This is Ibu Roda, the matriarch of the Roda family.
I had the succinct pleasure of being invited to spend the first day of Galungun at their home. The invitation came from William, the man who with his wife Jean run "Threads of Life" and the foundation that supports much of the work it does.
William wrote a book entitled, " A Little Bit of One O'clock" which is about the Roda family. Jean and William spent the early 1990's living with the family.
I have just finished reading the book and have learned so much.
So,along with food i feel that this culture is expressed and passed down carefully and lovingly with it's prayers and rituals. i had just spent the morning witnessing so much at the temple. William was kind enough to explain and give me the opportunity (since i was dressed appropriately) and really seeking egress into this world I had been observing the past 6 weeks to enter the Roda temple. I had spent the day before there watching everyone prepare by redressing all the statues,alter and penjors. I had joined in by staying close to Ibu, who just had the most beautiful way of being, calm and focused. She reminded me in ways of Zena.
And she even made a reference and a joke about "forgetting". It's universal.
I had noticed that the Balinese version of Hinduism was very different from what I'd witnessed in both Nepal and India. (I'll be going to Sri Lanka in late February and I'll have another opportunity to observe their Buddhism + Hinduism).
The family temple takes up the largest amount of space in the family compound.I walk into the temple,and bring a canang (offering) of a packet of incense with rupiah tucked into the flowers I had wrapped the small gift around. I place it on the alter and then remove my sandals and kneel down in Virasana position on a mat. I center myself with a brief meditation. I gently wave my hands over the wafting incense to purify them. There is a small banana frond basket holding a number of flowers. I take one flower,swirl it around the wafting smoke and hold it above my head, hands in prayer position and state an intention. I place the flower behind my ear.Then I take a bunch of flowers and repeat the process.The bunch is tucked into my hair. And a third flower and ritual with prayer.
After each prayer, a flower is dipped in holy water and the water is tossed over me. Then I eat some grains of rice, and the rest I press on my forehead and my chest. I again purify my hands over the incense and do a small meditation and prayer.
Prayer is greater than the one doing it. I felt as I always do (although I do not always call it prayer): the meditation is sent out into the universe..... and I am for a brief moment .........a part of this.(for me it represents unity; as in yoga. this is why my practice in yoga remains central) All the internal senses are released,and spirit thrusts itself into the cosmos of energy that life and beyond is comprised of. I receive it all back and the state of openness which reaffirms the gift of life in gratitude.
travelin' woman
I had the succinct pleasure of being invited to spend the first day of Galungun at their home. The invitation came from William, the man who with his wife Jean run "Threads of Life" and the foundation that supports much of the work it does.
William wrote a book entitled, " A Little Bit of One O'clock" which is about the Roda family. Jean and William spent the early 1990's living with the family.
I have just finished reading the book and have learned so much.
So,along with food i feel that this culture is expressed and passed down carefully and lovingly with it's prayers and rituals. i had just spent the morning witnessing so much at the temple. William was kind enough to explain and give me the opportunity (since i was dressed appropriately) and really seeking egress into this world I had been observing the past 6 weeks to enter the Roda temple. I had spent the day before there watching everyone prepare by redressing all the statues,alter and penjors. I had joined in by staying close to Ibu, who just had the most beautiful way of being, calm and focused. She reminded me in ways of Zena.
And she even made a reference and a joke about "forgetting". It's universal.
The family temple takes up the largest amount of space in the family compound.I walk into the temple,and bring a canang (offering) of a packet of incense with rupiah tucked into the flowers I had wrapped the small gift around. I place it on the alter and then remove my sandals and kneel down in Virasana position on a mat. I center myself with a brief meditation. I gently wave my hands over the wafting incense to purify them. There is a small banana frond basket holding a number of flowers. I take one flower,swirl it around the wafting smoke and hold it above my head, hands in prayer position and state an intention. I place the flower behind my ear.Then I take a bunch of flowers and repeat the process.The bunch is tucked into my hair. And a third flower and ritual with prayer.
After each prayer, a flower is dipped in holy water and the water is tossed over me. Then I eat some grains of rice, and the rest I press on my forehead and my chest. I again purify my hands over the incense and do a small meditation and prayer.
Prayer is greater than the one doing it. I felt as I always do (although I do not always call it prayer): the meditation is sent out into the universe..... and I am for a brief moment .........a part of this.(for me it represents unity; as in yoga. this is why my practice in yoga remains central) All the internal senses are released,and spirit thrusts itself into the cosmos of energy that life and beyond is comprised of. I receive it all back and the state of openness which reaffirms the gift of life in gratitude.
travelin' woman
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