Picking up trash helps gods ‐ in Bali, Indonesia

When I first came to Indonesia, unlike Japan, my place of residence is not a tourist area, so garbage collection trucks did not come at all and there was no place to throw garbage. When I asked the locals about it, they told me to just throw it out there, so I ended up littering. I had always felt “guilty” at that time, which is why I joined “Clean Up! Bali” and started picking up trash.

There is a variety of trash. Also household garbage. Characteristically, there are also many offerings used during prayers. You can find a lot of them on this beach (Padanggala Beach). Particularly now, there is more than usual because it is before the Balinese New Year “Nyepi”. In Bali, there are many people who believe in Balinese Hinduism. They are very religious people, so the amount of offerings they use during prayers increases if the ceremony is big, and I feel that the amount of offerings is also increasing because of their respect for the gods who want to offer them properly and neatly. Plastic is also used now. It is like over-packaging in Japan.

It is always humans who destroy the earth. When it comes to humans, I believe that everything comes down to cause and effect, but when I see the creatures living in the places that we humans have polluted, I feel sorry for them. That is why I feel that we, who have destroyed the environment, have a responsibility to clean up the earth.

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Bali has seen a great increase in the number of people participating in garbage volunteer work. Bali’s garbage problem is serious, but this is a hope for the future.

The locals say that the cleanup activities are “helping gods (including the earth)” and they enjoy the activities. Of course, I do too. If people realize that religious teachings and environmental issues are connected, I believe that Bali’s garbage problem will be solved rapidly.

In Balinese Hinduism, there is a teaching called “Tri Hita Karana.”

This is the Balinese Hindu teaching that the happiest way for us human beings to live is to maintain a balance between the “three harmonies” of “people,” “people and nature,” and “people and gods.”

Living in Bali for many years, where customs, culture, language, and religion are different, I feel that the most important thing is to have “a heart of consideration and respect for each other. With this wonderful teaching in mind, I would like to continue working with the local people to help the island of Bali, where we are allowed to live, and the earth.