Posted by Ni Luh Made on Saturday, 20. February 1999 at 16:27 Bali Time:
In Reply to: religious offerings posted by Jason on Wednesday, 17. February 1999 at 02:04 Bali Time:
Hello Jason,
It is very interesting that you are choosing "offerings" as your dissertation topic. May I know what degree and school you study ?
Offerings are a broad topic. So, I would advise you to define the part you'd like to study. Would it be "the making of offerings" (technical and spiritual point of view) ? Or "the role of the offerings in the Balinese dayly life" ? You could also compare Balinese offerings (their meaning) with offerings made in other countries (Burma, Korea ?). Studying offerings involve knowledge of the religious and social life of the people. You must also go beyond the simple facts presented to you. Most of the time during your research, you would be confronted to people who make offerings but do not know their meaning. They just know those offerings have to be made on that day, or on that occasion, and they also know that those offerings refer to such and such deity. But that's all. Nothing deeper. You must make relations between all offerings. Do not take offerings in their particularity but in their combination. Offerings form a whole.
It depends on you now to discover this "whole". You need to go beyond your own cultural and spiritual references. I advise you to study Hinduism (as it is practised in India) first, and then to move to Hinduism as it is practised in Bali. And also follow your intuition.
Offerings must "speak" to you.
Practically, I also advise you to meet a professional offering maker (tukang banten)and a high priest (pedanda). It may be difficult to meet them because they are often very busy. the best way is to see them in "action", during the preparation of a temple ceremony. A professional offering maker is often a lady, whose name starts by Ida Ayu (high caste) and works in a group of other women whom she leads for the preparation of offerings. Make sure you know enough Bahasa Indonesia to discuss with her. Let her speak. Don't "push" her when she stops speaking, she has her reasons (don't want to make you "bingung" - disorientated - by receiving too much knowledge at once). You must deserve to reserve her knowledge. And there is also an etiquette you ust respect when speaking or approaching her. Make sure you know all of this when meeting her. Always wear a sarong (below your knees-make sure nobody can see your shorts under the sarong when you walk ; usually male Balinese wear 2 sarongs : one white and a black-white check sarong named "poleng" on the top / a yellow sarong is also OK on top of the white one) and a sash. A white shirt is also considered polite for men.
I wish you good luck in your research and please, I would appreciate if you could keep me posted about your work.
I have myself written about this topic. And it should be published this year in an academic journal based in London. My field of expertise is on Balinese culture, mainly religious life.I hold a Master's degree from the University of London. I also live in Bali.
Matur Suksma
Ni Luh
niluhmade@hotmail.com