What Religion, Spiritual Tradition, or Culture are the most drawn to?

[Greg Roach]

Different places attract each of us differently - which are the ones that you're all the most drawn to?

[Greg Roach]

For myself I love how utterly open, welcoming and accepting Balinese hinduism is toward outsiders.

I love Greek, Russian and Eastern Orthodox Christianity - in Bulgaria, Bosnia, Serbia, Greece, Macedonia - even though they don't seem to be very tolerant of outsiders. I love the iconography of the Eastern church and the way that light and dark are archi-spiritual elements in Orthodox Cathedrals.

I am deeply intrigued by the Coptic religion in Egypt. It is a fascinating syncretic form of Christianity that brings us close as we can get to the ancient temples (and the sound of ancient Egyptian) in the modern world.

I love the multi-layered wackiness of Wiltshire and Southern England: Druids, Arthur, Pagans, Faeries, Avalon, etc.

[Marinspin]

Indian is the first country that comes to mind for me - I heard my most recent past life was there. I like the music, yoga and Ayurvedic Medicine. The one time I was heading to India (Goa for Xmas) I ened up getting caught up in Nepal instead so have never been to Indian yet..

The country I have spent the most time in outside the USA is Bali. At the moment I have no desire to return there again. I feel like it was paradise in the 70's and since it has become over populated and over built and has not changed for the better. I also like the Tibetan culture and the Nepali culture. I feel like I have had a past life in Mexico and perhaps Central America and the Andes.

[Greg Roach]

Thanks for sharing this! I've heard that Bali has changed quite a bit since the 1970's - but I have to say that, for me, compared to of lot of places in the states, it still has an idyllic quality to it that I really respond to.

Nice to meet you and welcome!

peace
Greg

Marinspin said:

Indian is the first country that comes to mind for me - I heard my most recent past life was there. I like the music, yoga and Ayurvedic Medicine. The one time I was heading to India (Goa for Xmas) I ened up getting caught up in Nepal instead so have never been to Indian yet..

The country I have spent the most time in outside the USA is Bali. At the moment I have no desire to return there again. I feel like it was paradise in the 70's and since it has become over populated and over built and has not changed for the better. I also like the Tibetan culture and the Nepali culture. I feel like I have had a past life in Mexico and perhaps Central America and the Andes.

[Marinspin]

Last time I was in Bali was in 2005. I was honestly rather disgusted with many of the changes I encountered and decided to not stay (I had thought about moving there until I actually arrived back in Bali). The last straw for me was I was eating in a cafe near the beach with friends and someone violently kicked a sick dog almost killing it.

For me Bali has seen much better days. Sure there are still some nice places and people there but after going there a lot in the 70's it is just not the same for me anymore. I wish I had not gone back in 2005 and just kept my old magical memories of the island intact. The use of very young children as prostitutes and an abundance of sex for sale with it often in your face is not something I want to see on a daily basis. The island is way more touristy and crowded than ever before and the places I once liked to go to like Tirta Ganga are now trashed. The constant noise of so many motorbikes and all night night clubs and the constant remodeling of or building of or tearing down of hotels gets to one. Maybe Ubud is quieter but I like to stay by the beach and boogie board and go to yoga at Prana. So many rice fields and bamboo forests are gone too replaced by homes. So many people have moved from Java to Bali for the tourist trade it takes away from some of the charm the island once held. The over use of television and cell phones on the island takes away from some of the magic as well. I use to like living with no electricity, you could hear the frogs at night and see the fireflies.

[Marinspin]

Maybe I am spoiled. I live in a very beautiful peaceful and quiet area of the USA.

[Greg Roach]

You sure do!

Marinspin said:

Maybe I am spoiled. I live in a very beautiful peaceful and quiet area of the USA.

[Greg Roach]

Perhps it's a matter of where on the island you are these days - what you describe from the 70's is pretty much my experience over the past few years - of course we stay in the country outside of Ubud. Kuta and Jimbaran were pretty obnoxious and touristy - but I found a lot of the rest of the island to be wonderful. And the north side of island is still quiet and less developed. The only aggressive behavior I ever saw was from poor Javanese vendors - never from a Balinese. And I certainly never saw any prostitutes (especially child prostitutes?!) or "sex for sale." and I've visited a good part of the island.

You know - drive an hour south of idyllic Marin, and what do you get?

Peace!

Greg

Marinspin said:

Last time I was in Bali was in 2005. I was honestly rather disgusted with many of the changes I encountered and decided to not stay (I had thought about moving there until I actually arrived back in Bali). The last straw for me was I was eating in a cafe near the beach with friends and someone violently kicked a sick dog almost killing it.

For me Bali has seen much better days. Sure there are still some nice places and people there but after going there a lot in the 70's it is just not the same for me anymore. I wish I had not gone back in 2005 and just kept my old magical memories of the island intact. The use of very young children as prostitutes and an abundance of sex for sale with it often in your face is not something I want to see on a daily basis. The island is way more touristy and crowded than ever before and the places I once liked to go to like Tirta Ganga are now trashed. The constant noise of so many motorbikes and all night night clubs and the constant remodeling of or building of or tearing down of hotels gets to one. Maybe Ubud is quieter but I like to stay by the beach and boogie board and go to yoga at Prana. So many rice fields and bamboo forests are gone too replaced by homes. So many people have moved from Java to Bali for the tourist trade it takes away from some of the charm the island once held. The over use of television and cell phones on the island takes away from some of the magic as well. I use to like living with no electricity, you could hear the frogs at night and see the fireflies.

[Bonnie Zimmermann]

Hi,

Since 2003 and now I have probably been to Bali and Indonesia 12-15 times as it is my port of entry to both Maluku and West Papua where I lead eco-expeditions for an Indonesian NGO. There are still many wonderful, peaceful and spiritual places in Bali - but away from the tourists and craziness. Although in the big cities in Eastern Indonesia there have been clashes between the Muslims and Christians since 1999, when you are out in the islands everyone lives peacefull together - all though they may espouse that they are one religion or another -- that mostly they all are part of the adat, the ancient practices, which is still based on animism.

On the northern tip of West Papua is Manokwari -- and from there you can proceed to Arfak Mountain -- a pristine environment and untouched Papuan villages. There and on the Island of Seram in the canopy is where my spirituality remains.

There is a cruelty to Indonesia but it is not done with intent, it is out of ignorance. There are so many millions of people just trying to stay alive, feed their families and live their lives. My project there works at the grassroots level to stop the trapping and trading of endangered species -- I've been undercover in the illegal markets in Jakarta and Surabaya and know that there is very little respect for life at the commercial level, but when actually "on the ground" and in the village they have a great respect for their planet and surroundings.

I'm heading to Arfak in November ... cannot wait.

Marinspin said:

Last time I was in Bali was in 2005. I was honestly rather disgusted with many of the changes I encountered and decided to not stay (I had thought about moving there until I actually arrived back in Bali). The last straw for me was I was eating in a cafe near the beach with friends and someone violently kicked a sick dog almost killing it.

For me Bali has seen much better days. Sure there are still some nice places and people there but after going there a lot in the 70's it is just not the same for me anymore. I wish I had not gone back in 2005 and just kept my old magical memories of the island intact. The use of very young children as prostitutes and an abundance of sex for sale with it often in your face is not something I want to see on a daily basis. The island is way more touristy and crowded than ever before and the places I once liked to go to like Tirta Ganga are now trashed. The constant noise of so many motorbikes and all night night clubs and the constant remodeling of or building of or tearing down of hotels gets to one. Maybe Ubud is quieter but I like to stay by the beach and boogie board and go to yoga at Prana. So many rice fields and bamboo forests are gone too replaced by homes. So many people have moved from Java to Bali for the tourist trade it takes away from some of the charm the island once held. The over use of television and cell phones on the island takes away from some of the magic as well. I use to like living with no electricity, you could hear the frogs at night and see the fireflies.

[Greg Roach]

Wow Bonnie - thanks so much for sharing your experiences and your observation. And thanks, most of all, for the work you're doing. It is so important and I can imagine that it's both difficult and potentially dangerous.

I know that there is a difficult reality on the ground in many parts of the world - Indonesia being one. The revelations of John Perkins, for instance, are enough to make your blood boil over the injustices that the developed world has inflicted on those places and peoples.

But there is both good and bad everywhere - I mean hey, I live in LA, there's a lot of bad I could choose to focus on right here - so like you, I try and focus on the positive, beautiful, uplifting and spiritual aspects of a place and its people - those things too, are found everywhere.

Thank you so much for your inspiring words!

Much Peace and Many Blessings to All

Greg



Bonnie Zimmermann said:

Hi,

Since 2003 and now I have probably been to Bali and Indonesia 12-15 times as it is my port of entry to both Maluku and West Papua where I lead eco-expeditions for an Indonesian NGO. There are still many wonderful, peaceful and spiritual places in Bali - but away from the tourists and craziness. Although in the big cities in Eastern Indonesia there have been clashes between the Muslims and Christians since 1999, when you are out in the islands everyone lives peacefull together - all though they may espouse that they are one religion or another -- that mostly they all are part of the adat, the ancient practices, which is still based on animism.

On the northern tip of West Papua is Manokwari -- and from there you can proceed to Arfak Mountain -- a pristine environment and untouched Papuan villages. There and on the Island of Seram in the canopy is where my spirituality remains.

There is a cruelty to Indonesia but it is not done with intent, it is out of ignorance. There are so many millions of people just trying to stay alive, feed their families and live their lives. My project there works at the grassroots level to stop the trapping and trading of endangered species -- I've been undercover in the illegal markets in Jakarta and Surabaya and know that there is very little respect for life at the commercial level, but when actually "on the ground" and in the village they have a great respect for their planet and surroundings.

I'm heading to Arfak in November ... cannot wait.

[Greg Roach]

Thank you - a very interesting perspective - I agree about a universal "religion!"

Architect x said:

hello friends ,,i born into orthodox christian counrty ,studied two years the vocalist spiritual music as is the evolution of the ancient greek,,i like this sound n as i play some ancient instruments it was nesesery to have some educate(i dident finish this school),,i m also reading the book of lao tzu n i really like this spirit ,, also reading a book of Plato (TIMAIOS) in this book i founded the cosmotheory bout X ,the symbol is Hellenic n it has really deep meaning ,the father of the universe OO,,so that makes me be more focus to play the Xchord,the book came to me after my creation,,i m not fanatic to any religion ,,i m open minded ,modern ,i know that the studie of history can help as to go forward, i ll be glad if once we ll all agree to one religion n god ,,,