"Bhinnêka Tunggal Ika, the national motto of Indonesia, literally means “different, yet the same” referring to the Buddha and Śiva, and it is usually rendered as “unity in diversity”. The phrase is from the Kakawin Sutosoma, a fourteenth century poem in Old Javanese, by Mpu Tantular. The stanza is as follows: Rwāneka dhātu winuwus Buddha Wiswa Bhinnêki rakwa ring apan kena parwanosen, Mangka ng Jinatwa kalawan Śiwatatwa tunggal Bhinnêka tunggal ika tan hana dharma mangrwa. The Buddha and Viśva[nātha] are known as different realms They are different, but how to know this difference For the truth of Jina (Buddha) and Śiva is one They are different, yet same, for truth knows no duality."
Diversity

January 1, 1970

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Original Language: English