The Curious Cat is a journey where I aim to reconnect with my inner-child and explore my curiosity. I pinpoint themes & topics I’ve been interested in within the last 7 days, ask myself questions about them and then write about them. I hope you find value within this issue and have a fantastic day doing what you love.
The Balinese folk are WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT the friendliest and kindest humans I’ve ever encountered.
The second you catch eyes with someone, they’re grinning from ear to ear. Despite the chaotic roads, road rage doesn’t really exist here. As a matter of fact, I’ve never seen a Balinese person rage at all. Just yesterday I was driving home on a quiet rural road, I locked eyes with a farmer and he instantly started dancing like a goofball throughout our 2-second interaction.
And so, with all this positivity, I was curious to learn what powers this admirable set of behaviours. The answer I kept on getting was ‘Tri Hita Karana.’
Tri Hita Karana translates to ‘Three Ways to Harmony.’
It’s an ancient Balinese philosophy that is deeply rooted in the culture here. The theory believes that if you build a harmonious relationship with these three pillars, you will live a prosperous life. What are these 3 things?
(1) Harmony with the divine - this spiritual aspect of Tri Hita Karan (THK) emphasises the connection with the divine. Balinese-Hinduism is a blend of traditional Hinduism, Buddhism and indigenous beliefs. And so, the Balinese people accomplish ‘harmony with the divine’ by engaging in daily rituals, temple ceremonies and offerings.
(2) Harmony with others - this fragment of THK focuses on positive relationships and harmony within the community. They do this by cooperating on tasks, ensuring mutual respect reigns and sharing responsibilities. I am reminded of the quote “You're the average of the five people you spend the most time with” when thinking about how to build harmony with others.
(3) Harmony with nature - this underscores the importance of living in balance with the natural world. It involves respecting and preserving the ecosystem in which people live. However, in recent decades, there has been a struggle to maintain this harmony with the rise in urbanisation and mass tourism as discussed last week in #71.
Karma plays an influential role in Bali. It's the engine that fuels a lot of its people’s behaviour.
In Christianity, people don’t steal because they fear of God.
In the 2000s, people don’t steal because they fear the state.
In Bali, people don’t steal because they fear karma.
The same principle applies in all three, bad behaviour gets punished, and good behaviour reaps reward. How does this play out in Bali?
Crime is low here
It is common for tips to be rejected, or welcomed with immense gratitude
As mentioned, the Balinese are incredibly polite and welcoming; which especially surprised me given how us bules have invaded their paradise.
In hope of accomplishing ‘harmony with others,’ Balinese folk will often put others ahead of themselves; sacrificing selfishness.
This moral code is deeply intertwined with Buddhist and Hindu beliefs, where the individual is downplayed, and the concept of 'self' takes a back seat. Instead of thinking in terms of 'I,' it's all about 'we're all in this together,' to quote High School Musical. The collective attitude embedded within the people here allows them to forge a more hospitable and sustainable living space.
I won’t tell you what to do, but next time you find yourself in a dilemma, or a point where action must be taken, consider how your next steps influence your harmony with others, your harmony with nature, and your harmony with the divine. Tri Hita Karana is not just a philosophical concept but a way of life.
I can definitely attest to the above! Also, it’s super interesting to note that Balinese Hinduism is heavily infused with animism - they adorn their Banyan trees with sarongs and believe that they also have souls ❤️