Naskah Dharma Wacana

GLOBALIZATION IN HINDUISM PERSPECTIVE

Globalization has led people to an intense struggle between the local values and
global culture. The value system of our Local tradition which has been used as a
reference by the society has changed due to the influence of the globalization, this is
happens especially to the advancement of information technology that accelerate the
process of those changes. The process of globalization has also penetrated the
religious life which is sacred into a secular one, which can cause tension for peoples
faith. The establishment of our local values has changed which then lead us to
psychological anxiety and identity crisis among the people (rdi!a, "##$%&'(.
The era of globalization has restricted the world and ma!e it seamless, ) mean in any
information weve got from in the social, political, economic, and cultural influence
will soon affect the world. The main characteristic of globalization is the rapid
changes in all forms of order and the values of life, so it was concluded that one who
does not follow the change will be left behind, even crushed by the times. *o, people
that living in a globalize world must have the strength and power to !eep change and
move on. +here do the changes ta!e us, and do ,indu scriptures describe about it-
.rom the perspective of ,induism, the condition of today/s age has been predicted in
the boo!s of the 0urana (Gambirananda, &1'2% 3)))(&4( ( which states that since
r5una grandson 0ari!sit crowned as an emperor of ,astinapura on .ebruary &', 4&#"
67., 8an!ind has begun to enter the 9aliyuga era. 9ali :uga means the era of chaos,
it is mar!ed by the declining of the spiritual life because of domination of the material
life. ;n this era human is orientates based on the secular pleasure (!ama( which are
temporal and impermanent, if this continues to be followed, then it is li!e a fire
doused with !erosene or gasoline, it will not be extinguished, but destroys human
beings. The characteristic of this age is more obvious in the era of globalization which
mar!ed by the rapid flow of information, driven by the development of technology
oriented by the hedonism. +ithout intention to ignore the positive impact of
globalization, the negative impact seems need to be more concern. Globalization
eliminates the culture of nation boundaries. +estern culture is very easily absorbed by
the nations of the <ast and if it is not controlled well, it would destroy the culture or
civilization in a nation. )t seems that people can easily be provo!ed everywhere.
The ,indu perspective gives a room for those essential changes. 0arasara
=harmasastra &.44 says%
YUGE YUGE CA YE DHARMAS TATRA TATRA CA YE DVIJAH TESAM
NINDA NA !ARTTAVYA YUGA RUPA HI TE DVIJAH
%>ules and ethics that apply in every age are always different? intellectuals who led
the transformation of society in a particular period of time can not be blamed for the
fact that an era is made because of those transformation.
,owever, the changes referred to in ,indu scriptures is meant that @edas do not allow
violations of dharma, but always advocated peace, social harmony, avoid tension, and
prevent conflicts. lthough the principles of dharma contains the ultimate truth so
then it called as sanatana dharma, but the rules change from time to time because it is
a product of time and will always be replaced by time. Therefore dharma can not be
identified with certain institutions. =harma persisted as rooted in human naturalness
and will remain immortal.
The 8ethod of =harma is an experimental method. ll institutions are experimental,
even this life is an experiment. 8an as an agent of development can not move the
habits from a specific time of era into another one easily without ma!ing changes and
ad5ustments. 8oral ideas about social relations are not absolute, but are relative to the
needs and conditions of different types of people and its culture. Though dharma is
eternal, but it does not have absolute contents so it can penetrate the line of time and
ages.
The only eternal thing that lives with the human morality is desire to be better
human!ind. ,owever, it is the time and the conditions that determine /what/s better/ in
every situation. .orms of actions are considering as a good or bad one at different
stages of human civilization, depending on whether it improves or inhibits human
happiness.
*ocial flexibility has become the main character of ,induA=harma. Therefore
maintaining *anatana dharma is not done with silence, but by mastering the vital
principles and applies them to modern life.
developed nation will always be able to give meaning to their historical
experiences. The principles of dharma in the scale of value should be maintained
through pressures of new experiences in inside out. ;nly with it, the gate for
achieving social progression which is integral and stable would be open.
;ur intellectuals should be able to introduce the dynamics of the global changes,
manage it in such a way to ma!e the ,induA=harma relevant to the modern situations.
These changes is the impact of the new movement happens in our community, it is
include% industrialization in the agricultural sector, the abolition of privileges with the
pattern of common benefits, the inclusion of those nonA,indus into the ,indu
society, the emancipation of women versus male authority, and mixing race B ethnicity
B religion through marriage.
dvanced society will be achieved if the ideal conditions appear better than the actual
condition. )t means the brilliant ideas from our intellectuals should be able to produce
new concepts, innovation and creativity, both in science and social matter. They
should always be oriented to the public service with intellectual integrity.
6ased on it, if you loo! at the situation and condition of ,induism in 6ali today, the
idea of C5egA6aliC is a worth idea to discuss in our society considering that the effect
of the globalization affects our society.
t the individual level, 5egA6ali 6ali defined as the ability of 6alinese people to
have the cultural confidence, the confidence to hold the firmness of our identity which
is creative that encompasses all aspects, and not 5ust simply focus on the physical
things.
t the level of cultural environment, 5egA6ali interpreted as the space of creation of
6alinese 7ulture that inclusively, multiAculturally and selectively lives against outside
influences.
t the level of cultural processes, 5egA6ali 6ali defined as a human interaction with
a living space of 6alinese culture to deliver products of new cultural symbol through a
process based on the values of moderate, nonAdichotomous, local genius and
environmental awareness in an appropriate time and manner.
6ased on those three levels, it was agreed that 5egA6ali is not a stagnant concept, but
rather as an ongoing effort to reform continuously which is done by the 6alinese
people mindfully. The goal is obviously to maintain identity, space, and the process of
the 6alinese culture. This effort will lead to an enhancement of the 6alinese people to
!eep them stand under the cultural hegemony of global conDuest.
5egA6ali is not an involution process, but a process of creation and evolution from
the development of local genius, wisdom, and the traditional awareness based on the
principal of sanatana dharma so then preservation can be maintain dynamically.
Thus a5egA 6ali will appear as a culture excellence that can survive and compete in the
global world.