Thread by @GlHindu

Halal tourism for Bali, is it suitable?

It’s so happening (again!) about “halal tourism” for Bali. Before we go to the conclusion, lets find out what are the main values of Bali Tourism.

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What makes Bali so missed? What makes Bali so unique and different from the others? Honestly, if it is about the sea, Maldives is definitely more beautiful. If it is about mountain, canyons and waterfalls, Niagara is clearly incomparable.

Maybe a little different is the rice fields with the typical terraces. But that's not much.

So what?
That is TAKSU.

TAKSU is honey produced through the spiritual life and daily social behavior of Balinese people.

In Bali, there are no inanimate objects. In Bali, all are "alive". Trees, rocks, mountains, seas, lakes, all were given offerings and invited to talk. There are special days to make offerings and presents of prayer for all iron equipments.

There are special days for making offerings and prayers for all plants. On that day, the plants were given "clothes", invited to talk and pray. There are special days to make offerings and prayers for all animals.

On that day, animals are treated like human birthdays, given the best food, invited to talk and pray. This religious practice, when viewed from the perspective of other beliefs, will definitely be called polytheist, the greatest sin.

But for Balinese Hindu, that is the portrait of the Tri Hita Karana concept, harmony, and the balance of human-God, humans-humans, and human-nature relations. That is a form of honesty and equal friendship with fellow beings, and even with God.

Because in our, Balinese pantheism belief, humans are not slaves of God, but a part of God : “Sarvam khalv idam Brahman”. Once a year, at the turn of the year Caka is celebrated as Nyepi (the only Hindu holiday).

The harmony is celebrated with full silence, through "Catur Brata Penyepian" (“Amati geni”, do not light fire as a symbol of keeping the lust and ego. “Amati karya”, no work, to give rest to our body and the universe. “Amati lelungan”, do not travel, stop the noise, pollution.

“Amati lelanguan”, do not have fun - do brata and meditation only). Bali is pitch dark, apparent death, for a day. The best moment for humans to contemplate. Not only in personal relationships with the creator, but also in the context of relations between people and nature.

Because it is done consistently, sincerely, from the bottom of the heart for hundreds of years ago, then the nature catches the vibrations & responds with the frequency of harmony. The frequency that spreads through the air we breathe, the leaves we touch, the water where we wash

Nature is not an inanimate object. Nature is a living thing. For spiritual persecutor, they will understand this clearly. In Hinduism, the constituent substances of the body have no different from the substances which built nature, called Panca Maha Butha.

Then the body is called the bhuana alit (small universe), the universe is called the bhuana agung (great universe). Because it is composed of the same substance, both of them are very easy to influence each other, both in positive and negative terms.

Zodiac is one manifestation of the influence of nature on human behavior. In Bali, it is known as “dowasa ayu”, a good day, which is a combination of several calculations of “the nature of each day” (dwi, tri, catur, panca, sad, sapta and asta wara).

The calculations are complicated and complex, but that is the norms of human relations with nature. When humans knock on the doors of nature with sincerity, nature opens itself by spreading the frequency of harmony. That is TAKSU of Bali. That is what makes Bali different.

That is the power that makes Bali always missed.

Then, with that condition, is it suitable that halal tourism labels for Bali? If it's just halal tourism, it certainly suitable.

Brothers who are Muslim have the right to get conditions that are in line with their beliefs, as all adherents of religion have the right to be facilitated so that they can carry out their beliefs properly, both in terms of food and worship. But Balinese people are open people.

Take it easy, bany. In Bali there is no equivalent of "unbeliever" words. We call Muslims as "nyama selam", means "Islamic family". There is the word "family" there. If there is a celebration, we usually provide 3 separate menus: general, vegetarian and non-pork.

This has been a long tradition. I myself do not know, who taught the Balinese about tolerance. But in my opinion, whoever is the ancestor who taught it, he must be the best teacher. "Warung Muslim" is everywhere; on the contrary there will be no "warung Hindu" in Bali.

The mosque is spread around; every 30 minutes’ walk will find at least 1 mosque. Just many days before I read the news of the Badung Regency Government giving 3 billion donation for the construction of a mosque in the area.

So?

In my opinion, just keep up with the conditions and facilities, there is no need for labeling. The Bali brand as a religious tourism destination and cultural tourism has been very strong. Bali does not need a new brand. Bali is also not acquisitive to win all brands.

Bali has limited capacity. Cultural tourism requires sufficient space so that people who create that culture have enough space to creation processess. Many other areas need a brand and will more suitable between the crown and the body. Let’s say NTB, Aceh, or Puncak.

The regions certainly need development equity. To those areas, halal tourism energy should be directed. Much more suitable than giving that label for Bali tourism which is based on statues, the smell of incense, flowers offerings and sexy women with “gebogan” on their heads.

Now all of you can try to pay close attention to the picture above. How can you give “halal” label on the picture, and on that activity ?