July 11, 2018
My trip is about to begin, though, the journey started much earlier. Someone asked me recently why my trip is only 19 days: “Aren’t Fulbright programs a year?” The year began in September of 2017 with the coursework, changing my mindset to plan in a more global minded manner, meeting my collogues in Washington, as well as developing this website and blog.
My guiding question has helped me focus on what I want to accomplish. In my study, I discovered Indonesia's philosophical foundation, Pancasila, is a "belief in the one and only God". A number of different religions are practiced in Indonesia, and their collective influence on the country's political, economic and cultural life is significant. The Indonesian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, recognizing six official religions: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism. Indonesian law requires that every citizen hold a card that identifies that person with one of these six religions.
This freedom of religion extends far beyond their written documents. Students are taught these religions in school and instructed to be welcoming to all faiths. In the United States, we certainly have freedom of religion in writing, but we tend to handle it differently in the classroom. Depending on the state and school, many tend to avoid the topic altogether for fear of offending. In Indonesia, global minded education is a cultural norm in which people take a great deal of pride. I am hoping to learn more about this and bring my knowledge back to the United States.
I have been studying religion more myself. Literature became a religion of sorts for me. I always found many great truths answered in fiction. I studied Sartre and Camus, existentialism and absurdism. Over the past two years, I read a several books about public television legend Fred Rogers, who often noted the difference between religious fanaticism and true spirituality. Often Christians note, "What would Jesus do." I think of Fred Rogers when I am about to speak. He seemed to have a way of staying true to himself in a positive manner that touched so many people. We need this in our divided world, today.
Every morning, I read from a work published in 1926, titled, Book of Daily Thoughts and Prayers by Swami Paramananda. He came to Boston to teach and started the center for Vendatta. He wanted to write a book that captured the universal qualities of faith and prayer in a way to bring everyone together, regardless of faith AND honoring all religions. There is a page for each day of the year. Each month has a theme, with each day building on the next, so by the end of the month you have a full experience. For example, May is “Humility, Simplicity, and Purity of the Hart” and this month is "Blessing of Service.” Each day offers a salient thought of the day, lines to memorize, a lesson, and one of Paramananda’s poems.
I read the designated page each morning and reread it before I go to sleep. I also keep a journal (more on that later). In the morning, I jot down my thoughts and concerns, but always end with what I am grateful for and what I hope to achieve. In the evening, I write down what went well and read the prayer book one more time to meditate.
Below is a sample page from today:
Salient Thought for the Day
When our heart is full of love, we always find ways of expressing it.
Lines to Memorize
Glory to Thine all-conquering love!
Yea Thy love is my armor,
My impenetrable shield,
My unfailing safeguard.
I bathe in Thy love and am refreshed;
I feed on Thy love and my soul-hunger is appeased.
Lesson
When we possess love in abundance, we do not remain content with mere theory; we become practical in our spiritual living. Carrying the Ideal with us in our everyday life is the real aim of spirituality. What we have in our heart, that we are bound to manifest in our life. If it is love, then we shall not fail to speak the kind word or do the kind act or give silent expression to love by our sympathetic attitude of mind.
Prayer
All-compassionate Being, help me to open my heart
That it may become one with all that lives.
Make me pure and spotless.
May I be free from all bondage of selfishness and fear.
Lead me from the darkness of ignorance to the light of wisdom
That I may shed that light in service to all Your children.
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