Not use to be

 My head is painful, 

It is heavy and stuffy. 

My fingers run to feel it. 

Ah it is still one

But it is me who bear it alone

Like not it was used to be.

Heart and Ego

When heart and ego are quarrel,

How should you know which one is saying true?

Their fingers are at each others' face,

Oh why don't you just leave me alone

  

-Yl (Sept. 09)

Tears

Have not I wet my clothes enough?

I cannot afford it anymore,

For every drop of it

Is a piece of my breaking soul,

Every drop of it is my sleepless night.

(yulisant, Sept. 09)

Summer star

As if no single day

That wave doesn't soak my sleeves

For the summer star

That has grown red











*Yulisant
September '09

Saigyo Hoshi (and Yulisant): Dubious Shrine

Before the dubious shrine,

I stand.

Dumbstruck and crying.
(Saigyo Hoshi)


II

When the dubious shrine becomes clear,

I'll cry for no more

My short sleeves will dry

But (alas) there is nothing

So promising enough.
(yulisant)

Ono no Komachi: Man I love

As I dozed

The man I love,

Appeared, so

It is dream that

Have begun to comfort me.

Ono no Komachi: heartbreak

Upon my breast

Floats a boat of heartbreak

And I have just embark

There is not a single day when wave

Do not soak my sleeves

Poetry : Ono no Komachi

How hollow
Are tears upon a sleeve
In gemlets
For mind cannot be damned
As a surging flood

Putting Buddhist Principles to Business

Abstract

Putting Buddhist Principles to Business: A Case study on Indonesian Buddhist Businessmen

This paper will study about the behavior and interplay between Buddhist principles and Business activity, specifically observing closely how Buddhist businessmen in Indonesia attempt to synchronize Buddhist principles such as the idea of non-attachment and generosity, which are among the factors for one to be liberated in Buddhism, with Business activity which has the brand as being multiplying desire and profit maximization oriented. Buddhist principles, such as non-attachment and generosity are appeared to be paradoxical to commonly understood business behavior. Those seemingly contradictory ideas are what this paper will observe. Because in fact, there are many Buddhists who engage in business affair and not few of them understand about the core ideas such as non-attachment and generosity, yet understanding as such lead them to a more sustainable business. Therefore, it is urged here that Business which is inspired by Buddhist principles would lead to stability and business which benefit one-self and others.

This paper is the continuation of previous research which has been done by the author under the title: Crossing the Crisis: Success Stories of Indonesian Buddhist Businessmen. The paper related the stories of some Buddhist-principles-inspired businessmen in Indonesia who were able to survive the crisis and develop their business progressively. The paper was presented during the 1^st conference held by the Buddhist Economics Platform in Budapest, Hungary, on August 2007.

* This paper was presented at a conference held by IABU in Thailand (2008)

A Buddhist Speaking on Overpopulation Problem

Abstract

The Progressive View on Reproduction as a Solution for Overpopulation: An Attitude from a Buddhist Woman

“Any childless woman cannot be called as an adequate woman”. It is a single sentence that is mostly very familiar among the traditional family in almost everywhere. Even one of the purposes of getting married is only to continue one’s generation by getting one’s biological child. In this case women having little chance to reject the long-invented idea that it is the women duty to fulfill such an aim.

Another factor that may contribute active reproduction is religion. Most of people on earth live with their traditions and religions. These religions take a strong root in the heart of its followers and make them reluctant to object whatever their religions have taught to them. Some religions and traditions implicitly require their follower to perpetuate reproduction for the purpose of getting more number of adherents. Legitimately they encourage the multiplying of biological reproduction for its amplification.

Thus it is crucial to introduce this problem to the religious sphere. To let them acknowledge that their belief has become one of contributors to family and public problem. It is not about blaming certain kinds of traditions or belief but it is just a step to draw their attention to begin realizing that they should not continue persisting that reproduction is a private right rather to see it as an interdependent things which influent each other development. From the perspective of family, the belief to multiply as much as one may able to, may give a risk to the survival of the family. Economically poor family might increase their inability to sustain their family due to inadequate job and income to maintain their family. While from the perspective of living environment, Reproduction may become the trigger for the problem of overpopulation.

Responding to these problems, Buddhism has different attitude toward issue of reproduction. First of all, Buddhism does not take child bearing as religious obligation. However, it doesn’t mean that Buddhism condemns biological reproduction but it puts the issue in the place of a choice. Buddhists never asked to have a large family member in order to increase the number of adherents as Buddhism does not emphasize the quantity but the quality. Often, the teaching of this traditions emphasize on complete worldly renunciation. Therefore Buddhism much more speaks to the importance of developing mental qualities such as love, compassion and wisdom.

Reflection on the Traditional Education: BRE

Abstract

Reflection on the Traditional Religious Education: Within the Context of Formal Buddhist Religious Education Based on a Buddhist Personal Experience

As Dewey said that “self-realization or ability to see the linkages of what one learning and what is happening surround their life is very much more important than the subject taught”. This statement indicates the duty of teacher are not merely standing, speaking, and teaching the class to finish the prescribed curricula but to make the students sense about how to use the subject and apply them in their daily life or to response the problems that they may face in the society. So does the students, they should be able to perceive the message that teachers try to convey to them, accepting them in the heart and attempt to articulate them in order to be useable for their life. Emphasizing on the urgent need for teachers to make their student see the relation of the subject and their life were so that Dewey categorized it as violence or crime within education for anyone that misses this point.

Such intended or unintended way of teaching will affect the students’ development process, since they got little chance to explore the subject as far as they could and as to follow the idea that teachers told them. Often time, to some traditional kind of education, teacher has at the very beginning been telling the student that ‘you have to do exactly the same as I or the book told you’ in this way student can hardly develop their ability to think broader and deeper to the text. That is because they were so told by their previous teachers during student time. These kind of cases, which had been I experienced sometime in the past within the context of religious education and plural situational society.

Religious education is one of the subjects which are very crucial to be address because it directly talks about the principles, for example what is good or otherwise. Religious education, which is here contextualized within Buddhist Religious education, should actually be taught in such manner. Letting students to explore what is being taught in the class and then to integrate them in their daily life. The Study of Buddhist education should emphasize on the balance of theory and practice, and directed to the progress of students knowledge than just to be focused on the fulfillment of the set-curricula. This article will explore a reflection based on personal experience on account of formal Buddhist education. Besides, this paper will show how an open education could enhance and even give deeper understanding to the students, making Buddhism not as an ivory tower.

* This paper was presented at the conference held by UNDV in Hanoi, Vietnam. (2008)

Buddhist Economics: Crossing the Crisis

Abstract Paper

Crossing the Crisis

Success Story of Progressive Indonesian Buddhist Entrepreneurs

Since the economic crisis which Indonesia experienced in 1998, many businesses had had poor profits and even bankruptcy while millions of workers had lost their jobs. These bad economics conditions have become a challenge for businessmen of all kinds. Some of corporation which are owned and run by Buddhist entrepreneurs have answered the challenge even becoming successful and have been doing a very significant business development. For instance, Garudafood Group enterprise, one of the enterprises which is owned by a Buddhist, had successfully survived the tough years and progressively developed receiving wide acknowledgement nationally. One of the best products of Garudafood Group, roasted peanuts, earned an award from SUPERBRAND Indonesia, ICSA (Indonesian Customer Satisfaction Award) in the year 2001 and the renewal of management leadership which has been done by the Garudafood Group has played a significant role in the success. Very recently Mr. Sudhamek (the CEO of Garudafood Group) received an award of Indonesia Entrepreneur of the year 2004. Another figure of progressive business enterprise is Handaka Vijjananda. He was a country manager of one of a well-known pharmaceutical industry in Indonesia. Being inspired with Buddhist principles, he decided to set up his own enterprise and quit his job to focus on his own and Dhamma work.

The entrepreneurs mentioned above are only 2 among the other successful Buddhist entrepreneurs in Indonesia who gain successful business. And these entrepreneurs are known as pious Buddhist and actively engage in social Buddhist community. This paper will dig up Buddhist principles which have inspired Indonesian Buddhist entrepreneurs who were able to survive the crisis and develop their business progressively.

Keyword: Buddhist entrepreneurs, Buddhist principle, Indonesia

Sub-Theme: Progressive Business Enterprises

**This paper was presented at the first Buddhist Economics conference held by The Platform of Buddhist Economics in Hungary (2007)

The creation of Green Tara mandala at FIU's Frost Art museum