WELCOME TO SUNNAS PATHYA

I'd like to share with you my experience of this centre created by I Gede Budasi in the north of Bali. A centre that combines Hindu spirituality, ecology and education.

 

This trip to Bali in December 2023 is a first for me. A friend of mine posted on Facebook that he had been living a rich experience in this centre for several weeks. It made me want to join him and start my stay on this paradise island with a journey to the heart of Balinese traditions.

 

Welcome to Sunnas Pathya 😊

Sunnas Pathya is located in Banjar kubuanyar, menyali village, Sawan district north Bali. 

3 hours from Denpasar airport, 
2 hours from Padangbay harbour east Bali, 
2 hours from Ubud. 

What is Sunnas Pathya ?

Sunnas Pathya (SP) is an an ashram based on ecologic, social, natural, cultural, and spiritual concept.
Its main objective is to develop cross culture and spiritual understanding. 
Spiritual lovers who like to explore the hidden spirituality and beauty of Bali are welcome at the Sunnas Pathya.

The ashram was created in 2010 by I Gede Budasi, a teacher at the University of Ganesha University of Education, North Bali.

It has 3 aims:
- introducing people to the concept of a sustainable and ecological village;
- providing people (also visitors) with a place to share yoga and mindfulness; and 
- proposing lifeskill training to young local people to enrich their future career 

The vision of SP is to develop the younger generations’s understanding the importance of mastering the value of cross and art-culture and humanity as well as to develop their lifeskill with the sustainable and ecological concept in order to be able to face their future.
Complete information can be found by clicking on this link (dropbox) or this link (Google drive)



Planting herb medicinal tree

A few words about the Balinese Hinduism

The population of Indonesian Islands is predominantly Muslim (86%). The island of Bali is an exception : 87% of its people identify as Hindu (1,7% of the global population of Indonesia). Hindu influence reached the Indonesian Archipelago as early as the first century CE. Balinese Hinduism is an amalgamation of hinduism and indigenous animist customs. It integrates many of the core beliefs of Hinduism. As in India, Hinduism in Bali grew with flexibility. Traditionally, Hinduism in Indonesia had a pantheon of deities and that tradition of belief continues in practice.

Budasi, the Head of the Ashram made a drawing to me to explain me the roots of the Balinese Hinduism : First, everything is God. We have the universe. In this universe, we have the Sun. Below the Sun, the Earth. And from the earth : the Men, the Animals and the Plants. In diverse ceremonies I attended during my stay, I could recognize Mantras I had heard in Indian ashrams. 

Our activities inside and outside the ashram

These are the key moments of our 2 weeks stay in the ashram.
We were very pleased that Budasi spent all his time with us, providing guidance and explanations about the spiritual traditions.

Budasi asked a taxi to take us at Kuta, nearby Denpasar airport. It took a few hours to be at the Ashram which is located in the North of Bali. When we arrived, we were warmly welcomed in the authentical Balinese tradition.

Morning meditation nearby the ashram

This was a very special moment. Being able to greet the rising sun surrounded by a luxuriant vegetation. What a luck to be able to open the door of Bali in that way!

Ceremony of purification

Important to know to be allowed to participate in the Balinese ceremonies in temples : Men need to wear sarong (clothes) and Destar (Head clothes) Women have to wear sarong and cotton belt and flowers arrangement. Budasi brought us in a shop to buy the right clothes (at a very moderate price).

A few words about this very special place. The water of the sea (salt water) and the water of a small river (fresh water) mix. The water of the seau represent the female side and the water from the mountain represent the male side. At the point where the 2 waters meet, we are invited to formulate an intention and to wet our faces. A guardian of the place closed the ceremony with specific rituals.





Afterwards, we entered the temple overlooking the sea : Holly water beach temple

(20 minutes from the ashram).

Ceremony in the Mother temple (in Karang Asem Regency East Bali) (2,5 hours from Sunnas)

The Mother temple is the biggest temple in Bali. Every clan has their own temple in this big temple. A clan is a group of people who believe that they have the same ancestors. 

This is a place where every clan goes.
In the center of the temple, there is a big yard where you find three big shrines representing Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Preserver), Shiva (the Destroyer).
Ceremonies are organized every full moon and new moon.
Every year and every 5 years, there are big scarifications and ceremonies.








On the way, we had a coffee in the very luxury Lake View Restaurant from where you can see the Batur Volcano. 

And Asananda had a music class with a nice lady in the hotel : )

A farmer festival ceremony at Bali village

The temple is located nearby a wonderful tree. Never I could see a such a big tree. So beautiful. I loved its energy ...

The waterfalls of Sekumpul

The Sekumpul waterfalls are one of the most beautiful of the island. They are only 10 minutes away from the ashram. At the end of my stay in the center, I decided to spend three nights in a guesthouse nearby. We spent a wonderful time over there.

Meditation in front of holly trees in water temple in Menyai Village

An overview of the ashram

8 rooms are available in the center (twin or double beds).
The comfort is simple but everything is clean.
During the night, you can enjoy the jungle sounds.

A new meditation center will be ready from February 2024 (see picture below).

It is big enough for 50 people.

Every religion is welcome.

There will be talks about universal religion.

What the Ashram can offer you

You can decide to spend one day or a few days or a few weeks in the ashram. 

Breakfast, Lunch and dinner can be arranged on the spot. 

A taxi driver can be available to take you where you wish.

You can decide to spend a few days for a retreat, surrounded by the Balinese jungle and its exotic animals.
Budasi can also create a specific program for you or for a group of people to discover the "spiritual Bali", far away from the crowded beaches in the South.

As a digital nomad, I needed a good internet connection. In the North of the island, the wifi is not often stable but I had a balinese SIM card (telkomsel) to help, just in case. Budasi had also solutions to secure my important on line meetings. 

How to contact I Gede Budasi

?

Address of the ashram :
Banjar Kubuanyar, Menyali Village North Bali
Whatsapp : +62 878 0179 1493

Email : yaysurya8@yahoo.fr