Tapa in Ronggowarsito's Serat Pamoring Kawula Gusti (1802-1873): The Convergence of Javanese Mysticism and Islamic Spirituality
Amat Zuhri, Yusuph Dauda Gambari
Teosofia: Indonesian Journal of Islamic Mysticism December 12, 2025 DOI: 10.21580/tos.v14i2.30175 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Mysticism |
| Key points | Argues that in Serat Pamoring Kawula Gusti, tapa is presented as a systematic discipline of self-purification and moral refinement oriented toward sastra cetha and manunggaling kawula Gusti, and that this process parallels Sufi concepts of takhallī, taḥallī, and tajallī, culminating in union with God as described by ittiḥād and ḥulūl. |
Abstract
Tapa, a form of Javanese asceticism, constitutes a longstanding tradition and a central element of spiritual life in Javanese society. This practice is frequently documented in Javanese literary works and is regarded as a significant cultural legacy. The present study analyses the concept of tapa in Raden Ngabehi Ronggowarsito's Serat Pamoring Kawula Gusti, focusing on its relationship to Sufi teachings and its role as a process of spiritual discipline and moral transformation. The data were collected through documentation techniques and analysed using a descriptive-interpretive approach through content analysis. The results revealed that tapa is depicted as a systematic approach to self-discipline and moral refinement, with the objectives of attaining sastra cetha (manifest knowledge) and achieving manunggaling kawula Gusti (union of the servant with God). The text demonstrates parallels with Sufi teachings, including purification of the self (takhallī), cultivation of virtuous character (taḥallī), and the unveiling of veils for divine inspiration (tajallī), ultimately culminating in spiritual union with God, as represented by the concepts of ittiḥād and ḥulūl. Contribution: This study highlights the convergence of Javanese spiritual practices and Sufi teachings through Serat Pamoring Kawula Gusti, revealing how tapa cultivates self-discipline, moral refinement, and spiritual awareness, corresponding to Sufi concepts such as takhallī, taḥallī, and tajallī.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on mysticism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The mystical mind: probing the biology of religious experience | 2000 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Religious and Mystical Experiences as Artifacts of Temporal Lobe Function: A General Hypothesis | 1983 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Problem of Pure Consciousness: Mysticism and Philosophy | 1993 | Edited collection of essays | |
| Irreducible Mind: Toward a Psychology for the 21st Century | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mysticism and schizophrenia: A phenomenological exploration of the structure of consciousness in the schizophrenia spectrum disorders. | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |