A. Overview
Giriloka Monastery is the place of worship for buddhists at
Gunung Kelir Orchard, Jatimulyo Village, Giri Mulyo Subdistrict, Kulon Progo
Regency. There are over 300 buddhism adherents at Gunung Kelir Orchard. They
are the Theravada sect followers. Every Wednesday and Saturday night they
perform Puja Bakti service. While on Sunday the monastery is used for Buddhis
Sunday School. Toward Vesak day, Giriloka Monastery is busier with various
activities, either social or religious, performed by the monastery
congregation.
Giriloka Monastery was built upon a land as vast as 200
square meter. According to Head of Giriloka Monastery Council Suharna, it is
estimated that the monastery was built at around 1980. The land was the bequest
of one of the local figures named Ahmad Dasuki. Giriloka Monastery was actually
established in 1974, but it formerly occupied other place in which the land
where it stood belonged to the congregation.
On November 11, 2006, Giriloka Monastery was inaugurated for
the second time, at the same time as the inauguration of Giridharma Monastery
at Sonomoyo Orchard, Jatimulyo Village. The number of buddhists at Sonomoyo
itself was less than those at Gunung Kelir, namely 40 families. The buddhists
in both villages embraced Theravada handed down by their ancestor.
The holy book of Theravada is Tripitaka. This sect embraces
the Eight Elements of the Main Way teaching which is divided into three parts
namely Panna, Sila dan Samadhi. Panna consists of two elements namely the Right
Understanding (samma-ditthi) and the Right Thinking (samma-sankappa); Sila consists of three elements namely the Right Saying (samma-vaca), the Right Deed (samma-kammanta), and the Right Occupation (samma-ajiva); and, Samadhi which means concentration consists of three
elements namely the Right Ways and Means (samma-vayama), the Right Concern (samma-sati), and the Right Concentration (samma-samadhi).
If you stand at the monastery entrance and look ahead, your
eyes will look straight to the altar. The altar is enclosed by a curtain
stretching from the left to the right wall. The curtain will be opened when the
monastery is used for prayer service or other religious activities. In the
middle of the altar there is a golden statue of Buddha Rupang sitting with the
legs crossed. There are two candles, two bowls containing water, plastic lotus
and rose, and a bowl for incense encircling the statue.
Each article around Buddha statue has particular meaning. The
two candles on the right and left side symbolize illumination. Both candles
represent Buddha teaching which will light the life of its adherents. The water
in the two bowls symbolizes chastity, the lotus symbolizes pureness, and the
rose symbolizes mortality. The incense in the middle part, right in front of
Buddha statue, symbolizes renown.
B. Features
There is one thing interesting, besides the natural scene,
when visiting Giriloka Monastery, that is the harmony between different
religious adherents in Jatimulyo Village. This is reflected in the many
activities they do together. The harmony is even in the most sensitive and personal
aspect: religion.
The strong tolerance and social bond among different
religious adherents beats the religious sentiment and the problems which some
people consider very sensitive. For Jatimulyo people, a place of worship does
not belong to certain adherent only, it belongs to everyone instead. Thus,
establishing a place of worship is not only performed only by the related
religious adherent. People build it in communal assistance regardless the
different religions they embrace.
Visiting Giriloka Monatery means entering peace. The
monastery is located in a fertile hill area where green view is what as far as
the eyes can see. From several spots in the monastery you can see the landscape
below it. The fresh air wipe off your skin, making you want to stay there a bit
longer. In addition to these, Jatimulyo people are friendly.
The young people joining in Buddhis Sunday School have many
achievements. Numbers of cups from different championships line up on the
corner of the main room. Among the achievements are 1st winner of
DIY Dhamma Art of Reading Competition for Children in 2006 and for Adult in
2006, 1st winner of DIY Buddhis Song Competition in 2006, 3rd
winner of a quiz during the DIY Tripitaka Festival in 2009, 3rd
winner of Paritta Reading Competition, 1st winner of Dhamma
Manuscript Writing in 2006, and more.
C. Location
Giriloka Monastery is located in Gunung Kelir Orchard,
Jatimulyo Village, Girimulyo Subdistrict, Kulon Progo Regency, Special Province
of Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
D. Access
It is suggeted that tourists take their private vehicles,
either car or motorcycle, when visiting Giriloka Monastery since there is no
public transportation heading there. Most public transportations stop at
Kenteng Station, miles away from the monastery. From Yogyakarta downtown you
can take the Godean road westwards to Kiskendo Cave. From here follow the
direction to Kokap or Sermo Reservoir. After approximately 3 kilometers you
will see the road sign heading to Giriloka Monastery.
E. Ticket
Visiting Giriloka Monastery is free of charge.
F. Accommodations and Other Facilities
If you want to know more about Giriloka Monastery, please see
the Head of Giriloka Monastery Council whose house is right in front of the
monastery. Some supporting facilities here are the convenience and small mosque
next to the monastery. Other tourism objects located nearby are Kiskendo Cave
(3 kilometers), Sermo Reservoir and Seplawan Cave (8 kilometers).
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