The Thinker: Honoring the Quiet Wisdom of Our Ancestors on Nyepi

Jakarta Globe, Ketut Suasti, March 16, 2010

With the passing of another Nyepi in Bali, we might take a moment to consider the holiday not only in its spiritual and psychological light, but also for its environmental significance.

On the day before Nyepi, or the Day of Silence, Hindus in Bali have a tradition of cleaning up both private and public places. This cleanup is twofold, addressing both the physical and spiritual realms. Physical cleaning naturally involves keeping the environment healthy, while spiritual cleansing addresses the darker elements of the human condition, casting out these elements to preserve the holiness of the Day of Silence.

The burning of o g oh- o g oh , or ogre effigies, after a cheerful parade has multiple messages for our modern lives. It symbolizes burning the bad traits of our human selves, warning us to avoid negative emotions and to control our greed, especially in terms of our income. The Balinese believe modern society has forgotten the wisdom of this old tradition, leaving many among us trapped in mental illnesses that have contributed to the rise in suicides, drug abuse and physical ailments such as hypertension and heart disease. If an unbalanced life leads us away from happiness, Nyepi is a reminder to return the balance.

To exercise control over mind and body, Nyepi imposes four rules: not to make fire (which includes not turning on lights or using electricity), not to eat or drink to excess, not to go anywhere and not to work. Following these rules is expected to spiritually affect the individual, but beneath that there are also some hidden messages for the environment.

First, by not making fire or turning on lights, energy is saved, be it in the form of electricity, LPG, kerosene or wood. If every Balinese family of means usually consumes 0.2 kilograms of LPG per day, some 2,700 kilograms of LPG will be saved on Nyepi. That number does not include the island’s hospitality industry, which consumes much more energy than ordinary families.

The lack of fire also means there is no carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as the result of burning. Air pollution in Bali, especially in Denpasar, is now at tragic levels. WWF Indonesia ranks Denpasar as the seventh most polluted urban area in Indonesia.

Bali is also freed from the noise pollution coming from the array of TVs and stereos at the many bars, cafes and karaoke establishments across the island.

By consuming less food and drink, less garbage is produced, especially the plastic packaging supplied by almost every food and drink seller. Bali produces 750 tons of plastic garbage every day, so the earth can be given a break for one day at least.

By not leaving the house, a fantastic amount of energy can be saved in the form of fuel for cars, motorbikes, airplanes and boats. There are more than 15 million vehicles in Bali — 85 percent of them motorcycles. If a motorcycle uses one liter of gasoline a day and a car uses five, then as much 24 million liters of gasoline can be saved. And this number doesn’t even include fuel used for industry.

Because offices across Bali are closed, most air-conditioners are also turned off, producing less CFCs.

If we picture Bali as a machine, then Nyepi is its annual overhaul, helping it to support the lives of its inhabitants more efficiently. The Balinese believe that if the mutual relationship between humans and the environment is properly maintained, the environment will contribute more to sustain our lives. Moreover, Balinese treat the environment as their mother and put it in the highest position of respect. They have to express their feelings of gratitude by controlling the exploitation or abuse of the environment, especially on Nyepi.

Thus, our ancestors were thinking about how to conserve the environment long before the endless rounds of worldwide conferences on saving the planet. The idea of “going green” in Bali is not merely a slogan but a long-held tradition.

The Balinese concept of Tri Hita Karana — maintaining harmony between God, human beings and the environment — is seen in many aspects of daily life, but it takes on special significance on the Day of Silence. Going green, even for just one day, contributes to a healthier planet. And it shows us that traditional beliefs contain no little wisdom in shaping our behavior to achieve a better quality of life, even if in this modern age they are sometimes forgotten.

Ketut Suasti is a Balinese writer and the manager of a recruitment agency on the island.