Following local custom the Green School staff and administration today made the journey from the lower elevations of Ubud up to the source of all that is sacred here in Bali.. the mountains. Teri and I scooter-ed over to a local expat hangout early this morning to meet up with Satia, a teacher from Germany who is the language Art specialist at GS. We could not have had a better guide to take us to the holy spring near Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu where we will be meeting the other GS members.
The mountain drive was spectacular with terraced rice patties, plunging river gorges, and children walking to school in matching uniforms as the sunlight emerged over the fields.
In the Hindu religion and Balinese culture the mountains represent the source of everything that is precious and pure. Because the mountains embody the original source of water… they and the water that spring from the ground here have a tremendous significance that filters through the people, culture, and religion.
We arrive into an expansive temple setting with large open buildings, pools of spouting water and the sacred pool from which the water originates. The place is a buzz with people. Water dipped from here is taken throughout the island to temples in every town for use in ceremony and ritual. Because of the significance of this place (and actually every temple in Bali) appropriate dress is a important if you want to participate in the blessings that are before us.
For men this means sarongs with sashes, and head scarfs. Women colorful sarongs, sashes and delicate woven shirts for wear after the water pools have been experienced.
After a series of group blessings everyone enters the water to begin the succession of praying, drinking, and dipping into the each of the water spouts until all have been visited. The sequence is: a short moment of reflection, three sips, three dips and a final plunge to finish. With over 21 spouts to perform this in front of it can take a bit of time….best to go on a warm day we hear and fortunately we are in luck. Each spout has some significance, which is lost on me, but I do know they escalate in importance with the last one being the most sacred.
From here it is off to dry sarongs and tops and onto another blessing near an alter with hundreds of flower baskets created from lemon grass and sticks of incense burning. With chanting and bell ringing surrounding us it can be quite a moving experience.
But no blessing is complete with out a monster meal…and one awaits us in the open pavilions we saw when we entered. Seated on floor mats, five to a tray, we share the experience again with each other over hand fulls of rice, spice pork, and duck.
Not a bad way to spend a day. Much more fun that the hour I remember spending in church each Sunday as a kid…and I know for sure the food was never this good..
