thePlace

The fact that many a man who goes his own way ends in ruin means nothing… He must obey his own law, as if it were a demon whispering to him of new and wonderful paths…. There are not a few who are called awake by the summons of the voice, whereupon they are at once set apart from the others, feeling themselves confronted with a problem about which the others know nothing.   In most cases it is impossible to explain to the others what has happened, for any understanding is walled off by impenetrable prejudices. … He is at once set apart and isolated, as he has resolved to obey the law that commands him from within.  “His own law!” everybody will cry.   But he knows better: it is the law…The only meaningful life is a life that strikes for the individual realizations-absolute and unconditional-of its own particular law…. To the extent that a man is untrue to the law of his being…he has failed to realize his life’s meaning.                 The undiscovered vein within us is a living apart of the psyche; classical Chinese philosophy names this interior way “Tao,” and likens it to a flow of water that moves irresistibly towards its goal.  To rest in Tao means fulfillment, wholeness, one’s destination reached, one’s mission done; the beginning, end, and perfect realization of the meaning of existence innate in all things.                     CG Jung, Collected Works

                  

     

Back to the air-conditioned world, hot shower and great cheap food.  The purchase of the Place seems a little surreal in the comfort of KL.  My constant reminder is the ingestion of  the Shinseh’s prescription of soaked herb alcohol that I brought from Bali, twice a day. It is meant to invigorate and replenish my energy.  Still resting and dimly chewing over the hurriedly bought land last week; unable to grapple with the idea of owning almost a hector of land.  The idea of what to do with it escapes me further.  Only images entwine and churn in my head when I lie in bed.  Green, healing, organic, nature, medicinal plants and herbs, self-sustainability, permaculture, view of the sea, sunsets, sublime colorful tropical flowers, ubiquitous sensual water…
           
            A road has taken, a journey has begun, the rest is a mystery.

            The only thing I’m sure of - the starting of everything from ground zero.  And so I spend most of my days and nights, surfing the net, getting info, ideas, and every other junks.  With only a vague hazy dream at the back of my mind all kinds of thoughts ebb and flow through me.  

            I’ll have a small beautiful effortless house on the hill, maybe an infinity pool looking over the horizon where the sun sets over the Bali Sea and Java mountains, definitely an octagonal wide-open meditation hall, plus a few simple cottages.  Of course an awesome vegetarian restaurant with inspiring views everywhere.  Why not a spa with all the great healing massages, Reiki treatments, a Shinseh to give acupuncture and herbs concoctions when needed, free healing sessions for everyone who needs it every Sunday, free organic gardening classes and medicinal plants for the villages, volunteers that help around, oh yes, Dharma teachers giving teachings from different schools as long as they lead all to enlightenment or the true-self, or whatever other names it is called.                            

                                

            And yes - run a local grass root non-profit NGO for the environment and the children. Set up recycling program with the villagers – no more plastic and horrific garbage lying around, composting, eating organic, no MSG and saving the endangered sea horse in Seririt, saving the overly exploited ocean, etc. 

            Last but not least, paying guests that keep the Place operating - yoga classes, meditation or any other wholesome retreats or dharmas practice….

            The dream goes on eternally- it’s nameless. I am to unfold it stage by stage.  It’s not the end that is electrifying, it’s the unraveling! 

            Presently, I must learn to create, starting with the most needed - the design and building of my house and the landscape.  I have never even done any ordinary gardening work before, have never own a piece of land before, absolutely no designing or building experience whatsoever.  Half understanding them, I pour through and save tons of web materials daily, hoping for a wiser, more knowledgeable me. I have only 3 weeks here in KL to get ready the battle ground in Bali. 

            My next step is to get practical experiences however briefly.  Most web materials are on growing in temperate climates. Tried to book a volunteer stay in an organic farm - full because of the school holiday, the how-to organic class in KL is surprisingly expensive. No money to indulge in it.  I must begin with getting out of the house, calling people, asking friends that might have a link and visiting organic farms that can give me valuable tropical organic growing skills.

            First thing in Bali, deal with the legal issues of buying the land as a foreigner!