Ghost stories and encounters with spirits are common in nearly every part of the world. In Java, Indonesia, almost every other person has had a paranormal experience and it inspired Li Kim to find out more about these folk beliefs. Why is there a belief that when a pregnant woman dies, her spirit becomes an angry ghost because she can’t fulfill her wishes to be a mother and they transform to be a Pontianak/Kuntilanak? Why are negative attributes given to female spirits when the female energy is known to be loving and nurturing? In this episode, Li Kim speaks to two Dukun (shamans) who claim to perform rituals to invoke female spirits to prove their existence. Are these spiritual meetings real? Can the invisible make their presence felt and seen?
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TVTranscript
00:00 (eerie music)
00:02 It seems that ghostly tales and encounters are common
00:09 and filled with projections of human behavior
00:12 because many of them believe
00:14 that the spirits were once human.
00:17 The spirit of an unrested mother looking for her child,
00:20 a ghost child looking for his or her mother.
00:23 (child laughing)
00:28 So, are these characteristics true of the spirits
00:32 or imputed human behaviors onto unseen beings?
00:36 (eerie music)
00:38 (eerie music)
00:41 (eerie music)
00:43 (eerie music)
00:46 (child laughing)
00:52 (child laughing)
00:57 (eerie music)
01:01 (child screaming)
01:08 (eerie music)
01:10 (eerie music)
01:13 In this episode, follow me as I take you to explore
01:17 the ghostly realms of Java in Yogyakarta, Indonesia
01:21 to understand how the belief in ghosts
01:23 influences the way the Javanese lived their lives.
01:26 What is the significance of ghost stories in a community?
01:30 Is it to create fear or something deeper
01:33 and more meaningful about life, cultures, and communities?
01:36 One evening at about seven o'clock,
01:40 my friends and I saw a kuntilana flew into our house
01:43 through the front door.
01:45 It came near us and then went to the kitchen.
01:48 Finally, it flew upstairs into a room.
01:52 It looked normal, like a woman wearing white.
01:55 Her face was not scary.
01:57 She had long hair and did not harm us.
02:00 But I have been seeing ghosts and spirits since I was young,
02:04 so I'm not scared.
02:06 However, my friends were frightened.
02:09 The ghostly encounters shared by Ibu Anas are common
02:12 for those who claim they have the abilities to see,
02:15 sense, and maybe even communicate with the unseen.
02:19 What about normal people who can't see,
02:21 sense, or feel the presence of ghosts,
02:24 but were told that they exist?
02:26 What is the significance of their belief of ghosts?
02:29 In the course of my research,
02:32 I was introduced to Pak Vishnu,
02:34 who was spooked while driving a group of tourists
02:36 uphill on the western side of Mount Merapi late at night,
02:39 which is said to be haunted.
02:41 Although he had never seen a ghost,
02:43 this experience was enough to convince him of their existence.
02:47 All of a sudden, while driving uphill,
02:52 my assistant screamed, "Stop! Stop!"
02:55 And he pointed outside the window, saying,
02:57 "There was a funeral procession and I was driving directly into them."
03:02 He said they were carrying a dead body,
03:04 while I didn't see anything.
03:06 My passengers were shocked,
03:07 and I had to continue driving because we were at a slope.
03:11 My assistant's face turned pale as he hid under the dashboard.
03:16 I could tell he saw something,
03:18 because he was really frightened.
03:20 After listening to some local stories of Yogyakarta,
03:24 I have met with Maz Agong,
03:26 a researcher who could probably explain a little more
03:29 regarding their belief in ghosts and spirits.
03:32 To the Jawanese, it can be said
03:34 that we have many understandings about ghosts.
03:37 For example, there will always be columns
03:40 featuring ghost stories in the local newspapers and magazines.
03:44 In Jawa, we are already close to the belief of ghosts,
03:47 such as Gendro Wa, Wei Wei, or Toyo, or Perry.
03:52 We are all familiar with them,
03:53 and there are stories on how to live in harmony with them.
03:57 The worlds of man and spirits co-exist together.
04:03 So far, I have come across stories about ghosts and spirits
04:06 that seem to be wrapped up in local myths and folk tales.
04:09 But behind them, we do see legitimate spiritual laws and ethics
04:13 that support the belief in ghosts.
04:16 The investigations on how the belief in ghosts
04:18 can influence and affect the worldview of the Jawanese
04:21 becomes more intriguing as I visit a location
04:23 that is said to be haunted by child spirits.
04:26 Let's find out about this building.
04:31 I started working here in November 2014.
04:34 During the first week of work,
04:36 I felt there was something strange about the last room of this building,
04:40 which I was afraid to enter.
04:42 But when I was forced to go into the room to work,
04:45 I saw two child spirits that came near me.
04:48 When I was doing some typing,
04:50 I felt someone was constantly watching me.
04:59 In the past, a miscarried baby is believed to be not old enough
05:03 to be given a full funeral,
05:06 and the parents would bury them anywhere,
05:08 especially under a tree in their home compound.
05:11 So, when they sell the house or the land,
05:13 the baby spirit is left behind,
05:15 without care, offerings and prayers.
05:18 This child spirit will then disturb the new owners.
05:21 The Jawanese believe that life already started before birth.
05:26 That is why pregnant Jawanese women will perform ceremonies,
05:30 and also, right before delivery,
05:33 rituals will be observed to appreciate the birth of life.
05:36 Therefore, stories about child spirits are common,
05:40 but they are based on personal experiences
05:42 that at times can be hard to prove.
05:44 Folk beliefs, myths and tradition
05:47 are a rich ploughing field for the culture of ghosts and spirits to grow
05:51 and shape the worldviews of the Jawanese.
05:54 I am going to meet with Pak Sabdo, a mystic and healer,
05:57 to ask him about relationships with ghosts
05:59 from the context of the Java community.
06:02 As a spiritualist,
06:06 what are your views on ghosts and spirits?
06:12 From the point of view of a spiritualist,
06:15 there are two types of ghosts.
06:18 Firstly, ghosts that are known as a class of beings,
06:21 like a species of animals.
06:23 In Indonesia, there are creatures like the kuntilanak and the gendrowo.
06:28 And another type of ghosts refer to the unseen beings that were once humans,
06:33 but upon death because of some issues of karma,
06:37 their spirits are still here on earth and have not moved on.
06:41 Metaphysical and spiritual knowledge that relates to ghosts
06:45 is logical and can be explained.
06:48 But most people assume the worst because they have no information.
06:52 That's why I want to share and teach people the truth.
06:56 What is the significance of ghosts and spirits in a community like Java?
07:02 The physical and the invisible realms where ghosts belong are not separated.
07:09 There is an overlap and at times we can see them.
07:12 We do not need to be afraid of ghosts
07:14 because not all ghosts will harm humans,
07:17 but we have to be cautious and wary.
07:19 There are some ghosts that are keen to make friends with humans
07:22 and do not reject our presence, like the gendrowo for example.
07:26 Treat these ghosts well, like how we treat humans.
07:30 When we show love and respect, they will also show us love.
07:34 So long as mankind does not disturb and insult these beings,
07:37 we can live together in harmony.
07:39 This happens when we have ethics
07:41 and are courteous to these beings we call ghosts.
07:45 After talking to Pak Sabdo and understanding more about the belief of ghosts in Java,
07:50 I have also met a lady named Chupu Manik
07:52 and her husband who allows spirits to take possession of her body.
07:56 What will we uncover as we open up this forbidden chest?
08:00 Sometimes it's a young woman.
08:01 Sometimes it's an old person that could be a man or woman.
08:05 [Music]
08:21 [Speaking in Javanese]
08:22 I am usually possessed when I am depressed.
08:25 I will faint and not remember anything after that.
08:29 But my husband remembers what happened to me.
08:32 He said I was possessed by spirits but I have no memory of it.
08:36 However, after that I will feel pain in some parts of my body and a great loss of energy.
08:41 Since there is a consistency in you being possessed,
08:47 is it the same being that enters you?
08:50 I don't know for sure because I can't remember.
08:53 But my husband told me that there are different spirits.
08:56 Sometimes it's a young woman.
08:58 Sometimes it's an old person that could be a man or woman.
09:02 [Speaking in Javanese]
09:04 Whenever the spirit possesses my wife, her behaviour changes.
09:08 For example, if she was angry before being possessed,
09:11 she would be quiet and won't talk and her eyes and face will turn red.
09:15 If I ask her anything, she would answer only with some gestures and short sentences.
09:21 Normally, she would tie her hair up but when the spirit is in her body,
09:26 she will start combing her hair and she spoke in a completely different accent.
09:31 Initially, I was afraid but as time goes by, I got used to it.
09:35 I even started talking to the spirits.
09:38 In my opinion, the young woman's spirit is less frightening than an old man or old woman
09:44 but still is scary.
09:46 It is not my wife. It is somebody else.
09:49 Do you notice any changes in you?
09:52 As in you have certain abilities that you didn't have before 2006.
09:59 So after the earthquake and when the possession began,
10:03 strange things started to happen to me.
10:06 I could see or I could know when somebody would die
10:09 or when my friends would meet with accidents.
10:12 I could tell the future.
10:13 It was positive and yet scary at the same time.
10:17 I don't want to be possessed actually because it disrupts my health
10:21 but I do want to help people with my gifts.
10:24 It is precious but I may not know how.
10:28 In my heart of hearts, I sincerely feel that Chulbul Manik may require some guidance
10:33 from a spiritual master who could help her understand her situations.
10:37 Therefore, I have tried to arrange for a meeting between Chulbul Manik and Pak Sabto
10:41 what will happen in this meeting.
10:45 We must first find and recognize our inner master, that is our inner strength.
10:51 This is important as this gives us stability when we do spiritual work.
10:57 There are many invisible entities like spirits that can come to us
11:01 when we start our spiritual practice.
11:03 And if our inner strength or our own inner master is not strong,
11:08 we can be disturbed and become easily tired.
11:12 Pak Sabto has suggested that for Chulbul Manik to meditate
11:15 and to connect with her inner master
11:17 and he will guide her through a cleansing process
11:19 in removing any negative energy that is in her body.
11:22 What will happen after this?
11:26 (Chulbul Manik crying)
11:30 (Chulbul Manik crying)
11:32 (Chulbul Manik crying)
11:34 (Chulbul Manik crying)
11:36 (Chulbul Manik crying)
11:52 (Chulbul Manik crying)
11:54 (Chulbul Manik crying)
12:20 (Chulbul Manik crying)
12:22 (Chulbul Manik crying)
12:26 (Chulbul Manik crying)
12:28 (Chulbul Manik crying)
12:30 (Chulbul Manik crying)
12:32 (Chulbul Manik crying)
12:34 (Chulbul Manik crying)
12:36 (Chulbul Manik crying)
12:38 (Chulbul Manik crying)
12:40 (Chulbul Manik crying)
12:42 (Chulbul Manik crying)
12:44 (Chulbul Manik crying)
12:46 (Chulbul Manik crying)
12:48 (Chulbul Manik crying)
12:50 (Chulbul Manik crying)
12:54 (Chulbul Manik crying)
12:56 (Chulbul Manik crying)
12:58 (Chulbul Manik crying)
13:00 (Chulbul Manik crying)
13:02 (Chulbul Manik crying)
13:04 I can feel it.
13:08 My head can see it.
13:10 (Chulbul Manik crying)
13:12 (Chulbul Manik crying)
13:16 (Chulbul Manik crying)
13:18 (Chulbul Manik crying)
13:20 (Chulbul Manik crying)
13:22 (Chulbul Manik crying)
13:24 (Chulbul Manik crying)
13:26 If she was angry before being possessed,
13:28 she will be quiet and won't talk
13:30 and her eyes and face will turn red.
13:32 (Chulbul Manik crying)
13:34 (Chulbul Manik crying)
13:36 (Chulbul Manik crying)
13:38 (Chulbul Manik crying)
13:40 (Chulbul Manik crying)
13:42 (Chulbul Manik crying)
13:44 (Chulbul Manik crying)
13:46 (Chulbul Manik crying)
13:48 (Chulbul Manik crying)
13:50 (Chulbul Manik crying)
13:52 (Chulbul Manik crying)
13:54 (Chulbul Manik crying)
13:56 (Chulbul Manik crying)
13:58 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:00 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:02 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:04 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:06 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:08 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:10 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:12 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:14 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:16 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:18 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:20 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:22 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:24 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:26 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:28 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:30 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:32 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:34 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:36 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:38 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:40 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:42 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:44 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:46 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:48 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:50 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:52 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:54 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:56 (Chulbul Manik crying)
14:58 (Chulbul Manik crying)
15:00 (Chulbul Manik crying)
15:02 (Chulbul Manik crying)
15:04 (Chulbul Manik crying)
15:06 (Chulbul Manik crying)
15:08 (Chulbul Manik crying)
15:10 (Chulbul Manik crying)
15:12 (Chulbul Manik crying)
15:14 (Chulbul Manik crying)
15:16 (Chulbul Manik crying)
15:18 (Chulbul Manik crying)
15:20 (Chulbul Manik crying)
15:22 (Chulbul Manik crying)
15:24 (Chulbul Manik crying)
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15:28 (Chulbul Manik crying)
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15:40 (Chulbul Manik crying)
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15:56 (Chulbul Manik crying)
15:58 Scene Reown.
16:00 We are at Gunung Kelir, Bantong,
16:04 known as Istana Mati,
16:06 or the Palace of Death.
16:08 These tombs were built in 1668,
16:10 during the reign of King Amengkurat I,
16:12 as the burial spot
16:14 of the beautiful Queen, Ratu Mas Malang.
16:16 Her lay husband, a powerful healer
16:18 and wayang kulit expert,
16:20 Kidalang Panjangmas,
16:22 and a group of wayang kulit musicians.
16:24 The king murdered Kidalang
16:26 and buried his wife, Mas Malang.
16:28 Not long after, Mas Malang was also killed
16:30 by the other jealous wives of the king.
16:32 As you can see, it's raining,
16:34 um,
16:36 and it's dark,
16:38 and it's kind of chilly too.
16:40 Um, I'm over here.
16:42 I've arrived at Antakapura,
16:44 which means the Palace of Death.
16:46 This is where the souls
16:50 of two torn apart
16:52 unite again.
16:54 Are they still here?
16:56 As it is standard practice of the paranormal zone
17:04 to ask for permission whenever we
17:06 investigate a location that is deemed
17:08 to be haunted, I was doing the same
17:10 at the tomb of Ratu Mas Malang.
17:12 [chanting]
17:16 [chanting]
17:18 [chanting]
17:20 [chanting]
17:22 When we reviewed
17:24 the footage, it seemed to have recorded
17:26 an EVP or a ghost voice that said
17:28 "Ya, ya," as confirmed
17:30 by our expert researchers.
17:32 Was it really a spirit who spoke to us?
17:36 Perhaps it was giving us permission
17:38 to film at the location that night.
17:40 The tone and quality of the voice was quite
17:42 strange, as it sounded light and transient,
17:44 unlike that of a human or animal.
17:46 What do you think?
17:48 Hmm, I saw
17:50 I can feel
17:52 my head can see
17:54 not my eyes.
17:56 You understand what I mean?
17:58 My head can see, not my eyes.
18:00 So,
18:02 I hope that
18:04 we can go back
18:06 and check.
18:08 It's a cold
18:10 Do you get a cold breeze?
18:12 From there?
18:14 Yes, from the other side.
18:16 Blowing this way?
18:18 Yes, it's blowing this way.
18:20 This is a sacred box
18:26 that Ki Dalang used to keep
18:28 his Wayang Kulit. In the olden days,
18:30 Wayang Kulit was made of human skin.
18:32 There are spirits involved
18:34 because the characters portrayed are deities,
18:36 devas, and powerful ancient people
18:38 that have long passed away.
18:40 Pak Sabdo finally brought us to the
18:42 cemetery of Ki Dalang and his musicians,
18:44 which is a place that many people come to
18:46 pay respect and ask for blessings as they
18:48 feel that the spirit of the Great Dalang is still around.
18:50 Offerings, chanting, and
18:52 prayers were made to the spirits and unseen
18:54 residents of the area by Pak Sabdo
18:56 and his disciples.
18:58 [Chanting]
19:06 [Chanting]
19:28 But something unexpected
19:30 happened when Pak Sabdo got up and
19:32 walked towards a tomb to present some
19:34 sacred items like flowers.
19:36 A group of spirit orbs swept down from the
19:38 top right corner of the tree as if to receive
19:40 the items and slowly disperse.
19:42 They behave like intelligent beings
19:44 and not just a gust of dust particles or
19:46 raindroplets blown by the wind at random.
19:48 My question remains,
19:50 what or who were these spirit orbs?
19:52 Were they once humans or were they nature spirits
19:54 that inhabit that area?
19:56 As a paranormal investigator,
19:58 I would say that we had a productive
20:00 expedition to Gunung Kelir together
20:02 with Pak Sabdo as I have
20:04 personally experienced the Javanese world
20:06 of ghosts and spirits.
20:08 Were they real? Did we record a ghost
20:10 voice and receive evidence of spirit
20:12 orbs or were they just technical
20:14 glitches of the cameras?
20:16 We may or may not be able to prove
20:18 the physical existence of ghosts,
20:20 but we have surely seen how the belief
20:22 in ghosts actually motivates the thoughts,
20:24 behaviour, understanding,
20:26 and environment of the Javanese community.
20:28 [Music]
20:32 Personally, I find it quite
20:34 unique and very interesting
20:36 how in the Javanese culture
20:38 and in some of the communities,
20:40 they accept spirits and ghosts
20:42 quite naturally.
20:44 Spirit possession has encouraged me to give her
20:46 more attention and to love her more.
20:48 [Music]
20:52 And sometimes I look at
20:54 those virtues, the way they treat
20:56 the unseen, perhaps it's also something
20:58 that we should treat the people
21:00 that we do see.
21:02 [Music]
21:06 Like I always say,
21:08 what we see may not be real
21:10 and what is real, we may not see.
21:12 [Music]
21:41 [Music]
21:45 [BLANK_AUDIO]