The Three Questions
When I walk down the streets of Ubud or take long walks on Bali roads I am asked three questions when I happen upon a local: “Where do you stay? Where are you going? Where are you from?”
In the beginning I answered truthfully. Once I realized these were the only questions asked of me I wanted to engage my new brothers and sisters a little more deeply. When asked, “Where do you stay? I responded by pointing to my heart. I answered “I don’t know to “Where are you going?” To the question: “Where are you from?” I smiled, pointing my right index finger up to the sky.
These answers solicited surprise, big smiles, laughter and occasional meaningful dialog.
This line of response lasted a few months until I simply got bored with the same questions. It felt as if I was in the Jim Carey movie Ground Hog Day. In that film Jim’s character experiences the same day over and over and over again. Gradually I chose to smile in response and continued on my ‘jalan jalan’ (walking walking).
Now, with space, time and a deepening of my relationship with myself in relation to Balinese culture, I arrive at a new place in response to these same questions. I learn that one reason these questions are asked is so the person asking the question understands your place and his/her place. It not only will determine the language tense the questioner uses with you but it allows for a trust and security that each of us are in our place. “Oh, a strange looking foreigner is walking through my village. She does not belong on the island, nor to my Banjar, yet for me to experience myself in relationship to this person and confirm my place in the order of life I want to know where she is from, where she is going and where she stays.”
Balinese life is highly structured. The Balinese thrive on a hierarchical social caste system. They also believe the Universe has its own clear, definite order. Balinese allow for the mystery that is the magic behind and permeating this cosmic pattern to reveal itself within the ordered activities of daily life.
Now when I am on my jalan jalan and these questions arise I find them comforting. When I hear : “Where do you stay?” My heart opens. I recognize that this question has served as a mantra. “Where do you stay?” I stay in my heart. When I stay in my heart my breath slows down. I walk slowly, feeling the earth under my feet. My mind empties of its ceaseless chatter. I feel fiercely connected to my intuitive heart knowing.
I am aware that many times when asked “Where are you going?” my inner rebel silently responded with: “None of your business!” A sure sign for me to take an inside look at what this rebel was truly feeling. I snooped around to discover my insecurity at not knowing exactly where I am headed in life. Once I gave myself permission to ‘not know’ I began to experience myself completely at ease with simply, deliciously existing here and now. I was not going anywhere, and I had not been anywhere. I am here, I am now. My life gained a lot more freedom and direction with not knowing where I am going. I now practice trust in my intuitive heart knowing and allow my life to effortlessly unfold.
The question “Where are you from?” solicited a cosmic answer: “I originated as a divine spark of Light arising from the vast pregnant void of the Universe.” Sounds as if I am a star nebula bursting aflame and taking my rightful place in the Milky Way.
However this answer anchors me into the earth, into my heart and into the here and now. I experience myself as this lightening rod receiving the divine spark of inspiration and grounding it into my heart. I then muck my way through resistances to breakthrough into bright revelations creating earthly manifestations. Be the star that you are.
There is a divine order within every moment of existence. When we drop knowing where we are going we begin to move forward in trust, with grace and ease. We begin to nourish faith in our divine birthright of place in this cosmic order. Each of us exists unique unto ourselves. There has never been another you or me until now. Oh, your soul has incarnated through lifetimes, yet maybe you were a lion, or a man, or a woman; a soldier, a President, a Zen monk or a high priestess. Yet here you are, here and now, uniquely you showing up on stage to take your place in this cosmic earthly existence.
Where do you stay? In my heart
Where are you from? I originated as a divine spark of Light arising from the vast pregnant void of the Universe.
Where are you going? I am here, I am now
In Sanskrit the word for trust means ‘breathe easy’.
Breathe easy as you take your jalan jalan around Bali. Embody this trust. Take it home as a souvenir.
Om Swastyastu
