2922: 6 Life Lessons from a Balinese Offering by Rachel Shanken of MindBodyWise on Mindfulness Practice

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[00:00:38] [SPEAKER_00]: This is Optimal Living Daily, Episode 2922, 6 Life Lessons from a Balinese Offering by

[00:00:45] [SPEAKER_00]: Rachel Shanken of MindBodyWise.com and your narrator Justin Malik reading you blogs every

[00:00:50] [SPEAKER_00]: single day of the year including holidays.

[00:00:52] [SPEAKER_00]: So with that, let's get right to it as we optimize your life.

[00:01:00] [SPEAKER_00]: 6 Life Lessons from a Balinese Offering by Rachel Shanken of MindBodyWise.com

[00:01:07] [SPEAKER_00]: I just returned from a yoga vacation in Bali.

[00:01:10] [SPEAKER_00]: It was an amazing, magical and beautiful trip on so many levels.

[00:01:15] [SPEAKER_00]: One of the most striking aspects of Bali is its people.

[00:01:19] [SPEAKER_00]: They are kind and they smile often.

[00:01:22] [SPEAKER_00]: They are generous and warm.

[00:01:24] [SPEAKER_00]: They take time and care in all they do.

[00:01:26] [SPEAKER_00]: They don't rush.

[00:01:27] [SPEAKER_00]: They work hard.

[00:01:29] [SPEAKER_00]: They do even the most mundane tasks with pride, dedication and authentic connection with themselves,

[00:01:35] [SPEAKER_00]: with others and with something beyond humanity.

[00:01:39] [SPEAKER_00]: Whether you go to the jungles and rice paddies of Tabanin, to the city of Ubud or to the

[00:01:44] [SPEAKER_00]: beaches of Kandidasa, you will see and at some point accidentally step on Balinese

[00:01:49] [SPEAKER_00]: offerings.

[00:01:51] [SPEAKER_00]: These offerings called Chanang Saadi, Chanang roughly translated as basket of flowers and

[00:01:56] [SPEAKER_00]: saury meaning essence, are hand-sized, origami-like, carefully constructed open boxes made of

[00:02:03] [SPEAKER_00]: palm or banana leaves and most commonly filled with bright fresh flowers.

[00:02:08] [SPEAKER_00]: Each flower is selected for its color and each color has a specific significance.

[00:02:14] [SPEAKER_00]: Occasionally money, a small bit of food or a burning incense stick is placed on

[00:02:18] [SPEAKER_00]: top of the offering.

[00:02:19] [SPEAKER_00]: In almost all Hindu homes and temples, new offerings are set out every day.

[00:02:24] [SPEAKER_00]: These Chanang Saadi offerings are truly everywhere.

[00:02:28] [SPEAKER_00]: The sidewalks, streets, stairwells, ledges and temples are patterned with them no

[00:02:33] [SPEAKER_00]: matter where you go.

[00:02:35] [SPEAKER_00]: There's so much devotion and beauty on this island it's inspiring.

[00:02:39] [SPEAKER_00]: Why so many offerings?

[00:02:41] [SPEAKER_00]: Besides looking pretty and filling the air with a sweet aroma, the ancient ritual

[00:02:46] [SPEAKER_00]: of the Chanang Saadi carries deep significance and meaning.

[00:02:49] [SPEAKER_00]: The offerings are a sacred form of gratitude for what is and a wish for peace and abundance

[00:02:54] [SPEAKER_00]: in the world.

[00:02:56] [SPEAKER_00]: They are a representation of the Balinese people's devotion to their Hindu gods but

[00:03:00] [SPEAKER_00]: at the core, these offerings are so much more.

[00:03:03] [SPEAKER_00]: The time and effort taken to prepare the Chanang Saadi offerings honor a daily

[00:03:08] [SPEAKER_00]: ritual of self-sacrifice, a spirit of thankfulness, and a significant attention

[00:03:12] [SPEAKER_00]: to detail.

[00:03:14] [SPEAKER_00]: The creation of these modest offerings model the generosity, faith and devotion

[00:03:19] [SPEAKER_00]: that exists in the hearts and souls of the Balinese people.

[00:03:22] [SPEAKER_00]: These values translate into everything they do and everything they are.

[00:03:27] [SPEAKER_00]: Perhaps this is why Balinese people are often smiling and emanate a sense of joy.

[00:03:32] [SPEAKER_00]: Throughout my time in Bali, I was often moved by witnessing and being on the

[00:03:37] [SPEAKER_00]: receiving end of the care and overall way of life demonstrated of the

[00:03:41] [SPEAKER_00]: Balinese people.

[00:03:42] [SPEAKER_00]: I couldn't help but notice the stark contrast of the Balinese way versus how we

[00:03:46] [SPEAKER_00]: in the US are taught to live.

[00:03:49] [SPEAKER_00]: As Americans, the value of being busy, rush, rush, rush, deadlines and quick

[00:03:53] [SPEAKER_00]: turnarounds is appreciated and often rewarded.

[00:03:57] [SPEAKER_00]: Americans are taught early on that productivity is a definition of success.

[00:04:02] [SPEAKER_00]: We tend to have a hyper focus on getting things done quickly regardless

[00:04:05] [SPEAKER_00]: of the effort expended or the quality of what we accomplish.

[00:04:09] [SPEAKER_00]: I know you all know just what I'm talking about.

[00:04:11] [SPEAKER_00]: The Balinese complete even the most basic daily tasks with lessons to live by.

[00:04:17] [SPEAKER_00]: Focus on beauty, gratitude and a connection to the present moment.

[00:04:21] [SPEAKER_00]: Each valuable life lesson is treated as sacred.

[00:04:25] [SPEAKER_00]: They cherish the process as much as the result.

[00:04:28] [SPEAKER_00]: What can we learn from the Balinese people and their timeless ritual offerings?

[00:04:33] [SPEAKER_00]: Number one, taking our time and making meaning.

[00:04:37] [SPEAKER_00]: Whether it's creating a simple meal or washing the dishes,

[00:04:39] [SPEAKER_00]: we can bring more joy into our lives and savor each moment by slowing down

[00:04:44] [SPEAKER_00]: and attending to details.

[00:04:46] [SPEAKER_00]: Little particulars like making a meal look pretty on the plate or noticing

[00:04:50] [SPEAKER_00]: what the water feels like on our hands as we wash a dish without multitasking

[00:04:55] [SPEAKER_00]: or disconnecting is a simple concept that can make a huge difference in how we

[00:04:59] [SPEAKER_00]: feel and how we relate to ourselves, others and the world.

[00:05:05] [SPEAKER_00]: Number two, being versus doing.

[00:05:08] [SPEAKER_00]: Our experience of life or best life lessons can be so much richer

[00:05:12] [SPEAKER_00]: when we step away from the to-do list and refocus on our state of being.

[00:05:17] [SPEAKER_00]: How we relate to ourselves, to others and to our world

[00:05:20] [SPEAKER_00]: is often overlooked as we run around from one task to the next to make sure

[00:05:24] [SPEAKER_00]: we get stuff done.

[00:05:26] [SPEAKER_00]: When we aren't mindful it's easy to miss out on the experience of being.

[00:05:31] [SPEAKER_00]: After all, our authentic selves and our truth reside in how we be,

[00:05:35] [SPEAKER_00]: not in what we do.

[00:05:37] [SPEAKER_00]: Number three, outward focus.

[00:05:40] [SPEAKER_00]: It's easy to get wrapped up in our own thing and become overwhelmed, anxious

[00:05:44] [SPEAKER_00]: or feel isolated.

[00:05:46] [SPEAKER_00]: Sometimes shifting our focus to help someone else or tuning into something

[00:05:49] [SPEAKER_00]: outside of our own experience can alleviate the internal chaos.

[00:05:54] [SPEAKER_00]: This doesn't mean ignoring what we feel or numbing ourselves.

[00:05:57] [SPEAKER_00]: This means using the recognition of our feelings as a signal

[00:06:00] [SPEAKER_00]: that we are in the self-spiral of unrest

[00:06:02] [SPEAKER_00]: and that we may need to change of perspective outward

[00:06:05] [SPEAKER_00]: in order to shift our internal experience.

[00:06:09] [SPEAKER_00]: Number four, showing gratitude.

[00:06:12] [SPEAKER_00]: Consciously considering what we are thankful for and expressing it on a daily basis

[00:06:16] [SPEAKER_00]: is a simple exercise that requires little time and effort.

[00:06:20] [SPEAKER_00]: It feels really good and it's proven to increase happiness over the long haul.

[00:06:24] [SPEAKER_00]: The studies even say so.

[00:06:26] [SPEAKER_00]: My own anecdotal experience of this is no different from what the studies show.

[00:06:29] [SPEAKER_00]: Take 30 seconds a day to practice gratitude and notice what shifts.

[00:06:35] [SPEAKER_00]: Number five, ritual devotion faith.

[00:06:39] [SPEAKER_00]: When we commit to things that are important to us

[00:06:41] [SPEAKER_00]: and we devote our whole hearts to those things,

[00:06:44] [SPEAKER_00]: we feel a deep sense of purpose and connection to ourselves,

[00:06:48] [SPEAKER_00]: to others, and to the world.

[00:06:50] [SPEAKER_00]: When we authentically live from this place of commitment and purpose,

[00:06:53] [SPEAKER_00]: we develop a trust and faith inside ourselves that goes beyond humankind.

[00:06:59] [SPEAKER_00]: Number six, life as sacred.

[00:07:03] [SPEAKER_00]: Life is filled with beautiful moments, experiences, and connections.

[00:07:07] [SPEAKER_00]: We are presented with so many opportunities to soak in life's splendor.

[00:07:10] [SPEAKER_00]: We also often feel bogged down by responsibilities and obligations,

[00:07:14] [SPEAKER_00]: back to that getting things done mentality.

[00:07:17] [SPEAKER_00]: This can cause us to lose sight of the little moments and even the big ones

[00:07:20] [SPEAKER_00]: that open our hearts to the vibrancy and sacredness

[00:07:23] [SPEAKER_00]: of the experience of being alive.

[00:07:26] [SPEAKER_00]: Take a moment right now to consider the magic of being human

[00:07:29] [SPEAKER_00]: and lessons learned in life.

[00:07:32] [SPEAKER_00]: It's not always easy, but it's definitely sacred.

[00:07:35] [SPEAKER_00]: No time to waste, live and give from your heart.

[00:07:39] [SPEAKER_00]: Life is precious and so are you.

[00:07:46] [SPEAKER_00]: You just listened to the post titled

[00:07:47] [SPEAKER_00]: Six Life Lessons from a Balinese Offering

[00:07:50] [SPEAKER_00]: by Rachel Schenken of MindBodyWise.com.

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[00:09:08] [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you to Rachel.

[00:09:09] [SPEAKER_00]: This post reminds me of the basic principle of this podcast

[00:09:13] [SPEAKER_00]: to hear from different perspectives.

[00:09:16] [SPEAKER_00]: As a listener of this show,

[00:09:17] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm sure you already understand that

[00:09:18] [SPEAKER_00]: and that's why you've come back here.

[00:09:20] [SPEAKER_00]: You're getting a different and unique perspective every day

[00:09:23] [SPEAKER_00]: from people all over,

[00:09:24] [SPEAKER_00]: some of which you might not agree with,

[00:09:26] [SPEAKER_00]: but some might change the entire course of your life for the better.

[00:09:29] [SPEAKER_00]: There's always something to learn from another culture,

[00:09:33] [SPEAKER_00]: religion, tradition, what have you.

[00:09:35] [SPEAKER_00]: For example, there's this book called

[00:09:37] [SPEAKER_00]: The Blue Zones that my brother mentions frequently

[00:09:39] [SPEAKER_00]: on the podcast Optimal Health Daily,

[00:09:41] [SPEAKER_00]: because there are certain places around the world

[00:09:43] [SPEAKER_00]: known as blue zones where there is the heaviest population

[00:09:47] [SPEAKER_00]: of people living over 100 years old.

[00:09:50] [SPEAKER_00]: There's one not too far from here in California,

[00:09:52] [SPEAKER_00]: there's one in Japan.

[00:09:53] [SPEAKER_00]: There's a lot of research in these areas,

[00:09:56] [SPEAKER_00]: like what they're doing

[00:09:57] [SPEAKER_00]: and how they're doing it differently than other places.

[00:10:00] [SPEAKER_00]: You can listen to Optimal Health Daily

[00:10:01] [SPEAKER_00]: to discover those things, I won't give it away.

[00:10:03] [SPEAKER_00]: But my point is, we should learn as much as possible

[00:10:06] [SPEAKER_00]: from how others live

[00:10:08] [SPEAKER_00]: and how they find satisfaction and happiness

[00:10:10] [SPEAKER_00]: to understand maybe how we sometimes go astray.

[00:10:14] [SPEAKER_00]: So keep an open mind,

[00:10:16] [SPEAKER_00]: as I'm sure you already do since you listened to this show.

[00:10:19] [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for being here.

[00:10:20] [SPEAKER_00]: Have a great weekend if you're listening in real time

[00:10:22] [SPEAKER_00]: and I'll be back tomorrow where your Optimal Life awaits.