Be like Kalot
Sometimes you meet someone, and suddenly everything adds up.
Such was the case with Kalot, our guide. Once he landed in Bali, he was waiting for us. Somewhere in his 30s, a cap on his head and flip-flops on his feet.
It can be quite exciting, just opening your heart to a stranger on the other side of the world, but with him it happened naturally. His relaxed attitude and the questions he asked us without judgement meant that our conversations soon deepened. He talked about his culture, how the Hindu faith is lived in Bali. We talked to him a lot, those first few days.
He explained that local Hindus do not live by scriptures, but through the experiences that pass in their lives. Not according to prescriptive beliefs, but through the ancient life wisdom of ancestors and spirits, which help you understand and live through life. An open and experiential way of life in which personal discovery, meditation, reflection and rituals are central. You may doubt, search and make mistakes, as long as you stay connected to spirit and your inner wisdom.
Nor do you have to ‘believe in something’ to live as a Hindu, Kalot told me. It's about how you live, what you learn from life, and how you come into balance with yourself, others and the universe. You embrace both good and evil spirits. You need both to move forward. The worldview is strongly linked to the cycles of nature, and these are often divided into three. Birth, life and death, for example. Sowing, growing and harvesting, and body, mind and soul.
Space for all
While listening, I was reminded of how we divided Wonders of Work into three zones: Nature, Consciousness and We. That triad, it feels right. For us, they are the three elements needed to live and move forward. From our (human) ‘Nature’, a zone where you find spaces with names like Earth, Sun and Roots. To ‘Consciousness’, the conscious connection with ourselves through spaces like The Reflection, The Source and of course ‘The James’, named after our pet dog, our one and only spirit animal that gives the location even more soul.
In the Hindu way of life, there is room for everyone, regardless of your origin and religion, says Kalot. Yes, nods Marcel and I, we totally agree. We also see this equality as an important value. You all need each other to move forward. That's why the last zone is called ‘We’, with spaces like Create, Wonder and Connect.
What goes around comes around
Kalot lives the kindness people here express to each other. Kalot believes in Karma, like everyone else here on the island. Good Karma and Bad Karma. That is why it is important to be kind to the people around you, even if you don't know them. Indeed, I noticed that everywhere Kalot went, he talked to everyone as if he had known them for years. No aloofness or serious looks, but always I saw an open gaze and an exchange of smiles.
He explained that everyone is always friendly to each other, able to help each other and you never talk ugly about anyone. Because then you are basically talking bad about yourself. ‘What goes around comes around.’ Hey, we know that one. We talked about our take on it and how we apply it in our business. ‘He who does good, meets good.’ ‘We are all born of the same light,’ we said. ‘Yes, we are all the same,’ Kalot exclaimed enthusiastically. With that thought, it's a lot easier to let go of judgement on another person.
Back in the Netherlands. We didn't really take Kalot with us in our suitcase, of course, but his spirit is still there every day. ‘Be like Kalot’, we say to each other. Curious look, warm smile. That works everywhere.
Um Swastiastu,
Esmee
