More than 50 young people gathered in Surabaya, Indonesia recently, for a Buddhist-led mindfulness workshop that used vocal training and breath-awareness as tools for spiritual practice.
The event, part of the Young Buddhist Association of Indonesia’s (YBAI) “Grand Mindful Connect” series, reflects growing efforts across Buddhist communities to present traditional practices that can be meaningfully expressed in contemporary life, particularly amid rising concerns about stress, distraction, and mental well-being among young people.
The YBAI hosted its fifth “Grand Mindful Connect” gathering on 28 March, drawing participants from diverse religious and social backgrounds. The event, themed “Art as a Path to Stillness,” explored how voice and sound could serve as accessible entry points to mindfulness practices.
The YBAI is the leading Buddhist youth organization in Indonesia. Through a deeply held conviction in the Buddha’s message of compassion, growth, and liberation, the association promotes a positive lifestyle among the young in order to cultivate a society founded on wisdom, compassion, and gratitude. The association is involved in establishing Buddhist organizations nationwide, propagating the study of the Dharma among young people, and providing leadership training.
The youth session was led by an Indonesian content creator and performer known as Elmand, who introduced participants to diaphragm breathing and humming exercises commonly used in vocal training. These techniques were presented as practical methods for cultivating deeper, mindful awareness in daily life.
The use of vocalization as a mindfulness tool also reflects long-standing Buddhist traditions of chanting, where sound, rhythm, and meaning are used to cultivate concentration and mindful presence.
The YBIA said the initiative reflected a broader effort to make Buddhist practices more accessible to younger generations, who face growing mental health pressures.
“Our goal is to offer a new point of view in introducing meditation methods in a unique way, while preserving the essence of the Buddha’s teachings without altering or modernizing them,” said Chesilia Pangestu, chairperson of the event.
She emphasized that the YBAI remained committed to ongoing research to identify the most effective approaches: “This is the challenge YBAI is addressing. We continue to find ways so that spirituality can be practiced within daily life, allowing young people to stay engaged in self-development within a mindful way of living aligned with the Buddha’s teachings.”
YBAI representatives emphasized that such programs were part of ongoing efforts to explore how traditional Buddhist principles could be applied in modern contexts without altering their core meaning.
During the workshop, participants were guided to observe the relationship between breath, sound, and mental states. Elmand noted that such practices could deepen concentration and promote calm. He encouraged participants to pay attention not only to vocal technique but also to intention and understanding.
“When we recite prayers or sing with full awareness and truly understand their meaning, the quality of the voice transforms completely, becoming more refined and calming,” Elmand explained.
Several attendees reported that the approach had challenged their assumptions about meditation as a purely seated practice. For some, the integration of voice and breath offered a more immediate and engaging way to experience mindfulness.
“At first, I thought meditation was just sitting still,” a youth participant shared. “But through Kak Elmand, I realized that everyday activities can become a way to release stress. The diaphragm breathing technique truly made my mind calmer and fully present.”
The event’s interfaith nature highlighted the wider appeal of contemplative practices beyond Buddhist communities, the organizers noted.
The YBAI expressed hope that such initiatives would support young people in developing sustainable mindfulness habits and contribute to broader discussions on mental well-being within Buddhist practice.
Buddhism, practiced by 0.7 per cent of the population—roughly two million people—is the second-oldest spiritual tradition in Indonesia after Hinduism. According to historical accounts, Buddhism first flourished on the archipelago around the sixth century, which was followed by ascent and decline of a number of powerful Buddhist empires, including the Shailendra dynasty (c. 8th–9th centuries), the Srivijaya empire (c. 7th–12th centuries), and the Mataram empire (c. 8th–11th centuries). Today, the majority of Indonesian Buddhists are affiliated with Mahayana schools of Buddhism, although communities of Theravada and Vajrayana practitioners also exist.
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