Story of Bali, Indonesia

Leak may present themselves in various forms-a monkey, a human figure, right, or wind-depending upon the degree of ability of the leak. It is believed that a small proportion of the people who can see, hear and speak with leak are more vulnerable to their harm. Seeing a leak can evoke fear. Individuals who are regarded as being 'warm' humans are deemed to have no power or natural ability to see leak and do not worry about them; people who are considered 'cold' humans have abilities to see and hear leak. Such visions and auditory phenomena are similar to hallucinations manifest as symptoms in psychotic persons in Western cultures. In Bali normal persons can experience hallucinations in their usual state of consciousness or in a state of meditation. The people are not concerned with leak most of the time; they take ordinary, semi-automatic precautions to-be safe, comparable to the Western practice of washing hands before eating. As Bateson and Mead pointed out, the actual disruption of social life due to suspicion of witchcraft and black magic is very slight. Certain circumstance, such as being in the presence of a person who is a possible leak, is reason to be cautious. For example, a psychiatrist who works in a mental hospital, although feeling fine and healthy, might occasionally consult a balian for a 'check up' to be sure he/she has not somehow been affected by black magic or evil spirit since these may come from unidentified patients at the hospital.

Whereas supernatural forces represent a relatively frequent worry and, for some, occasional fear, the culture has many regular rituals and ceremonies to deal with them. Also the gods and good spirits are ever present or stand guard to protect one and provide comfort and peace. They do not fear God but hold God in awe. Nyepi, a yearly celebration throughout Bali, focuses on propitiating evil spirits by offerings. One type of modern offering is strikingly apparent in the villages: the huge likenesses of evil spirits made of paper and wood. 'They take the form of the most grotesque monsters imaginable, sometimes doing horrible things such as eating babies, and invoke fascination and excitement but not particularly fear. Children are drawn to them and like to play around them.

Bateson and Mead presented data which show that from early infancy children are taught to pray. The Balinese often bring the hands together with a slight bow in daily greeting or departing. Not only are gods present in everyone's daily life and shape many activities, but temples to serve gods are in abundance. Every household has one temple, each with one or more shrines, and in addition, every family has one or more family temples for prayer and offerings

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