Agricultural Livelihood as Sañgha: Re-envisioning Ecological Wisdom as Cultural Identity of Sedulur Sikep Indigenous Community in Blora and Pati Regencies, Central Java, Indonesia

Name of Author : Henrikus Joko Yulianto

Abstract: Any livelihood of an indigenous community reflects an inherited cultural practice from its ancestor. Central Java as one region with the densest population in Indonesia mostly has fertile land for rice farming and agriculture. Sedulur Sikep community in Blora and Pati Regencies in Central Java, Indonesia is one existing traditional community that relies on rice agriculture as their major livelihood. Ricefields and the natural environment serve as major members of the community. The organic symbiosis with the ricefield signifies a Buddhist virtue called sangha. Their eco-friendly ways in tilling the field and their ancestral principles in doing agricultural activities culturally typify them as a resilient agrarian community. The community’s agricultural consistence is the epitome of their sustainable local wisdom and ancestral ecological principles in fostering their green cultural identity amid surging global consumerism.

Keywords : Sedulur Sikep community, agriculture, sangha, local wisdom, green cultural identity, consumerism

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