The Literal and Figurative Meaning of "Being Blessed"

L-R  Jantuk, Phiphi, Annie, Dedik, Mangku Jero Gede, Made  + the Priest's PR man (I kid you not)

From Day 1 Dedik kept saying, "We need to go to Kintamani and meet with Jero Gde"  

Well, earlier this week was auspicious and we journeyed upward, past tangerine groves (with cabbages growing underneath the trees) to Pura Ulun Danau Batur, one of the most sacred temples in Bali, one of the nine directional temples.  Anticipation does not even come close to what we were feeling; glee, excitement, nervousness; bordering on the transcendent.   Mangku Jero Gde is the Priest of the temple, and the temple sits on Gunung Batur, the caldera (filled in volcano) is the great water source for most of Bali's  and it is the Goddess of the Lake that gives this gift of life- water for the sawah+ subak.  We wanted to explain Sawah Bali to him and get his support and blessing.

That's Gunung Batur on the left, the caldera of water and the Pura is on the rim 

So, Jantuk picked Annie and I up early in the morning to go to Bunutan to "help" make the appropriate offerings to bring to the temple.   As you know from prior posts, I can help in only the smallest of ways, since I have not been cutting designs from bamboo, banana leaves or coconuts since I was 2 1/2 years old.  But, my enthusiasm never wanes.
Everyone was helping in the compound.

Auntie Never stops making offerings

these are just the "regular" cabang that we use for prayer ceremonies

Eldest cousin, Made is becoming a real stunner and she helped before going to school- These are WOVEN packets of special rice + herbs+ spices.

It was mainly Ayu's task of putting it all together, and we delighted in all of her handiwork.  Then she started to stab open the beautifully crafted packets of rice and I said "why Ayu".... well Annie finally pieced it together, "we need to make it easy for the Gods to open"! Well of course we do..... in all the temples there are umbrellas covering the heads of the Statues, so that the Gods will not get hot.     Notice the palm frond basket in the woven colorful basket.

N

Ya think this is easy, well there is a "WAY'" that everything must be placed + counted

Annie and Ayu packing the offerings, it's all done with that small but very sharp knife.

Annie doesn't know yet that we are going to carry these on our heads; only women must carry the offerings

We are all giddy and excited as we go over the questions and protocol.  "Dedik, is there anything I shouldn't do with the Priest?"  "Yeah, keep your feet off the table"

Working with Balinese is FUN (once you get used to the excuse, "cannot work, cannot come to meetings..... upacara in village tonight, tomorrow, next week, all month!")

The only retort to that is ,"Can I come?"

I asked Dedik what it meant to get his blessing, and Dedik said in his voice reserved for serious pedantry, "it means you must be committed". (there are always 2 meanings, the sekala (seen) and the niskala (unseen)..... and I always ask Dedik about the latter.

We climb away from the traffic and heat of Ubud, and see smaller villages and lots of abian (dry) farming and the majestic views. 

partial renovation of the temple

beauty

carving

Coincidentally, youth from Bunutan were there also, cleaning and helping as there will be a major upacara with Bunutan and Batur on the 17th (full moon), because they share a God together. Yes, I will be going to this all day and evening prayer fest.

Ganesha

Annie and I together

always creating beauty and function

We wait in the administrative offices, sitting on the floor, drinking coffee and tea.  Many of the Priest's assistants/administrators are present and participate in the meeting, all very interested and concerned.  It was spoken in Balinese, and even though I was directing the questions it was not until later that I received the transcript of what Jero Gde spoke about.  We spoke about ethics, philosophy and pragmatism. He gave us  suggestions and truly was engaged.
 It was wonderful to be in his presence . 
I don't think anyone  wanted to be anywhere else except doing what they were doing.  Annie filmed so that segments could be placed in the video that we are presenting to the subak.  It was very moving for all of us  to be there, as the talk was elevated and eloquent. The land is SO expensive here (can you believe more than almost anywhere in the U.S. except some major cities) that we need the return of spiritual component of Tri Hita Karana  for the farmers not to sell (and of course we will increase their income)

and the rains came

and continued for purification

Made and Jantuk are old friends- Made is Project Manager and Jantuk is Farmer Liaison for Sawah Bali

Yes, we are waiting to pray and be blessed

Then we went to pray and be blessed.  And the heavens opened up and we waited and waited.  Then we prayed..... and afterward, inwardly glowing...................................... we went to eat at another "Sari Organik" restaurant in Kintamani where we teased the guys that they had to eat red rice and organic!

travelin' woman