What is Kejawen?
Kejawen is a spiritual tradition and belief system that is native to Java, Indonesia. It has been practiced by many of its ethnicities for centuries. Kejawen is also referred to as Javanism, and its practitioners are called Kejawen followers.
Kejawen can said as an indigenous religion that shares a lot in common with other religions around the world. Its core beliefs include a Creator God, gods and goddess, angels, spirits, afterlife and more. But Kejawen also differs from other religions due to its emphasis on nature and ancestor worship (known as supranaturalism).
The word “Kejawen” is derived from the word “Jawa,” which means Java. Kejawen is a blend of various indigenous beliefs, including animism, ancestor worship, and kebatinan (Javanese mysticism), with elements from Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam.
Even The origins of Kejawen are not really clear, but Kejawen’s roots can be traced back to the pre-Islamic era in centuries ago (Before the 13th Century) , when some Javanese still practiced a form of animism that involved worshipping spirits and ancestors, and some others practiced Hinduism and Buddhism.
The people who followed this Kejawen flourished during the Majapahit Empire between 1293 and 1527 CE when they ruled over most of what is now Indonesia today. Their influence was so great that it spread throughout Southeast Asia where other cultures adopted similar practices like as those found within Kejawen today, including meditation techniques used during prayer sessions, where the followers focus on their breathing while repeating specific mantras until they enter into a trance state known as “Semedi”.
Kejawen Philosophy
Kejawen is a spiritual tradition and belief system that combines native Indonesian beliefs (animism) with Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islamic. The word “kejawen” means “to be Javanese,” so it’s easy to see how this religion has come to be associated with the Javanese.
As example, one of principles of Kejawen philosophy is the concept of “Tunggak Semi”, which means “the Middle Pillar.” Tunggak Semi is the belief that every individual must strive for balance in all aspects of their life, including their relationships with others, their work, and their physical and spiritual health. The middle pillar represents the balance that must be maintained in order to achieve spiritual harmony and balance.
Another important principle of Kejawen philosophy is the belief in the interconnectedness of all things. Kejawen teaches that everything in the universe is connected and that individuals have a responsibility to their community and to the natural world. This principle is reflected in the Javanese concept of Gotong Royong, which means “Mutual Cooperation.” Gotong Royong emphasizes the importance of working together for the common good and of being responsible members of a community.
Kejawen philosophy also emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and self-awareness. Kejawen teaches that individuals must be aware of their thoughts and actions and must strive to live in harmony with their inner selves and with the world around them.
Kejawen philosophy is also based on the belief that every individual has an inner self that is connected to the divine. The goal of Kejawen is to cultivate this inner self through spiritual practices, such as meditation, prayer, and self-reflection. Kejawen teaches that by cultivating the inner self, individuals can achieve spiritual harmony and balance, which will lead to a fulfilling and meaningful life.
Kejawen Beliefs
Kejawen beliefs are based on the idea that everything is connected to a single energy. This energy can be called God, Allah or any other name depending on your religion or culture.
Kejawen believes in the existence of spirits and deities. These spirits help us along our journey through life by giving us guidance and protecting us from harm as long as we follow their teachings. This can include helping others while they are alive or sending messages from beyond death when it’s time for them to move on from this world into another one (reincarnation).
Kejawen followers is also believes, if everything in the nature has its own spirit or force–even rocks and trees! These spirits can be good or bad depending on how they are treated by humans; for example if you take care of plants by watering them regularly then they will grow well but if you neglect them then they may die out altogether (or worse).
Kejawen also teaches that karma exists for everyone–even though some may not understand, why something bad happened at first glance (or even second glance), there always seems like there was some reason behind everything happening, so we must learn from these experiences. (ICEMS)
