Research in Bali
The Trilogy (2009—2014)
Atma Ananda
© Atma Ananda, 2025
ISBN 978-5-0065-2228-2
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
Preface to the 2nd English edition
The trilogy was written directly in English a long time ago in 2009—2013 when I lived and worked in the island of Bali permanently. My original articles were published monthly in “Ubud Community” and “Sanur Community” magazines during almost five years.
Finally, three books “Kali – Bali” (2010), “Double Bali” (2012), and “Bubble Bali” (2014) were collected for publication on the American print-to-order service. Then the books appeared on the Amazon world trade network. The 1-st editions was illustrated by many pictures which are not used here.
The very idea of the trilogy is connected with my research interests as a philosopher and orientalist, which extend to both theoretical and practical aspects of Oriental culture. I was deeply merged into Balinese traditions grateful to my local colleagues.
Over the years, my English skills improved, especially since I professionally worked on translations from English into Russian, which was my earnings in those years, and subsequently became the basis for admission to the Russian Translators’ Union.
Preparing the second English edition through the Russian Ridero system, of course, it would be worthwhile to make a new translation of this book. However, due to the lack of time and the large number of new projects, I leave everything as it was, correcting only few obvious mistakes.
I hope that the sophisticated reader will forgive the imperfection of my early translations, paying more attention to the content that concerns eternal questions, and perhaps enjoy the specifics of the Russian mentality when transferring knowledge from East to West.
Kali – Bali
Time-Shift in Eternal Spirit
India – Indochina – Indonesia
Atma Ananda. India – Indochina – Indonesia: A Personal Way of Integration // “Ubud Community’ (Bali, Indonesia), №37 | Sep 2009.
I was born in Saint-Petersburg – the cultural capital of Russia, a beautiful city, famous world-wide for its elegant architecture and classic literature (especially Dostoevsky), and also well-known in academic community for serious oriental studies. After completing my education and getting three diplomas in related fields (western, social, and eastern philosophy) I worked as an editor in the state university, and learned to write both scholastic articles and popular books. Since many spiritual practices became popular at that time, I explored them intensively and as result traveled to their sources.
For five years my life in India was a mix of inspiring and challenging experiences. I was based on Rishikesh – an ancient Yogic town at the foot of the Himalayas where I visited many sacred Hindu temples following the paths of pilgrims. My philosophical background was broad enough so as to be able to include different styles of Yoga into my personal practice and to work with thirty-forty Indian teachers. I wrote twenty books on spirituality, and they were printed and reprinted in a total publication of hundred thousand copies (mostly in Russia and partly in USA and Europe).
Developing and feeling somewhat “cramped’ I left India and continued my researches through the whole of Indochina (visiting China too). Actually, centuries ago Indian culture itself spread in the same way, so I spent two years in order to assimilate this broader area which was mostly Buddhist. At that time I was based in Thailand, especially its northern monasteries and mediation centers spending my time in lengthy Vipassana retreats. Traveling all around, I observed ruins of Hindu-Buddhist temples like Angkor-Wat in Cambodia or Myson in Vietnam, finding alive analogue later in Bali.
My story manifests that by going to Indonesia I felt like not so much an individual as extensive “Space & Time’ in which was contained the great history and reality of Asia. However, the island of Bali was still a “gap’ in my inner cultural map. What I have found here is as amazing as a kind of “synthesis’ linking some separate parts together. You see, first Hinduism pushed Buddhism from India, later it was crushed by Buddhism in Indochina, but this contradiction was solved in Indonesia (Bali). It is remarkable because Indonesia played a role of alternative “Indo-China’ on seaway.
So, this Balinese combination of Hindu and Buddhist cultures is not just an original local phenomenon!!! The origin of Buddhism in ancient India 2500 years ago was basically reaction against Hindu Brahmanism which finally conquered in the spiritual battle. But contradiction just moved to Indochina where the greatest Hindu Empires (Khmer and Champa) tried to incorporate Mahayana Buddhism which came back from China. It worked for some centuries – not longer… Well, until now there are Hindu-Buddhist temples in Nepal – but quite few of them…
Balinese people found synthetic solution which works as a system during many centuries and still alive. The result is very important as a critical point for the whole of Asian history. Let me remind you that the great Buddhist master Atisha traveled to Indonesia in the 10-th century in order to learn Buddhism and bring back to India and Tibet while it was already integrated with Hinduism. The cycle was finished, and Balinese temples still preserve an orbit of cultural movement between India and China in form of the Hindu-Buddhist religion thereby becoming a unique centre of Asia.
This is the substance of specific non-duality which allows much other assimilation. One of the obvious examples is the family temple as an incorporation of local cults of ancestors. There is nothing similar in Indian Hinduism. Of course, Indians have some small altars inside of their homes but they are not visible from the outside while each traditional Balinese house looks like a temple. After all, I wasn’t too surprised seeing a characteristically Chinese temple with hieroglyphs inside of Pura Batur. Another subject is Indonesian Vipassana in the only Buddhist monastery in Bali. The main idea explains my personal decision to stop in Bali for a long time.
Contrast Experiences
Atma Ananda. Balinese Contrasting Experiences: Absolute Rest / High-Frequency Vibration // “Ubud Community’ (Bali, Indonesia), №38 | Oct 2009.
After spending two months in Ubud village I got new experiences with Balinese people who have shown me important aspects of this unique culture (in comparison with my basic Asian background). Although I have had many interesting meetings, I will emphasize here just three of the most remarkable subjects and personalities. So, we’ll talk about meditation (“rest’), trance (“vibration’), and art (or rather “resting vibration’).
Meditation – Absolute Rest.
My journalist friend asked me if I would like to see “real spiritual life’ in Bali. Of course! Then he introduced me to Agung Prana, a descendant of Raja Mengwi, and I had an opportunity to stay some days in his Taman Sari Spa (Pemuteran) which was arranged for meditation. Till that point I was of the opinion that the Balinese didn’t meditate except for an objective meditation during their daily ritual practice. But, surprisingly, Agung Prana told me about his actual link with Indian Adwaita Vedanta which is the purest traditional meditation in original Hindu culture.
He had accompanied a high priest, Ida Pedanda Gunung on his two visits to Ramana Maharshi’s ashram in India. Even more surprisingly, Indians had accepted them as missionaries from the Pure Land, as they call the island of Bali. Adwaita means non-duality or unity of Atman and Brahman into One Self which is absolutely restful. Everybody can feel calmness in the Balinese atmosphere itself. But Balinese cultural synthesis integrates life in a holistic way, and feeling grateful to Agung Prana again, I could see both sides of meditation in trance and in its balancing in art work.
Trance – High-Frequency Vibration.
One night we visited a cave temple where the guests of Agung Prana became witnesses of the