A Glimpse at the Beginning

It’s incredible to think that in a matter of a couple days you can be transported to a brand new country and a remarkable new adventure. This all did not happen in a very quick manner; rather, it took our group well over 24 hours to make the journey to Bali from our different beginnings. After two long flights we were greeted by an amazing culture. There is a different feel to life in Bali. It doesn’t feel rushed or strained, but rather calm and loving. At Pantai Mas, our housing for the next 9 days, there is a small poster that is present in the eating area. It talks about how Panatai Mas has no rules, only the presence of love, compassion and kindness. It goes on to talk about how here at Pantai Mas we are related to each other based on Truth (Dharma), Compassion (Karuna), Love (Tresna), Peace (Shanti), and No Violence (Ahimsa).
Without a doubt, I believe that these sentiments will stay with me forever and encapsulate what I want within life and how I hope to try and live my life. It is hard to understand how some people cannot grasp the ability to just live life without complaint and with love and kindness. The people in Bali emulate that ability. Those that we have met in the airport and through our hotel are some of the kindest people I have ever been able to talk to. They truly believe that kindness and truth will get them far in life, which is undeniably true. The posting goes on to talk about how there is only one religion, the religion of love. There is only one language, the language of the heart. There is only one caste, the caste of humanity. There is only one God, the Great Architect of the Universe.
My first few day here in Bali has been greeted with these beliefs and it inspires me to see what there is to come in the rest of our journey. If I learn nothing more, I have learned how I wish to live and what makes the world a brighter and happier place — this is something that only Bali could have shown me.