HASTA BRATA: JAVANESE PHILOSOPHICAL VALUES FOR LEADERS

Javanese culture actually contains many valuable life philosophies. One of them is Hasta Brata (Eight Acts of Self Control) lesson. It is actually a leadership theory containing matters symbolized with objects or conditions of the nature. The eight acts are symbolized with Surya (the sun), Candra (the moon), Kartika (the star), Angkasa (the sky), Maruta (the wind), Samudra (the ocean), Dahana (the fire), and Bhumi (the earth).

1. Surya (the sun); shining warmly, brightly, unconditionally and faithfully, the source energy and power of life. It symbolizes that a leader should have capability and quality to encourage, empower and motivate; ignite spirit, dignity, upholds and upright just, provides enlightenment and energizes the warmth, equality and faithfulness.

2. Candra (the moon), shining calmly and cool in the darkness, symbolizing that a leader should be able to bring and peace and harmony, cools down situations and conditions, soothes the tensions and temper, facilitate the solutions and reconciliations for any conflicts and hostilities, enlightens those who are in darkness, blindness, assists those who are in burdens and difficulties. .

3. Kartika (the star), twinkling and glittering up above the sky, symbolizing that a leader should be able to inspire the high standards, ideals, achievements, acts as guidance, advisers, and gives directions like compass which guides and leads to the right goals, targets, purposes and destinations, gives spirits and hopes for successes, triumphs, victory and glory.

4. Tirta (the water), always flows to the lower areas, wets the dry lands, the farms, rice fields, stimulates the trees, plants, bushes, grasses to grow and fruit. Fill the ditches, lakes, wells, rivers and let the fishes live and survive; provides freshness for the thirsty, rejoices for the stressed,  pleases for the disappointed, vents for the hanged and stuck, radiates and cools for the overheated.

5. Maruta (the wind), exists and presents everywhere, fills in the empty spaces regardless of the status and sizes of the places; brings the oxygen to breath; recharges the batteries of lives and recovers the exhausted; light and flexible; ready to listen and accommodate aspirations; relieves the pains and spreads the importance and meanings of closeness, co-existences, and co-operations of all roles and status in building the healthier, wealthier and happier lives.

6. Samudra (the ocean/water), being large, being flat in its surface, being fresh in nature. A leader shall love his people and able to give protection to them, treat them equally regardless of the status, backgrounds nor other subjective personal emotional reasons; playing role as the melting pot and the carriers and containers of people’s aspirations, wealth, health, welfare, joy, happiness place to get peace.

7. Dahana (the fire), being able to burn everything it touches. A leader shall have a power/authority and be brave enough to put truth in the first place.

8. Bhumi (the earth), being strong and generous, giving advantages/benefits to everyone who takes care of it. A leader shall be generous in serving his people so that they will not be disappointed.