EXQUISITE and peaceful. In a luxurious villa in Bali surrounded by lush tropical gardens, Pak Wayan is a gardener who has worked for years to maintain the natural beauty and gardens around the villa. One day, he saw that the shady branches of a frangipani tree were stretching too long and floating above the roof of one of the villa units. Worried that the branches might break or disturb the guests, he decided to trim the branches.
Pak Wayan, skillfully, cut the branches that were considered dangerous and cleaned up the scattered leaves. He felt relieved after completing his work and did not realize that the frangipani tree was actually not just any tree; since long ago, the tree has been known by local residents as a sacred place, where next to it there is bebaturan, a sacred place in the form of stones on a pedestal, which is believed to be an abode of the spirit guarding the tree.
That night, Pak Wayan started to feel feverish. His body temperature was getting higher and he could not urinate. Therefore, the next day, he was taken to the hospital. After undergoing a series of examinations, the doctor found no clear cause for his illness. For urinating, he must be installed with urinary catheter. For days, Pak Wayan remained feverish with no signs of improvement, until on the fifth night he had a strange dream.
In his dream, Pak Wayan saw an old man who looked wise, dressed all in white and exuding a peaceful aura. The man was a holy man, perhaps a ‘pemangku,’ a revered spiritual figure in Bali. The holy man spoke to him gently,
“Son, before doing any pruning or cleaning around the frangipani tree, you should have asked permission from the bebaturan shrine near the frangipani tree. They were disturbed because they were not informed.”
Pak Wayan was stunned in his dream, feeling guilty and confused. The holy man then gave him instructions, “Make an offering of apology to the bebaturan in that place. Tomorrow, ask for holy water (tirta) and sprinkle it on the tree and yourself. That way, the residents of the bebaturan will be calm.”
The next morning, when he woke up, Pak Wayan immediately told his dream to his family and the villa management, who then rushed to meet the local priest. They apologized in front of the frangipani tree and asked for holy water.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Pak Wayan’s family sprinkled holy water on his body, while praying for his speedy recovery. A miracle happened — within a few hours, Pak Wayan felt his body begin to feel lighter and his temperature slowly dropped. The next day, exactly on the sixth day, the doctor declared that his condition had recovered and he was allowed to go home. His urinary catheter could have been removed.
Since then, Pak Wayan always remembers to respect every creature around him, including those that are invisible. The experience taught him to always be careful and ask permission before doing any activities in places within the villa area. He returned to the villa with a deep sense of gratitude, promising to continue to maintain a harmonious relationship with nature and all the creatures that live in it.
Pak Wayan’s experience is a valuable lesson, not only for him, but also for all of us as readers who want to understand more deeply the local traditions and beliefs of Bali.
In Balinese culture, nature is not just a beautiful view or resource; nature is home to living creatures and supernatural beings that live side by side with humans. Every large tree, old rock, or certain natural place is often believed to be the abode of a respected guardian spirit.
For the Balinese, respecting invisible creatures is a form of gratitude and appreciation for nature. Through this tradition, they maintain a harmonious relationship between humans and nature. This is manifested through simple ceremonies such as ‘segehan’ (small offerings for lower beings) or asking for permission before carrying out activities that might disturb the balance or tranquility of nature, such as cutting down trees, digging the ground, or even cleaning certain areas.
Lessons from local wisdom
Pak Wayan’s story reminds us of the importance of ‘matur piuning,’ which is the tradition of asking for permission or blessings from the shrine in the work environment before carrying out any work that touches nature, especially in places considered sacred or potentially inhabited by supernatural beings.
By doing this ‘piuning,’ the Balinese believe that they can avoid unwanted things, such as sudden illness or other disturbances, and ensure that the activity receives blessings and protection from the universe.
In addition, another lesson that we can learn from Pak Wayan’s experience is the importance of respecting local wisdom. For those who live in or visit Bali, understanding and respecting these traditions is a way to help maintain the balance and harmony of life, which for the Balinese people is not just a matter of personal needs.
Respecting nature and its contents, and maintaining harmony with the supernatural beings believed to reside in it, is one form of cultural preservation that is full of deep philosophy about the relationship between humans and nature.
Pak Wayan’s story teaches us that preserving nature means respecting all the elements in it — both visible and invisible. This is ancient wisdom that is still very relevant and teaches us to be humble and respect nature wherever we are. (*)
