. The plight of the decay of
> > >Buddhism in Asia seems like a worthy outreach program.
> > > Thus I and the GWV would be more than happy to serve
> > >in any way we can to reinvigorate Asian Buddhism.
> > >
> > >Our work in support of contemplatives who have arrived
> > >at absorption (jhana) is our primary focus, however,
> > >that community is a very small one. Because the jhana
> > >community is so small I believe the Great Western
> > >Vehicle needs a larger focus, that focus has been
> > >defined as forging alliances between Buddhism and the
> > >other religions of the world. Indonesia happens to be
> > >in a rather interesting position in that Buddhism is a
> > >minority there, when it was a majority religion at one
> > >time. Thus Indonesia might be the perfect place from
> > >which alliances between Christianity and Islam could
> > >be forged.
> > >
> > >I believe what you may need to reinvigorate Buddhism
> > >in Indonesia is one individual who can function as a
> > >"lightning rod" to draw international attention to the
> > >plight of Buddhism in Indonesia, and for that matter,
> > >Sri Lanka as well. That individual would have to have
> > >impeccable credentials with respect to leading an
> > >ethical life. One would not want to find a champion
> > >for your cause who turns out to be a self-serving
> > >narcissist, or a drug addicted philanderer.
> > >
> > >I believe what Asian Buddhism is lacking is a
> > >philanthropic attitude. I believe it is through
> > >loving kindness (metta) that Asian Buddhism can and
> > >will be able to reinvigorate itself. And, with the
> > >recent tsunami relief effort one could fairly easily
> > >direct that effort to the larger issue of giving Asian
> > >Buddhism a philanthropic focus. What Asian Buddhism
> > >does not need is a bunch of pampered monks who do not
> > >work for the betterment of all.
> > >
> > >Please let me know if there is anything that I can do
> > >to help you reinvigorate Asian Buddhism.
> > >
> > >Kindest regards, Jhanananda
> > >
> >
>_________________________________________________________________
> >
> > MICHAEL:
> >
> > Regarding your question about one who's respected by the
Indonesian
> Buddhist
> > community and leading an ethical life in Indonesia is Bhikkhu
> Pannavaro Maha
> > Thera - he's known internationally. But, another monk named
Bhikkhu
> > Dhammasubho Maha Thera is the one who has the power (chairmonk?)
> over the
> > STI (Sangha Theravada Indonesia), I think. So if you are willing
to
> help in
> > action, please send this two bhikkhu a letter, a snail mail from
> USA; from
> > you or some American robed monk (if you can lead one of them to
do
> it)
> > planning or concerning about Engaged Buddhism Internationally
> including
> > Indonesia (about the condition of Viharas with mostly no monk in
> Indonesia,
> > and the Formal / Social penetration of Buddhist Schools,
> Universities,
> > Hospitals in Indonesia).
> >
> > These two important monks:
> >
> > Bhikkhu Dhammasubho Maha Thera
> > Jl. Margasatwa 9, Pondok Labu,
> > Jakarta Selatan
> > West Java
> > Indonesia
> >
> > B. Sri Pannavaro Mahathera
> > Vihara Mendut
> > Kotak pos 111
> > Magelang
> > Central Java
> > Indonesia
> >
> > Please when you send them letters, don't mention one of them in
the
> letter
> > for each part. Meaning: in the letter intended to Dhammasubho,
> don't mention
> > the name of Pannavaro. Vice versa. But I think, and (I think)
most
> people in
> > Indonesia think too, Pannavaro is wiser.
> >
> > ________________________________________________
> > Regarding your listserv, thank you for willing to spread my
letter
> to
> > Buddhists or people with interest of Buddhism all around the
world
> in the
> > internet via your listserv.
> >
> > By the way, I was actually going to give a bank account (for
> receiving
> > donation :-)) of the Centre of Buddhist Formal Education in
> Indonesia,
> > instead of the Indonesian Sangha (Sangha Theravada Indonesia).
But
> I found
> > out that all schools & universities are stand up on their own. I
> currently
> > found 33 schools (including university). Nevertheless, one
actually
> could
> > donate the STI (Sangha Theravada Indonesia) by stating that it's
> not for
> > Vihara, but it is for public Buddhist schools, public Buddhist
> universities,
> > and public Buddhist clinics (we don't have hospitals yet).
> >
> > Wisma Sangha Theravada Indonesia
> > Jl. Margasatva 9 (Depan BBC) Pondok Labu, Jakarta 12450
> > Telp/Fax (021) 75914315
> > Bank Account:
> > Yayasan Sangha Theravada
> > Bank: BCA
> > A/C: 343-30-0290-0
> >
> > Please also add your comments before/after the message before
> spreading this
> > message below to your listserv:
> >
> > Namo Buddhaya.
> >
> > To Buddhist fellows all around the world, I am Michael (D.O.B:
28
> February
> > 1985) writing from Indonesia. I was babtised and raised as a
> Catholic. Now
> > I'm in the middle of a religion-based-social-pattern of
Indonesia;
> > monotheism. I used to live in Perth (Western Australia) and
> regularly
> > attended Ajahn Brahmavamso's dhammadesana and his monastery, I
went
> back to
> > Indonesia last year in February and I am currently back into
> Catholic
> > University. It's weird that in Indonesia, outside of monotheism
we
> are
> > condemned as communist, atheist, etc (atheist is viewed bad
here).
> It's like
> > an implicit law that atheist, nontheist, and agnostic are not
> allowed. It's
> > due to political issue that had happened before.
> >
> > Indonesia was called NUSANTARA (pre history). What's so called
now
> Thailand,
> > Philipine, Malaysia, .. up to South China and maybe more, WAS
(in
> that
> > pre-history time) NUSANTARA. And Nusantara was a strong and
> developed
> > Buddhist domain / kingdom. Borobudur Temple in Java island of
> Indonesia is
> > one of 7 World Wonder. We still have many pre-history temples
> besides of
> > Borobudur.
> >
> > That time, Muslim from other country (Arab or Chinese Muslim)
came.
> And....
> > long story. The point is; kingdoms' war, the ruin of the
Kingdom.
> Thousands
> > of Buddhists were killed.
> >
> > Then western colonizer came (Portugese, Dutch) with their
> missionaries
> > (Christian). Dutch colonized for over 300 years.
> >
> > Now Indonesia is the biggest Muslim population on Earth.
Secondly,
> Catholic
> > and Christian are quite strong in this country. They are quite
> viewed
> > because of strong organization. The point is, they have schools,
> they have
> > hospitals, and universities, especially the Catholics. They fit
> (penetrate)
> > into social. In Indonesia since the year 1970 - 2003, Buddhist
> descendant
> > decreased 50%.
> >
> > The point is, people (Buddhist, Buddhist descendant) became non-
> Buddhist
> > (and not little they become fanatics and attack back / trying to
> convert the
> > Buddhist tradition of their families) because of school and
their
> > socialization. Not because they go to churches first then became
> Christians,
> > but it's because of schools and friends (social) -- social
paradigm
> of
> > thinking -- then they become non-Buddhist (and not little of
them
> are
> > forgetting the family's / the ancestor's tradition; traditional
> Buddhism).
> > Buddhist schools/institutions in Indonesia are still very few
and
> little
> > recognized.
> >
> > The issue is, most people spent their `Dana' (donation) for
Vihara
> (temple).
> > Viharas (temples) in Indonesia are quite plenty, big and
luxuriant
> with
> > little people coming (and little monks, for sure). When there's
> Buddhist
> > events, true it's plenty people coming to the event, it's
because
> people
> > from other domain/cities are also coming.
> >
> > I wonder why many people don't have the long term vision of
`Dana'
> (money,
> > energy, effort) for Buddhist Formal Foundation such schools,
> universities,
> > hospitals (as a router for the Dhamma to the world/public).
> >
> > As I know a little about history, 'University' was first existed
in
> India.
> > And it was Buddhist University.
> >
> > I know a story in Tipitaka about The Buddha visiting some
village
> with
> > diseases / the sick, dirty place ... Then The Disciples cleaned
up
> and took
> > care of the diseases, then so The Buddha gave the Dhammadesana
> (Dharma
> > Talk).
> >
> > Through good will, I'm thinking of Socially Engaged Buddhism for
> the sake of
> > Buddhist evocation socially. Dharma and Viharas will
automatically
> flow
> > through it. Now, Viharas (temples) are still shining, even-
though
> in
> > Indonesia we have little people and we have most times Viharas
> (temples)
> > with no monk.
> >
> > Warm Regards,
> >
> >
> > Michael Suswanto
> > [ [EMAIL PROTECTED] ]
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > Find love today with ninemsn personals. Click here:
> > http://ninemsn.match.com?referrer=hotmailtagline
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