Response Paper To Contemporary Indonesian Buddhism and Monotheism (Academic Study Of Religion)

Buddhism’s acceptance to Pancasila has proven the main role of state to determine what kind of religion itself, but it still does not work to manage the conflict within the religion. From this article, we can conclude that Buddhism has succeeded to get Gov’s admission. It gives Buddhism the same position with another religion, especially with Middle East’s religion, and also many advantages face to face with state. The state has gained their power formally from religion, but it fails to generate all of the dynamics and conflicts within Buddhism itself.

Bikkhu Akhin succeeds to consolidate Buddhism’s adherent by recognizing the concept of One Supreme God. He tried to find similar word of God in the Buddhism, and he found it as Sang Hyang Adhi Buddha. He explained that it word was found it in the Javanese Old Text, Sang Hyang Kamahayanikum which is written on Mpu Sindok’s era, 10^th century. This text gave many explanation about how to achieve Buddhahood through the practice of Paramita (ten qualities). It also explained Paramaguhya (the materialization of Budha Wisesa) and Mahaguhya (meditation). The most important thing is about the teaching of Advaya (non-dualism) which is finished the problem of existence and non-existence. This concept is considered as a door to acceptance the concept of Pancasila with belief in One Supreme God. From this acceptance, we can consider that state always succeeds to force their determination to every religion.

The interpretation of Sang Hyang Adhi Budha as One Supreme God has gained the admission from Government, but the problem is rising among Buddhism’s adherents. Many rejections happened. For instance, The Teravadha school preferred to understand God as an Absolute or Un-conditioned. They did not interpret the concept of God as One Supreme God because it seems to formulate God as Abrahamic religion did. This example is one of the proofs that State has limit to force all of the things within religion, especially about the basic thing, the belief in God. The State has succeeded to indoctrinate its interpretation which always contains with political interests.