Legend of Komainu (狛犬) lion-dogs, 石獅 shíshī, stone lions. Guardian The Shrines.

Just want to share my picture story :

Why did I draw this? Because it is connected to an experience I had in 2023 (I do not remember the exact date, only the year) when I was still in studied overseas. In the middle of the night, around 1–2 a.m., I heard the three of them barking while playing on the staircase (the 40-step stairway) near the large bell. At that time, I could not sleep. Somehow, everyone else was sleeping so deeply that not a single person woke up, even though their barking was very loud and disturbed my sleep.

Then I spoke to them saying, “Pssst… you are being too noisy while playing. Everyone will wake up because of the noise.” They looked at me in surprise and immediately became quiet, as if they understood what I meant. Slowly, they walked past me while I was standing on the flat part of the stairs, then headed eastward way, passing by the English classroom, The Administration temple class, and then toward the round table, snack-time dining area. They went down the stairs there and suddenly disappeared completely without making another sound.

After that, I went to the restroom and then returned to my room to sleep. Strangely, the next morning, when I asked all of my friends about it, not a single person had heard the barking. They all said they had slept very deeply that night. I do not know whether any teachers heard them barking at that time.

Their bodies were extremely large, almost like huge wolves (I had never seen dogs like that in my entire life), but their faces were incredibly cute and adorable, not frightening at all. Their faces looked like cute little foxes. Their fur was pure white like snow, very thick and soft, almost like pampered pets that had just come from a grooming salon.

I swear, I do not know how to explain the reality of what I saw with my own eyes. It was truly strange and felt completely real. There is not a single lie in what I am telling. Sometimes I can only wonder why I was able to see and hear them. What did it mean? Even if I told others, no one would believe me. Some people might even think I was crazy or hallucinating at night. But I clearly saw them while fully conscious, and I am not lying.

That is why I tried to search for images that resemble their appearance as closely as possible. They are beings that always protect and guard The Shrines in many temples as well.

Maybe my drawing does not look exactly like what I truly saw, but their existence was real. Honestly, it is very difficult to capture how adorable and charming their faces really were. They were truly unbelievably cute.

20260520 Written by : Me/PVA/Kepik Romantis 

‎Ingatan Terlupakan di IGD (Instalasi Gawat Darurat / Emergency Room) -‎ Forgotten Memories in the Emergency Room (ER) -

We all know that first aid is extremely important. When someone is sick, injured, or involved in an accident, they are taken to the Emergency Room (ER). After a patient gets through a difficult and critical phase, they are then treated by specialized doctors according to their needs, and finally cared for by nurses in each department.

‎What often goes unnoticed and is easily forgotten is this: when patients recover or continue with outpatient care, they usually remember to express gratitude and appreciation to the specialist doctors and hospital nurses. However, they often forget or may never even realize who took care of them during their most critical moments in the Emergency Room.

‎This is why the work of doctors and nurses in the ER is truly extraordinary. Their efforts are rarely remembered by patients, because by the time patients regain awareness, they have already gone through many stages of treatment. In many cases, even the patients’ families are unaware of who provided that initial, life-saving care.

‎They are the unsung heroes, whose contributions are often forgotten by both patients and their families. Yet without the immediate treatment given in the Emergency Room, patients might not survive their critical condition, or even make it through at all.

‎This is why we often forget the people who played a crucial role in our lives when we were unconscious. Meanwhile, we and our families are busy preparing gifts or souvenirs as a token of appreciation for other doctors and nurses. But have we ever truly appreciated and thanked the doctors and nurses in the Emergency Room?

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‎Indonesian version:

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‎Kita tahu pertolongan pertama sangat penting. Saat seseorang sakit, terluka dan kecelakaan, pastilah pertolongan pertama ke unit gawat darurat atau IGD. Setelah seseorang  telah melewati masa sulit dan kritis, barulah selanjutnya ditangani oleh dokter bidang spesialis masing-masing, dan terakhir diserahkan para perawat masing-masing bagian. 

Yang tidak disadari dan selalu dilupakan adalah ketika pasien sembuh dan ataupun masih dalam tahap rawat jalan, mereka selalu ingat berterimakasih dan mengapresiasi kebaikan para dokter spesialis dan perawat di rumah sakit, akan tetapi mereka sudah melupakan dan bahkan tidak sadar atau tidak mengetahui, siapakah yang menangani mereka saat sedang kritis di ruang gawat darurat? Inilah mengapa jasa para dokter dan perawat di Instalasi Gawat Darurat begitu luar biasa, karena mereka tidak pernah diingat akan jasanya oleh para pasien, oleh karena pasien sadar setelah melewati banyak tahapan perawatan, dan kerap kali keluarga pasien pun juga tidak mengetahuinya. 

Merekalah pahlawan yang sering dilupakan jasanya oleh para pasien dan keluarga. Padahal tanpa penanganan pertolongan pertama dari Instalasi Gawat Darurat, pasien belum tentu dapat berhasil melewati masa kritisnya apalagi bertahan hidup. 

‎Inilah mengapa kita sering lupa jasa-jasa orang-orang yang berperan penting dalam hidup saat kita tidak sadarkan diri. Sementara kita dan keluarga sibuk menyiapkan bingkisan kado bahkan souvenir sebagai ucapan terima kasih kepada dokter dan perawat lainnya. Sudahkah kita mengapresiasi dan berterimakasih kepada para dokter dan perawat di bagian Instalasi Gawat Darurat?

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‎20260430Written by : Kepik Romantis/PVA

Pic Source : Free Picture Emergency Room

Whispers of The Night's Sky

Suara Langit Malam

Gelapnya malam ini,

‎Merindukan sinar bulan.

‎Ditemani rasi bintang selatan,

‎Menatap langit tatapan sepi.

‎Menghirup duka kosong nestapa,

‎Dalam sujud dalam doa.

‎Berjalan meraih harapan,

‎Ingatan menjadi kenangan.

‎Mengharap menemukan jalan,

‎Akankah dapat bertahan,

‎Ataukah harus melepaskan..

‎Angan impian cita-cita bahagia,

‎Seperti bintang di langit surgawi.

‎Ingin datang dan ingin pergi,

‎Tapi berharap tak sendiri.

‎Suara hati tak pernah mendustai,

‎Ada hati dan batin selalu terkoneksi,

‎Percaya suatu ketika berjumpa kembali.

‎Bila ribuan tahun bisa berjumpa lagi,

‎Pastilah akan bertemu kembali,

‎Di tepian pantai gerbang kebahagiaan.

This dark night wraps the world in shade,

‎I miss the moon's soft silver cascade.

‎With Southern Crux star, my faithful aide,

‎I gaze at skies in quiet glade.

‎I breathe the ache of empty sorrow,

‎In prayer bowed low till bright tomorrow.

‎I walk toward hope through fear to borrow,

‎As memories fade in gentle flow.

‎I seek the path through endless night,

‎Dreams of joy like stars burning bright.

‎Can I hold on with all my might,

‎Or let them go into the light?

‎Though oceans part us, lands divide,

‎Two hearts entwine where spirits bide.

‎No words are spoke, yet minds abide,

‎In silent bond, our strengths unite.

‎I trust we'll meet again someday,

‎Though thousands years 

may pass our way.

‎We'll reunite in joy's sweet bay,

‎At happiness's shore to stay.

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20260318

Written by : PVA / Kepik Romantis 

Picture Source: https://stock.adobe.com

Self Ignorance

Sometimes ignorance is not about refusing to learn, but about being easily influenced by outside situations. Life is already full of suffering, yet we are still drawn into the negative “three poisons” (hatred, greed, and inner ignorance) around us. Even so, we all want to be happy.

How can we be happy if we remain in darkness? How can we become light while living in darkness? Awareness often comes only after deep sadness. Our inner light fades because of ignorance. When we cannot control emotions that burn like fire, we end up burning ourselves. we hurt ourselves. Remember The Zen Master teacher’s advice: do not let emotions control you, because suffering comes from the “three poisons.”

20260227Written by : Kepik Romantis/PVA

Letter to My Great Grandfather

Thaykong, I call to you every day in my heart. For some reason, I can only prostrate myself before you each day, even though I realize and firmly believe that you have been reborn and that I know where you are now. Yet I cannot explain this to you, for it is so difficult for me to tell you or prove it. I simply trust that one day, you will know the truth.

‎It is hard for me to speak words to you; I can only weep whenever I think of you. For some inexplicable reason, my inner self feels such profound sorrow and pain, only tears stream down my cheeks. Every time I prostrate myself in prayer, I can only say: If only you knew how much sadness and suffering fill my life. If only you could hear the deepest grief in my heart. How the tears of anguish flow in our family now, with siblings who are no longer harmonious, shattered and in ruins. Our family's economy lies in ruins, destroyed by a selfish and greedy leader who has wrecked every structure of our family life. My sacrifices have been squandered by the deceit and lies of a man who is so hard to call "father," for his attitudes, words, behavior, and character have never deserved that title. If you were in my place now, how should I live my life? If I could beg the Almighty, perhaps only my death would bring relief from this endless pain. But I cannot even say that, for you taught me to live with awareness, always remembering you to remain steadfast and patient amid life's sufferings.

‎Thaykong, I can only pray that you hear this prayer from the depths of my heart. I hope you remain forever in my thoughts and heart. In our past life, you suffered for so long, waiting for me after I departed first at the young age of 24 or 25, having to fight and die as a soldier born in another place. Though I knew you as someone else, I believe your deepest soul and inner essence remain the same, the one I have awaited and longed for since my rebirth, even from the age of two, when I already knew you had waited and suffered for me for so long. Thank you for your sincerity, boundless love, and affection. May we meet again someday, whenever that may be, and I hope you are always happy and one day remember everything about me.

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‎Written by: Kepik Romantis / PVA  

‎January 09, 2026

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Wise Dialogue between Monkey and Lion Dec 20' 2025

While Lion sitting relax in the cave because is rainy season, a monkey come by to have a meeting chit chat talk : 

Monkey : Hey Lion, how was your day?

Lion : Well well a Wise Monkey come to visit a Lion, i think you have a very much good question to asking me right now, is in it?

Monkey : Ha ha, thats why everybody tells that you are the Wise Lion in this jungle. 

Lion : Then tell me, what's bothering you sudden?

Monkey : Nah, i just wonder to asking you. Do you believe there is a demon? 

Lion : That was a good question. If you are asking me, than well i say yes, because every creatures have two minds, good mind and bad mind, which is can be a demon in our mind. 

Monkey : So, it's mean that will be no neutral mind? 

Lion : Umm, about neutral mind, it's also good mind because that's mind also did not want to think badly so it's still good mind, right? 

Monkey : Yeah, but how can be someone always doing good can be born to be a demon to tempted all beings? 

Lion : This is very hard question to answered. Because noone wanted to be born as a demon. But in case to help all beings can succeed to reach their new level up for own spiritual level, sometimes their have to be tested or being tempted by demon. So what do you think monkey king is a bad demon? Or good demon?

Monkey : Ha ha ha, such a great answer. But some beings always blame the demons are bad that tempted beings to be greed, hatred and ignorance. 

Lion : Ha ha, don't think about it, it's because they don't realize their own mind created that bad and even evil mind. I think you know what i mean that, you see that nowadays the real demons no need to work hard especially tempted beings, because they already being tempted by their own bad and evil mind with each other beings, they already being fell down in their greed, hatred and ignorance. Nowadays the demons just work for tempted the high level beings that they already reach a good higher spiritual level only, some of the high spiritual classes, they always fell down because being tempted by their own Ego to know more for understanding the truth that starting to fight or debated to seek the acknowledgement winner. This why the demons likes to follow them fighting each other opinon until become complicated and confuse. I know You know well about this situations.

Monkey : Ha ha ha, i cannot agree more. 

Lion : I know you so well, do you want to tempted me also as a Lion king? 

Monkey : Ha ha ha. I suppossed i have to skip that only for you. 

Lion : Ha ha ha, don't be so naive, I know what you are thinking now. Everyday, all beings have their own chance to choose their own path, whether to choose to be a good or the opposite way to be a bad. It's their own decision to make their own future ways to go through next spiritual level. 

Monkey : Yeah, sometimes they fell down to the Hell, it's because they created their own bad future. They choose what they have to responsible for their own choices. It's why demon always being blamed by them. 

Lion : Naaah, don't think to much about it, they also blame me as a beast, that would make them suffered and being harmed. There will always be those who disbelieve, blame, and even hate. Because they never realize their own mistakes.

Monkey : Uuumm, yeaah, you right. It's why everyone called you a famous great lion king. Because you know the truth is never being mistake.

Lion : Ha ha ha. You're too good at overpraising me. Naaah, actually i am just a small creatures, even the humans can kills me easily. And can eat and using all my body and bones for their souvernirs. I'm just a hopeless creatures now, all my brothers are being cages to make a good funny atraction to entertain humans satisfaction. And You are luckier than me because many humans like you very much and worship you as a god, a Monkey King, even made you a very great statues and offerings for your glory and greatness. 

Monkey : Naaah, it's just long story buddy. 

They love to get caught up in fictional stories with gossip and legends from ancient societies. You are the truth hero in the jungle. Everyone knows that. Don't underestimate yourself. I still have to respect you as The King of the jungle.

Lion : Naah, okey okey, alright, alright enough then, you just make me bluss again. 

Monkey : Ha ha ha, what a nice day to have a great talked and chit chat with you. Hope you have a nice weekend. See you next time buddy.

Lion : Okey okey, get off now, and take away all your banana from my cave, because i did not eat that. Before i get starve then tried to eat you. Ha ha ha. Just kidding buddy. Enjoy your weekend too.

Picture source : Lion and Monkey with editing application

Written by : Kepik Romantis/PVA

The Dreamer

Maybe i was a dreamer, seeking for the story in my dream, so silly...

But sometimes we love to dream about beautiful things, being in love, miss for loving someone. Something that we want to be, or want to be with the one that we love. 

It is naturaly being human, missing someone, lossing and being hurt. 

Scared something that it is not been same like we want to be in real life.

And sometimes the bad dream come true that we cannot resist to run away.

After that we still want to be dreaming again and again. 

Something different, but i just believe it.

Don't know why but i believe in my small thiny little inside everyone heart have the same voice to be happy, just like a happy dream. It is why everyone always love to dream big successful and happiness.

Sometimes some of people said that it is just delusion or illusion in our mind, that we just fall into the temptation of lust and desire. But people love to dream, because when human have a dream good things, the mind full of positive energy, then believe every good things is possible to attain a good goals in life. So why we have to stop dreaming? If the dream is give us positive energy for mind and our soul, even healing the hurt painful beeing sickness. Just anyone maybe ever heard that this life is also just a dream, the truth about life is when you wake up when we are already died. Died is the truth, and life is just a dream. So we are all still dreaming right, then so why we have to stop dreaming? If all this life is also just a dream either. 

010922 written by : Kepik Romantis / PVA