CYCLE OF LIFE ( Part. 4 )

The Balines death is but a return to your origins. The preceding wheels of one’s life are the way to ultimate release.

Not all corpses are cremated immediately, as some wait for an auspicious day, a collective ceremony or until their descendants have enough money to perform the rites. The cremation ritual is a reminder of the cosmic symbolism of life.

The tower is a duplicate of the cosmos; the corpse is put in the middle, symbolizing its position between the spiritual and human worlds. The sarcophagus, in which the body is burned, is a vehicle to take the soul away.

The ashes are collected and taken to the sea. It is here that the soul passes through hell to be tortured and cleansed. The soul is then called back on shore and eventually taken back to Mother Mountain, Gunung Agung. The soul is then enshrined in the family temple and the dead is now an ancestor, until the next incarnation.

CYCLE OF LIFE ( Part. 3 )

The Balinese marriage ceremony is no less complex. It is preceded by engagement of mepandik during which the couple falsely elope, and are supported by a group of accomplices, who protect the couple during their honeymoon. After three days, they are considered man and wife. The ploy is a serious one as the girl’s parents may be furious and refuse their blessing.

The wedding ceremony follows in a more formal manner. It emphasizes that one’s desires, while being exercised, should at the same time be kept under tight control. The climax of the wedding ritual, Maskapan, is meant to appease the earthly forces or buta sor, which are the origin of desires and temptation.

CYCLE OF LIFE ( Part. 2 )

The gods and deified ancestors will descend occasionally to earth during temple ceremonies to partake of offerings and enjoy entertainment. When souls are ready to re-incarnate on earth, they will come from the mountains above or straight from hell.

That is why the mountains is revered as the Holy Place.

The religious rites of the Balinese consist of the human rites (manusa yadnya), the rites of the dead (pitra yadnya), rites of the gods or temple rites (dewa yadnya), rites of demonic forces (buta yadnya) and ordainment rites (rsi yadnya).

Each phase of a person’s life, from pregnancy to birth and birth to death, will be accompanied by rituals, which are performed specifically on certain occasions or at any time whenever the need arises. Holy water, fire, ash, geese, duck, eggs, and dabdab tree leaves are the purifying elements used in the rituals.

The manusa yadnya rites include birth rites. The seventh month of pregnancy is the time for the housing of the soul or Megedong-Gedongan ceremony, when the soul is bound within the womb.

CYCLE OF LIFE ( Part. 1 )

Balinese Hindus believe that when a person dies, the soul passes into another body, where it is in torment because of evil deeds accumulated in its present and past lives. To cleanse the impurity of the soul, rituals are continually performed throughout the person’s life. The soul will constantly seek to free itself from this cycle of life until it attains enlightenment or moksa.

The process of incarnation is both human and cosmic, starting from love. The union of a man and woman is that of purusa and pranada (the male and female principle respectively) and the cosmic energy of Asmara, the God of love, and Ratih, the goddess of the moon. In their sexual love are united the red and white elements of desire (kamabang/kama petak), symbol of male sperm and female ovula. The eventual merging of the two kamas begets what is often called “The Godly Fetus” or Sanghyang Jabang Bayi, as the soul originates from the heavenly world. A child is called “Dewa” or little god during his first year of life.

Balinese believe that the mountains are the abodes of the gods, deified ancestors and souls which did not attain moksa.

OVERVIEW OF BALI ( Part. 3 )

While in Bali, you may choose to participate in this magic by visiting one of the large number of temples, with ancient Hindu carved in huge slabs of stone. Or you may be lucky enough to have the opportunity to observe a temple festival or public cremation. You will, most likely, also want to at least see one of Bali’s famous dances.

Grab the opportunity if you can, to see the graceful welcoming dance, in which young girls tilt their heads and move rhythmically to the gamelan beat, sharing their flower offerings with all. Another must see is the kecak dance, a hypnotic chant performed by scores of men circled around a fire, where scenes from the Ramayana are re-enacted. Or the legong dance, which includes a series of different dance scenes and styles, is always worthwhile.

Wherever you are, and whatever you choose to do, enjoy the warm smiles and open embrace of a people who appreciate their whole way of life and would love to share some of its magic with you.

The traditional prayer position of the hands and bow from the heart are welcoming gestures designed to recognize and honor your soul, and they are a true indication of your importance as a visitor to Bali. “Selamat datang”, you are always very welcome in Bali.

OVERVIEW OF BALI ( Part. 2 )

The people of Bali, as diverse as the geography of the different regions and yet united by their strong religious beliefs, draw their strength and their meaning from this wonderful environment.

The mountains are the focus of daily activities, with holy mount Agung as the great heavenward inspiration. All villages, temples, family compounds, house and furniture arrangements are designed to face “kaja”, or towards the mountains. The seaward direction “kelod”, on the other hand, is considered to be less sacred and at times impure, although the sea itself is not considered to be propane.

Mountain slopes provide the ideal setting for the luminous terrace rice paddies, which then transform to become vast paddies fields. The Balinese have an ingenious irrigation system which keeps these paddies well watered, and the rich nutrients from the volcanic ash ensure these fields are also well fertilized.

Rice is the staple food for Balinese people, and sampling the steamed rice (nasi putih), red rice (nasi merah), or even colored yellow rice (nasi kuning) is a must. Or try a mixed rice dish served with different condiments (nasi campur) or fried rice (nasi goreng), even some sticky rice patties. Rice also has sacred significance, and it is offered back to the Gods in the form brightly colored cake, or even simply as a few grains sprinkled on a banana leaf. Dewi Sri, the Balinese goddess, features strongly in local mythology and religious observance, and she often appears as a “cili” figure cut and bound from rice stalks.

OVERVIEW OF BALI ( Part. 1 )

Bali is part of the Indonesia archipelago, and every aspect of the island is fascinating. Formed million of years ago by volcanic action, Bali landscape is dominated by mountains, coastal low lands and limestone outcrop that drop from great height into the sea. Spectacular landscape aside, Bali is perhaps better known for its rich culture, surf and sparkling beaches.

The mesmerizing sounds of gamelan, the countless scared and secular dances, beautiful textiles, the wayang style of painting are among some of the elements of Balinese culture that have long captured the hearts of visitor.

Sometimes, tourist will stumble upon a parade of people in stark gold, pink and purple costume, carrying baskets of fruits and flowers as offerings.

There are also ample opportunities to ride the most exciting surf in this part of the world, take leisurely walks in peaceful jungles, go diving, shop, trek volcanoes and enjoy lip-smacking food. Eating and drinking should definitely be an unforgettable experience in Bali. The seas around the island are teeming with abundant marine life, many of which end up in the kitchen of restaurants. Fertile soils and heavy rainfall coupled with abundant water from mountain springs have allowed rice, vegetables, and many other crops to be grown. This cornucopia of ingredients allows a great variety of food to be prepared.