On Saturday, August 22, 2020, The Multiplication program of Stube HEMAT in Bengkulu held one-day discussion in two sessions presenting resource person from Catholic Youth, Hendra P. Luat Sihombing in the first session and Arnold Hok, activist of Youth of Vihara Budhayana Bengkulu. The lively discussion took place at Adeeva Hotel, Panjang beach, Bengkulu City. The participants were asked to write down their experiences when they were participating program of Stube HEMAT. The following note was written by Marta Sihotang, one participant of Multiplication of Stube HEMAT in Bengkulu, after joining the series of discussion.

Diversity is a sensitive issue for national harmony. Tolerance is needed to maintain the fortress of harmony. It requires means of educating and fostering personality of Indonesian that must be instilled consistently. Being a person who is tolerant among young generation become the guarantee for the unity of the nation. I appreciate the activity held by Multiplication Program of Stube HEMAT in Bengkulu because it is a means of education for young people and community. This activity was interesting especially with its theme ‘Multicultural and Interfaith Dialogue’. In Indonesia, conflicts on religion still occur frequently, so this discussion provided participants opportunity to get to know more about the context or ritual of other religions.

This discussion was started with the Catholic Youth, Hendra Luat Sihombing and Rikkot Malau. The dialogue itself really enriched the participants’ experience, especially those who were not Catholics. The number of  Catholics habitants in Bengkulu Province is around 6.000 people and the Catholic Church considers the people in Bengkulu are tolerant. It is not only the community but also the local government who concerns to the church and the congregations.

In the second session, it was conveyed that Buddhists also felt the concern and tolerance from the community as well as from the government in Bengkulu. The visit to Vihara became an interesting moment because it was new and first experience for the participants. When they were invited to enter the prayer room (Vihara Buddahaya), the first impression was its well-arranged room. A young Buddhayana activist, Arnold Hok informed many things about Buddhism and its development in Bengkulu. For me, one of the interesting teachings of Buddhism is 'Sabbe Satta Bhavantu Sukhitata' which means ‘may all beings be happy', a wish of goodness for all creations.

This activity needs to be carried out periodically to add insight and to foster tolerance among young people in Bengkulu.  It is really effort to maintain tolerance that cannot be ignored. Thank you Stube HEMAT. ***