Tri Hita Karana ( त्रि हित कारण )

By Vijai Singhal

I visited Bali in 2015, it is a majority Hindu Island in Indonesia, the biggest Muslim country in the world. I learnt about Bali’s universal philosophy of living sustainably in peace and harmony called: Tri Hita Karana, which is derived from Sanskrit and translates into “three causes of human well-being”, namely:

⦁ PARAHYANGAN – Harmony with God or human spirit.
⦁ PAWONGAN – Harmony with people.
⦁ PALEMAHAN – Harmony with nature or environment.

Parahyangan – is the belief in God, the universal spirit that is part of every individual. It is essential for our mental peace and tranquillity. They worship the power of God through various rituals and offerings in the temples.

Pawongan – is to create harmonious relationship among human beings. This wisdom directs people to believe that we are all one, to believe in mutual co-operation and respect for each other having social harmony. This wisdom is so relevant in today’s environment of wars and killings going on in different parts of the world.

Palemahan – is the harmonious relationship with mother nature. A belief in the inter-connectedness of all living beings including plants, animals, and all aspects of mother earth. Environmental pollution is one of the most important problems facing the world. Palemahan encompasses our responsibilities for conserving the nature through promoting living in balance with sustainable use of natural resources.

Tri Hita Karana is credited for the island’s prosperity and overall quality of life for its residents.