This document summarizes the reflections of a participant from Indonesia on the Interfaith Summit 2012. Some key points: 1) The summit promoted mutual understanding between faiths and building interfaith partnerships. 2) The participant gained understanding of different faiths including Hinduism in Bali and learned about interfaith initiatives in Indonesia and Malaysia. 3) Important lessons included embracing diversity as represented by Indonesia's motto "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" and the importance of a "culture of heart" that promotes understanding between all people.

1. Reflection of Interfaith Summit 2012
O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, That you may know one
another. Verily, the most honourable among you in the sight of God is that (believer) who has piety and righteousness.’
(Suraah A-Hujurat: 13)
This verse is a reflective for humankind to think about social theory especially in faith
and this verse makes me enthusiastic to have mutual understanding of faiths and gain more
understanding in it, moreover I believe that if we have “faith” energy we will be brought to
“faith” athmosphere and for this thank to God I have chosen in this Interfaith summit 2012 as
the one of participants from Indonesia. I thank you to the program directory from the bottom
of my heart for giving me the opportunity to participate in International conference and the
positive program in Bali, Indonesia. this is my second time that I was selected in interfaith
program, the first was in Future Fath Leaders Asia Pasific as Ambasador of Indonesia
directory Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the latest was in this program - Interfaith Summit
2012- which promotes the awesome vision I thought, the vision is all mankind are One
Family under God regardless of race, nationality, religion and culture. Of course in this point
that can be gotten is one family under God through building interfaith partnership, vibrant
families and a culture of service and peace.
In this Interfaith summit 2012, I had and took positive experiences with friends from
different backgrounds, different countries, and different faiths particularly from 4 – 7 of
october 2012 in a partnership program; Global Peace Festival Indonesian Foundation and
Indonesian Youth Forum. As a Youth of Indonesia, I was eager to participate during the
program as I felt that I needed to learn more about the paradigm in interfaith as well as
present a true picture of my own faith in a diverse more over in my country self, from the
program I have mutual understanding the concept teaching in my faith which said “ the
difference is the grace” and Qur‟an 49 Al Hujuraat verse 13 is and the significant thing I can
express my habluminallah wahabluminannas wahablummin’alam (relationship with God and
relationship with humankind and relationship with the world) more direcly, more markedly
and more clearly. In the days long program, spending schedule-time together and staying
with fellows of different faiths in Wisma Agung and Universitas Hindu Indonesia (UNHI)
provided depth, joy and significance to the overall experience through shared insights at
individual sites and all along the way.

2. The theme of this Interfaith Summit 2012 was “New Interfaith Paradigm For The 21st
Century” and it was launched by Mr. Andi Mallarangeng (Ministry of Youth and Sport
of Indonesia) symbolicly. There are many interesting points that I have noticed. I have got
learning from the keynotes in the conferences, Mr. Young Jun Kim Mrs. Torril Wanvik, Mrs.
Silvie, Mr. James Poon, Mr. Aziz Nurwahyudi, Mr. Dato „Azman Amin bin Hassan, Mr.
Chandra Setiawan, Mr. M. Rumahurmuzy, Mr. Uli Sarbinie and many other good speakers
gave their thoughts about youth identity as the future faith leaders and the significancy of
young generation in the issues which urgently should be discussed and gived solutions for
humanity.
In humanity perspective, culture of volunteerism is the very important issue that
should be rised up. Everyhuman has facilitated by God : Heart and Brain. The chalange is
how to transform our self to be more successfull and meaningful in our life. If we focus to
“think analysis”, we will promote brain bigger than heart, and ofcourse as the result of life we
are just focusing to materialism, what the benefit for me, and the ego plays here, and it is less
successful for life as human being, but if we focus to “feeling understanding”, we will
promote heart bigger than brain. And the result of life we learn about understanding, caring,
and sharing based on love which everyhuman have got from God, and ofcourse the effect for
life is more successful. Overal, it is actually about a choice and human being who do has
belief will know what the best for world is. That is why “the culture of heart” should be more
rised up in this every human life aspects moreover in this globalization era, the mission who
care about this one is by planting the seed of love and living for other as the value of love.
Addition, there are four things which can not be separated one another in our practical life
those are God, Me, Us and Others. Change “love perspective” from individual paradigm be a
family paradigm, from family paradigm be a society paradigm, from society paradigm be a
nation paradigm, from nation paradigm be the world paradigm, live for others through love,
and all are family. One family under one God. This is the significance point in life‟s vision
even in this 21st century. If everyhuman care about the “homework”, there is no doubt for
existency of peaceful, happiness, and beautiful world.
Taking point about Indonesia, in the universal principle as the basis of national
cohesion, Indonesia is not an Islamic state, although moslem constitute the majority of the
Indonesian and thought now is 21st century we have to remember and don‟t forget about the
universal principle paradigm which leds Indonesia till today. Indonesia is the country which
equal partnership and reciprocal between religions and state. There is motto and ideology of

3. Indonesia which the very influental for Indonesian, they are Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (unity in
diversity) and Pancasila (five principles). Those are as the transform of value of Indonesian in
daily life of society. As the youth which we love called as modern youth but we have to
understand about the essency concept of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, literally means (although) in
pieces, yet one. “we are of many kinds, but we are one”, “Unity in Diversity” already been
existed since in the eight and ninth centuries. Unity in diversity is a concept of "unity without
uniformity and diversity without fragmentation”. This motto is a founding principle of the
modern Indonesia nation and is the official motto of Indonesia. In Indonesia It is a quotation
from an Old Javanese poem Kakawin Sutasoma, written by Mpu Tantular during the reign of
the Majapahit empire sometime in the 14th century. Sutasoma book describe harmony in
Majapahit kingdom despite the variety of the religion and ethnic among their people.
Majapahit appplied “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” as a law and their governance system that shown
in their code of law. Indonesian Founding Fathers use Majapahit as a role model to overcome
the plurality inheritance to be Nationale Staat. That why it has been recorded in Indonesian
history that all world religions penetrated peacefully in their first arrival into Indonesia.
Tolerance, accept diversity, collaboration and promote harmony are the basis actions for this
motto. It is related with Indonesia‟s Ideology as well, that is Pancasila. Soekarno in June 1st,
1945 use Pancasila (Bhinneka Tunggal Ika) to solve the problem what are Indonesia will use
Theocracy or Secularism as the national ideological background. It become way of life and
the state ideology of Indonesia, national consensus and the common platform for all religious
groups to meet and discuss the future of Indonesia, maybe the future of the world. There are
five universal values (principles) in Pancasila: belief in One God Almighty, humanitarianism
(humanity), national unity, democracy, and social Justice. This principles should be part of
our life, moreover we - as the future generation- should aware about it and accept the
principles because human being come from the same ancestor, the Only Creator, the
Almighty God. As the youth of this universe, we have affirm that the men and women within
the four seas are brothers and sisters, so tolerance, mutual respect, accept the differences are
the paradigm we have to have in our heart and applied in daily lifes. Supported by the state
ideology, constitution, government policy, local wisdom, dialogue, cooperation among the
youth, religious and spiritual, and civil society, we build One family under one God together.
In Interfaith Summit 2012 we learn also how inter-religious harmony applied in
Malaysia and Indonesia experience. facing the issue, Malaysia have JKMPK, Committee for
Promoting Inter-Religious Understanding and Harmony Amongst Religious Adherents.
Formed by Cabinet of Malaysia on 24 February 2010, the vision are towards a harmonious

4. and muhibah Malaysia, and the mission is to be the mechanism for dialogue and mediation in
promoting mutual understanding and harmony amongst adherents of various religions for
building Malaysia as a nation inspired by the spirit of building Malaysia as a nation inspired
by the spirit of muhibah. The committee works as a mechanism to solve the problems or
issues through discussion, finding solutions to any incidents of religious friction, and creating
a common understanding and having constructive dialogue among the different religious
groups in the country. There are many activities and programs of JKMPK, such as leaders
involvment, inter-religious cooperation, public-religious bodies partnership and comunity
involvment.
In the same perspective, Indonesia has Interfaith Dialogue, the Interfaith dialogue has
goal, it is as an effort to encourage dialogues among faiths in order to refine the gap of
perception through international cooperation within the framework of "capacity building",
which pursued by empowering the moderates. This is one of the new breakthrough in the
practice of public diplomacy. The Government of Indonesia has initiated various interfaith
dialogue among religions and cultures at the level of bilateral, regional, and multilateral. The
interfaith dialogue has also created some activities which involving young generation and
communities. for bilatral dialogue, Indonesia has 20 partners since 2004, they are US,
Canada, Vatican, Italy, Hungary, England, Argentine, Chile, lebanon, Ethiophia, Cario,
Austria, Nedherland, Uni Europe, Bulgaria, Spain, Serbia and Russia. For regional Interfaith
Dialogue, they are Asia Pacific Interfaith Dialogue has been conducted in Yogyakarta
(2004), Cebu, the Philippines (2006), Waitangi, New Zealand (2007), Phonm Penh (2008)
Perth, Australia (2009) ; Semarang, Indonesia (2012), Asia Pacific Inter Faith Youth Camp
(APIFYC) in Surabaya, Indonesia, Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Interfaith Dialogue
Indonesia, Cyprus, China, Netherland, South Korea and the Philippines, Asia Europe Youth
Interfaith Dialogue in Bandung in 2008 and APEC Intercultural and Faith Symposium on
October 2006 in Yogyakarta. For multilateral Intrfaith dialogue, there are United Nations
Alliance of Civilizations and Non-Aligned Movement Interfaith Dialogue. In The 6th
Regional Interfaith Dialogue (RID) for strengthening collaborative communities to promote
peace and security;Interfaith in Action was held in Semarang, 11-15 Maret 2012 sponsored
by Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand. There was 14 Participants,
ASEAN, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Timor Leste . The result of the 6th Regional
Interfaith Dialogue contains statements to promote interfaith activities among civil society, to
form activities that can be undertaken and be implemented by all stakeholders of the
participating countries and action-oriented and workable activities as a follow up activities.

5. There are 5 Action plan based on the aspect of, they are Communities faith leaders; Religious
communities; Youth; Education; and Media / Communication. The Implementation of the
Semarang Plan of Action is „Future Faith Leaders’ scholarship established by the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs Indonesia, followed by 15 participants from 11 states, the program was
convened in Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Solo and the second is Peace Journalism conducted by
the Ministry of Religion. The whole of these actions are for building mutual respect and
understanding among religious communities, a lesson in law and state under the challenge of
religious diversity, managing cultural and religious diversity, unity in diversity: the power of
dialogue for peaceful cohabitation in a pluralistic society, enchancing cooperation through
the promotion of respect on religious and cultural diversity, managing tolerance, respect, and
understanding in the religious communities and promoting cooperation among people of
different faiths.
From those actions that had explained from both countries, Malaysia and Indonesia
we have high motivation as Interfaith Summit 2012 participants to gain respect of the
cultural and religious diversity and have commitment to always build and develop harmony
in the midst of differences and interfaith partnership, have vibrant families and a culture of
service and ofcourse promote peace among us as participants especially and world generally.
Truly, after this Interfaith Summit 2012 program, I have got many positive points and I have
more mutual understanding about Hinduism especially, people cultures in Bali, and of course
I have links and companions of faiths as well.
In Hindust atmosphere, there are many new view of points that I have more
understood, such as the philosophy of Hinduism it self which is in the history perspective
called Vaisnavaism (the antiquity of Bhakti) or monoteism, the Obedience to God the
Almighty. Then in decades shown up the monism philosophy, engraft and precept about
atman (individual spirit ) and Brahman (God), then right now we know as Hinduism. In
Hinduism there are at least 33 millions of God (Dewa), the demigods (half of God) are the
various forms of the supreme Lord. The demigods are such as Siwa/Wishnu /Krishna, Surya,
Ganesha and Durga. The supreme Lord is one and the demigods are delegated with powers to
manage this material world, the demigods are all living entities with different grades of
material power. The demigods has power divine which created by God and sometimes people
thought that both (God and demigods) are have equal power, the obedience to Them by
Hindust is for getting advantages in spirituality (Bhakti). In Bali Siwaism has been developed
till nowadays, even Siwaism is a separate-new sect which only found in Indonesia, or it can
be called as Shivaiste sect. In Indonesia there is Parisada Hindu Dharma or Religiousness

6. Institute for Hinduism. This ligue has function to solve conflicts if there are two rules are
incompatible, contradict, or paradoxically one anothers. This institute is a presbytery in Bali
which has branches till subdistricts. This committee formed officialy in February 23 1959 and
has many works such as settle, cover, and develop and build life cycle of Hinduism
communities in religious sector based on literatures and Holy books of Hinduism. There is a
beautiful lesson of precept in Hinduism that i have learn as well, it is Tri Kaya Parisudha,
means three things that should be purified; mind, words and deed. Those purification will led
human being get peacefulness, happiness and above water and of course these results will
appear based on the Lord will, it can be achieved imedeatly at the same time with the deed, it
can be achieved in the future life, and or it can be achieved based on the deeds in the past.
Then, In the society paradigm in Bali, the people are so pious, it can be seen from
almost every houses of citizen having “pure” or place for praying and doing ritual offerings.
Another view that I have learn is about castes, this concept sometimes makes missconception
for other beliefs which seems a lil bit discrimination on it, but now I really good knowledge
of it and I have known the reality is. There are four castes in the society influenced by
Majapahit era, they are Ksatria (King), Brahmana (Priest), Waisya (Adviser) and Sudra
(proletar/citizenry), these castes can be identified by names, the names those given by parent
to their child is based on the ancestral and can not be completely removed from the lineage
and it always be protected so it will not annihilated or be lost because of the times. Based on
the names - such as Ide Bagus, Ide Ayu, I Gusti, I Wayan, I Ketut, I gede, I Nyoman, I
komang, I Putu - can be known what the caste he or she is. The interesting point here, the
castes can not influence the occupations or someone‟s work, the occupations are valued by
the skills and ability of someone, so it is not impossible if a sudra caste be a governor or any
leaders in Bali. It is the great value in multiculturalism perspective.
Another interesting object which culture cover it is the place named Trunyan Village,
this ancient village can be found when passing Kintamani or north-east of Denpasar and
eastern shore of Lake Batur. The society in Trunyan Village is the original Balinesse with the
way of life is in pre-Hindu customs, the culture is so different with local culture in Bali
commonly. They live practising a way of life that pre-dates modern civilisation. The ngaben
is done with so different ritual, sandalwood ( menyan tree) is burried as the symbol of the
person who passed away, the dead body is not burried or even cremated, they just lay the
dead bodies out in bamboo cages on the ground covered by clothes in white and menyan tree
helps produces fragrant smell and absorb a bad smell. The important thing, the society
believe what they have done for the deadbody is as a symbol of laid great store upon

7. someone who passed away, even Trunyan‟s women are forbidden to go to the cemetery
when a corpse is carried because they believe if women come it will be a disaster. This is an
interesting culture philosophy how transform the sign of caring which indicate people in
Trunyan regard to their family with high caring.
In my perspective, as the faithfull person, someone who has mutual understanding
ofcourse knows what is the faith that he/she choose as their path. In my point of view, faith
has to do with pactical life, faith guidance every aspect of life, faith betters life. Faiths are the
ways to get piety, because of different heads that‟s why the practice of faith done with
diversity acts but still in the way of the obedience and submissive to Lord (The God
Almighty, Ar-Rahman, Allah, Yehowah, Sang Hyang Widhi, Brahma or other names to
mention the God‟s name) who created the universe, created all humankind. This inclusive
perspective can be a vihacle and a bridge for mutual understanding among faiths.
Etnocentrism, prejudice, stereotype, hostility, intolerance, contravention of human right,
discrimination, marginalization, gender biased, corruption, terorism, anarchism and many -
destructive actions - others are not the precept of faith or religion. The most honourable
among people who have belief in the sight of God is that (believer) who has piety and
righteousness. The most important thing for you, your faith and for me, my faith, do as the
best as a faithful person for our faith, and we have to underline that Tri Kaya Parisudha,
Brahma Vihara teaching (Metta, Karuna, Mudita, Upeka), three works of church (Alliancy,
Services and witnesseth), Aqimussalah with tanha ‘annilfahsya iwal munkaar and Fastabiqul
khairat (spread love for all walks of life and race in the virtue with the base of love,
humanity, tolerance, and peace among creations of the creator, such as doing kindness,
helping the poors, charity, take care world (nature, plants and animals) or many other actions
in kindliness), are the beautiful ways for all humankind in the plural world - society even in
the cultures cover it.
The last about Interfaith Summit 2012, I hope this program is not “stop” in the last
day but keep continue to rage up in the peace, harmony and positive interfaith real-actions. I
hope I together with my interfaith friends will work together to address common societal
problems and current issues in pluralistic of our country especially and the world generally,
gain great respect of the cultural and religious diversity and the expectation of most of this is
that I had told more glowingly about the days- experience in Bali to the folks and I have used
and will use whatever means available to me (in writting, speaking or and deeding) to
always promote a better knowledge of the faiths and to foster global culture of peace and
service in the name of merciful Lord. I have a firm belief that our companionship and

8. collaboration together will continue and give uswah (example) to someone else of what
someone of different faiths can do when they are committed to God and follow the teachings
of their respective faith authenticated. all sharing time and energy made the tentative schedule
in Interfaith Summit 2012 an enlightening and spiritually invigorating experience, and I
thought this is a more life-changing experience.Those words above are my reflection of
Interfaith Summit 2012.
Wassalamu‟alaykum wr. wb, Gbu, Om shanti shanti shanti om!
MuQarramah Sulaiman Kurdi
 A Participant of Interfaith Summit 2012, Bali, Indonesia
 Ambasador of Indonesia in Future Faith Leaders Asia Pasific
 A Student of Sunan Kalijaga Islamic State University, Yogyakarta
 A youth of South Borneo, Indonesia
 E-mail: karrakurdi@yahoo.co.id/ Fb: Syarrakara@yahoo.co.id/ phone : +62857-257-42-155