The Illusion of Life: Balinese Style

There is so much more to life than what we perceive.

“We are energetic beings with consciousness.”

The first time I heard that sentence was at a women’s retreat in Bali. Eleven women on a spiritual journey to find their own truth. Eleven women who traveled great distances to share a brief space of time to learn, connect and evolve.

Our group was diverse in age (the youngest was 34; the oldest, including me, were in their late 50s). We carried the deep desire to shed old beliefs, dissolve our limiting stories and become more authentic, while enjoying as much of the Balinese culture as possible.

My shedding began as I sat in the backseat of the car that picked me up at the airport. I was not prepared for the chaos as we entered the traffic. It was pandemonium caused by hundreds of scooters and cars vying for the same spot on the pavement, all at the speed of life.

My fear of crashing was triggered immediately. My body tightened, my breath became shallow and I became my fear.

Until I looked at my driver, Nengah, and noticed how calm he was in the middle of chaos. His hands were gently resting on the steering wheel, his shoulders were relaxed and his focus was complete. He never reacted as a scooter zoomed past us, between our car and oncoming traffic. He never became angry or upset at anything that was happening on the other side of the windshield.

He was present, mindful and aware.

It was my first lesson on the illusion of Bali. I brought my Western awareness to this place and judged it based on my perception. But I failed to see that I was looking at the illusion, not the underlying reality.

“We are energetic beings with consciousness.”

The Balinese know this as a fact and they live from this place of calm knowing. They may describe it differently, but their presence in the present becomes obvious as you spend more time with them.

You Create Your Reality

During the retreat, I also learned that we are conscious creators of our reality. Our reality begins and ends with our internal eyesight. What we see in our mind’s eye is what we will see when light is refracted off our eyeballs.

As creators, we change our reality when we change our internal vision. Meditation, visualization and gratitude are ways to stay centered. As you emerge into the world from these practices, your energy goes before you, almost like a magic carpet. You invite the same energy into your reality that you radiate.

Life becomes a beautiful dance.

It’s so simple but many of us have forgotten our own power to create our reality. We see the physical and interpret its meaning, based on our perception in that moment. The illusion becomes our reality, because we are on the inside of it.

We have forgotten that we are energetic beings with consciousness.

The Balinese live this way. They wake in the morning and give thanks. They create offerings and place them in the doorways, at the base of the shrines, and at the foot of waterfalls. Anywhere they see God’s signature in the world, they celebrate with gratitude.

Gratitude is a powerful, energetic force. When you are in gratitude, you no longer need anything — you are complete. When you understand that you are complete, whole, and perfect right now, you have entered a new level of consciousness.

Let the waters settle

There is a quote by Rumi, the Sufi poet, that speaks to this concept.

Let the waters settle and you will see the moon and the stars mirrored in your own being.

Recognition of cosmic or divine energy is a game-changer. No longer will you seek meaning or satisfaction from the outside world; instead, you will know your source and connect on the inside.

While we were in Bali, we had lunch with a family who allowed us to see their home. There were four or five generations living in a small building. The families (mother, father, children) had separate quarters, but everyone came together for meals. What amazed me was the loving care given to the older generations. Even though they moved a bit slower, they were shown deep deference and dignity.

After our meal, we toured the compound. At the front of the courtyard was a large bed, raised on a dais and covered with an awning. Our guide explained that this was the honored place where a family member died. He explained that when it was time, the entire family gathered around the bed, said prayers and loved them through the transition between life and death.

What a beautiful tribute to the loved one, and a compassionate way to weave the realities of life into the fabric of their family.

Let the moon and stars be mirrored in your own being.

See beyond the illusion of the physical, to the energetic life force that supports and connects everything. Clean up your own energy before interacting with others. Consciously allow the essence of life to flow through you as loving energy.

That’s how the Balinese see through the illusion of life to its essence.