Little Bit More on BHINNEKA TUNGGAL IKA

"Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" is not merely "Unity in Diversity" as commonly translated. The literal meaning is: "Appearing as Many, Essentially One", which implies that:


1. WE CELEBRATE DIVERSITY (Bhinneka, Appearing as many), but
2. THE FOCUS IS ON UNDERLYING UNITY (Tunggal Ika, Essentially one)

In order to see the underlying unity, the founding fathers of the modern state of Indonesia further elaborated that in social and political fields, there are 5 common values, which they called Pancasila (different from the buddhist pancasheela):

1. Godliness, or Religiosity (Spirituality). This is different from "In God we Trust". This refers to the quality of goodness as manifestation of God, and within reach of all humanity. This is an application of faith. THIS IS WHY EVEN THE COMMUNISTS AND BUDDHISTS (who have no concept of God, as most of the religions have) could accept this first sila.

2. Humanity

3. Nationality (to quote one of the founding fathers, Bung Karno: "Our nationalism is not the fascist type, 'right or wrong my country' - but in the larger framework of internationalism') This is an acknowledgement of diversity again.

4. Democracy guided by inner wisdom (There are no minorities, said Bung Karno, All Indonesians are equal. One for all and all for one. He recognized no division between the minorities and the majorities based on their religious affiliations etc.)

5. Social Justice for all.

This is just to give you and others a very, very brief of what i conceive as a very spiritual foundation of the nation. 

Much love, and blessings as always - a.k.


Tags: Anand Ashram, Anand Krishna, Appearing as Many Essentially One, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, Democracy, God, Humanity, Indonesia, Inner Wisdom, Nationality, More…One Earth One Sky One Humankind, Pancasila, Social Justice, Unity in Diversity

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Permalink Reply by Andrew D. Whitmont on January 29, 2010 at 7:58pm
Very Interesting. More later.
Permalink Reply by FELORA PARSA on January 30, 2010 at 2:30am
Andrew D. Whitmont said:
Very Interesting. More later.
Permalink Reply by FELORA PARSA on January 31, 2010 at 10:40am
AS AN BAHA'I ,I THINK MUCH SUFFERING AND DAMAGE HAVE BEEN CAUSED TO THE WORLD AND HUMANITY IN THE NAME OF CIVILIZATION AND RELIGION, HUMANITY SHOULD WORK FOR THE UNITY OF CIVILIZATION AND UNIVERSALITY OF RELIGION." CIVILIZATION WITHOUT UNITY IS NOT CIVILIZTION-BUT SUPERFICIALITY,AND RELIGION WITHOUT UNIVERSALITY IS NOT RELIGION BUT SUPERSTITION OR DOGMATISISM.
Permalink Reply by Anand Krishna on January 31, 2010 at 6:33pm
yes, Flora you are absolutely right...

By the way, Bahai is not a religion recognized by our government here, we are working on it... In my book "One Earth" i have commented on a Bahai prayer, that was the first time a book was publicly printed and distributed in the free market with a Bahai prayer...

Love n blgs

FELORA PARSA said:
AS AN BAHA'I ,I THINK MUCH SUFFERING AND DAMAGE HAVE BEEN CAUSED TO THE WORLD AND HUMANITY IN THE NAME OF CIVILIZATION AND RELIGION, HUMANITY SHOULD WORK FOR THE UNITY OF CIVILIZATION AND UNIVERSALITY OF RELIGION." CIVILIZATION WITHOUT UNITY IS NOT CIVILIZTION-BUT SUPERFICIALITY,AND RELIGION WITHOUT UNIVERSALITY IS NOT RELIGION BUT SUPERSTITION OR DOGMATISISM.
Permalink Reply by Arbania Fitriani on February 1, 2010 at 12:33am
I think Pancasila and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika is the world's solution for build and spread peace...for building a new world and a better place...i am so proud to live in Indonesia which have so many "ancient" wisdom BUT the words are very grounded..if we people implementing pancasila in our daily life, i think we will created elightenment society, we need not khilafah solution at all for indonesia or for the world...
Permalink Reply by Firouz Shaw on February 1, 2010 at 11:27am
Hi Arbania. Would you please explain what is Pancasila and Bhinneka?
Permalink Reply by abhipraya Dibyaguna on February 1, 2010 at 11:43pm
I can help arbania.
As explained Mr Anand, Bhineka Tunggal Ika refer to "Appearing as many, essentially one" This phrase can be found in our national symbol (Garuda Pancasila) in Indonesia

Bhineka tunggal ika bring guidance how to look others. When we see people, there is always differences. But if we look down to them, they still human being. We all have equal existence in this present world. It become our habit to tolerate and broad our perspective when we see differences. Bhinneka Tunggal Ika help us to act and behave toward other people. We value diversity and share our space with others.

That's Bhinneka tunggal ika means.
Permalink Reply by Dominic Dezzy on March 4, 2010 at 6:26pm
Anand, didn't the Buddhists and Confucians have to change the way their religion appeared so it would conform to the One God (Pancasila rule)?
Permalink Reply by Anand Krishna on March 5, 2010 at 11:20am
Thanks for the note Dominic.
No, actually they didnt have to, and in fact until late 1960s, they DID NOT.
Later, during the rule of General Soeharto, they did, they had to, which in my opinion was not wise. For, "ketuhanan", the first principle of Pancasila is actually "divinity", "godliness", and not God perse as we normally define the word.

Thank you, love

Dominic Desribes said:
Anand, didn't the Buddhists and Confucians have to change the way their religion appeared so it would conform to the One God (Pancasila rule)?

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