Moon of Peace from Bali

In many occasions, His Holiness the Dalai Lama mentioned that regardless of the religion, race, or ideology, there is one alikeness among us: wish for happiness, denial for suffering. Most people pray, work, and maintain household, in order to be happy and to avoid suffering. Perhaps this is why all works related to happiness are highly demanded by public.

In Bali, it is the same. Long time before meditation centers become a trend in the West, Balinese elders have been teaching about happiness and peacefulness. Balinese people pronounce the word shanti (peace) three times before leaving a shrine, and conclude a conversation in the same manner. Many elders also write the word shanti before his/her name in the bottom of a letter. This is similar to the word love in English.

Life is Peace

In the past when television and other electronics were not yet present, the most popular entertainment in Bali was the drama gong. The plays performed were various, but in most plays there was an appearance of a character named raja buduh (crazy king) that brings the stories into tension. In the end of the plays, through the power of goodness and wisdom, the kings madness was cured.

In different setting, in every cycle of the time, there is always someone who takes the role as crazy king. No matter how strong the government, how firm the police officers, how severe the judge, how clean the courts, crazy king is always present. As is leaving a message to all of us that there is no life cycle filled only by righteousness, honesty, and wisdom.

There was Rahwana in Shri Rama’s time, Duryodana in the age of Shri Krishna, Devadatta in time of Lord Buddha. Jesus was tempted by Judas, The Prophet Mohammed was disturbed by Quraish tribe. His Holiness Dalai Lama made shining by Chinese governments cruelty. All of those inspire that whenever life gives birth to holiness, it will be followed by the born of unholiness. In all stories it is shown that evil does not exist in order to destroy holiness, but to make it more shining instead.

In the language of an acknowledged Dharma master, Atisha Dipankara, the best spiritual teacher in the one who attacks your hidden fault. This can be understood, particularly because through attacks, derision, and insults, our mind is being tempered into a shining diamond. But this can only happen if we keep silence, stay away from resentment, and even radiate loving-kindness. A master once said that, if you are unable yet to radiate compassion to those who insult you, it means that your mind is not completely purified yet.

In this kind of spiritual attainment, peacefulness is not merely a temporary visitor in life for peacefulness is the life itself. Balinese elders provide signs trough great number of spiritual legacies: Rwa Bhinedha, Nyegara-Gunung, Bhur Bwah Swah, Nyepi day, and Hyang Embang. The point is that dualities (right - wrong, good - bad, holy - unholy, etc.) exist not as warring parties, but as one unity that enlivens one another. Those who embodied this in daily life will not spare even a single darkness of anger and hatred in his/her life. This is Parama Shanti (the ultimate peace).

Giving is Healing

Tibetan people own a lot of rituals, and so do Balinese. Ceremonies are certainly not merely about material offerings. There are outer offerings in the form of physical objects, inner offering in the form of service, and innermost secret offering. In the language of the elders: benefiting others, having a kind heart, that is the supreme offering. Do anything for other beings, posses a clean, clear, and helpful heart, and then personally experience the opening of the secret gate.

Perhaps that is why offerings in Bali are not dedicated only for heavenly beings but also for our fellows in the underworld (inhabitants of hell, hungry spirits, etc.). This inspires that good deeds are not only worth for good people but also for those who hurt.

Speaking frankly, the cursing and intimidating people actually play vital roles in the spiritual path. First, they very effectively help indicating the true quality of the mind. Look inside when being insulted and abused. If there are still anger and annoyance it means that the mind is still contaminated.

Secondly, the abusers and intimidators are actually so very kind that they are even willing to go to hell in order to make us patient and wise. Perhaps that is why Balinese elders hand down the tradition of segehan. It is a treat for our friends in the underworld (hell, hungry spirits, animals).

Pay heed to one of the elders messages: mebakti, mebakti, mebakti. Give, give, and give, without arguing. One day an adept will understand that actually there are no giver, receiver, and the process of giving. That is the true peacefulness (Parama Shanti).

In the West there was once a research on the subject of healing. And in one corner of the findings it was found out that people with someone/something they love at home (child, pet, tree) have less stress and live longer. This lets us know that giving is healing! Those who often give will one day understand that giving is not only healing but also liberating. Therefore it is easy to be understood if some Tantric masters swore to their teachers (samaya) to pay all evils with kindness. Because, by this way, a person is not only being liberated but also eliminating obstacles along the journey (karmic obscuration).