In Reply to: right daniel posted by marcia on Sunday, 25. July 2004 at 07:40 Bali Time:
Hello,
Please mind that also the Balinese tend to give relatively hugh donations, depending on the (cured) illness and financial situation of the individual and his family.
One example I know of concerns a young (and rich) Javanese man who remained in coma for several weeks at a hospital in Surabaya, earlier this year. The doctors could do nothing more than to keep this man alive with infuses. His family, then, decided to contact a rather famous Balian Kapican who lives in northern Bali to ask him for his help. This Balian went to the hospital in Surabaya bringing nothing but a 'pica' keris (a small keris about 6 cm long charged with a mysterious magical energy). Once at the hospital it took the Balian less than 15 minutes to 'wake' the young man out of his coma. Once conscious again the man appeared to be as healthy as before, without any negative effects caused by the coma. He got out of bed, dressed himself and went home with his family, leaving the doctors at the hospital flabbergasted. The Balian was given 10 million rupiah in cash right away, with another 10 million to be given in a few days.
In general a Balian lives on the donations he receives, but then again a good (spiritually oriented) Balian never expects a donation, let alone he would ask for one beforehand. I did not want to give the impression that you should not give a donation however. Ofcourse, if you can afford it you should give the Balian a donation, whatever you think it's worth being cured by him.
regards,
Taksu