The Faculty of Philosophy at Universitas Gadjah Mada is committed to fostering holistic and conscious education. In collaboration with Nahdlatul Ulama Al Ghazali University (UNUGHA) in Cilacap, they organized a workshop to develop a training and mentoring module titled “Building a Free Spirit (Jiwa Merdeka) Based on Philosophy and Sufism.”
This activity was initiated by three lecturers from the Faculty of Philosophy: Imam Wahyudi, Dr. Heri Santoso, and Dr. Abdul Malik Usman.
It serves as a form of community service and also a concrete follow-up to the memorandum of understanding between UGM and UNUGHA.
This workshop is an initial step to designing training and coaching approaches aimed at educators.
The goal is to strengthen their inner resilience and spirituality in the face of today’s educational challenges.
“Education can’t liberate humans if the educators themselves have not experienced spiritual freedom,” said Wahyudi on Thursday (Jun. 12).
He added, “Therefore, efforts to build the inner fortitude and clarity of heart of teachers and lecturers become important in addressing various psychological crisis issues increasingly felt in the current era.”
Dr. Santoso also emphasized the importance of differentiating between training, counseling, mentoring, and coaching approaches.
“Training and coaching approaches based on local wisdom and Nusantara Islamic teachings are ways to help people break free from inner shackles and life’s pressures,” Dr. Santoso said.
Dr. Santoso cited figures such as Gadjah Mada, Ki Hadjar Dewantara, Soekarno, and Buya Hamka as examples of individuals who achieved spiritual freedom, despite being physically imprisoned.
Dr. Santoso also posed a thought-provoking reflective question: Why do educators today, who are not imprisoned, often feel unfree and incomplete within themselves?
In a presentation met with enthusiasm from participants, Dr. Santoso introduced the concept of Jurus Tiga Langkah (Three-Step Maneuver) as a method for building a free spirit.
These steps are: asking the Qur’an, asking the Asmaul Husna (99 Names of Allah), and asking one’s conscience.
This method has been applied in a limited capacity in various forums, showing positive impacts in helping individuals find inner peace and direction.
Meanwhile, Dr. Usman presented ideas about Sufism as a path to spiritual liberation.
He emphasized that true Sufism is a conscious effort to free oneself from the impulses of ego, desires, and the illusions of worldly power.
Referring to the thoughts of figures such as Al-Ghazali, Iqbal, and Ali Shari’ati, Dr. Usman explained that inner freedom is the foundation for a whole and free human being.
Chair of UNUGHA Foundation, Kyai Haji Lubbul Umam, and Head of LPPM UNUGHA, Fahrur Rozi, expressed appreciation for the strategic cooperation with the UGM Faculty of Philosophy.
According to Rozi, this activity can produce training modules that not only touch cognitive aspects but also build the inner depth and spiritual maturity of educators.
Also present at this forum were Kiai Sudirwan and several Sufism experts from UNUGHA, who further enriched the discussion.
Through the meeting of philosophy and Sufism in the context of community service, the UGM Faculty of Philosophy once again affirmed its contribution to building a complete human being.
This is achieved not only through theory but through a practical approach rooted in local values and Nusantara spirituality.
Author: UGM Faculty of Philosophy/Gloria
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Illustration: Freepik.com