A Story from Room 257

I went to Cikarang since last Monday (25/8) for a meeting of AJCU-EAO (Association of Jesuit Colleges and University - East Asia Oceania). Well, I'm not Jesuit, though, but how knows if one day I'll be one. In fact, most of the comers are Jesuits. Wow, it must be very hard for my sinful soul to be in that kind of community, taking communion and join the mass every evening. Surprise, surprise! I enjoy it...

Well, enough with the meeting, since it will make a whole new story which I might tell it later. I stayed at the room 257 of Grand Cikarang hotel. This room gave me some interesting stories.

At first, I thought that I'm going to find a beautiful room, with bathtub in the bathroom. But, it is not a first class room (or a room that I imagine would be found in such hotel). Well, I have a kingsize bed only for me alone, an air conditioner, and cable TV, as well as hot water shower. But, no bathtub!!! It might sound so dumb, but I want to try bathing in such tub while reading and sipping hot tea.

At my first night, I could barely sleep. Every once in a while, there was a knock on my door. And everytime I opened the door to see the knocker, to greet him or her, no one was there. Yep, it seemed like something knocked on my door, not someone. It's not that I was afraid. There was no single fright in my vein. It was just the annoyance. I always thought that it was either Bu Tri or Romo Agus. It was annoying though, and I wasn't able to sleep until 2 AM. I had to wake up at 5 AM. So, it was only 3-hour-sleep. And to think that I am a long sleeper........

Thanks GOD there was no disturbance in the second day. And you think that all the problems are solved? Nope, there was new problem though. There was a damage in my door key system. I couldn't open it at morning when I wanted to take my belt. I gave my card to the FO, and I left, escorting the city tour. When I came back, I found that the dinner plate was in front of my room. So, I assumed that everything is OK. Yeah, you think. I still couldn't open it!!!!

I went back to the FO and reported this. They didn't believe me, but when seeing the door, they started to get panicked. Nothing they can do to fix the condition. I had to wait at lobby for 30 minutes, with an exhausted body (remember, I got only 3 hours to sleep the previous nite!) and heavy eyes. I need rest badly to prepare for the welcoming dinner. And there was I, sitting at the lobby, waiting for the mechanics to fix my door.

Half an hour later, they came and lightly said to me, "Okay sir, your door can be opened now!" He left me and smiled. DAMMIT! Having been teaching English and manner in hotel, I know that they are supposed to at least say sorry or even gave some kind of compensation. But this?? Ouch! So much of a professionalism.

Avalokitesvara 1 - Unconditional Love

Avalokitesvara a.k.a. Guan Yin a.k.a. The Goddess of Mercy is one of the most famous deities under the heaven. Many have acknowledged her position and role, even dramatized her in countless literatures. And what does she do anyway to deserve such devotion from many beings?

As the name might suggest, Avalokitesvara is the goddess of mercy and compassion. She actually is one of the bodhisattva, a being close enough to perfection, a step away from reaching mokhsa. However, most bodhisattvas are delaying their perfection in order to help other creature to reach the same state with them. Even more, Avalokitesvara gave an unconditional love, which is giving away her state of purity to save other beings. This role places her as the highest bodhisattva, the saviour of the world from impurity and corruption.

She is willing to take any karmic consequences of her action in helping other. Her consideration of striking is based on compassion, not on the basis of profit for herself.

The greatest story of Guan Yin’s sacrifice came from one of its origin stories, Princess Miao Shan. It was told that she wanted to devote her life for esotheric journey, to leave earthly matters behind her. Her father, the emperor, was furious with her decision. In order to prevent her leaving the castle, he threw her to do dirty works in kitchen, thus degrading her status as royal princess. She successfully did those tasks and lived at a monastery as bikhuni. Feeling annoyed and degraded, the king sent his envoy to burn down the monastery, effectively killed hundreds bikhuni. Miao Shan herself was saved by the tiger and brought into the mountain.

During her stay at the mountain, she kept training and meditating. Away from the earthly matter, Miao Shan finally reached the enlightenment.

Meanwhile, the king was burnt by his fury. This in time turned into a mysterious disease. The only medicine involved eyes and hand of a living being, given voluntarily without any force. The royal family tried to find a donator for that, and they ended up with a female hermit in the mountain. She agreed to donate her eyes and hands. When the royal court saw her, they recognized her as Princess Miao Shan. The king and queen bowed down to ask for forgiveness from her, having exiled and tried to kill her out of rage. Miao Shan nodded gracefully and started to plug out her eyes and cut her hands. When her parents received it, she then transformed into thousand-handed Avalokitesvara for a moment. In the following moment, she turned back into a female hermit and died.

This action is interpreted by many people as Miao Shan’s effort to protect her father, to cast away all causes of pain, namely hatred, attachment to the worldly things, misunderstanding, and blinding rage. Her piety towards her parents was manifested infinitely, by accepting the seemingly impossible tasks, murdering effort, without any hard feeling. She even gave her life to save her father unconditionally. This in turn, made sure that her father repent and follows the path of mercy and compassion.

The imagery of Avalokitesvara with thousand hands and eyes given in Miao Shan’s story symbolized her all-knowing trait. This figurative is also related closely with his eleven heads. The heads and eyes mean her watching over us from many angles, aspects, and condition. Her hands indicate her willingness to give us a hand, to help us, to assist us in time of most unfortunate.

Avalokitesvara a.k.a. Guan Yin doesn’t limit herself only to Buddhist people. She is not only a deity for Buddhist. She in fact is the manifestation of pure compassion. She is the unconditional love, the universal mercy, reflected in many religions before us. This love is given name Avalokitesvara by Mahayana, manifested as Virgin Mary in Christianity, known as Sarasvati in Hinduism, taking form of Kerridwen in Druidism, and Mother Earth in many paganism beliefs.

This thus ends the first part of Avalokitesvara, Om Mani Padme Hum……..

Degrading Woman in the Eve of Independence Day

The eve of the Independence Day is always a torturing day, since we have some event called tirakatan. Ouch, how I really hate staying out late and watch nothing but speeches, the long ones. Besides, nothing interesting! Well, got to admit, I was excited to come to the event when I was younger (and how long is that? Thirteen years ago?)

I had to come to this year’s event though, since my brother had to play music for the national song. Meaning, I had to give him mental support and physical support for bringing the keyboard. Huh.

The venue (wow, can’t believe I use the word! Venue! Sounds so classy, while in fact it is only a simple gathering space) was set with carpet in front of the stage and plastic chairs in the back row. When I came, there were only few people there, so my family sat on the plastic chairs. The carpeted area was empty, since everybody chose to sit on the chairs, and the carpet would be used by the latecomers. We sat together with some neighbouring ladies and gentlemen.

And then came the master of ceremony, two young girls (well, put the emphasis on the term YOUNG!). They gave us the rundown of the event and started it. Still few people though, but we already started the show to give the opportunity to the children who performed. Surprisingly, when there were many people coming, the master of ceremony said clearly, “Can I have your attention? Would please all the ladies move and sit on the carpeted area? Since the plastic chairs are to be used by the gentlemen!”

Some ladies who already sat on the plastic chairs moved to the carpeted area, while some others were grumbling. They didn’t want to move, since they never thought about such kind of a rule.

Surprise, surprise! Even in the 63rd birthday of Indonesia, there are many discrimination happened. The regulation that makes female to sit in the carpeted area is surely degrading women and eliminates the fight of gender emancipation. Women are still regarded as the lesser being than men. So, what is the independence proclamation for?

However, some women placed themselves in that position. As a helpless creature, lesser being, and degraded thing. Wow! That kind of women always disgusts me. I mean, how can you accept the humiliation?? Can’t you even strive for equality? The women who sat on the chair and moved in the end were even better than these ladies. And who were these ladies? The noted one was the master of ceremony, since she is a woman herself, but surrendered to the hegemony of patriarch.

Probably, I held this view of equality between man and woman too firm. But I really want the equality. I even like to have an equal wife with me (yeah, like the one that Non said, a partnership, not a relationship!). Blame me, guys! But I hate having a lesser woman as my life partner. Gosh, wouldn’t it be annoying? Being a supreme ruler of a family, without anyone to give some consideration and only follow the decision? Eeeeew!!!!!

The conclusion? I left the event when the old spirit full guy talked about Indonesian history and mentioned that westerners (including AFRICA) wanted to colonialized Indonesia in the past. Africa? Yeah right, sir!

PS : Am I not nationalist enough???

Indonesian Dynasty Warriors???

KOEI games has been known throughout the world first by its franchised game, Romance of Three Kingdom (a.k.a. Sangokushi). This game, in turn, gave birth to many spin-offs, such as Dynasty Tactics, Dynasty Warriors, and Kessen. However, Dynasty Warriors is the biggest one, since it appealed to many gamers in the world. The popularity is high, and thus KOEI decided to make another game with similar engine, but still taking the story from a historical saga and wars. Hence, Samurai Warriors was brought into the world.

Unlike Dynasty Warriors which takes Three Kingdoms in the ancient china as the setting, Samurai Warriors takes the warring states era of ancient Japan, which resulted in the unification of Japan. Interestingly, those two games take the unification story as the background. But, the recent game made by KOEI, entitled Bladestorm, taking place in the 100 year war between English and France. It was not a unification war, though.

I was thinking, is there any kind of great war in Indonesia? As a old country with many different imperium, surely there were many. And why wouldn’t KOEI make one game based on the chronicles of Indonesian imperium?

Let’s list the great wars in Indonesia! (Who knows that KOEI, by any chance, read this posting and become interested in making one! Hehehehe! *wink! Wink! Wink!*)

First one, the greatest war ever in Indonesia, is the first unification of Malaya under Majapahit Kingdom. It took many years, covering many areas, and it was a unification chronicle. Not only Indonesia, Mahapatih Gadjah Mada was able to unify Singapore and Malaya too. The area at that time was even bigger than Indonesia nowadays. Need more? Since it was a story within a palace, there will be conflict, betrayal, marriage, and political maneuver too. Many generals were involved, many kings, and even greater number of Kingdoms.

Second one, Aceh war. Well, it happened for a long time too. Cut Nyak Dien, Cut Meutia, Panglima Polim, Teuku Umar, and many others. Traitors and great showdown. What else can you ask?

Third alternative is Diponegoro war. Well, it’s only 5 years though, but the scale of the war was enormous! He’s a great warriors as well.

Wow…. There are many alternatives to make. I know, it might just be an empty dream, but it feels so great when the chronicles of your nation is brought up into an international game though. Well, there might still be nationalism within me… Hehehehe!! Or is this the effect of the euphoric atmosphere near Independence Day??

Hydra in China? Oh, Please Rob Cohen!

Being labeled as a racist by Cha, I started to annoy her again about The Mummy 3. Well, it’s actually her fault for watching this movie about Chinese with me. She already knew and awared of the risk, that I will boast and blaberring about the Chinese. Yep, though you can’t see it physically, I’m a proud chinese guy!

It was not that grand. I mean, it’s just another holiday movie. I was not impressed by anything in it, except the daughter of Zi Yuan. Man, she’s so my type! Pure, obedient, yet strong, determining, and pure, cute, beautiful, persistent, and PURE! Wow! How many times did I use the word pure???

However, there’s something that disturb me, the imagery of the movie. The emperor was able to shapeshift into many kinds of mythological creature, and one of them was the dragon. Guess what kind of dragon he’s able to transform? It’s hydra! The legendary three-headed dragon which was beaten by Hercules! And to think that the setting was chinese..... How can he learned to transform into western dragon???If he’s that proud with his ancestral line, he should transform himself into chinese / eastern dragon

So, did the emperor meet Hercules during his conquest? I don’t know. Rob Cohen, please fix your knowledge!!!!! Chinese boy called to clarify the culture, hehehehehe!

I'm covering your face, indigenous WOMAN!

I just received a message this morning from Fe via Friendster. She told me that she didn't agree with my writing at GEMAS. For her, my writing was too radical and implied N.A.T.O (No Action, Talk Only). Well, in the extend of only criticizing Mudika Gamping without giving any solution. One of her line in the messaga was, “We don't need people who are only able to talk. We need people who are able to strike! You never participated in the activity, yet you spoke like that.”

Hey, wait young lady! ARE YOU COMPLETELY BLIND? CAN'T YOU EVEN READ THE ARTICLE?

Those two articles are not about critics towards mudika. I even positioned myself as the criticized mudika, who try to defend myself. In other words, those articles are basically a defense for mudika!

My first article was about the innovation in the mass, adjusted to the needs and nature of youngsters. I tried to convince those old geezers lingering at the church to accept the concept of rejuvenation and adjustment. IT WORKED, YOUNG LADY! Right after my article was published, those old geezers gave you guys the permission to conduct adjusted mass (a.k.a. EKM / Youth Eucharist). I didn't claim to be the only factor behind this, but at least, please OPEN YOUR F***ING EYES!!!!!!

My second article was about the call towards youth. Aren't you aware that those old geezers kept accusing us as the generation with no CALL at all? I argued in my writing that GOD called us in a different way, totally different from their generation. I was trying to say that our generation is still as good as theirs, or even BETTER. See, which part of my article is criticizing mudika? Which part of my story is criticizing your STUPID GOD-FORSAKEN-I-MEAN-ALMOST-FORGOTTEN-AND-LEFT-BEHIND ORGANIZATION??? TELL ME!! I WAS TRYING TO SAVE YOUR FACES FROM THE OLD GEEZERS.

I had to admit, I wrote the article in the same way I wrote my blog. Hot and straight! Probably those BRAINLESS PRICKS were not able to get my point.

Okay! Calm down, calm down! Take a deep breath! Inhale, exhale... Inhale slowly, exhale calmly........

Yup, I regained my awareness and consciousness back. At this state of mind, I suddenly remember what Mbak Enny said earlier. “Yes, we are trying to help marginalized people, indigenous people. However, do they think and regard themselves as the marginalized ones? Indigenous ones? Sometimes they think that they don't need any help then. Or worse, they know that they are ones, and they just enjoy their comfort zones, their status as the indigenous, as well as their privileges. Thus, they will blind themselves, reject every help offering! This is a dilemma!”

Hmmm, so, do I need to stay away from them? I care for them, and do what I can from my position. Remember, YOUNG LADY! I've been in that organization even when you were still in your f***ing crib!

Therefore, being treated like this, I still strongly believe that my taking leave from the church temporarily is not a bad thing. I could still talk to GOD through my personal prayer, through my daily activity and routines. Javanese people said “Gusti menika mboten sare!” (God never sleeps, dude!)

PS : Sorry I had to bring this personal matter to the public place, but I think YOU DESERVE TO BE MENTIONED HERE, FE!