On June 30th I arrived in Bali at the invitation of Ven. Vijaya and his family. Ven. Vijaya is a native of Bali who ordained eight years ago in Burma with Sayadaw U Pandita. After one night in Denpasar we travelled to Ven. Vijaya's mother's native village of Baturiti, 45 km north of Denpasar on the main road to Singharaja. We arrived in time for the meal offering followed by a ceremony to bless the creation of the new Buddha Image for the recently constructed Dhammadana Vihara.
Ven. Vijaya's mother and family are planning to build a meditation centre adjacent to the temple and also to create a forest monastery nearby on the edge of the village. The village is in the hills at 800 meters elevation with very comfortable temperatures, although it is said to get as low at 15C in August.
We resided in Baturiti for four days in a small Sangha residence of several 'luxurious' bamboo huts (with attached running water bathroom) in the local Chinese cemetery. Very conveniently the ceremony hall next to the crematorium served as a sheltered meal-serving area and lodging for the two lay men residing with us.
Ven. Vijaya had already resided here for one Rains Retreat and taught the supporting Buddhist families to offer food during the traditional almsround. Thus at 9am we made our way along the busy street where some 30-40 people of all ages waited to make offerings. Needless to say there was abundant food offered, so much so that we need four attendants to help transport the offerings back to the residence.
Since we were already on the road north, one afternoon we journeyed over the mountains to the oldest Buddhist Monastery in Bali, Brahma Vihara, outside of Singharaja on the north coast. This is a very ornate structure of stone with many carved figures and a newer addition with a small imitation of the Borobadur stupa. This monastery has for many years been used as a venue for meditation retreats by Burmese monks and at the time a Burmese monk was leading a retreat for young people.
On Friday morning we traveled to Studio Bhavana, Sanur for the meal offering and to reside for the weekend of teaching there and at Shakyamuni Vihara in Denpasar. I gave a very well-attended talk to the Buddhist Youth Group at Shakyamuni Vihara, another to the Buddhist Women's Group at Studio Bhavana and then the Sunday morning Dhamma Talk at Shakyamuni Vihara.
The remaining few days of my visit we were very generously hosted in Ubud at the home of one of Ven. Vijaya's friends. There we had Dhamma discussion with various people and two short but much-appreciated meditation sessions.
Before my departure on July 10th, Ven. Vijaya's extended family offered the meal and expressed their appreciation for Dhamma teachings and the opportunity to serve the Sangha. It is very inspiring to see such devotion to Dhamma, and such commitment to generosity, morality and meditation as exemplified by Ven. Vijaya's family, and also by the many devoted Buddhists in Bali.
Many fruitful conditions are already present in Bali. Hopefully the Buddhists there will continue to practice the Dhamma for their increasing welfare and that of all sentient beings.
(Photos 1 & 3 by Sila Tejakalyani, photo #2 by Ko Khema)
