9/11 and our world came crashing down with the World Trade Center towers. Instantly the world dropped to their knees in prayer for those who died and for those who suffered the loss. Immediately the focus on the I shifted to a focus on the WE as each became involved in helping others.
Unfortunately this WE-ness of life soon shifted back to the I-ness of life and in many ways the I-ness became even more intense. At the same time the focus became one of responding with force against the terrorist. We all know how that has worked out for us and the world.
One year later there was a major bomb blast in Indonesia on the island of Bali. Because the Balinese live from their hearts their response was totally different....as was the outcome.
Unfortunately this WE-ness of life soon shifted back to the I-ness of life and in many ways the I-ness became even more intense. At the same time the focus became one of responding with force against the terrorist. We all know how that has worked out for us and the world.
One year later there was a major bomb blast in Indonesia on the island of Bali. Because the Balinese live from their hearts their response was totally different....as was the outcome.
The Bali way --- to Respond with only Love
Bali...October 12, 2002: A bomb went off in the tourist district of Kuta on the Island of Bali. The attack was the deadliest act of terrorism in the history of Indonesia according the the police general. 202 killed, 240 injured.
The next day as we dealt with our anger and our fears that it would no longer be safe to travel to Bali, we called Bali to learn what was happening. The message from Kabayan was that everything was OK. They felt the bombing was to tell them that the energy of the Tao of Bali was out of balance. There is more negative energy then positive energy on the island.
He went on to share that then had taken care of those injured and the authorities were investigating. To bring balance back to the energy of the island, beginning that night they would be doing prayers in all the temples to bring more peace into the hearts of the Balinese. These prayers would continue till the energy was balanced.
The next day as we dealt with our anger and our fears that it would no longer be safe to travel to Bali, we called Bali to learn what was happening. The message from Kabayan was that everything was OK. They felt the bombing was to tell them that the energy of the Tao of Bali was out of balance. There is more negative energy then positive energy on the island.
He went on to share that then had taken care of those injured and the authorities were investigating. To bring balance back to the energy of the island, beginning that night they would be doing prayers in all the temples to bring more peace into the hearts of the Balinese. These prayers would continue till the energy was balanced.
Balinese prayer and ceremony for inner and outer peace
The symbol of the Tao on the floor of a Balinese temple
The Tao is the symbol of balanced energy of life.
After the call we sat and reflected on the Balinese secret of life that they were honoring.
When the dark energy increases the light energy must decrease. This creates imbalance and chaos. When this happens there are two possible responses to the message.
The most typical response is to judge the event as negative and to declare war on the dark energy it has physically manifested. This is called the battle between good and evil. The Balinese know that good never does battle for it is simply light energy. All energy that is doing battle is dark and will intensifies the dark and thus increase the chaos.
The Balinese know that their outer world is simply a reflection of their inner world. When there is chaos in their outer world it is a reflection of the chaos in their inner world.The only way to change their outer world is to first change their inner world from dark to light energy.
As the prayers continued, the days soon turned into weeks, months and even years as the dalily focus and prayers of balance contined.
Prayers in the Mother Temple
Bali...October 1, 2005. A second bombing occurred at two sites on Jimbaron Beach in Kuta. Report cited 20 plus dead and between 101 to 129 injured. Once again as the authorities searched for the terrorist the Balinese responded by taking care of the casualties and leaving the government to finding the terrorist.
When they had done all that they could they returned to their temples and continued their personal prayers to balance themselves for the bombing was again a message that they were still out of balance.
Living in the calm watching the rice grow
Bali....One day between Christmas and New Year 2009, everyone awoke on the island with the awareness that Bali was calm. The Tao had been rebalanced.
Check back often for
Up coming posts:
Post Nine - Bali and Island of Calm in a Sea of Chaos.
Post Ten - Living the Balinese Model of Peace
Post Eleven - Transforming Fear to Peace.
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