Anand Krishna’s Writings
“I would like to share my hearing with you – that is if you permit me to do so!”
Archive for the 'Media' Category
Multi-Religious Cooperation: Myth, Reality, or Possibility for Indonesia?
Author: Anand Krishna
There is a beautiful Sufi saying that, earlier “Sufi” did not exist as a term, but there were practicing Sufis everywhere. Now, the term “Sufi” exists, but there is hardly any true practitioner.
The same can be said about “multi-religious co-operation” and “interfaith dialogue”. Such terms were not popular earlier, but we had a genuine co-operation among people of different faiths, and there was harmony in society.
Now, the terms are popular, multi-religious and interfaith organizations are abounding, but true co-operation and harmony are missing. Read the rest of this entry »
read comments (0)The voice in the wilderness
Author: Anand Krishna
Anand Krishna , Jakarta | Sat, 01/02/2010 12:58 PM | Opinion
The “voice” is gone. And we are left with wilderness.
Gus Dur, the voice that made the wilderness less terrifying, shall no longer be heard. His was the voice of hope, the voice that kept the flame of hope burning in many hearts. Alas, that voice is gone . And yet, on second thought, where can it go? The echo of each and every word he ever uttered shall remain here. Right here, with you and with me – with all of us. Read the rest of this entry »
Aceh Must Look to Its Glorious Past If It Hopes to Avoid an Inglorious Future
Author: Anand Krishna
Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam is once again in the news. This time it is not because of a tsunami or any separatist movement, but because of the “ qanun jinayat ” (“ fiqh ” in Arabic), or religious jurisprudence-based law, passed by the regional legislature on Sept. 14.
Speaking to Al-Jazeera the same day the law was passed, however, Deputy Governor Nazar made it very clear that the provincial government was not in favor of the legislation. He promised to have the law reviewed, and was blunt enough to say, “We have to synchronize with the situation of the people. Aceh is different to the Middle East.” Speaking to the local media, he was not as blunt.
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Meditations on an Island
Author: Anand Krishna
Interview with Anand Krishna, Founder of the Bali Meditators Conference November 14-16, 2009.
Bali News: Meditations on an Island
(11/7/2009) As reported on balidiscovery.com, Bali will host the First Annual International Bali Meditators Festival in downtown Ubud November 14-16, 2009. [See: Think on These Things]
The creation of Indonesian author, educator and spiritual leader Anand Krishna, the Bali conference will seeks to explore and expand the role meditation plays in the world’s great faiths and religions.
The Interview: Anand Krishna
Recently we caught up with Anand Krishna in order to ask him more about the planned conference.
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Finding Yourself
Author: Anand Krishna
Mulat sarira, an expression oft quoted by the Balinese, has been chosen as the theme for this year’s Bali Arts Festival. Meaning self-introspection, mulat sarira is not just a concept, religious dogma or doctrine, but a call for all human beings irrespective of their religious, social, racial, political and economical backgrounds to “go back to the roots and find yourself.”
Great Entertainer Left Religion Unanswered
Author: Anand Krishna
People adored him, worshiped him, but also despised him. Michael Jackson, born a star, was an enigma in life and remains an enigma in death.
A day after the star’s death, a religious group in Jakarta displayed a banner, called him “brother” and bade him goodbye. Interesting. Similar groups in the past would often criticize him for his “vulgar performances” and “indecent concerts.”
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An ‘Independent’ vs. a ‘Dominated’ Nation
Author: Anand Krishna
“I have traveled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief. Such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such caliber, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and, therefore, I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose their self-esteem, their native self-culture and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation.”
Indonesia-based Spiritualist Presents Buddha Statue to His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Author: Anand Krishna
Dharamshala: Interfaith spiritualist and author Anand Krishna on Monday offered a 2.5 meter-high stone statue of Buddha to His Holiness the Dalai Lama as a token of spiritual and cultural ties between the peoples of Indonesia and Tibet.
In Ubud, a Great Debate About the Issues of Our Times
Author: Anand Krishna
UBUD ~ Once again, this year’s Ubud Writers and Readers Festival brought together a diverse mix of writers from all over the world. For four full days, Ubud was home to authors from Mexico, Africa, Europe, Indonesia, the Middle East, North America, Nigeria, Malaysia, India, Australia and beyond and were welcomed with the warmth of Ubud’s local community.
Indonesia, the Ahmadiyya and radical Islam
Author: Anand Krishna
Radical Islam in Indonesia is on the march, and the religious pluralism enshrined in the doctrine of Pancasila is coming under direct attack. Last week the Indonesian government has issued a joint ministerial decree telling the heretical Muslim Ahmadiyya movement to ’stop spreading interpretations and activities’ which deviate from orthodox Islam. That decree has implications for other minorities as well, including liberal and reformist Muslims, and the moderate Wahid Institute (named for former president Abdurrahman Wahid) says the country is on the brink of becoming an Islamic state.