Reflections

Sunday, June 9, 2013

The heat and humidity in Bali take some getting used to. Paradise can be paralyzing. Even small tasks like finding a post office or going to an ATM machine to get some money can take some effort to resist the heat-induced inertia, along with the inertia of being deeply relaxed--- something I haven’t experienced very often in the last two or three decades.

Every day I’m regaining more energy as I adapt to the 14 hour time change, along with the radical change in climate. I had forgotten what it feels like to be in high humidity. In New Mexico my hair dries in about an hour after a shower versus here where my hair remains damp all day, along with the dampness of the sweat in the clothing. My description might sound unappealing to you, but when you’re relaxed, none of that matters too much. It’s just part of the adventure and is no deterrent to seeing and feeling the magic of Bali.

Today was the last of our five gamelan classes, taught by gamelan masters. It was not only a fantastic cross-cultural musical experience, but also a great way to get into a trance-like state. The sequences we were taught on the percussion instruments required intense concentration to ensure we would hit the right key with our little wooden hammers. One stray thought could lead to immediate dissonance.

All the traditional cultures I’ve had contact with throughout my life seem to have recognized the importance of rhythmic and repetitive group activities like chanting, round dancing, and drumming---all of which can alter consciousness, induce trance-like states, and promote an empty and quiet mind. There seems to be some universal recognition among less westernized cultures that anxiety is part of the human condition.

In the afternoons, when we’re not going on an outing or going to a ceremony or a cremation, we’re going to painting classes and puppet making classes which are taught by masters in their field. The style of teaching is quite different than what I experienced growing up…and maybe what you experienced. The Balinese don’t seem to judge if something is good or bad. They are relaxed and accepting of whatever the students do. They gently guide, always with a smile and with kindness…..no matter how inept the student might be. They don’t talk very much, just enough to show us what to do. And they will show us over and over until we get it and feel comfortable. The high school kids on this program are enthusiastic about going to these kinds of classes. They feel accepted and nurtured. Since the classes take place in the homes of the masters, we get to see how they treat their children. It is with the same kindness and gentleness and with minimal intervention.

The Balinese people are made of a mixture of religions and cultures, but the predominant one is Hinduism. But one can see Buddhist influences, along with Muslim. Some of the people look like their ancestors might be East Indians, some more like Chinese, but most look Polynesian. The Balinese smile at every opportunity. The Muslim Balinese women can be recognized by their head scarves. I’ve noticed that they look more serious and don’t tend to smile as much as the Hindu Balinese.

Every day there is some sort of ceremony here. Work life seems to be of secondary importance. Every day offerings are left everywhere one looks. The offerings usually are in the shape of a shallow little box made of folded banana leaves. In the box are the offerings of various items like a tiny pile of rice, sugar, and coconut flakes, along with flowers and sometimes incense depending on where the offering is made. Someone leaves an offering in front of each of our bungalows every morning before we get up.  There seems to be no demarcation between the sacred and the secular. All of life seems to be sacred to the Balinese people.

It’s Sunday morning in this part of the world. We’re off with the kids to meditate in a beautiful temple. Bye for now.