What is that gives meaning and impetus to the lives of these islanders? The answer lies in their deep-seated religious beliefs, which are so much a part of the Balinese way of life as to be inseparable from any one aspect. It is this strong faith which has always lent unity to their lives, even from the earliest beginings, and which cotinues to unite past with present, life with death, man with his gods and with his fellow men.

Whereas their faith demands strict observance and ritual, the secret of its survival over the centuries lies in the fact that it is not rigidly dogmatic. It is capable of assimilating new ideas without displacing old ones and has thus been allowed to gradually evolve into its present form. It is a unique religion, being a complex blend of succsessive layers of animism, ancestor worship, Hiduism and Buddhism, preserved by historical accident when the rest of the archipelago turned to Islam. The poets, priests, aristocrats and intelegentsia who took refuge in Bali brought with them a fascinating faith which has grown into the Bali-Hinduism of today.

The Balinese are still very strongly animistic in that a special god or spirit is considered responsible for every aspect of life from wishdom and knowlegde to kitchen utensils and tools. These spirit are known by name and must each be approriately worshiped in order to ensure a harmonious existence. Individual temples are therefore constructed in their honour and special day set aside when beautifully prepared offerings are made to please the particular spirits concerned, thus ensuring their co-operation in everyday life.