Abstract
Kejawen as a concept of spirituality arose out of ancient Javanese society. Many Western scholars have used the term ‘Javanese mysticism’ to refer to Kejawen teachings, which focus on inward rather than outward religious expression and feeling. Kejawen teaching offers an esoteric understanding of religion and spirituality, one that seems to circulate mainly outside formal religious traditions. This paper demonstrates the significance of Kejawen teaching in spiritual, psychological, and social development in Indonesia, suggesting it has especial relevance to issues of peace and violence. Placing Kejawen in its context, this study shows that the national development in Indonesia after independence was influenced by the esoteric ideas of Kejawen, as portrayed in the national motto “unity in diversity”. This expression resembles the post-independence state ideology of Pancasila. Through analysis of key nationalist texts, themes linked to elements of Kejawen teachings are identified and analysed in this study. This is done by analysing key texts, including Soekarno’s independence speech, Pancasila, and other relevant materials from various available sources. The reader will find out more about the need for comprehensive symbolic and resource-based recognition of Kejawen teachings in Indonesian society.
Highlights
This paper demonstrates the significance of Kejawen teaching in spiritual, psychological, and social development in Indonesia, suggesting it has especial relevance to issues of peace and violence
Placing Kejawen in its context, this study shows that the national development in Indonesia after independence was influenced by the esoteric ideas of Kejawen, as portrayed in the national motto “unity in diversity”
This section discusses the position of Kejawen as an esoteric form of belief, within the national ideology of Pancasila, which as explained in an earlier chapter was the basis for the ideology of nationalism in Indonesia
Summary
Kejawen is looked at as a set of spiritual practices and beliefs that arose out of ancient Javanese society. Kejawen practitioner who lives in Yogyakarta would likely use Islamic terminology to explain Kejawen teaching It is because the religious lexicon in Yogyakarta has been pervaded by Islamic terminology, resulted from Islamic kingdoms which were flourished in the last 14th century. Udayana Journal of Law and Culture Vol 5 No 2, July 2021 development in Indonesia was deeply embedded in the esoteric ideas of Kejawen, as portrayed in the motto “unity in diversity”. This expression resembles the new state ideology of Pancasila. As an instrument for national development, a single pan-national language, Bahasa Indonesia, was created and taught in schools as the official language, which made cross community and inter-regional communication possible as stipulated in Law No 24 of 2009. 10 Along with this, a form of enshrined cultural wisdom, involving the coexistence of major religious communities and beliefs, within the nation adopted these kinds of plural-ist and inclusive forms of ideology, expressed in Pancasila, and arguably rooted in Kejawen
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