kualitas kuantitas

ada yang mengingatkan...
untuk mencapai kualitas haruslah memenuhi kuantitas tertentu
benar, sangat benar...

sering ku terjebak rasa malas
pun terlalu percaya diri
target tercapai tak butuh energi dan waktu ekstra

ternyata aku salah...
belum terlambat tuk benahi semua
tuk capai hasil terbaik.....

target...

seorang teman bertanya, target apa yang ingin ku capai di ramadhan tahun ini... kukatakan bahwa yang terpenting bukanlah kuantitas ibadah, melainkan kualitasku menjaga hati dan menahan diri dari tindak maksiat yang tidak bermanfaat itu...
fokus dalam melakukan suatu amalan, hingga waktu dan tenaga tercurah tak tersia....

marhaban ya Ramadhan

Kudengar alunan shalawat badar dari para pekerja bangunan di sebelah rumah, di siang yang panas, hari pertama puasa tahun ini, disela senandung pasundan dan langgam jawa. Ya Allah, betapa kusyukuri nikmatMu hari ini... ketika mereka harus berjuang melawan lapar dan dahaga, kulewatkan hari dengan bermalasan dan tiduran seharian, berdalih lemah karena puasa, dalam kamar yang nyaman, ditemani internet dan kipas angin kecil... Marhaban ya ramadhan... Allahu akbar... allhuma sholli alaih.....

CARICA DIENG WONOSOBO

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kemiskinan sesungguhnya

orang yg paling miskin adl yg slalu mengeluhkan sedikitnya materi yg dimiliki... sedikitnya kekuasaan yang dimiliki... sedikitnya akses yg dimiliki... dan slalu berharap org lain mau menyesuaikan diri dg keadaaannya itu... padahal semua karna tertutupnya mata hati... tak pernah mensyukuri apa yg ada... tak sadar sesungguhnya semua itu merendahkan martabat diri.....

gone with the wind...

kenangan biarkan terusir
seperti jejak di pasir
lalu bersama angin yang hadir
masa kini biarkan mengalir
dari hulu ke hilir
hingga tercapai tujuan akhir...

Tuhan, ijinkan aku mati hari Jum'at

tiap kali mendengar tentang kemulian hari Jum’at
keutamaan meninggal pada hari jum’at
hati berbunga mengingat janji Tuhan begitu indah

namun siapalah aku
berani berharap dapat kemuliaan itu
bukan, bukannya aku berputus asa atas rahmatMu
aku sadar telah menyiakan waktu
hanya sesaat kulewatkan tuk mengkaji kitabMu
sedikitnya wirid lantunkan AsmaMu
seringnya keluh lupakan syukur nikmatMu
terbatasnya untaian salam sholawat keatas RasulMu
tipisnya tabungan puasa sholat sunnatku
bahkan meski sadar ‘bb’ku di atas normal
berat mengikuti sunnah nabiMu tuk menyedikitkan makan
lemah hati bengkok niat tak lurus amal

ya Rabb,
demi rasa takut kepadaMu
cinta kepada kekasihMu
pengangungan terhadap ahli ilmu
aku mohon padaMu dengan mengharap syafaat kekasihMu
jauhkan siksa sakaratul maut, siksa kubur dan siksa neraka
matikan aku pada hari Jum’at, agar
segala kemudahan dan keindahan terjanji dapat kunikmati
amien ...

PEREMPUAN MEMILIH.....

Aku baru saja diberi tahu suami bahwa ada berita di sebuah media.com tentang 3 orang gadis yang menawarkan keperawanannya. Kata pertama yang keluar dari mulutku adalah ”bodoh”. Ya, betapa bodohnya orang yang percaya bahwa mereka still virgin. Kalo mereka emang masih orisinal kayaknya gak bakalan dech mereka ngiklanin diri kayak gitu. Apalagi di jaman ini ketika issu keperawanan dapat diakali, entah operasi reparasi maupun penggunaan alat bantu pada perempuan hingga bila terjadi hubungan badan terciptalah noda merah itu.

Aku jadi ingat serial drama mandarin ”putri huan zhu”. Ketika sang putra mahkota terpaksa menikah lagi karna istri pertama tak jua memberi kturunan, maka sebagai bukti pengantin baru telah bersebadan, darah yang terpecik di secarik kain putih yang akan dipamerkan kepada para tetua berasal dari darah jari pengantin perempuan yang sengaja dilukai guna mendapat percikan keramat itu... sebuah kebohongan yang manis, jalan keluar bagi sistem yang berlaku saat itu.

Hanya orang berpikiran picik yang dengan naif menuntut orisinalitas perempuan sementara kebanyakan laki tlah melewatkan waktu dengan meniduri beberapa perempuan lain sepanjang kehidupannya.

Aku yang berusaha memandang segala sesuatunya dengan logika, pernah bikin pernyataan yang sulit di terima orang sekitarku. Bahwasanya kutak peduli apapun yang tlah dilakukan orang yang kelak kupilih sebagai suamiku di masa lalunya, selagi semua itu tak berbekas, dia tidak mengidap penyakit kelamin. Mengapa syarat ini pentimg? Tentu saja semua karna ini karna pertimbangan faktor regenerasi. Siapapun tak ingin punya anak tak sempurna bukan semata karna pemberian Tuhan apa adanya tapi lebih karena kesalahan orang tua. Kalaupun ternyata aku mendapat calon suami yang relatif baik (merokok pun dia tak pernah) ini adalah karunia Tuhan terhadapku, setimpal dengan nilaiku di mataNya.

Banyak prinsipku lain yang sulit diterima teman yang kebetulan aktivis gender: aktualisasi diri nggak harus dengan kerja, aku ingin jadi ibu rumah tangga biasa dan tidak menentang poligami. Menurut mereka ini adalah pandangan yang kontras dengan kebiasaanku berteman dekat dengan beberapa pria selagi tak ada kominten apapun di sana. Ya bagiku HTS (hubungan tanpa status) ataupun TTM (teman tapi mesra) adalah pilihan tepat, karena kami toh dalam kondisi menilai dinilai, sehingga tak masalah bila menjalani semua itu. Karena bukan tipe penghianat jalan itu yang dulu kupilih agar tak menyalahi ataupun merugikan siapapun.

Sebenarnya semua ini refleksi dari egoku yang memandang bahwa diluar pernikahan yang syah hubungan antara laki perempuan adalah setara. Bukankah tidak fair namanya bila perempuan hanya menunggu diapeli di malam minggu, sementara si pria bebas mendekati perempuan lainnya di saat pun tempat yang berbeda? Permainan lelaki itu kuikuti dengan kesadaran penuh. Sakit happy, jatuh bangun kunikmati karena akulah pengendalinya. Bak bermain layangan, angin memang bisa jadi faktor penganggu, tapi selama aku bermain cantik, tahu dengan pasti kapan saat menarik dan kapan saat mengulur benang pun kapan saat tepat untuk memulai permainan atau untuk mengakhirinya, aku tetap akan selamat.

Aku juga tak pernah memandang tabu seorang perempuan yang memberi sinyal pun menanyakan apakah pria yang disukainya juga memiliki pandangan sama. Selagi semua itu dilakukan dengan cara halus dan bijak, aku yakin takkkan ada yang direndahkan atau merendahkan diri di sini. Bukankah perempuan juga berhak tahu ke arah mana suatu hubungan yang terjalin menuju. Apakah stagnan sampai di sini, ada kemajuan ke arah lebih dari pertemanan atau kesan pertama tak seindah kenyataan, waktu berlalu kwalitas hubungan justru mundur?

Ketika akhirnya kutemukan pria yang dalam kondisi apapun membuatku merasa nyaman, kuputuskan untuk segera meresmikannya. Ya, hubungan kami lebih didasari pencarian ”soulmate” meski tentu saja tak menampik ada faktor asmara di sana. Tlah terbiasa kami dengan jatuh bangun merasakan debaran asmara yang menguras emosi dan membuat jiwa lelah. Saatnya berlabuh pada dermaga kecil yang nyaman, dengan riak kecil mendamaikan, tanpa cemburu curiga berlebihan. Kepercayaan terbagun terjaga tanpa rekayasa, mengalir dengan kesadaran bahwa untuk sampai ke tujuan tidak boleh ada peluang untuk penghianatan. Tak ada rahasia dalam perkawinan kami, apapun bisa kami diskusikan, sharing jiwa dan badan.

Sebelumnya banyak pihak yang menyakan ulang keseriusan kami untuk segera menikah. Kondisi saat itu dianggap belum tepat, aku belum klar skul dan masku baru mulai bekerja. Banyak teman menanyakan keseriusanku memasuki mahligai pernikahan ”Pye, apa kamu dah bener2 siap, dengan tanggungan skripsimu, memanage gaji suamimu tanpa deposit lain, pun hidup dengan mertua dan 4 orang adik ipar yang notabene background keluarganya berbeda denganmu?”

Bismillah aku siap. Kan kujalani semua ini, karena kuyakin ini yang terbaik, kuluruskan niat semata karena Tuhan dan kuserahkan semua kehidupanku kepadaNya, karna dia yang memberiku kehidupan dan pasti Dia pula penjaga terbaik bagiku. Hatiku terasa ringan memasuki pernikahan itu. Mengapa? Mungkin karena aku sama sekali tidak menafikan kemungkinan terjadinya perceraian pun poligami dalam perkawinanku nanti. Semua kuserahkan padaNya tugasku hanyalah menjalankan semua ini sebaik mungkin mengikuti tuntunanNya.

Kesungguhan bertindak dan kepercayaan total pada sang penjaga kehidupan membuat kehidupan pernikahanku terasa nikmat. Kutemukan kedamaian di sana, meski secara materi mungkin dipandang orang tak sesuai dengan pendidikan kami. Hidup ini indah bila manusia berhati indah.....

membaca tanpa berpikir = mubadzir...

jejak

kebajikan ataupun kejahatan, keduanya akan terbongkar karena pasti meninggalkan jejak... tinggal menunggu waktu untuk menuai apapun itu...

dosa terbesar

dosa terbesar adalah kebodohan dan tidak mau berusaha keluar dari jerat kebodohan itu...

hikmah dan rahmat

Hikmah adalah kekayaan intelektual warisan Rasulallah SAW yang tercecer ... bila kau menemukannya dimanapun dan dari siapapun hikmah itu ... ambilllah dan jadikan kekayaan batin untuk memperkokoh keimananmu.....

Rahmat Allah melimpah di segenap penjuru semesta, sesuai kebutuhan masing2 mahlukNya... namun hanya yang mensyukuri nikmatNya yang dapat merasakannya...

ibu...

ibu ... adalah perempuan yang tahu akan harkat dan martabat diri, tahu tujuan hidup dan mampu mengambil keputusan terbaik sebagai wujud syukur atas keistimewaan kodrat penciptaannya .....

ibu ... adalah setiap perempuan yang membaktikan dirinya bagi kemaslahatan ummat ... tanpa meninggalkan kodratnya sebagai perempuan sesuai garis yang ditakdirkan Tuhan ... terlepas dari apakah dia memiliki anak kandung ataupun tidak .....

kasih ibu sepanjang badan ... ya iyalah ... dari ujung kepala hingga ujung kaki 24 jam sehari dibaktikan untuk keluarga sebagai bagian dari aktualisasi diri ... ibu terbaik adalah yang terbaik di mata keluarganya ...

tertipu dunia

Aku tak mau jadi manusia yg merugi... Allah tempatku bergantung, penjamin kebutuhan semua mahluk ... yg tertipu dunia karena berharap pada mahluk, hanya akan dapat kecewa .....

miskin hati

orang yang kaya karena merasa cukup dengan nikmat Tuhan, akan ditinggikan derajatnya di hadapan Tuhan dan semua mahlukNya ... yang miskin karena selalu merasa kekurangan, akan dihinakan di hadapan Tuhan dan semesta alam .....

Asyura

10 Muharram ... tunaikan sedekah bagi anak yatim dan para janda ... limpahkan kasih sayang bagi suami/istri, anak2 dan saudara ... royalan ....

Hari Asyura, hari kasih sayang ... ingatan melayang pda peristiwa Karbala ... ahlil baits ... betapa jauh kami dari teladan pengorbananmu.....

makanan yang berasal dari harta haram, akan membawa pada tindak maksiat ... makanan yang berkah akan menuntun pada ketaatan ibadah .....

kebanyakan manusia menganggap besar sedikit kelebihan diri ... memandang ringan pada yang lain ... melupakan kebesaran hakiki milik Tuhan semata .....

kesombongan diri meski sebesar biji sawi tersembunyi di sudut hati ... dapat menjadi sebab tertolaknya amal ... Tuhan Pemilik Segala ... manusia sebagai mahluk harusnya tak punya nyali unjuk gigi ompong di hadapanNya ..... tunduk merendahlah bersyukur atas segala nikmat pemberianNya ....

buka hati, buka telinga, buka mata ... hikmah terserak di mana2 ... ambilllah ... jangan ragu meski itu datang dari dari rivalmu .....

tiap kali ada ahli ilmu meninggal, terjadilah lubang dalam komunitas yang tak tertutupi hingga ada ahli ilmu yang setara menggantikannya ... duhai, adakah posisiku di majlis itu smentara masih berat hati luruskan niat, berat bahu menambah amalan ibadah .....

berbagi ... adil ... mudah diucapkan berat menjalani ... Tuhan Semesta Alam setiasa memberi ... adil ... sesuai kebutuhan masing2 mahluk ...tapi manusia cenderung lupa diri .....

persinggahan

bermimpilah memetik bulan ... jalani kehidupan ini dengan penuh kesungguhan ... setiap perjalanan, persinggahan, pertemuan tidak akan tersia ... semua pasti berbekas ... akan ada imbalan, tunai ataupun terhutang saat tiba waktunya nanti .....

kebohongan

seorang pembohong tak butuh waktu berpikir tuk terucap kata2 palsu ...terlontar begitu aja, mengalir bersama aliran darah di badan ... tak berpikir kalau beberapa orang dapat mendeteksi kebohongan itu ... apalagi Tuhan .....

Kaya hati

Mengesampingkan kepentingan pribadi untuk sesuatu yang besar, awalnya memang terasa berat. Tapi kepuasan batin yang diperoleh ,jauh melampaui sedikit pengorbanan yang dilakukan... Begitupun dengan bersedekah, mengembalikan sebagian titipanNya dalam penjagaanNya, terkadang menimbulkan rasa sakit. Tapi bila mau sedikit lebih bersabar, rasa sakit itu akan merubah menjadi nikmat, karena berarti hati kita menjadi lebih kaya...

cinta kasih

kasih antar anak adam adalah berkah Tuhan ... bila di jalani secara tidak prosedural ... bersiaplah petaka kan menimpa .....

Titipan Tuhan

Tuhan ... sesungguhnya rizkiku, hartaku, keluargaku ... semua itu hanyalah titipanMu ... hanya kepadaMu kuserahkan penjagaan semua itu ... hanya kepadaMu tempatku berserah ... dan hanya kepadaMu tempatku kembali .....

hidup

aku bernafas ... aku mendengar ... aku melihat ... aku berpikir ... aku bertindak ... aku hidup ... alhamdulillah .....

pendusta

seorang pendusta akan memohon agar Tuhan menunjukkan jalan lurus ... namun pengingkaran terus menerus membuatnya makin terjerumus ....

sempurnanya sholat

salah satu tanda pencapaian kesempurnaan sholat seseorang terlihat dari berkurangnya tindak maksiat dalam kehidupan keseharian .....

dunia, panggung sandiwara

dunia ini bak panggung sandiwara ... banyak aktor banyak peran ... semua berjalan sesuai skenario Sang Dalang ... masing2 mempunyai takdirnya sendiri ... tinggal bagaimana cara menjalani agar hasil yang dicapai maksimal .....

Tuhan menciptakan semua berpasangan ... laki perempuan, malam siang, buruk baik ... keseimbangan dalam perbedaan ... manusialah yang menghancurkan semua itu ... menjungkir balikkan keadaan, hingga yang baik tampak buruk, yang buruk tampak baik ... naudzubillahimindzalik .....

ketika ku ingin waktu melambat, dia berlari secepat kilat ... bila ku ingin bergerak cepat, dia melambat asal selamat ... kala ku ingin jarak tercipta, bumi terlipat dia mengada ... saat ku ingin mendekat, aral membentang semua tersekat ... Tuhan Kuasa Segala, ampunkan hamba terlalu banyak meminta .....

Seorang buruh dengan UMR 850 ribu rupiah yang bershodaqoh 30 ribu rupiah, jauh lebih kaya dibanding kekikiran seorang presdir yang baru mendapat komisi 1 trilyun dan mengeluarkan shodaqoh seratus juta rupiah ...

bila tetangga tak mampu tidur karna menahan lapar sementara kita mengkonsumsi hidangan hingga tepar...masih pantaskah kita merasa kaya sementara berbagi tak pernah dijalani...masih pantaskan mengaku berTuhan bila tidak berperikemanusiaan.....

kesepakatan telah diucapkan, butuh kesungguhan tuk mewujudkan ... konsisten kan sampai tujuan, pengingkaran tanda ketidakdewasaan ... bila kepercayaan runtuh, jalinan berubah menjadi musuh.....

perbedaan terbesar antar individu bukan semata terkait jumlah kepemilikan ... tetapi lebih pada perbedaan tujuan hidup dan cara pencapaiannya.....

sabar dan syukur, bak dua sisi keping mata uang... berbeda tapi saling melengkapi, tak bermakna bila tampil sendiri.....

bila ilmu tidak diamalkan... sebatas jadi pengetahuan dan bahan perdebatan... bersiaplah menuju ambang kehancuran peadaban.....

Belajar dari Mbak Sofie

Seorang prempuan seumurku dg 3 anak seumur anak2ku,divonis kanker stadium 4, menyerang perhiasan wanita, tulang dan levernya. Namun masih bisa bercerita dan tersenyum menghadapi itu semua. Contoh nyata kesabaran dan rasa syukur yang menjadi barang angka saat manusia ingin semuanya seketika.

Empat tahun sudah, kemo membuatnya semakin rapuh. Meski optimisme atas kesembuhan total mulai memudar, salutku atas keteguhan beliau serta orang-orang terdekat. Saudariku, anda menginspirasi dan menyadarkan bahwa hidup terlalu berharga bila hanya dipenuhi air mata tanpa usaha sekuatnya. Kehormatan tertinggi sbg manusia hanya dapatdiraih bila memanfaatkan waktu tersisa dengan menjadi insan yang paling bermanfaat bagi semesta.

Berkesempatan mengenalmu, membuatku menengok ke belakang, selama ini betapa begitu banyak waktu tersia, banyak "nikmatNya" terabaikan begitu saja. Semoga hikmah ini menetap selamanya, menuntunku ke arah yang lebih baik lagi, mendekat pada tujuan sebenar hidup... Allahu Akbar.....

sedikit aksi menjaga bumi... buang sampah pada tempatnya.....

april dah lewat, ingat artikel 2 th lalu... dari gelap menuju cahaya... karena hidayah ilmu, kufur menjadi iman... karunia Allah terbesar... alhamdulillah

sedang ingat firman Tuhan "Aku seperti prasangka hambaku terhadapKu"... jangan putus harapan selagi nyawa masih dikandung badan.....

kalo ada orang dari pelit berubah jadi dermawan, maka lihatlah dengan siapa belakangan ini dia bergaul. pasti ada orang hebat dibelakangnya..... kebalikannya, bila ada orang yang selama ini kita anggap baik ternyata kita salah anggapan, pasti ada yang salah dalam cara dia mencari nafkah.....

orang datang curhat 2 atau 3 kali, advis blum dijalani
bolehlah... bila pengulangan berkali, kisah sama, tanpa aksi berarti,
sudahlah, buang waktu saja... ingat firman Tuhan: Allah tak akan mengubah nasib
kaum bila bukan mereka sendiri yang merubahnya.....

Penistaan terbesar adalah ketika seseorang beranggapan kita bodoh dengan melakukan kebohongan di depan mata kita. Padahal sesungguhnya kebohongan itu terdeteksi dengan baik karena kepandaian kita. Karena itu tak perlu merasa marah bila dianggap bodoh, karena kita tahu siapa yang lebih bodoh. Tak perlu pula merasa kasihan karena
berarti dia tidak menghargai diri sendiri dengan berlagak sok pintar.....

Kepercayaan harus dibangun di semua lini kehidupan, namun perlu diingat bahwa kepercayaan tidak mungkin dibangun sepihak, harus saling menjaga... selama tidak berhubungan dengan penegakan keadilan, kesalahan adalah rahasia antar individu dengan Tuhan... jika suatu hal tidak menyangkut kedzoliman, berlaku asas praduga tak bersalah, ada hak diam bila pertanyaan menyangkut kondisi pribadi yang penanya tidak berhak tahu...tak perlu perlu sharing sesuatu yang berpotensi memunculkan dampak negatif pada kondisi kekinian atau masa depan... bagimanapun juga orang terkadang mudah memaafkan tapi sulit melupakan...

Jangan sekalikali berani meminta agar diberi cobaan oleh Tuhan, karena pasti kita takkkan kuat melaluinya.......

batas pemenuhan keinginan

kebanyakan manusia tidak pernah merasa puas dengan begitu banyak pemberian Tuhan yang hingga hari ini masih dapat dinikmatinya. Meski secara materi sudah berlebih, namun masih saja menghendaki milik orang lain yang sebenarnya secara fisik nilainya jauh lebih rendah dibanding apa yang dimilikinya. Memang sulit mengatur kata hati, karena kalau diperturutkan ada begitu banyak ambisi tersimpan di sana. Padahal semakin banyak keinginan, makin banyak pula yang takkan terpenuhi.....

keadilan hanya dapat ditegakkan dengan mengesampingkan perasaan dan kepentingan pribadi... cinta hadir untuk mengasah kepekaan terhadap keadaan sekitar, bukan sebagai dalih bahwa memperturutkan perasaan adalah kehendakNya... hidup hanya berbilang tahun, namun manusia menghabiskan waktu untuk menggapai kepuasan semu... padahal bukankah semua kepentingan mahluk sudah dijamin pemenuhannya oleh penciptaNya......

suami terbaik adalah yang paling baik dalam memperlakukan istrinya... istri terbaik adalah yang paling baik dalam mentati amanah dari suaminya...

TOMBO ATI

Tombo ati iku ono limang perkoro
kaping pisan, moco Quran sa’maknane
kaping pindo, sholat wengi lakonono
kaping telu, wong kang sholeh kumpulono
kaping papat, wetengiro ingkang luwe
kaping limo, dzikir wengi ingkang suwe

salah akwijine sopo biso ngelakoni
insya Allah Gusti Pangeran ngijabahi

cinta Quran dengan menyelami maknanya
sujudkan jiwa raga di tengah sunyi malam
kepada orang sholeh dirimu senantiasa dekatkan
adapun terhadap rasa lapar upayakan bertahan
dan atas keasyikan zhikir jangan pernah bosan

salah satu saja engkau khusyu’ melakukannya
insya Allah nasibmu akan dirawat oleh Yang Maha Kuasa

ADAPTASI DARI SAYIDINA ALI BIN ABI THALIB
DITERJEMAHKAN DAN DIPOPULERKAN OLEH KYAI BISRI MUSTOFA
MERUPAKAN SALAH SATU LAGU DARI ALBUM “KADO MUHAMMAD” EMHA AINUN NADJIB DAN GAMELAN KIAI KANJENG.

WANITA SHALIHAH

Shalihah atau tidaknya seorang wanita bergantung ketaatannya pada aturan-aturan Allah. Aturan-aturan tersebut berlaku universal, bukan saja bagi wanita yang sudah menikah, tapi juga bagi remaja putri.
Mulialah wanita shalihah. Di dunia, ia akan menjadi cahaya bagi keluarganya dan berperan melahirkan generasi dambaan. Jika ia wafat, Allah akan menjadikannya bidadari di surga. Kemuliaan wanita shalihah digambarkan Rasulullah SAW dalam sabdanya, "Dunia ini adalah perhiasan, dan sebaik-baik perhiasan adalah wanita shalihah". (HR. Muslim).
Dalam Al-Quran surat An-Nur: 30-31, Allah Swt memberikan gambaran wanita shalihah sebagai wanita yang senantiasa mampu menjaga pandangannya. Ia selalu taat kepada Allah dan Rasul Nya. Make up-nya adalah basuhan air wudhu. Lipstiknya adalah dzikir kepada Allah. Celak matanya adalah memperbanyak bacaan Al-Quran.
Wanita shalihah sangat memperhatikan kualitas kata-katanya. Tidak ada dalam sejarahnya seorang wanita shalihah centil, suka jingkrak-jingkrak, dan menjerit-jerit saat mendapatkan kesenangan. Ia akan sangat menjaga setiap tutur katanya agar bernilai bagaikan untaian intan yang penuh makna dan bermutu tinggi. Dia sadar betul bahwa kemuliaannya bersumber dari kemampuannya menjaga diri (iffah).
Wanita shalihah itu murah senyum. Baginya, senyum adalah shadaqah. Namun, senyumnya tetap proporsional. Tidak setiap laki-laki yang dijumpainya diberikan senyuman manis. Senyumnya adalah senyum ibadah yang ikhlas dan tidak menimbulkan fitnah bagi orang lain.
Wanita shalihah juga pintar dalam bergaul. Dengan pergaulan itu, ilmunya akan terus bertambah. Ia akan selalu mengambil hikmah dari orang-orang yang ia temui. Kedekatannya kepada Allah semakin baik dan akan berbuah kebaikan bagi dirinya maupun orang lain.
Ia juga selalu menjaga akhlaknya. Salah satu ciri bahwa imannya kuat adalah kemampuannya memelihara rasa malu. Dengan adanya rasa malu, segala tutur kata dan tindak tanduknya selalu terkontrol. Ia tidak akan berbuat sesuatu yang menyimpang dari bimbingan Al-Quran dan Sunnah. Ia sadar bahwa semakin kurang iman seseorang, makin kurang rasa malunya. Semakin kurang rasa malunya, makin buruk kualitas akhlaknya.
Pada prinsipnya, wanita shalihah adalah wanita yang taat kepada Allah dan Rasul-Nya. Rambu-rambu kemuliaannya bukan dari aneka aksesoris yang ia gunakan. Justru ia selalu menjaga kecantikan dirinya agar tidak menjadi fitnah bagi orang lain. Kecantikan satu saat bisa jadi anugerah yang bernilai. Tapi jika tidak hati-hati, kecantikan bisa jadi sumber masalah yang akan menyulitkan pemiliknya sendiri.
Saat mendapat keterbatasan fisik pada dirinya, wanita shalihah tidak akan pernah merasa kecewa dan sakit hati. Ia yakin bahwa kekecewaan adalah bagian dari sikap kufur nikmat. Dia tidak akan merasa minder dengan keterbatasannya. Pribadinya begitu indah sehingga make up apa pun yang dipakainya akan memancarkan cahaya kemuliaan. Bahkan, kalaupun ia "polos" tanpa make up sedikit pun, kecantikan jiwanya akan tetap terpancar dan menyejukkan hati orang-orang di sekitarnya.
Jika ingin menjadi wanita shalihah, maka belajarlah dari lingkungan sekitar dan orang-orang yang kita temui. Ambil ilmunya dari mereka. Bahkan kita bisa mencontoh istri-istri Rasulullah Saw. seperti Aisyah. Ia terkenal dengan kekuatan pikirannya. Seorang istri seperti beliau bisa dijadikan gudang ilmu bagi suami dan anak-anak.
Contoh pula Siti Khadijah, figur istri shalihah penentram batin, pendukung setia, dan penguat semangat suami dalam berjuang di jalan Allah Swt. Beliau berkorban harta, kedudukan, dan dirinya demi membela perjuangan Rasulullah. Begitu kuatnya kesan keshalihahan Khadijah, hingga nama beliau banyak disebut-sebut oleh Rasulullah walau Khadijah sendiri sudah meninggal. Bisa jadi wanita shalihah muncul dari sebab keturunan. Seorang pelajar yang baik akhlak dan tutur katanya, bisa jadi gambaran seorang ibu yang mendidiknya menjadi manusia berakhlak. Sulit membayangkan, seorang wanita shalihah ujug-ujug muncul tanpa didahului sebuah proses. Di sini, faktor keturunan memainkan peran. Begitu pun dengan pola pendidikan, lingkungan, keteladanan, dan lain-lain. Apa yang tampak, bisa menjadi gambaran bagi sesuatu yang tersembunyi.
Banyak wanita bisa sukses. Namun tidak semua bisa shalihah. Shalihah atau tidaknya seorang wanita bergantung ketaatannya pada aturan-aturan Allah. Aturan-aturan tersebut berlaku universal, bukan saja bagi wanita yang sudah menikah, tapi juga bagi remaja putri. Tidak akan rugi jika seorang remaja putri menjaga sikapnya saat mereka berinteraksi dengan lawan jenis yang bukan mahramnya. Bertemanlah dengan orang-orang yang akan menambah kualitas ilmu, amal, dan ibadah kita. Ada sebuah ungkapan mengatakan, "Jika kita ingin mengenal pribadi seseorang maka lihatlah teman-teman di sekelilingnya."
Peran wanita shalihah sangat besar dalam keluarga, bahkan negara. Kita pernah mendengar bahwa di belakang seorang pemimpin yang sukses ada seorang wanita yang sangat hebat. Jika wanita shalihah ada di belakang para lelaki di dunia ini, maka berapa banyak kesuksesan yang akan diraih. Selama ini, wanita hanya ditempatkan sebagai pelengkap saja, yaitu hanya mendukung dari belakang, tanpa peran tertentu yang serius. Wanita adalah tiang Negara. Bayangkanlah, jika tiang penopang bangunan itu rapuh, maka sudah pasti bangunannya akan roboh dan rata dengan tanah. Tidak akan ada lagi yang tersisa kecuali puing-puing yang nilainya tidak seberapa. Kita tinggal memilih, apakah akan menjadi tiang yang kuat atau tiang yang rapuh? Jika ingin menjadi tiang yang kuat, kaum wanita harus terus berusaha menjadi wanita shalihah dengan mencontoh pribadi istri-istri Rasulullah.
Dengan terus berusaha menjaga kehormatan diri dan keluarga serta taat beribadah, maka pesona wanita shalihah akan melekat pada diri kaum wanita kita.
(pengusahamuslim.com)

SEMBUHKAH SAKITKU DENGAN SEDEKAH

Syaikh Sulaiman bin Abdul Karim Al-Mufarrij berkata, "Wahai saudaraku yang sedang sakit, sedekah yang dimaksudkan dalam hadis ini adalah sedekah yang diniatkan untuk memperoleh kesembuhan. Boleh jadi anda telah banyak bersedekah, tetapi tidak anda niatkan untuk mendapatkan kesembuhan dari Allah. Karena itu, cobalah lagi sekarang dan tumbuhkanlah keyakinan bahwa Allah akan menyembuhkan diri anda. Isilah perut para fakir miskin hingga kenyang, atau santunilah anak yatim, atau wakafkanlah harta anda, atau berikanlah sedekah amal jariyah. Sesungguhnya sedekah dapat mengangkat dan menghilangkan berbagai penyakit, musibah, dan cobaan. Ini sudah banyak dialami orang-orang yang diberi taufik dan hidayah oleh Allah sehingga mereka memperoleh obat penawar ruhaniah dan lebih bermanfaat ketimbang hanya obat-obatan biasa.
Juga, Rasulullah SAW telah melakukan pengobatan dengan metode ruhaniyah ilahiyyah (yang menitik beratkan pada aspek keimanan, ketaatan, dan keyakinan kepada Allah). Demikian juga dengan para generasi salafus saleh, mereka juga selalu bersedekah sesuai kadar sakit dan derita yang menimpa mereka. Sedekah yang mereka keluarkan adalah harta yang sangat berkualitas. "Wahai saudaraku yang sedang sakit, janganlah anda bakhil terhadap diri anda sendiri, sekaranglah waktunya untuk sedekah." (Shifatun 'ilajiyyah Tuzilu Al-Amradh bin Al-Kulliyyah)

Kisah berikut ini diceritakan sendiri oleh orang yang mengalaminya kepada Syaikh Sulaiman bin Abdul Karim Al-Mufarrij. Orang itu berkata, "Aku mempunyai putri balita yang menderita penyakit di tenggorokannya. Telah kebawa dia keluar masuk beberapa rumah sakit dan berkonsultasi dengan banyak dokter, tetapi tidak ada hasilnya. Penyakit putriku bahkan memburuk. Hampir-hampir akupun jatuh sakit memikirkannya dan perhatian seluruh keluarga tersita untuk mengurusinya. Yang bisa kami lakukan hanyalah memberinya obat untuk mengurangi rasa sakitnya. Kalau bukan karena rahmat Allah SWT, rasanya kami sudah putus asa.
Namun suatu hari ada seorang yang saleh meneleponku dan menyampaikan hadis Rasulullah SAW, bahwa 'Obatilah orang-orang yang sakit di antara kalian dengan bersedekah.'
Kukatakan kepadanya, 'sungguh aku sudah banyak bersedekah!. Tapi beliau berkata, 'Bersedekahlah kali ini dengan niat agar Allah SWT menyembuhkan putrimu.'
Aku langsung mengeluarkan sedekah yang sangat sederhana kepada seorang fakir. Tak ada perubahan kepada putriku. Kusampaikan hal itu kepada orang saleh tersebut. Katanya, 'Anda adalah orang yang mendapatkan banyak nikmat dan harta. Cobalah engkau bersedekah dalam jumlah lebih banyak.
Setelah mendengar itu, aku mengisi mobil sepenuh-penuhnya dengan beras, lauk pauk dan bahan makanan lainnya, lalu kubagi-bagikan langsung kepada orang-orang yang membutuhkan sehingga mereka sangat senang menerimanya. Dan demi Allah (aku bersumpah), aku tidak akan pernah lupa ketika sedekah itu habis kubagikan, Alhamdulillah putriku yang sedang sakit sembuh sempurna. Sejak saat itu, aku menyakini bahwa di antara sebab-sebab syar'i yang paling utama untuk meraih kesembuhan adalah sedekah.
Dan sekarang, berkat karunia Allah SWT, putriku telah tiga tahun tidak mengalami sakit apapun. Aku pun banyak mengeluarkan sedekah terutama mewakafkan harta pada hal-hal yang baik dan (Alhamdulillah) setiap hari aku merasakan nikmat dan kesehatan kepada diri sendiri maupun pada keluarga. Juga, aku merasakan keberkahan dalam hartaku."
("Sedekah Cinta", Diana Ekarini dan Ary Nilandari)

Wedono Cermo Gupito: Playing with shadows

Yuliantoro , Contributor , Yogyakarta | Tue, 04/06/2010 8:17 AM | People


There is much more to shadow puppetry than the eye can see. It entertains, educates in matters of manners and etiquette, and establishes morality and ethics in the life of society, says Wedono Cermo Gupito who has devoted his whole life to this art form.
“To be a puppeteer is to have a noble profession… The entertainment and performances provided can make people live true, good, happy and peaceful lives,” says Wedono Cermo Gupito, an abdi dalem (high-ranking court servant) at the Yogyakarta Palace.
As a maestro in the world of puppetry, Gupito’s (aka Basiroen Hadisumarta) fame has spread locally and overseas. Known as a puppetry art adviser and performer of the art of puppetry, Gupito’s passion for puppetry lives on through hundreds of his former students — whether they are workers, pedicab drivers, civil servants and even professors — in the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and as far as Hawaii.
Among them is Professor Roger Long, a cultural researcher at the University of Hawaii.
You can’t bargain with Gupito’s high-quality wayang performances, known as pakeliran.
His mission is to always be firm, and he emphasizes this to all his students when they are performing wayang. Taking pakeliran seriously gives the performances high artistic value.
As a puppeteer, Gupito stages not only performances for marriage ceremonies, Proclamation Day events, radio and TV, but also for ruwatan ceremonies. These ceremonies are believed to get rid of bad luck, suffering and disasters from villages and communities.
As a puppeteer, Gupito has also entertained tourists at the Yogyakarta Palace. He encourages an appreciation of puppetry art among elementary school students, and has held puppet exhibitions in Yogyakarta and Jakarta.
This man is nothing short of extraordinary. At the age of 85, Gupito now drags his feet when he walks, his voice is rather faint and his hearing is also fading, along with his memory. But he also remains a loyal teacher at the school of shadow puppetry, known as Pamulangan Dalang Habirandha, at the Pracimasana Palace in Yogyakarta — even though he is elderly and does not go to the school to teach.
“The students now come to my house because I’m no longer physically strong enough to go there,” said Gupito.
Gupito was born in Yogyakarta on Feb. 23, 1925, with the name Basiroen Hadisumarta. Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX, later named him Wedono Cermo Gupito, as one of the original Yogyakarta Palace pupeteers.
Gupito took courses in leather puppetry, dance and karawitan (gamelan music and singing accompanied by gamelan), between 1949 and 1950. He loved performing wayang as a child, taking cues from his grandfather who was also a puppeteer.
He gained further knowledge about the art of puppetry by taking classes at Habirandha between 1952 and 1954.
Gupito’s career as a puppeteer began when he was just 13. At the time, he was at the Sampoerna Rakyat School. A farewell event was being held to close the school year, and this was where he first demonstrated his abilities in a public puppet performance.
“I became a master puppeteer because I proved I was able to do it.”
Among puppeteers, Gupito is renowned for his special ability in sabet (dramatic action), and skills in moving puppets. Apart from his ability to perform with puppets, Gupito also likes dancing and painting carved puppets.
As a puppeteer, Gupito has not only performed Wayang in his hometown of Yogyakarta, but also other cities including Ponorogo, Nganjuk, Kediri, Rembang, Magelang and Kroya.
He has also staged puppet shows in several countries including the Netherlands, Hawaii and the Philippines. Apart from teaching at the school of puppetry, Gupito has also been diligently writing books related to the art.
So far he has published a stenciled edition of the Jawi Jarwa Dictionary for students (1970); the Theory of Cepengan Sabetan Wayang Kulit (1980) and the Pakem Pedalangan Yogyakarta Volume 1 (1977).
The books he wrote with RM Mudjanatistomo and RL Radyomardowo, which were published by the Habirandha Foundation in 1977, have become handbooks used by all students of puppetry at Habirandha.
Apart from holding lessons at his alma mater, Habirandha, Gupito trained several American students between 1966 and 1969, and was active as a member of Indonesian Puppet Master’s Association (PEPADI).
Dozens of awards on display in his living room include awards from former presidents Soeharto and B.J. Habibie, the Culture and Tourism Ministry and various foreign cultural institutions.
Gupito now lives modestly in a five-by-six square meter house in Kampung Cokrodiningratan, Yogyakarta, and has 28 grandchildren.
Gupito’s skills as a puppeteer have been passed down to two of his children — Bambang Riyanto (Senowangi Foundation Jakarta) and Budi Cahyono (Habirandha teacher).
“I hope Habirandha students are able to pass on puppet art culture, which is full of morals,
manners and learning. At least this could help the government cope with societal problems in the field of moral education,” Gupito said, closing the interview. www.thejakartapost.com

Habirandha: Last bastion of Yogya’s wayang

Yuliantoro , Contributor , Yogyakarta | Tue, 04/06/2010 8:59 AM | Features

“Hoooong Ilaheng. Hong Ilaheng awigna mastu purnama sidhem. Awigna mastu silat mring Hyang Jagatkarana siran tandha kawisesaning bisana…”
A student of Yogyakarta’s Habirandha School started his janturan, or opening recitation in ancient Javanese, as he was taking a test in the art of puppetry.
This compulsory introduction is a plea for God’s protection when performing the wayang kulit (leather or shadow puppet show) from dusk till dawn.
Although unknown to most of the younger generation of Yogyakarta, the existence of Habirandha is recognized by people concerned with the preservation of Javanese art and culture.
Every year, a number students enroll in the school to learn the art of puppetry. However, while dozens sign up, only a few complete the course in this traditional art.
At present, 41 students are enrolled in the Pamulangan Dalang Habirandha Pracimasana (dalang or puppet master training school) on Jl. Rotowijayan 1, Yogyakarta. They comprise 20 students in elementary class A, 11 in elementary class B and 10 intermediate class students. Their backgrounds vary from pedicab drivers, laborers, soldiers and civil servants, to lecturers, physicians, professors and foreign tourists.
“Of the total, only 10 to 12 will remain,” said KRT Cermo Widyokusumo, the head of Habirandha at the Yogyakarta Court, recently.
Why the significant drop out rate? Because one has to be both intelligent and highly skilled to become
a dalang.
A dalang must have excellent elocution for story narration and relevant character dialogue, and outstanding dexterity to manipulate puppets, beat the dhodogan (wooden hammer) with the left hand and the keprakan (strung metal pieces) with the right foot in synchronously with the prevailing scene and atmosphere.
“Puppet performances combine vocal, theatrical and dramatic skills as well as hand and foot movements. The dalang also need mental faculties to produce the right conversations and narration.
That’s why a dalang never gets sleepy on stage,” added Romo Widyo, as the Habirandha chief is fondly called.
Habirandha, short for hanindhake biwara rancangan dalang (conveying the dalang’s message), was founded in 1925 by Kanjeng Raden Tumenggung (KRT) Djajadipura, under the sponsorship of Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono VIII. Originally named Pawiyatan Pedhalangan Karaton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Habirandha, this training center was aimed at safeguarding the art of puppet performance from possible extinction.
“A wayang comprises moral and ethical teachings. Especially when such performances were the popular entertainment of the time, a dalang was virtually a teacher and a model in society.”
The first puppetry course started on July 27, 1925 with senior instructors: KRT Djajadipura (director and puppetry teacher), Raden Wedana Prawirodipuro (teacher of the history of puppetry), Raden Tumenggung Madubranta (sulukan teacher, teaching the chanted recitations to create mood), and RB Cermawicara (pakeliran teacher, for the art of stage performance). The training initially comprised elementary-class lessons on puppetry.
Since its founding, Habirandha has been a nonprofit institution. Even today, the principal of Habirandha only receives a monthly “salary” of Rp 15,000 (US$1.60) and the teachers Rp 12,000 each, as a symbol of royal appreciation. In fact, they are responsible for forming the agents of preservation for this elegant Javanese art.
“The pay is not commensurate with the importance of the job, but owing to our dedication and
sincerity, we lead a peaceful and happy life,” claimed Romo Widyo, born R. Soebarno.
Habirandha charges Rp 20,000 per month for school fees, to cover the costs of purchasing banana
tree stems as a means to practice puppetry and for the repair of damaged puppets.
The school cannot afford to make available all the facilities needed like the stage, instruments and other equipment as well as gamelan players and sinden (female singers for gamelan music).
Therefore, students wishing to take their tests to become puppet masters have to bear all the costs.
There is no selection of any particular kind for those wishing to join Habirandha, nor are there age limits, educational requirements and social status restrictions, as long as students are literate and have no mental and physical handicaps.
Romo Widyo said the lack of selection criteria for students sometimes made life more difficult for Habirandha teachers because of their students’ varying levels of capability. Some students already have a basic knowledge of the art, while others have to start from scratch.
Teaching smart students alongside their slower peers is another challenge. “Under such circumstances, teachers should not be worried or they will get stressed. They should instead be relaxed and patient,” he pointed out.

“Puppet performances combine vocal, theatrical and dramatic skills as well as hand and foot movements...”

Today, Habirandha teaches only the basic techniques, with graded curriculum subjects for the relevant classes.
The subjects include cepengan (the holding method), sabetan (the manipulating technique), janturan, kandha carita (the narration to accompany the gamelan), pocapan (the dialogue), suluk sekar (the chanted recitations or poetry), dhodogan, keprakan, gendhing/karawitan (gamela melodies/overtures) and pakeliran (stage performance). Lessons last from dusk until 10 p.m., which may be followed
by discussions until midnight. “Three years’ training provides simple stage performance basics.
Habirandha doesn’t create professionals,” stressed Romo Widyo.
With a command of all the skills and techniques, a dalang should be capable of captivating his or her audience with a beautiful voice as well as a unique way of storytelling and message conveyance. “A dalang should have a sense of humor so that a message is communicated in an entertaining manner.”
In the beginning, Habirandha was created for puppeteer’s children and Yogyakarta court servants. The school later grew to accommodate public interest.
Now 85 years old, Habirandha has produced a number of Yogyakarta puppeteers although the exact number is still unknown.
They include Prof. Roger Long, a culture researcher from the University of Hawaii, USA, Prof. Soeripto, an oncologist from Yogyakarta’s Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Suyono, a UGM lecturer, dalang Ki Timbul Hadiprayitno and Ki Anom Suroto, who performed last Friday at former minister and Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie’s youngest son’s wedding.
Anindra Ardiansyah Bakrie married TV star Nia Ramadhani in a lavish ceremony that spanned over
several days.
Some fear career prospects for dalang are quite gloomy and training centers like Habirandha may even close down. For senior Habirandha teacher Wedono Cermo Gupito, however, the future of puppet art remains promising and dalang schools will continue to exist as long as there are Javanese people.
“While the nation lives in an advanced and modern era, wayang and dalang performances, with their moral and ethical messages, should be used as one of the instruments to overcome social problems and be given due attention by the authorities,” said Wedono Cermo Gupito from his Yogyakarta residence. www.thejakartapost.com

‘Mpu’, a kris artist with rare expertise

Sunday, February 7, 2010 12:22 AM

Yuliantoro , Contributor , Yogyakarta | Fri, 02/05/2010 1:04 PM | Java Brew
Spiritual work: Sungkowo shows one of his kris and its scabbard from a collection at his house in Yogyakarta.
There is the clinking sound of repeated hammering of a blend of iron, steel and pamor (decorative metal) on a blazing hearth, with burning red metal sprinkles scattered over both sides.
Gripping the blend with tongs, an mpu or master craftsman is forging a kris (Javanese dagger) while wiping his sweaty body now and again in his stuffy besalen (workshop).
That’s how a traditional dagger maker works on the highly valued Javanese weapon. Today, classical kris making is a unique and rare profession, with only one master in Yogyakarta willing to be engaged in this time-honored art of refined craftsmanship.
He is Mpu Sungkowo Haroembrojo, who lives in Gatak hamlet, Sumberagung village, Moyudan district, Sleman regency.
The professional scarcity is due to the high degree of difficulty of this job. By tradition, a kris is requires an mpu’s creativity, intuitive feeling, willpower and innovation. Creativity concerns knowledge, experience and ingenuity. Intuitive feeling has to do with modesty and sensitivity to ethical and esthetic values. Willpower refers to strong determination to develop a noble task. Innovation more involves the principles of usefulness, grandeur, symbolism and spiritual weight.
“Making a kris is a serious job if a high quality dagger is supposed to be produced,” said Mpu Sungkowo, the sole heir of Mpu Djeno Haroembrojo, a renowned kris master of the Court of Yogyakarta, some time ago.
Before forging a kris, an mpu used to fast by only eating plain rice and drinking water for 40 successive days. At present, the fasting period is reduced to three days according to Javanese calculation.
“It’s meant as a spiritual preparation before getting down to actual work,” explained the 17th descendant of Kyai Mpu Supodriyo, a great kris master in the era of Majapahit kingdom.
The fast aims to purge the soul of all impurities, as the process of kris making requires a clean, pure and clear heart so that the blade created will generate a good aura.
“During this entire process one must avoid harsh, abusive and emotional remarks,” Mpu Sungkowo said.
In addition, a set of offerings is also made available in the workshop, generally for the purpose of invoking divine assistance so as to ensure a smooth and safe progression of kris making from start to finish with a truly excellent end product.
Standing alone: Kris maker Mpu Sungkowo Haroembrojo (left) shows his work standing unsupported. It shows the perfect balance of the traditional dagger.
The mpu needs the personal data of a customer, such as the day and date of birth, occupation and so forth. The best way is to meet the master before he starts working on the weapon so as to be suited to the customer’s personality.
A quality kris with high artistic value demands first-rate iron, nickel (as pamor) and steel. Kris makers quite often use meteorites containing titanium to turn out beautiful decorative patterns. The best iron is usually the black type called karang kijang.
“Karang kijang is the kind of iron with straight and fine veins so that it can hardly get rusty. It produces an unbroken tinkle when struck and has a natural, glowing color,” Mpu Sungkowo said.
In the beginning, a kris takes the form of pieces of iron, nickel and steel. The three components are combined by burning and hammering. The iron piece with nickel, burning and lengthening to a certain size, is folded into two. Then it is again beaten up repeatedly to reach the number of folds desired, depending on the model or tangguh as it is commonly called.
For instance, Tangguh Blambangan needs about 16 folds, Tangguh Mataram 256, and Tangguh Majapahit 2,000. Even in the period of Majapahit, the model of Sendang Sedayu required 4,096 folds.
After the relevant number is met, the wrought iron is strengthened by inserting a piece of steel.
“At the end of this process, the kris has to be given sepuh treatment [immersion in coconut oil after being heated without getting red] so as to make it superb, magical, strong and durable,” Mpu Sungkowo said.
A classical kris takes at least 40 days to finish, even more than 60 days for the types of kris that involve more complex techniques. When physical and mental conditions are unfit, kris forging has to be suspended in order to guarantee optimal product quality and avoid customer disappointment.
Kris making consumes around 100 kilograms (50 sacks) of teak charcoal, 12 kilograms of iron, 0.5 kilograms of steel and 100 grams of nickel. For higher-level kris like Sendang Sedayu, 18 kilograms of iron, 0.5 kilograms of steel and 200 grams of nickel or 300 grams of meteorite are required. Upon completion, only about 1 kilogram is left due to shrinkage by heating and beating.
Combining metals in layers and hammering indeed constitute the technique applied to make a thin and small blade tougher. The blade is formed according to the shapes desired. Some kris are straight, as in the Majapahit era, while others have curves known as luk, recalling the Islamic Mataram era.
Hammer and tongs: Sungkowo uses tongs to hold the molten kris being created by his assistant.
Mpu Sungkowo is assisted by Tugeno (61) and Supardi (50). But when it comes to blade filing to expose nickel stripes as decorative pamor, Mpu Sungkowo does the work himself as it involves greater care. Any carelessness will erode the pamor altogether.
“I also do the finishing work,” he said.
The beauty of a kris, however, will be apparent after being cleansed with a solution of arsenic in lime juice, which makes the ornamental patterns even more manifest. With this touch, a kris is thus born.
It has a higher value and greater supernatural force if processed with the mpu’s ascetic practice and high spiritual awareness.
With the considerable time spent, Mpu Sungkowo can only produce a maximum of six kris a year, and is booked up through 2011.
Mpu Sungkowo’s works are highly sought after. His guest book shows that his customers come not only from domestic circles but Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, France, the Netherlands and the US.
He has turned out dozens of kris now scattered in various parts of the world, winning the admiration of many. Worth up to tens of millions of rupiah a blade, its possession has some requirements. A farmer, for example, is compatible with Dapur Kebo Lajer (buffalo design) and pamor beras wutah (spilt rice pattern), and a youth with Dapur Jangkung (slender design) and an unspecified decoration, having three curves.
“Only a king can own all types of kris,” he indicated.
Mpu Sungkowo, 56, dedicates his life to kris making with the determination to preserve the great value of the nation’s cultural heritage acknowledged by the UNESCO in 2005. He even has the obsession of passing down his expertise not only to his descendants but also to interested members of the public.
Bequeathing his capability is not easy amid today’s culture of instant products. The necessity to have spiritual knowledge and the notion that classic kris making is economically less promising have become major constraints. Mpu Sungkowo earns reasonable profits and is able to support his family.
The lowest price of one kris is Rp 10 million, with certain types reaching as high as Rp 50 million.
Among Mpu Sungkowo’s works are straight and curved blades. Kris with luk or curves usually have odd numbers, such as three, five, seven and nine curves and so forth, but the Javanese kris standard of Mataram origin only have a maximum of 13 curves.
— Photos by Yuliantoro www.thejakartapost.com

Making Jewellery in Kotagede,

Rare skill: Marni, 25, from Kotagede, Yogyakarta, applies herself to making jewellery, in Salim Silver’s workshop, in Oct. 2009. JP/Yuliantoro www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/12/11/the-tarnished-future-kotagede-silver.html

Making Jewellery in Kotagede

A dying art: Wasik,60, makes a pendant out of silver in Salim Silver’s. JP/Yuliantoro www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/12/11/the-tarnished-future-kotagede-silver.html

The tarnished future of Kotagede silver

Yuliantoro , The Jakarta Post , Yogyakarta | Fri, 12/11/2009 10:22 AM | Java Brew
Rare skill: Marni, 25, from Kotagede, Yogyakarta, applies herself to making jewellery, in Salim Silver’s workshop, in Oct. 2009. JP/Yuliantoro
Kotagede’s fame as a silver town is not limited to Indonesia, but is evenly spread throughout the world. In the 18th century, the Mataram Palace appointed Kotagede as a silver handicraft center to meet the palace’s needs.
Consequently the fine art work and engraving produced in the town have been complex and of high quality.
The silver handicrafts of Kotagede experienced their peak when they went international in the 1930s. This was largely thanks to Mrs Mary Agnes Van Gesseler Versvir, the wife of the Dutch East Indies governor who exercised power in Yogyakarta from 1929 to 1932.
The Dutchwoman was so impressed with Kotagede silver handicrafts that she ordered many to be sent to the Netherlands.
Drs Pim Westerkamp MA, the curator of Southeast Asian Culture and History at the Tropenmuseum in the Netherlands, said that the Dutch Tropenmuseum currently stored at least 62,000 examples of Kotagede silver handicrafts from Yogyakarta, covering production between 1929 and 1932.
The collection of silver handicrafts includes silver bowls, cake plates, cup sets and teapots, wine cups and more. A large part of the collection carries relief motifs of the Prambanan Temple, the Boko Queen, the Jepara Mantingan Mosque, motifs from West Sumatra and elsewhere.
In the 1930s, all the silver craft industries experienced growth.
Soon after Indonesia became independent, the international prestige of Kotagede silver began to fade, especially after the confrontation with Malaysia, followed by Indonesia leaving the UN and the events of Sept. 30, 1965.
In the 1970s, after the political situation started to stabilise, Kotagede silver was back in fashion and triumphant again.
Because Indonesia opened its doors to the outside world, especially with the tourism sector, silver goods became popular among consumers and jewellery businesses, and were marketed by art shops in the Kotagede area.
The results were very profitable and the living standards of the community improved, so that almost the entire community of Kotagede was eking a living out of making silver handicrafts.
A dying art: Wasik, 60, makes a pendant out of silver in Salim Silver’s. JP/Yuliantoro
Unfortunately, over time, and particularly since the early 1990s, silver craft industries in Kotagede are no longer prevalent. The shocks to the economy from the monetary crisis in 1998, the 2006 earthquake, the increasing price of fuel and the global crisis from 2007 to 2008, have made Kotagede silver craft industries seem ready to give up or simply survive.
A Kotagede silver entrepreneur, Priyo Jatmiko Salim, who owns Salim Silver, said that since the late 20th century, silver craft had shifted from an art form to an industry of mass-produced goods, purely based on economic value.
The fine engraved silver artwork with its characteristic hallmark identifying it as part of Kotagede’s cultural heritage is now rarely found in showrooms.
“Look at the silver shops. Is there an engraved silver product there that has any semblance of art?” Priyo asked.
The shift from art to mass production began during the 1998 economic crisis. Priyo added that the weakened rupiah had sharply increased the price of silver raw materials, while at the same time reduced buyers’ purchasing power.
There were no more major orders for household goods such as tea, dinner sets, bowls and large handicrafts.
“When silver was Rp 400,000 [US$42] per kilogram [before 1998], we needed five kilos of silver worth Rp 4 million to produce a set of cutlery. We could then sell it for Rp 5 million. But when the price of silver jumped to Rp 3 million per kilogram, the sale price of silverware in the marketplace could not cover the production costs.”
Because of the higher costs of the raw material, all the craft industries had to think pragmatically. They switched to mass products because that made manufacturing simple and the price was relatively affordable to consumers in the domestic tourism market.
“Making craft silverware is complicated and expensive, so the selling price is high. Domestic consumers can’t afford this. This is why we stopped making creative art products.”
However, said Priyo, maintaining the artistic products of our cultural heritage can be profitable because the price of the items depend on the beauty of the product, unlike mass produced goods, where the price is determined by volume.
“The artistic value of one item of silverware made from 10 grams of silver can reach Rp 10 million if it’s aesthetically pleasing to the eye. If it’s a mass-produced good made from only one gram [of silver], the price will depend on the weight.”
However, the consumer market is still limited to art lovers. There are still relatively few buyers of art in Indonesia, though there are many such customers overseas.
A Kotagede arts and cultural observer, Chirzin Natsir, said the prospects for a thriving silver handicraft industry in Kotagede had not only faded because of national disasters and global events.
The fall, he went on, has been caused by silver crafts people’s lack of foresight. Appreciation of the arts, culture and history of silver is still low among craft workers.
“If we’re clever, every time we make a good design, we should put aside one or two pieces. After 10 or 20 years, the collection will have expanded and the items will be expensive. If they cannot be sold, they can be shown in a museum so that every time people see them, they will have to pay,” he said.
Nasir said Kotagede’s silver collection from the Dutch period, which has been carefully stored, has a very high monetary value.
Before the earthquake, around 650 craftspeople worked in Kotagede making silverware. After the earthquake, the number decreased dramatically to 125 people.
Now around 100 still survive in some outlets of silver craftwork, and only 25 people in Kotagede and its surroundings.
“This is a very drastic decline, and has created a challenge for all crafts people; how to deal with the market without compromising the industry and the historical value that exists here?” Priyo asked.
The market for well-designed silver handicrafts with fine workmanship is still open, especially for exports to European countries, America, Australia and East Asia.
Customers in those countries are very interested in the silver Kotagede art products, especially those that are well made and with individual characteristics.
Priyo said that when he went to an exhibition in Hong Kong last September, many visitors from all over the world were interested in his products.
“They said we were the only Indonesian silver craftsmen that were creating art for the future.
As a result we received many well-priced orders in the international market.” www.thejakartapost.com

Skilled craftman’s business has silver lining

Yuliantoro , Contributor , Yogyakarta | Fri, 12/11/2009 10:37 AM | People
JP/Yuliantoro
Priyo Jatmiko Salim has made quite a name for himself among the few silversmiths left in Kotagede.
The owner of Silver Salim is the only artisan committed to the art of repoussé, ornamental silverwork hammered into the metal from the reverse side, a specialty of Kotagede.
Salim, 48, has devoted the best part of his life to producing silverware made in the distinctive Kotagede style. He employs five craftsmen – the highest number of artisans working for any silversmith business in Kotagede – who are experts in the art of silver engraving, and is currently training new staff in his workshop.
In addition to preserving the town’s cultural heritage, his silver art products fetch high prices in domestic and international markets. According to Salim, prices of engraved art pieces are much higher than those of plain silver products.
“Prices of silver or arrangements are based on the weight of the goods. The value of the art is never a consideration. But artistic products attract their own prices. These are usually calculated per item, so the value of a product can reach into the millions of rupiah, or 10 times the wholesale price,” said the artisan and graduate of Gadjah Mada University’s School of Geography.
To improve his bargaining position and competitiveness, Salim’s silver products are not merely hammered and engraved. Inheriting his skills from his father Salim Widardjo, a noted Kotagede silverwork artist, his creations blend designs using special engraving techniques unique to Kotagede with those from Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi. He also uses other jewelry production techniques when making silver craftwork.
“I design silver jewellery in the form of earrings, bracelets, pendant and necklaces. These look very beautiful and elegant when worn on formal or semi-formal occasions,” he said in his workshop in Kotagede, Yogyakarta.
Salim is one of the few silversmith still using engraving techniques in his work, as artisans specializing in embossing are an increasingly dying breed. An unfortunate turn of events, given the technique initially transformed Kotagede into a renowned silverware center.
What is so special about the Kotagede technique? Well, the three-dimensional details make the jewelry come alive, because both sides of the silver plate are hammered. The process is called wudulan, embossing from the back and refining from the front.
Salim is constantly exploring new designs, always seeking to produce unique silver jewelry.
“We do not hesitate to experiment by combining our techniques with those used in the production of jewelry such as layering, cutting and grading. Our goods are elegant and Salim Silver’s reputation lives on, as we have gained the trust of customers here and abroad,” he said.
To acknowledge his contribution to preserving Indonesian cultural heritage on the verge of extinction, Salim received countless nominations and awards, from noted magazines such as Femina in its jewelry design competitions and from the World of Archeological Wonder, to name a few.
Salim never dreamed he would become a silversmith and businessman. As a geography graduate from Gadjah Mada University, his parents wanted him to be a civil servant in one of the ministries. But because his first placement would have been outside of Java, Salim’s parents objected to their son leaving Kotagede. Salim was advised to become a silversmith, like most people living in Kotagede people at that time.
“From then on, I tried to design my own silverwork and marketed it to large businesses. Because the demand was high, the business grew fast to the point where I could open my own shop by renting a house in Kemasan Kotagede Street. Many foreigners came to the shop wanting to purchase silver products I had designed, and big orders started coming in,” Salim said.
Salim’s fortune continued. Although he initially started with very little capital, he would always ask for advance payments of more than 75 percent of the selling price.
“I have never had a customer not prepared to pay an order in cash. The capital constraints that normally restrict business growth simply vanished. And that’s how I have developed until now,” he said.
Salim is now a successful businessman dealing mostly with foreign customers from the United States, Canada, Australia, Korea and several European countries.
The internet initially helped Salim promote and market his silver artwork products in foreign countries, with most of his customers tending to be art lovers.
“Our products are expensive because what I sell are works of art, not mass-produced goods. So as a result out targets are actually markets overseas, made up of consumers who can appreciate art work,” he said.
With a turnover of hundreds of millions of rupiah, a range of products and a steady level of development, his business is relatively stable. In 2008, he had as many as 90 craftsmen and employees.
“Since the old days we have always remained stable. Whether there is a crisis or not, the orders keep coming because we have a niche market. The problem is the price of the raw material, which continues to go up.” www.thejakartapost.com