A Concept of “Permeable Self” in Balinese Culture: Religious Foundations and Manifestation in Social Structure and Performing Arts
This article addresses the self-concept - both in the sense of a personal experience of the “self” and a speculative idea of it - in Balinese culture. This experience-idea differs significantly from the view accepted in the West, which is based on the treatment of an individual as a separate unit, whose cognition and actions are independent of the outside world. In contrast, the Balinese idea of the self does not imply its self-sufficiency and separation from the surroundings. It implies a specific quality of the self that may be defined as “permeability,” or openness towards the factors out of personal control. Among such factors, the influence of supernatural powers has a crucial role to play in Balinese culture. According to Balinese religious views, a human may get in contact with those powers, entering a special state of consciousness - trance. For reaching such a state, a medium must eliminate their “self,” which is considered an obstacle for establishing the connection with the external powers. Another outer factor interacting with the self is a society; in this case, a quality of “permeability” enables close interconnection of the individuals as the elements of a coherent system. The dynamism of this system and the complexity of its structure requires each individual's ability to respond to a particular situation with sensitivity, consciously applying behavioral patterns according to their roles. This, in turn, brings into discussion the manifestation of the concept of “permeable self” in Balinese performing arts, which are rooted in the ritual practices and adhere to the principles of social life. Therefore, the idea of “permeability” is reflected in all aspects of Balinese culture. The relevance of it for the West becomes especially evident at present, in the context of re-thinking the framework of the possibilities and the limits of the competence of an individual.