Nyepi

One of my favourite songs from Olafur Arnalds - nyepi :)

Today is Nyepi, which is a day celebrated by the Balinese to welcome the Balinese new year. It is not celebrated with a bang but instead, people go into isolation at their homes for 24 hours to fast and meditate. There is even no electricity! And even internet (correct me if I'm wrong here) for the whole day. Nyepi is totally my kind of holiday. I'll gladly lock myself at home to meditate for the whole day.

This year it seems like the world is joining in the Nyepi celebration with the Balinese, with many people isolating themselves by staying at home for social distancing and work from home, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is indeed some strange days we're living in. Anxious times and we're just swimming in the ocean of uncertainty. Perhaps it's a good idea to join in the Balinese today. To contemplate and think about whatever that has happened. And to calm our nervous minds down as well.

And also to send love to everyone who's battling the virus around the world. And not forgetting the doctors, nurses, medical and frontline workers who are braving themselves in this situation!

Wash your hands, be socially responsible, keep yourself healthy and stay safe.

Happy Nyepi everyone. 

Nyepi

So last Thursday was actually a holiday here. It is Nyepi, a day where the Balinese people celebrate the new Balinese year. But they don't celebrate it with a bang, like what we usually do. They celebrate it by observing a day of silence, meditation and contemplation. And damn that sounds like my kind of holiday! Haha. I seriously don't mind spending 24 hours doing those three things.

Well this is a random post but I think the world needs more "Nyepi days". I think it's good to just stay still, meditate and contemplate in silence. Once in a while. As an meditation practitioner, I've been enjoying my time sitting still in silence, observing my breath and chanting mantras. These days, I tried doing vipassana meditation and oh my goodness it's tougher than I thought! Haha.

I kinda realise that as I grow older, I become a quieter person. It's fun to stay silent and observe everything that comes "into" you. Be it the words that another person is saying, the thoughts that come to your mind and essentially, the emotions that you feel. I'm far from being fully aware, but getting there.

Anyway, wishing a happy Balinese New Year to the people of Bali.

And all in all I think the world needs more Nyepi days.

because we live in a world that never stops talking.