Welcome to Bali where there are many traditions and cultural beliefs. One that I greatly admire and respect is TRI HITA KARANA which translates as “ Three causes of well-being”. No, they are not power, money and love! they are much more meaningful than that. They are: harmony with God, harmony among people and harmony with nature.

The Balinese greatly value their harmony and spend considerable time and money ensuring that the deities are kept appeased with offerings, ceremonies and rituals, but they also actively cooperate on many aspects of village life through ‘gotong royong’ the practice of  helping each other and especially the exceptionally  harmonised’ subak system of rarefied irrigation, which ensures harmony with nature. 

As you spend time here perhaps you can also reflect on your harmony.

For those who don’t believe in God, there is a different challenge but at least finding harmony with your fellow man,  and with nature will go some way to bringing peace into your own life, but there will still be the eternal question: who is our maker and the creator of this astonishing world and it’s surrounding universe?

The Balinese are very clear there is a Supreme Being and all their efforts go towards achieving harmony with him/her. Perhaps as you look at the peace they find in their belief and the joy they derive from their rituals, you may reconsider. Well – being after all is physical, mental – and spiritual.

Enjoy harmonious Bali.

Alistair G. Speirs

Alistair G. Speirs

Alistair G Speirs, OBE, is the Publisher of NOW! Magazines. He has been in the publishing, advertising and PR business for the last 25 years. He started both NOW! Bali and NOW! Jakarta as each region's preferred community magazine.