Jose Cornelio Guterres

Sacred Ritual of Tara Bandu and Environmental Stewardship: a Phenomenological Study on the People of Mambae, Bunak and Fataluku, Timor-leste Jose Cornelio Guterres

The Timor-Leste?s cultural core values assume that nature is Sacred, Alive and interconnected. Therefore, the nature should be preserved. The performance of the Timor-Leste?s Indigenous Sacred Ritual of Tara Bandu is ban or prohibit environmental destruction, disrespect for other human beings and for their properties. On those who break the law of Tara Bandu are imposed a spiritual sanction. The ritual heightens the spiritual awareness of people to respect nature as their sacred dwelling place ?their life sources.