Travel courses: Bali

Associate Professor Neal Klein and Instructor Jan Wall took students to Bali as part of travel courses Balinese Healing Practices and Bali: Sacred Ceremonies & Sacred Places offered in the summer.

Whatever can be said about the island of Bali can also be said about the Balinese; they are that interconnected. Some words that come to mind include peaceful, open, beautiful, exotic and inspiring. Even the language reflects the gentle nature of this place and its people. For example, terima kasih, or thank you, literally translated means 'to receive love' and every gesture in Bali supports this. You greet one another by saying Om Swastiastu ("May all be well"), shake with right hands, let go and place your right hand over your heart to receive the blessing the other just offered.

Language lessons were just a part of our immersion into Balinese culture. This past August, along with nineteen others (seventeen were Lesley University students), Dr. Neal Klein and I traveled across the globe for a most amazing adventure. Bali exudes life: from the delicate, colorful flowers, the breathtaking beaches, and endless rice fields to the non-stop celebrations and offerings (which were found freshly made each morning on every door step, car, crossroad, window sill, sidewalk, even on the water pipes). Not a moment went by when life wasn't being appreciated in some way. One day as we were driving down a windy, steep country road we came to a crossroads. A family appeared about to picnic where the roads intersected. As it turned out they were simply honoring some important event in their family. As we were told, everything is significant, including the use of a crossroad to celebrate a life transition. Everything is connected creating universal balance – of which we are a part.

The Balinese consider each person to be inspired; it is part of the nature of the universe and therefore of every human to be creative. There is a continual display of their love of the inspired through dance, music, mask making, carvings, weavings and basket making. Everyone participates -- including us. In addition to our lessons in dancing, cooking, painting and music making, we were invited to take part in temple blessings, traditional healings, even a lavish cremation ceremony. On our part, we were expected to dress in appropriate Balinese sarongs and honor the sacredness of these events and ourselves.

Bali and the Balinese truly embody a sense of 'Balance and Ease'. It can be felt in each individual as well as in each family community. Along with individual responsibility there is a strong communal commitment. They care for and about each other. They respect themselves, the land and their connection to the gods (this relationship seems truly light and joyful, unlike most western spiritual practices). In spite of the fact that their economic base has been crushed by a single incident that happened several years ago (a terrorist bomb in 2002), the Balinese seem remarkably positive. There was no talk of fear or revenge; sometimes however I sensed sadness at how deeply the shadow of that one event has impacted the number of tourists visiting the island. I would not hesitate for a moment to return to Bali, in fact it would be an honor and delight. I encourage anyone who truly wants to have an inspirational experience to consider visiting this magical island and its people.

Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti

-Jan Wall