See another slide of Bali
Sallie Inman will share a slide presentation on the arts and spirituality of Bali, Indonesia, at Ocean Unity in Waldport this Saturday, Jan. 28.
The invisible realms are as tangible and real in Bali as the numerous temples and shrines that cover the tiny island. With daily, monthly and yearly ceremonies, the Balinese demonstrate great reverence for the invisible forces that interact with the material world.
Before Bali came into wider awareness with the writing and film adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Eat, Pray, Love,” it has long been a vacation playground for Australians and a prized destination for surfers worldwide. As a religious culture steeped in visual and performing arts, it is also a destination for art lovers and spiritual seekers.
Inman visited Bali while working in South Korea.
“During my time in Korea I had visited the Philippines, Thailand, Japan and loved them all,” she said. “But after my initial visit to Bali, I couldn’t go anywhere else. I kept returning to Bali until I finally moved there.”
A planned one-year sabbatical turned into nearly four years of living in a village just outside of Ubud, the artistic heart of Bali.
The fertile volcanic soil and tropical climate have made procuring food relatively easy for the people of Bali. The abundance of time is then available for art, music, dance, and spiritual devotion, all of which are inextricably interwoven in the daily life of the Balinese. Although extreme, a familiar adage is that “everyone in Bali is an artist.”
In fact, in the 1930s, the silent film star Charlie Chaplin and the English playwright Noel Coward visited Bali. As a joke, Coward left the following in the comments section of his hotel registration:
As I said this morning to Charlie
There is far too much music in Bali
And although as a place it’s entrancing
There is also a thought too much dancing
It appears that each Balinese native
From the womb to the tomb is creative
And although the results are quite clever
There is too much artistic endeavor!
Many Balinese performances now seen by tourists are actually shorter, synthesized versions of temple rituals. The Balinese adapted the art forms at the recommendations made by visiting European artists in the early 20th Century.
The religion of Bali is a unique expression of Hinduism blended with animism. Often referred to as the island of the Gods, it is a land of prayer and devotion.
“Witnessing the daily offerings of the Balinese people awakened some sleeping part of my own devotional heart.” Inman said. “I have a lot of gratitude for my time in Bali.” The island is indeed a magical place.
Saturday’s presentation begins at 2 pm at Ocean Unity, located at 385 NW Alsea Hwy. in Waldport. For more information, email sacredbalitravel@gmail.com.