Music of Silence

KOMPAS/COKORDA YUDISTIRA

Melasti ritual ceremony at Kuta Beach, Badung, Bali, Sunday (22/3/2020). The Kuta Traditional Village continues to carry out Melasti ritual ceremonies which are part of a series to welcome the 1942 Saka New Year, but limit the participation for prevention and control of Covid-19.

The famous Japanese composer, Kitaro, once said that silence was like music. During silence, "nature inspires me. I am just a messenger", he said. The musician, born in 1953, therefore described some of his songs as "like a cloud, some like water".

Can we turn the silence that will descend on Bali during Saka New Year 1942 (Nyepi, which falls on 25 March 2020) into “music”? A natural music that gives new strength to our determination to realize the goals of national sovereignty, and not its opposite, music that sharpens differences so that people are divided and development is hampered again?

Can we turn the silence that will descend on Bali during Saka New Year 1942 (Nyepi, which falls on 25 March 2020) into “music”?

As we have realized together, differences will always exist within a nation. It is precisely because of these differences that we can learn from each other and then grow together maximally. What needs to be prevented is these differences becoming a divisive factor.

Moreover, differences must not lead to conflict and divisions. We can learn from the conflicts in other nations. In fact, we have also experienced conflicts in the past. As a result, the nation’s energy was drained (to resolve these conflicts) and the goals of independence became difficult to realize.

Concerns about the increasing differences and divisions in society have been growing lately, beginning with certain organizations that took to the streets to protest, including the recent protests over the pros and cons of the draft omnibus bill on job creation.

It is hoped that these concerns can be overcome so that we can proceed with our steps to realize the goals of independence without significant obstacles.

Corruption

At the start of his government, President Joko Widodo was determined to build a country free of corruption and turn Indonesia into a dignified and dependable country. For that reason, economic independence must be realized by developing the strategic sectors of the domestic economy. He also introduced a “character revolution” by issuing education policies on the national curriculum.

These still have not been fully realized to date, even though our economy ranked seventh in the world in 2018 by gross domestic product based on purchasing power parity, according to economist Faisal Basri.

The Indonesian economy is expected to continue growing to rank fifth by 2030 and fourth by 2050 after China, India and the United States.

However, it has turned out that the government is still powerless in combating corruption. The Jiwasraya case is one example, and the people have demanded that the case be solved completely.

Where the money flowed, which officials were involved and what kind of fraud was committed should all be revealed. Even though the Supreme Audit Agency and the Attorney General\'s Office are handling the case, what is the government\'s responsibility in its role as supervisor?

This is where the importance of “character revolution” lays. It is a long-term program that will take a long time to achieve a result, that is, until the nation – and particularly the perpetrators – feel "ashamed and humiliated" about committing corruption; to feel ashamed and humiliated if they violate ethics, the law or religious teachings, or abuse power.

Kompas/Bahana Patria Gupta

Hindus receive holy water while attending the Melasti Ceremony at Pentirtaan Jolotundo, Mojokerto Regency, East Java, Sunday (22/3/2020).

The role of religion is very important in building ethics and a sense of shame in committing corruption. In this case, religion is needed to provide example and to be a pioneer.

"Compassion as a religious value must be spread as a moral value that can shape character that is full of morality and dignity, capable of building a peaceful world civilization," Muslim cleric Sahal Mahfudz said during the 2011 Sufi Congress in Jakarta.

Radicalism

On another occasion, the third president of Indonesia, B.J. Habibie, emphasized that radicalism was not a part of any religious teaching. "This [radical view] arises because of the low quality of faith or intellectuality of certain individuals or groups. Radicalism is not a religious teaching. There is no religion in the world that teaches violence," he said (Kompas, 29/07/2017).

We really need a brief moment of silence, to escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life and spend time alone in the quietude of nature.

Habibie\'s statement could explain why, for example, peace was eliminated in the Middle East and the Hindu-Islam tensions in India. In fact, Hinduism teaches strict "tat twan asi" (it/he is you), and Islam teaches universal mercy.

It is becoming increasingly clear why we need a moment of silence in dealing with a future that is increasingly rushed, crowded and complicated.

We really need a brief moment of silence, to escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life and spend time alone in the quietude of nature. The Balinese tradition provides such an occasion for silence that serves as the "music" every year in welcoming the Saka New Year.

Ida Rsi Waskita Sari, Hindu priest.