architecture of the spirit

About a month ago ketut mentioned that his father would like to have a nice bale (kind of like a gazebo) at the house where activities connected to "higher" spheres could be done there; like playing music on the gamelon, meditating, and preparing the daily flower offerings. I happily seconded the idea since I love sitting in a bale, and spent over a year just sitting in one that looked out at the sea, and would draw and meditate and play music there. Ketut asked around to find a carpenter, and hired him. We didn't speak about details, just the size and the kind of wood and where it would be, and that it would have a tiled roof.

There are many bales in bali. They range from the very simple to the very extravagant. I love the simple ones with the palm leaf roof, that looks like a thatch roof, but agreed that the terracotta one was more practical and also nice. The carpenter promised that within the month it would be ready, and the work began. I sat out on the porch each day the workers came, enjoying seeing how they work together, and the unique problem solving solutions they come up with to measure straight lines and to see if something is balanced. The tools were minimal and primitive and makeshift. The result was first class. That is what ketut ordered; a top quality bale.

Each time another phase of the bale was completed I was a bit surprised and not quite sure it was my taste too, but tried to go with the flow. Everything seemed a bit too fancy for me with my primitive taste. The final finish was the roof. What started off as a simple terra cotta roof turned into one done in the uniquely Balinese style, all because of one element; that it had "wings"!

So what I realized today while they were completing the roof was that the architecture that I know from the western world, is all about "me".  It is very grounded and has to do with here on earth. And other than the four elegant wooden carved pillars that make up the bale, it is the roof which gives the tone. So with a pointed roof covering the two meter square bale, a beautifully carved cement "crown" is placed on the tip, which has an additional point to it straight up to the sky. And as the four angles of the roof come downwards, they end with a kind of 'fling" to them which is like wings, and at these four points of the end of the roof, are added beautifully carved cememt "wings" which gives an upward movement to the entire bale.

I kept looking at the sudden difference that the wings and crown made as soon as they were added.. And it was then that I realized that this typical Balinese style, reflects the natural world view of Hinudism with god and the souls and the spirits, playing a major role in their lives. This elegant bale has nothing to do with "me"! it is a place that links heaven and earth. It is something that one feels just by being in the presence of these architectural elements, without it being expressed with religious sculptures or paintings. It is found on their homes and temples, offerings, and ceremonial clothing. Everything looks very simple, but in fact it is all with a message that everything is connected to something higher than just this physical world. The surroundings invite one to rise up just a little bit and experience a finer energy, while living in the here and now.