A Few Words For The Silent Pilgrimage

This book speaks about life. Not so unique, perhaps. Life, and how we live it, however that may be, must be understood as a journey. On that journey, we make names, stories, and create meaning. Names have stories and stories contain names. And, at every stop, we receive and take meaning from the journey, in part or in whole, to fill that space we call ‘understanding’. The scope and depth of our understanding depends upon each person’s individual capacity to understand.

The unique thing about the choices made by Cak Nun and Kiai Kanjeng in embarking upon their long journey is the exploration they make of the far corners of the world (fantasyiru fil-ardl) in the interests of silaturahmi[1] and communication. Away from the noise, hustle and bustle of the media’s glare. Quiet, yet with a message that is real and clear. From this journey we learn that to escape from the crises that affect this nation we must be prepared to stand up and work for it. Work is also a form of our love for Allah The Almighty. May Can Nun and Kiai Kanjeng continue their journey and in so doing, give their best for the nation.....

[1] An Islamic term for goodwill and gathering among Muslims

By Burhanuddin Abdullah, Governor of Bank Indonesia, 2006

Translated by Ian L. Betts