A day of silence

A day of silence

Amid the turmoil that is currently pervading this country and
the world, the Balinese and other Indonesians who adhere to the
Hindu Dharma faith across the archipelago, will tomorrow, on
April 2, once again be observing Nyepi -- that special day that
most international tourists to the island know as the Hindu
(Balinese) "day of silence".

In Bali civilian neighborhood wards known as pecalang will
guard public places and intersections to make sure that no fires
or lights are lit anywhere, no loud noises are made or
conversations held, no work is done, nothing amusing occurs and
no outings are held.

To the Balinese, and all the other adherents of the Hindu
Dharma faith elsewhere, however, those are only the outward
aspects of Nyepi. In essence, Nyepi -- the new year of the Saka
lunar calendar -- is a day of inward contemplation and
introspection, of cleansing one's mind and one's physical body
and of striving towards a better life.

It is a day of renewing one's intention to practice tolerance
and to resolve problems by peaceful means only, in accordance
with the Hindu philosophy of Tri Hita Karana, which strives
towards a harmonious relationship between man and his creator,
towards other human beings and towards the surrounding natural
environment. Every year, therefore, Nyepi is faithfully observed
on the island of Bali to remind mankind of the ongoing struggle
between good and evil and to make sure that dharma, or virtue,
which benefits mankind, will always have the upper hand over
adharma, or vice.

At present, as the Hindu community commemorate the breaking of
the new Saka year, it is well for the whole nation to acknowledge
the teachings of peace and tolerance -- not to mention literacy
-- that have been brought to these islands in the year 78 A.D. by
King Ajisaka, who the Balinese (and tradition-oriented Javanese)
believe to have laid the groundwork of not only the Hindu faith
on their islands, but of their indigenous culture as well.

Such teachings of peace, virtue and tolerance as expressed in
the observance of Nyepi should serve the nation well in these
troubled times. It fits the occasion that we wish the Balinese,
and all those others who subscribe to the Hindu Dharma faith, a
better year ahead and all the happiness that the practice of
dharma brings.