Bali, March 2018
A young Asian girl is sitting cross-legged on the grass, sipping from the deliciously sweet coconut in her lap. Her body is spent from a full day of yoga, dancing, singing and therapy, but a sense of peaceful contentment shines from her face. A soft smile reflects her inner joy and her relaxed demeanour is contagious. She is in a state of ‘satori’— untouched by the fluctuating waves that come from the dreaming mind.
My body exhales deeply as I tune into her profound sense of inner peace and relaxation. Nothing to do, nowhere to go. Everything is here. I see a radiant candle light up in the middle of her chest. Prajna … heart fulfilment. I reflect back to over ten years ago, when I first stepped into the Bali Spirit Festival and experienced the unique and magical, transformational opening offered here. …
I’m here, at a Bali Spirit promotional event, a few weeks before the festival kicks off. As with many gatherings in Bali, there is a profound mystical synchronisation between nature, people and incidents surrounding the occasion.
Symbolic of a magical natural cleansing, a huge rainstorm hits in the morning. It’s reflected on by the local high priest, who also introduces us to the sacredness of this island of the gods and the tangible spiritual vortex that we’re immersed in.
The “108 Sun Salutations” at the Yoga Barn are taking place at the back of the small studio. I am one of nine teachers invited to lead 12 sun salutations from a temporary stage, constructed at the base of the rice fields. It feels like an amphitheatre — with students on their mats, scattered on the grass terraces above us. The top terrace is just below the large studio, where a large group of cheerleaders has gathered.
Huge speakers face out towards the students — amplifying our immersion in the Surya Namaskar ritual of internally and externally bowing to the light within us. After each round of 12 sun salutations, a microphone is passed onto the next teacher, providing a welcome break. The music restarts. A new voice, a new rhythm and a new conversation with the audience. The energy builds and builds.
We have decided amongst ourselves to gradually increase the tempo before bringing it back down to a slower, more reflective pace in the final rounds. As the microphone comes to me — the seventh of nine teachers — it feels like the class is at its peak. As my round begins, the narrative in my mind disappears and is replaced by an untamed and unprecedented form of consciousness.
My hands reach up to sky with a full expression of Yes, followed by a folding forward to a quiet place within. Each round, my heart rises up to a fresh openness — meeting the unveiled chests in front of me. As we stand together after each sun salutation, our hands come together at the centre of our chests in Anjai Mudra. There is a profound sense of unity and contentment permeating through the crowd, well beyond the confines of spoken language.
At the final Corpse pose, it feels as though time has disappeared: I am flying in the open sky, with all my companions alongside me.
When we come back together, our eyes see right through — our hearts’ protection mechanisms have disappeared.
Prajna – the intelligence of the heart has been fully ignited. When prajna leads the way, we become untouchable. Unable to be provoked, it becomes a radiant wakefulness — a gift to take out into our world of various forms and relationships.
The Bali Spirit Festival is different every year. New people, a new location, new teachers and a new audience. However, the core celebration of unity always prevails. The entire island is changing all the time, but Prajna still remains.
The young Asian girl with the coconut on her lap is untouchable. Serenely sitting in a space of beauty and contentment. Prajna is an experience.
With love,
Gwyn
