This week was a momentous, intense and sacred week in Bali as the predominantly Hindu population prepared to celebrate en masse the ceremony of Nyepi, their New Year. A three part process, first is Melasti, a communal cleansing ritual to purify humans and the universe they inhabit of negative influences, sad and bad thoughts or karma, and past misdeeds.
Then there is the parade of the Ogoh Ogoh, incredibly artistic though frightening and imposing effigies crafted primarily by the youth in their villages over many months. They are created not only to symbolize the demonic aspect inherent in humans and nature alike but also to absorb all the negativity from humans and the environment. Â After being paraded through the streets, despite the artistry, time, cost and months of work that goes into making them, they are taken to the cemetery and burned. This symbolize the purification and release from their influence, in preparation for Nyepi, the official Balinese New Year.
On Nyepi, for 24 hours the island observes complete silence, no-one is allowed on the streets, to work or to use electricity. It is a blessed day in Bali! What is so interesting about this is not only how very different it is from the typical pleasure seeking way most people in the West observe New Year. The contrast could not be more stark! What is so evident is the humility with which the Balinese recognize and honour the inherent forces, good and bad, that operate in the field of experience, and the necessity to purify the mind and the field of the imbalance they often cause. Â They are fully aware that dharma and adharma are woven fine into the fabric of life. But unlike most Westerners, the Balinese Hindu people have lives dedicated to God and sacred ceremonies to honour that are a way of life for them.
What is important about this for us as Vedantins is to recognize that these forces, positive and negative, angelic and demonic, sacred and profane, are all guna generated, eternal and universal. They are not personal though they play out in our personal and global lives in seemingly personal and often highly destructive ways. Because of the nature of mithya, which is a zero sum, there will always be angels and demons in manifest and unmanifest form. The names, forms and stories change, which we call our history or world history, but they are always the same forces in micro or macrocosmic form. I.e., rajas and tamas out of balance with sattva.
Most of us would prefer to think that we do not have a ‘bad’ side to us, that the only true demons are ‘other than’ and outside of us. But to unconditionally love, accept and disidentify with our personal identity, the jiva persona, we have no choice but to face the demonic aspect in ourselves. It comes with the program of being human. Unless you are born a bona fide saint, which is highly unlikely, you are not exempt. There is no escape from the fact that life in the field of experience is a dance between dharma and adharma; both forces are operating in mithya at all times. There is no changing this or turning mithya into nirvana as the idealist hopes for.Â
That is a pipe dream and will never happen. Ultimately, the only real protection is Self-knowledge. For peace of mind, we need to understand, objectify and de-personalize these forces, live dharmically and serve life as God.  We need to purify the mind of the negative aspects of all three gunas, while aiming primarily for the upside of sattva. Not as a destination or identity, which is a big trap called spiritual arrogance, but as the springboard for Self-knowledge to shine forth and remain our default and primary identity.
While the Balinese Hindus are not non-dualists, we see how the acceptance of and respect for the nature of life plays out in their lives. They are almost unfailingly unguarded, warm, friendly, dharmic and naturally kind. They are not neurotic. While they are not exempt from the usual human tendencies, they are for the most part, refreshingly positive and healthy human beings. It is something they fiercely maintain despite the price they pay for allowing hedonistic mass tourism to flourish on their little island. Quite inspirational!
The lesson here for us is that to live free of the jiva and free as the Self, it is very healthy to have a ritual or object that symbolizes and objectifies the angel and the demon within. Something to remind and keep the ego humble. This is why the Balinese have so many demonic like symbols in their environment. Do it, even though you as the Self know full well that the jiva persona/ego is an object known to you, and ‘good and bad’ are just thoughts appearing in you. Moreover, if you do not already have one, begin a daily devotional practice, no matter how small. Give thanks and give back. It matters because you will be a happier jiva.
Sundari
