KABIR, the Sufi saint says-
Seeking Why run around sprinkling holy water? There’s an ocean inside you, and when you’re ready you’ll drink.
And here I am, semi-dressed, about to plunge into the holy pool at Pura Tirta Empul temple to give my sins a proper rinse.
Ah, the convenience—just a quick dip, and poof, sins gone!
In April 2023, I was visiting Pura Tirta Empul temple- quite an old temple built in 10 century as Google tells me.
Situated in Ubud at Bali, this temple is the go-to spot for spiritual cleansing.
But don’t rely on me for directions—I’m a soul searcher, not a navigator!
When I was planning this trip with my friends Sapna and Priyanka, the last thing I expected was to bump into my own religion in Bali!
I wasn’t aware that Bali is steeped in Hinduism, or that I’d be seeing Balinese versions of Hindu deities and demons !
I simply signed up because I trust my girls– my dear friends, Sapna and Priyanka who missed out on this purgatory experience—Sapna went missing somewhere in the temple (probably contemplating life), and Priyanka, who had no intention of getting wet, dutifully took on the role of my personal paparazzi.
Let me tell you— that Pura Tirta Empul temple pool was quite an experience!
People from all over the world, dressed in sarongs, the mandatory attire for visiting any temple in Bali, gathered there.
The green one I’m wearing was provided by the temple. It could use some ironing, but I suppose God isn’t too concerned with grooming as long as your intentions are pure!
Sinners were queued up, waiting their turn to drench in the sacred waters, each likely contemplating their own sins.
At times, it felt a bit like standing in line at a water park—though this was the spiritual version, minus the whistles, lifeguards, inflatable rings, noise, and the smell of junk food.
The atmosphere was sacred, serious, and soulful.
The water reached up to my chest, and I was amazed by its clarity.
I could see my blue-painted toenails, even the tiny chip on one of them.
The transparency of the water did not help me feel assured.
I thought about all kind of invisible germs swimming underneath.
I thought, ‘A germaphobe would never enter here.’
I quickly shushed that small, OCD-like voice in my head!
This was not the time to let science or logic get the best of me!
It was time to do what the universe had planted me here for.
It was time to work on absolving my soul!
As the sinner I’ve been, it felt crucial to focus on wiping them away when the opportunity was just a step away.
In my mind, I was already rearranging my list of sins.
There were eleven spouts in total, each probably meant to cleanse a particular vice. Did I make sure to visit every single one?
Well… I might have missed a few—four, to be exact. But hey, God often tests our patience when planning something for us. Remember, Adam and Eve didn’t exactly pass the patience test, and we’re still dealing with that!
I’m only human too! I figured I’d leave a little room for improvement and not let the Lord do all the heavy lifting.
Besides, who wants to be completely virtuous anyway? Where’s the fun in that? I didn’t want to become an impeccably good woman and lose my originality!
Amidst all my contemplations, I suddenly noticed the sheer number of foreigners around me.
And then it hit me—I was a foreigner too!
Here I stood,in a foreign holy water pool, following my own rituals and customs, surrounded by others doing the same. Pura Tirta Empul temple is a temple in a foreign land!
It felt quite different from the few times I’d celebrated Diwali in the United States, surrounded by fellow Indians in Hindu temples.
But here, I was blending in with the locals, participating in their sacred rituals, and totally owning it!
It was a humbling realisation—a reminder that in the grand scheme of things,
we are all just travellers on this journey called life,
trying to find our way by embracing culture,
being open to new experiences,
and staying present in the moment.
I emerged from the holy bath, feeling cleansed and rejuvenated (despite skipping a few spouts).
I couldn’t help but wonder—do holy dips really work? I don’t know. Do you?
At the very least, I got a refreshing experience out of it, right?
And who knows, maybe Kabir was onto something after all—perhaps the real ocean we seek is within us, just waiting for us to take that holy dip!
P.S. I made sure to soap and shower in the locker room afterward. It’s good to love all of God’s creatures, but I’m more than happy to part with the ones I can’t see!