The Balinese Way

In 2002, the Balinese experienced tragic bombings on their land. Not only did they lose their loved ones, but they also lost their main source of income due to a decline in tourism. It was a tragic event but the Balinese remained positive and promoted peace throughout. So I asked: in the face of evil, how did they remain positive?

In class, while studying Genesis, we discussed free will in relation to good and evil. Oftentimes, we saw men, like Cain, choosing to behave immorally. This led to the people cursing each other or directly being punished by their creator. The chaos that derived from so much evil eventually compelled God to undo his creation.

The Balinese also believe that we have the choice between good and evil. They believe in rwahbita (harmony) which states that everything has a positive and negative and that they cannot work without each other. They are proactive rather than reactive in negative situations and maintain the balance by cultivating calm. And so, the Balinese believed that by spreading peace and good energy, they will receive good in return.
The Balinese way of life also negates Lucretius’s or the Epicurean belief that religion is the source of our anxieties and that the gods lived elsewhere in a state of absolute peace. They believed that we should not live in fear of the gods but in pursuit of happiness and avoidance of pain. The Balinese, however, believe that in order to maintain balance, an individual must be in harmony with the community, the environment, and God. The Balinese believe that prayer and meditation relieves them of their anxieties and brings them peace.