The Balian Ethics

The Balian Ethics (Dharma Sesana Balian)

Although modern medicines are very popular in today's era, we find that people still believe with the alternative medicine or traditional medicine. It is  caused by several factors and one of them is the economic factor. The expensive cost of medical treatment makes people prefer to choose the alternative treatment even though medical treatment is still the top choice. The community in Bali still believes in the traditional treatment, especially people in rural areas still hold the tradition and their belief. In traditional treatment , it also has a doctor but in this case we can say a traditional doctor or people in Bali call them Balian or Jero Dasaran.

Balian (healer) is someone who serves the cure of diseases spiritually. A doctor in medical science has ethics or an obligation, as well as a Balian (healer) also has ethics or obligation or Darma Sesana.

Dharma Sesana Balian can be defined as ethics of Balians (healer). Sesana means behavior or obligation and ethics derives from a ethos (Greek) which means science of the principle of moral. Dharma Sesana in Indonesian can be defined as the discretion or basic kindness which becomes a guidance in human life or obligation that must be fulfilled as a member of the society. Human beings have to do Dharma Sesana if they want their lives reach happiness. They also should be conforming to the environment either by Bhuana Alit (microcosm) and Bhuana Agung (macrocosm). In every region guidance, Dharma Sesana must exist because it is a good lesson and universal. As Balians (healers), if they want to live in welfare, they must live based on the basis of Dharma Sesana. Every Balian has Dharma Sesana which is followed and obeyed by all Balians and be a guidance in their profession. Dharma Sesana Balian such as :

• All the secret of patients must be kept and should not be shared or discussed with others.

• A Balian may not worry, anxious and be ashamed. He or she must be firm, steady and confident in what they do. A Balian should not to be unsteady with all obstacles, distraction and temptation that are coming from themselves. They must not give up until they are able to reach their aim, healing the patients.

• A Balian should not be expecting anything in return. All treatments must be done with sincerity and selfless, because every Balian in Bali knows the result of being greedy and any other bad characteristics. Balians have to know their obligations, should be humble, not arrogant, limit theirself and respect the lives of others because inside the humans’ body live Sang Hyang Atma, Sang Hyang Bayu Pramana. He can condemn Balians who break their Dharma Sesana and their knowledge in healing or medication will be vanished and disappeared. The worst thing is they will receive a curse of Sang Hyang Budha Kecapi and their lives will suffer, including their generations. It must be known, that the steps to be a true Balian should not be misunderstood or misused. Balian must always worship Ida Bhatara Tiga, particularly  Ida Bhatara Dalem, Desa and Puseh. As a way to invoke his power, Ida I Ratu Nyoman Sakti Pengadangan, is a joint with other siblings. Ida Ratu Nyoman Sakti Pengadangan is the most powerful council of Balian in the universe, should be placed in the form of a shrine in a sacred room, with a Daksina (a special offering) placed on the shrine.

There are some examples of the ethics of Balian:

• A Balian has to do all the treatments with sincerity and selfless and should be respect to others.

• A Balian has to wear white outfits, because white is the symbol of the purity, not greedy,  arrogant and any other bad characteristics.

• A Balian must have a sacred room and a shrine to place Daksina and for praying.

If a Balian wants to live in welfare, they must live based on the basis of their ethics or Dharma Sesana. Every Balian has to follow and obey their ethics and make it as a guidance in their profession in order to achieve their goal to be a Balian. 

Sources :

http://infohindu.blogspot.co.id/

http://www.padmabhuana.com/usada-bali.html