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Monks step humbly through modernity
Buddhist monks living in Jakarta balance centuries-old religious rules with the realities of living in a consumer-driven, cosmopolitan society to maintain their spiritual piety
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uddhist monks living in Jakarta balance centuries-old religious rules with the realities of living in a consumer-driven, cosmopolitan society to maintain their spiritual piety.
“A long time ago, people had to stand at arm’s length from the monks, but we can’t expect our congregation to do that anymore,” said Bhiksuni Virya Guna, a female monk from the Avalokitesvara Vipassana Graha Buddhist Temple in Sunter, North Jakarta.
Virya shares advice, short sermons and hymns from YouTube via her Facebook profile.
“There’s no rule that bans technology, but it must be utilized for religious purposes,” she said. “My mobile phone, for example, is for congregation members to contact me when they need services for house blessings or funerals.”
While some aspects of Buddhism have been adapted to the realities of modern society, others traditions have been upheld because of their philosophical significance.
Virya has a shaved head as Buddhist philosophy encourages cutting all ties to vanity and ego.
“I only have three sets of clothes that were given to me by congregation members,” Virya told The Jakarta Post. She wore a loose, brown, long sleeved tunic and loose, gray, leggings tapered at the ankles.
The Mahayana Buddhist monk also divides donations from her congregation between the temple’s needs and the various charities the temple or vihara contributes to.
Mahayana is one of the two main schools in Buddhism besides Theravada. Mahayana is popular in North Asia and the Far East, while the more traditional Theravada has a strong foothold in Southern Asia. More branches of Buddhism later sprang from those two, such as Buddhayana.
“My aim in this life is to sow good karma to reap later, with the hope of becoming a bodhisattva or small Buddha, in the next life,” said Virya.
Mahayana Buddhists believe that humans can reach enlightenment and become smaller versions of Buddha, who delay entering nirvana to help others. Those in the Theravada tradition, believe that people attain enlightenment and nirvana simultaneously.
The philosophy of karma or reaping what you sow, Virya said, resonated in the Indonesian’s Buddhist Council’s (Walubi) theme of “Sowing the Seeds of Goodness” for this year’s Waisak, a simultaneous celebration of the birth, enlightenment and the passing into nirvana of Lord Buddha, which falls this Friday.
Monks perform good deeds through controlling thoughts, words and actions, according to Bhiksuni Bhadrasatyani, 34, from the Ekayana Graha vihara in Duri Kepa, West Jakarta.
“The thought behind it is to lose physical, mental and worldly attachments. For example, if I get nervous when my mobile phone stops operating, then I’m attached to it,” she said.
Bhadrasatyani also said that clothes for female monks were required to be modest. For undergarments, bhiksuni must wear either a specially made singlet or a “mini set” commonly sold in malls that does not emphasize the body shape.
During their monthly periods, female monks “do what other women commonly do” and carry out religious activities as usual, she added.
“I am allowed to go to malls when I need to buy feminine needs or daily groceries,” she added.
“The head of the temple does not restrict monks from stepping out to malls or restaurants as long as they do not go alone and have a definite purpose.”
Monks are aware of the enjoyment city life offers, but say they practice self-control.
According to Bhikkhu Saddhaviro, 46, of the Ratana Graha temple in Grenvil, West Jakarta, monks must guard themselves from being swept away by remembering their role in an environment that stimulates the senses.
Saddhaviro, a monk of the Theravada school, also said that certain traditions had been adapted to suit modern times. Instead of carrying bowls to collect food from the congregation, congregation members deliver cooked food to the temple.
“A long time ago, monks’ robes were made from cloth used to wrap corpses and they traditionally had one set only. Now my congregation gives me more than one set of clean robes,” he said, pointing to a stack of around 30 saffron-colored robes.
Contrary to popular belief, he said his choice to become a monk was not an expression of disappointment with the world, but an acknowledgement that humans must free themselves from worldly entrapments to find divinity. (gzl)
