Pak Suambara spent a typical boyhood growing up in Nyuh
Kuning Village near Ubud, attending elementary school in neighboring
Pengosekan. In 1975, he began studying and performing dance.
He graduated from junior high school in Ubud in 1984. Encouraged
by his grandfather, a village priest, he became interested
in spiritual matters when he was about 12 years old. His grandfather
believed he had a clear mind. Pak Suambara served as a village
spiritual leader from 1995 to 2001 and in February of 2002
he opened the Taman Hati Yogya & Meditation Center in
Ubud.
What is your family background?
My grandpa was the first wood carver in my village. He learned
wood carving from Ida Bagus Nana and the Dutch artist Rudolf
Bonnet in the village of Mas. My father is a wood carver too.
Our family made their living from wood carving.
What kinds of jobs/work have you done in your life?
I taught English in a language school in Gianyar for seven
years from 1993 to 2000. From 1989 to 2001, I ran a wood carving
business employing 125 wood carvers.
What are the main differences in the way that Western and
Balinese people practice religion?
Generally speaking, Westerners are too materialistic and Balinese
are too involved in their religion. When I became a village
spiritual leader, I realized that the Balinese are too busy
with their religion and many times they forget about their
daily lives and responsibilities. For example, if they have
money they use it for offerings or ceremonies rather than
for educating their children.
Why did you take up yoga and meditation?
I took up yoga and meditation first because I wanted to help
Balinese become more aware of their daily existence and to
help them find a balance between their physic, mental and
spiritual lives.
How does yoga and meditation actually help people?
In facing this life, you have at least four demands. Self
demands, family demands, professional demands, and environmental
demands. If you can fulfill all these demands, that means
you have no problem in facing this life. But in reality you
can’t fulfill all of these demands. Lack of ability
in fulfilling these demands can cause strain and stress. Whatever
your profession, you cannot avoid stress. Uncontrolled stress
creates problems.
By practicing yoga and meditation, people slowly but surely
become more aware of their surroundings, themselves and other
people. Yoga and meditation have been trusted for thousands
years. Practitioners become more relaxed and their minds become
calmer. Relaxation and calmness lowers the stress and worry
they face in their daily lives.
Can give you us examples of people these spiritual practices
have helped?
I have taught hundreds of people and most of them feel more
relax and calm after practicing yoga and meditation. Most
of the local people who come to the center twice a week, are
free from sickness such migraine headaches, insomnia, diabetes,
asthma and so on after just one month. Almost 70% of diseases
are caused by stress.
In your Taman Hati Yoga & Meditation Center in Ubud, what
do you teach?
For the first month we just work on balancing our emotions,
our excess energy and to free ourselves from accumulated stress.
The next seven weeks I teach how to increase awareness. By
the ninth week my students have attained stillness. This stillness
is the source of physical, mental and emotional health. Only
calmness can balance the stress that we face in our daily
lives.
How is your program different from other spiritual centers
on Bali?
My yoga and meditation techniques are based on Balinese traditional
culture. We even use Balinese wayang shadow-puppet theater
as a method of teaching, as a way of imparting spiritual information.
I also teach traditional healing, palm reading and Balinese
horoscope. Most Westerners are quite happy with the results
of my interpretations of the Balinese calendar.
What advice can you give people who are suffering from a spiritual
void in their lives?
No one can help them. Only they can help themselves. Meditation
is one of many ways that can help to share peace, love
and happiness. The goal of life is to be happy. Not many of
us reach that goal.
How can readers learn more about your teachings and your work?
Just come and visit me at the center and let us take a walk
together!
What is your spiritual philosophy in a nutshell?
We are one.
For anyone interested in being considered for Siapa, please
contact : <pakbill2003@yahoo.com>
Copyright@2006 Al Hickey
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