Date: Mon, 29 May 2006 08:13:25 -0700
To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
From: Bruce Chesse <bchesse-AT-imagina.com>
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Puppet Activism and Advocacy - Dateline: Bali


Dear Dan,

All I can say Wow..........Thanks for sending this article to us. It 
was very powerful as the Dalangs well know and now we do as well. 
"Power to the Puppet"

Bruce




>Perhaps a thread on Puppet Activism, which could encompass Aids
>education in Namibia, Puppet Evangelism, global warming, etc... is in
>order. This story is of an innovative group in Bali, who use puppetry
>in response  to  the terrorist attack in 2002.
>
>
>The Jakarta Post
>Thursday, November 17, 2005
>
>Feature
>
>'Wayang' Consoles Grieving Community
>
>I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Kuta, Bali
>
>The hundreds of people who had flocked to the Kuta Square Arcade on that
>Saturday night could not take their eyes off the giant white screen. On
>the
>screen, the imposing shadow of Delem, the perennial coward par
>excellence of
>Balinese shadow puppet theater (wayang kulit), was busy giving a pep
>talk to a group
>of young giants.
>
>
>The sacred Topeng Bang, Telek, Barong and Wayang Kulit are still
>performed
>regularly at every major temple festival in Bali up to the present day.
>
>This shows that the teachings of Siwa Tattwa on the superiority of
>peace to
>violence is an integral part of Balinese religious faith and life.
>
>"It also displays the important role that aesthetic beauty occupies in
>the
>Balinese Hindu's belief system," said Balinese scholar Ketut Sumartha.
>
>The fact that the Balinese Hindu believes that the universe was created
>by
>Siwa through a dance, known as the Siwanataraja, proves the importance
>of
>aesthetic beauty. Moreover, the Balinese also believe that plagues and
>disasters can
>be prevented by performing those aforementioned sacred dances at certain
>times of the year.
>
>"This month, for example, is believed to be a period of turmoil in the
>Balinese traditional calendar. Many communities in Gianyar and
>Klungkung have
>already organized performances of sacred barong in their respective
>villages to ward
>off any potential disasters," he said.
>
>This belief also stems from the teaching of the three main pillars of
>Balinese Hinduism; Satyam (Truth), Siwam (Divinity) and Sundaram
>(Beauty).
>
>"It is the primary guiding principle for a true Balinese. It is not
>enough
>that your thoughts, deeds and words be true and pure but they must also
>reflect
>beautiful," he added.
>
>The emphasis on aesthetic beauty was later manifested in the concept of
>Somya, a return to innocence.
>
>In the DNK, the four deities defeated the demons not by killing them
>but by
>elevating their consciousness, thus, making them realize their own
>aesthetic,
>peaceful inner selves. The deities had helped the giants to return to
>their
>true selves, their innocence. That was Somya.
>
>Toward the end of DNK, the giants, mesmerized by the sacred dances,
>kneeled
>in shame before the deities -- tears flowing from their eyes as they
>begged for
>forgiveness. In the end, they became aware of the divine in their
>hearts.
>
>"We are part of a single universe. A destruction of one part will soon
>lead
>to the annihilation of all," Sidia said.
>
>The ten names
>
>The future of the universe lies in mankind's ability to prevent the
>destruction of any single part of the ten names of peace.
>Interestingly, the ten names
>are not made up of sacred incantations or esoteric texts. Instead, the
>ten
>names are the representations every existing being.
>
>"Siwa Tattwa states that the ten names are earth, fire, water, wind,
>plant,
>animal, fish, bird, human and god," Sidia said.
>
>If mankind failed, he warned, to protect and nurture any of the ten
>names
>then the cosmic order will fall into a state of imbalance and various
>violent
>natural or manmade disasters would quickly take place.
>
>"We are part of a single universe. The destruction of one part will
>soon lead
>to the annihilation of all," Sidia said.
>
>With these words, he concluded his fabulous performance, sending his
>dazzled
>spectators back home with a new realization of the futility of
>violence, the
>importance of peace, the interdependence of every sentient being and
>the need
>for Somya.
>
>------------------------------------------
>
>The Jakarta Post
>Thursday, November 17, 2005
>
>National workshop on tourism in Kuta
>
>KUTA: The Ministry of Culture and Tourism will hold a national workshop
>on
>tourism entitled Optimize the Quality of Indonesian Tourist
>Destinations at
>Ramada Bintang Bali Resort in Kuta from Nov. 22 through Nov. 23.
>
>The two-day meeting will discuss topics related to the development of
>the
>tourist industry in a rapidly changing world.
>
>Among guest speakers will be Peter A. Semone, vice chairman of the
>Pacific
>Asia Travel Association (PATA) for development. Semone will talk on
>recent
>trends in the development of tourist destinations.
>
>Former minister of tourism during the New Order period Joop Ave will
>also
>attend the meeting presenting a paper entitled Menciptakan Destinasi
>Pariwisata
>Berdaya Saing Global or creating a global competitive tourist
>destination.
>
>Noted businessman and property magnate Ciputra will discuss financing
>and
>investment in the tourist industry.
>
>For more information please contact: Karma Events, phone:
>0274-520907/Fax:
>0274-583783, e-mail: lokakarya_dpn-AT-yahoo.com,
>karma-AT-yogya.wasantara.net.id.
>--JP
>
>------------------------------------------
>Joyo Indonesia News Service
>------------------------------------------
>
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