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As with my Cambodian trip, I asked myself this question - “If Indonesia is a jar, what would it contain?”

My answer came easily.  Apart from volcanoes, food trips galore and architectural wonders, Indonesia is a place to learn valuable lessons in life.  In particular, that regardless of their religion, people are good.  Despite differences in race, culture, personal histories and beliefs, people value the same things such as love, fidelity, loyalty and compassion.  So, I leave you with these images of the people in Indonesia.

Tip No. 1:  Money. Don’t leave home without it.

As usual, I was in a state of panic before my trip to Indonesia.  I barely had time to pack my clothes.  I did remember to bring a camera but forgot to bring my money for the trip.

On our second day in Jakarta, Tita D suggested that we take a trip to one of the outlets in Bandung.  As I was getting ready for the trip, I discovered that I left behind the envelop containing the money to pay for our hotels, food and shopping.  I was in a state of shock when I called my dad to tell him what happened.  Of course I got an earful from him before he and Tito L remedied the situation.  I was lucky that Tito L and Tita D were with us in Jakarta and that they loaned me money for the trip.  I am eternally grateful to them and extremely embarassed by this whole thing.

So, to avoid getting an earful from parents or having to unexpectedly borrow money from someone, don’t forget to bring money for the trip. (more…)

Star posted a comment about my 29 April 2009 article, Borobudur has taught me Buddhism. I was about to reply to her comment and post several pictures. Alas, this dinosaur does not know if it is possible to post pictures together with a comment and does not have time to learn about it now.  I am, therefore, posting my reply (with pictures) to Star.  You may find this bit of information interesting as well.

Star -  Wow!  I did not realize there is so much one could learn from a lotus.  Incidentally, I learned a pose in my yoga class some time ago.  The pose is called Padmasana.  Padma means lotus and asana means pose.  In his book, Light on Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar says that Padmasana ”…is one of the most important and useful asanas.  It is the posture for meditation and the Buddha is often depicted in it.”  While the position of the hands of the buddhas in Borobudur change depending on the direction they face, all of them sit in Padmasana.  This is yet again another reason for me to believe that Borobudur takes its inspiration from the lotus.  

Incidentally, I find Padmasana very difficult to do.  I always feel as is my legs would get stuck in that position and I would not be able to untangle myself.  As a result, I have yet to be able to meditate in this pose.

 

A crash course in religion and faith was not in my Indonesian itinerary.

My itinerary was simple - see Borobudur and Prambanan, go for a swim in Bali, eat and shop.  Of course, I also wanted to see Gunung Bromo but that was too much of an effort for this trip.  Other than that, my modus operandi on this trip was to rely on LS. 

LS surprised everyone by being able to carry a conversation in Bahasa Indonesia at the end of our trip.  As for me, Tito L gave me a tiny electronic translator.  All I had to do was type in the Indonesian word or phrase and I would get an instant English translation.  The lazy me never got to use it.   So, I relied on LS to communicate with everyone new we encountered to get information. I also relied on LS, who read up on Indonesia before our trip, to provide me information about the places we saw and things to do.  I was only emphatic about my views when in came to shopping.  I did a lot of that in Indonesia.

But sometimes, things do not go the way you expect it.  Instead of just coming home with things I bought from the trip, pictures and a few traveler’s tales, I came home with a deeper understanding of different religions and of faith.  And this is not a bad thing.   

I feel God in Masjid Istiqlal

I am in Masjid Istiqlal in Jakarta, Indonesia.  I do not know why it is that I found myself here. It certainly was not my plan to visit this place, which until now I knew nothing of.  Initially, I thought that my presence would not be tolerated here.  After all, I am a Catholic and a woman.  Yet, I have been allowed through the gates of Masjid Istiqlal and in the sacred premises of this mosque.

As I explore this mosque, I am accompanied by a person of this faith.  This person is genuine, gracious and welcoming.  He is interested in my thoughts, and at the same time, he takes pride in showing me this place.

As I climb the steps of this mosque, I am moved to tears and surprised that I feel God’s presence so intensely.  Why do I feel God now when I am not looking for Him?  Why does He make  His presence felt in this place?  I am shocked.  I am perplex.  I am awed.  I am grateful.

Perhaps I thought that I would not find God in this place. After all, I did not come here to look for Him or to pray. I do sense Him everywhere.  I feel God in the corridors of this mosque.  I recognize Him in the people of this faith who I watch as they cleanse themselves before prayer and as they sit in quiet corners of this mosque to pray.

As I walk bare-footed in the corridors of Masjid Istiqlal, I find solace and peace.

A note about this post:  I wrote this article right after I visited the mosque called Masjid Istiqlal. I felt that it should be written in the present tense to convey how affected I was by the experience.

There is good in Islam

I suppose that most people learn about Islam from their parents or from teachers.  As for me, I learned a few things about Islam  by observing  how others in Indonesia practice this faith.

I did not travel to Indonesia to learn about Islam.  Yet, while there, Islam presented itself to me.

I did not learn about the teachings of the prophet Muhammad or the nuances of Islamic practice. Although, I did learn that Muslims must pray facing the Mecca five times a day, must cleanse themselves before entering the prayer hall, and on certain times during the year, they must fast.  What I did learn, from those who practice this faith, is that there is good in Islam. In the process, I was prodded into re-thinking my initial impression of Islam that was formed from my ignorance and bad press about atrocities supposedly committed in furtherance of this faith.  In the end, I feel a sense of gratitude that my Indonesian experience has left me with a better appreciation for this faith called Islam.

An unorthodox retreat

I asked my friend, Fr. Bill, to prepare for me some spiritual exercises I could do while I was in Indonesia. I felt the need to connect with God.  Although I was only able to accomplish one out of seven spiritual exercises, I had somehow achieved my goal of connecting with God in the strangest and most unorthodox of retreats.  I gained a connection with God through the eyes and practices of persons who, unlike me, are not Catholics. For, while I had not gone to Indonesia to learn about religious beliefs other than my own, I received an unexpected crash course in Islam, Buddhism and Balinism and learned more about Hinduism while I was there. My crash course did not, by any means, provide me with a comprehensive understanding of other religious beliefs.  If at all, it would probably take me several lifetimes to understand those beliefs.  I did, however, come away with the simple realization that a connection to God may be made through Islam, Buddhism, Balinism and Hinduism.  And to me, this is really what matters.

The journey that requires me to travel within myself has not yet ended. I am still on this bus called Yoga and I do not know if and when I an going to get off.  I still do not know what I contain, but I am hoping that Yoga will help me find the answer.

On total exhaustion and the inner strength to move on

Each Yoga class lasts for an hour and fifteen minutes.  Yoga classes are offered three times a week. Depending on the lessons for that day and on the pace of the teacher, the students could be made to do twenty or more poses in each class.  On the weeks when the classes are devoted to standing poses, I sometimes wonder how I could survive the class with the number of poses we are made to do.

Once in a while, intensive classes are offered.  The last time I joined those intensive classes, I went to class everyday for five straight days.  Those classes lasted two hours per session. During those classes, I was made to do new poses.  That time was also hell week for me at work.   I would work until 5:30 p.m., attend Yoga class from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., go back to work after, work until 2:00 p.m., go home and be back at work by 9:00 a.m. the next day. (more…)

Virabhadrasana

I am not privy the to nuances of Hindu religion and myth.  My thoughts about the story of Virabhadra do not, therefore, purport to be those of one who is well-versed with Hinduism, but rather, of one who is grappling with the experience of this bus ride called Yoga.

Virabhadrasana is a pose that is named after the Hindu warrior, Virabhadra (which literally means warrior-friend).

From what I have read and what was told to me by my Yoga teachers, Virabhadra was created by the Hindu god Shiva in his rage, sorrow and frustration over the loss of his beloved wife Sati. Sati’s rage and humiliation at her father Daksha’s deliberate refusal to invite Shiva to an important feast, caused her to “self-combust” and die. Virabhadra was created by Shiva to kill Daksha and avenge Sati’s death. While Virabhadra did kill Daksha, he was later reborn to make his peace with Shiva. Sati was likewise reborn as Parvati, Shiva’s second wife. (more…)