Bali may be a destination for truth seekers on a spiritual quest, but for most it is a few steps along a journey with many different paths, writes John Haren.
It takes only a touch of humanity to spice up a day. The Balinese people know this well. The Island of the Gods welcomes everyone as if they are family. Nyoman, when asked about his work as a host and driver, explains that it is “what I do”. Work, family and religion meld into one in the lives of this Hindu people.
We are between the celebrations of Galungan and Kuningan. Kelabang Moding village is adorned with flags and banners that celebrate the life of the people and their engagement with the gods.
Every six months this spiritual enrichment draws on the themes of peace, prosperity and harmony, in all guises with family, neighbourhood, village, island, nation and the whole of planet earth. The cosmos, nature and humanity are one.
Bali may be a destination for some truth seekers on a spiritual quest, but for most it is a few steps along a journey that takes many different paths. Many take inspiration from local practice.
Photo credit: John Haren.
Ceremonial life is at the forefront of spiritual expression. Prayer, offerings to the gods, family and social connection shape each day. It is a lived experience of being human. Embraced without hesitation.
So, when Kuningan arrives ten days after Galungan, the festivities take on a tranquil mood. Good has triumphed over evil. The ancestors are welcomed. It’s a model for life. Goodness, harmony and wisdom of the elders.
The humanity and spirituality of Bali attracts many people from other lands. They sing. They dance. They play traditional and contemporary instruments. They may be Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish or of no specific faith.
An evening of musical fusion combines Javanese, Japanese, Italian and Sri Lankan artists who are much less performers than seekers. Seekers in a world where it is not always clear what might be found.
Amber, a young Belgian woman, describes her search for a place in the higher order of things. How to lead a life that is authentic, expressing her own gifts and desires for the greater good. It takes patience, stillness and trust. Characteristics that the Balinese epitomise.
La Bakery is one of those out-of-the-way places that, if you can find it, makes your day. The French pastries are to die for, lovingly baked in an austere kitchen and served in the most humble setting. But the welcome by several members of the family is a prompt to maintain our hope in humanity.
Photo credit: John Haren.
We speak about food, tradition and family. A Danish man, a resident of Bali for 12 years, inserts himself into the conversation in a way that the owners Wayan and Komang encourage. For a brief hour we are one as we exchange snippets of lives that are so different. And yet the sense that we are one large family of people is cause for celebration.
For those open to the possibilities of life in the spirit, Bali is an immersion experience. Diving deeply into the environment of the gods and nature. The air is replete with moisture, feeding prolific vegetation. It is the dry season, but a river flows abundantly, creating background noise to the birds and insects that inhabit the forest.
Bali slows the mind so that senses take over. A lone leaf falling from the forest canopy is an event. Butterflies floating among the palms, and two squirrels foraging for food is a feast for the eyes. Birds sing but are seldom seen in dense foliage. Sight, sound and smell are magnified and renewed. The human spirit is brought to life.
It’s a contrast to the territorial and ethnic battles waged in other parts of the world, shaping a very different landscape. The strains from Australia of a ‘monocultural Australia’ provide abundant fuel for those who seek division and hatred towards other human beings.
We don’t live in a monocultural world. Despite attempts at homogenising the planet, mainly for corporate interests, the world remains diverse. Languages, spiritual practices, music and customs make our planet an interesting place to live.
Leaving your language, food or spiritual practice at the border when migrating makes no practical or desirable sense. Our human family loses out, and our planet is all the poorer for it.
Photo credit: John Haren.
The celebration of Kuningan arrives and Nyoman adorns us with the appropriate dress to participate in the festivities. No matter that we are not Indonesian. That we are not Balinese. That we are not Hindu. That the god being prayed to may or may not be our god. We are family. The family of humanity embraces us in this place, in this moment. Nothing else matters.
Visiting the three public temples we pray with the community, individually and collectively. Young children, teenagers, parents and grandparents, together in prayerful observance. It’s impossible to escape the solemnity of the occasion with its formal and informal moments. The entire 175 households of the village, together in unity.
The similarities with Christian practice are evident. Purification through blessing with water. Incense rising to the heavens. Offerings symbolising humility and gratitude. Acknowledgement of those who have come before us. A powerful sense of unity of spirit emerges. A sense of harmony with one another and all of humanity and nature.
As the ancestors return to their resting place we carry this special occasion in our own journey in the spirit. The spirit that transcends culture, race, nationhood and religions.
It’s the spice of life!
