We've come all this way not just to see the exotic Island of Bali but expressly for a 'shaking' mediation retreat at the Ratu Bagus Ashram. Richard was there last year and came home completely cured from a chronic sinus headache he'd had for years and committed to opening the practice to others. I had been shaking with him once a week since last September and felt like 10 years dropped off me from the very first day. Richard said he'd be going back in February and I said I wanted to come too.
I wavered in the interim months wondering if truly had the money, then in early January an experienced young shaker from Israel joined us. The radiant look of clarity in her eyes and her boldness in telling me to"make the decision and the money will come," did the trick and I booked my flight that very day.
So here we were, a day and a half in Ubud, and on our way on the narrow and rutted highway up, up, up from all the cities and villages into the foot of Mt Agung, the largest volcano in Bali and apparently one of the sacred sites of the world. The weather was cooler, though just as changeable as below, and the entrance to the ashram looked both majestic and ancient.
The place is like a temple compound that has been here for centuries though it’s actually only been built piece by piece in less than 20 years. The damp hot climate and the altitude make the perfect conditions for moss, which has served to age all the buildings, and structures, which are built of volcanic rock, cement, marble and ornamental, carved wood.
We've arrived in time for the second of three 2-hour shakes a day. Quickly settling in to our assigned rooms, the three of us from New York follow the others into the Taman, a large square sanctuary with hard tile floors and a grand and ornate altar. The edges of the room and the open second floor balcony are filled with beautiful painted statues and orate wooden sculptures of the Hindu dieties from Ganech to Hanuman and some Buddhist ones too. It is said the Balinese uniquely combine Hinduism and Buddhism.
And so I began my first long shake with about 50 others from all over Europe, some here for days and some for many months, and the Balinese men, women and children who I later come to know as the backbone of the place. My first roommate, Kati from Belgium, will be here till the end of the year. Being here almost a month as I plan to, is still a goodly amount. I begin rather lamely and soon realize this practice is surely not for the weak at heart. I'm amazed by the energy in the room and the full body intensity of the shaking going on to the blasting rhythmic music. Some people seem to literally fly through the air before landing on the hard floor in paroxysms of laughter and never get hurt. Ratu, the energy master who is the vision and reason for all of this, enters unbenounced and touches me lightly on the back just below my lowest rib and suddenly I get realigned and begin to find my stride. Then "Electric Ketut," as she is aptly called, comes by and stands right next to me with such high intensity shaking and arm waving saying words I don't quite understand but the gyst is unmistakeable: "Electric, electric, yes, yes, more, more!" I am completely wet with sweat in a few minutes and soon hope she will leave me for another victim so I can faint. I don't faint, but I am relieved to resume an easier rhythm to my nascent shaking as I survive the first long shake of my life.
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