Bali is one of my family's favorite places in the world. To the majority of people Bali is known for its beautiful beaches, surfing and tourist destinations. But there are much more to Bali than that. One of Bali's less known treasures is the indigenous farming method called Subak, a way of farming that has been fine-tuned over centuries by the locals. A key part of this social-technical-spiritual method is the effective water irrigation system that brings water from its source to hundreds and thousands of acres of land, using simply the law of gravity and clever contouring of land. Add the two volcanoes, the many rivers, the forests and the fertile soil, Bali is a place where people can marvel and appreciate the tremendous gift of nature, all in one small island.
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| Rice field near mount Agung, west of Bali |
Second, Balinese farmers have been instructed over the last 40 years or so to focus on maximizing the output of the land, using modern techniques specific for this goal. The original idea was so that Indonesia could produce its own sustainable supply of rice for its vast population. It was a noble idea when it was initiated 40 years ago, when Indonesia was trying to achieve higher level prosperity for its people. But just like everything else, a good idea of the past will turn bad if it is no longer suitable to the present condition.
A major consequence of this program is a habit for exploitation for short term gains. Gone is the high quality Balinese rice that takes 6 months to grow. It is replaced by a lower grade hybrid rice that takes only 4 months to harvest. Instead of producing 2 harvests, the farmers are told to harvest 3 times per year. Instead of using natural compost, they are trained to use chemical fertilizer. Instead of the natural method of pest control which requires manual effort, they are told to use a short cut of using pesticide. The farmer told me, that as an indication of the toxicity level of the water and soil, the fish and eels that used to swim in the rice fields are all gone due to the poison (and yet we will happily eat the rice). Instead of a traditional crop rotation to maintain the fertility of the land, they are told to plant only a single type of rice all the time (monoculture). Produce-produce-produce! Time is money!
Time is money. This simple phrase describes the philosophy that has driven most people's life in the current age. I used to think that it only applies to the city dwellers like me. Most of the city dwellers work in corporations or government, spending most of their time making someone else richer. But even the multi-billionaire businessmen and women are not spared from the rush; they also need to make sure the highest and fastest return on their investments. Even doctors, tutors, and other services are rushing their clients and patients so that the can meet more patients. I went to my daughter's school a few months ago where parents are lined up to a 10 minutes time slot to each teacher they want to meet. 10 minutes.... we haven't even finished introducing ourselves when the bell rang and we were to told move to the next teacher that we want to meet. Can't the school allocate more days for a more comfortable, complete and thorough parent-teacher meetings? After all we are talking about children here, not sports cars or the latest gossip from CNN....But again, time is money.
Perhaps it would still be fine if time-is-money philosophy is contained in the cities. But as you can see, it is not. What is happening in Bali is also happening in every other farm land in Indonesia, in Asia, in the world. What is causing the problems in the farms is the same problem that is causing the teacher's and doctor's behavior in the city. The revealing fact about this is that the farmers benefit the least from the rush. The money will be made by the middle men and the distribution chains. It is not the farmers that want to rush - it is the people who makes the most money from it. Human beings are now slaves to money and there is no escaping from it, even in the most pristine corners of the world.
I remember a horror movie I watched a while ago, where there is a virus that can turn people into zombies. Those that turned into zombies will not realize what has gotten into them and will start attacking the "normal humans". Those that are bitten by the zombie will turn into one within hours. Soon enough the whole world is filled with these dreadful zombies. The "normal" human beings became the outcast, hiding in darkness trying to survive. I see some resemblance between the zombie virus in that movie and the philosophy of time is money. Many people may not realize how much the influence of this philosophy has crept in to their daily lives. Even more people may not realize that by allowing it to creep in, we are contributing to the spread of the contagion.
But what is the alternative?
In my view, the first thing to do is to understand that this philosophy is wrong. It is important to separate the concept of time vs. the concept of money. In our life in this world, time is limited, finite. Money is unlimited and never enough. Time allows us to realize our dreams, it allows us to stay healthy. Time allows compassion and creativity to flourish. To me, the amount of time to do the things you care for is the ultimate measure of prosperity. As for money : what is it really worth if it can't buy any of the above?
Perhaps it would still be fine if time-is-money philosophy is contained in the cities. But as you can see, it is not. What is happening in Bali is also happening in every other farm land in Indonesia, in Asia, in the world. What is causing the problems in the farms is the same problem that is causing the teacher's and doctor's behavior in the city. The revealing fact about this is that the farmers benefit the least from the rush. The money will be made by the middle men and the distribution chains. It is not the farmers that want to rush - it is the people who makes the most money from it. Human beings are now slaves to money and there is no escaping from it, even in the most pristine corners of the world.
I remember a horror movie I watched a while ago, where there is a virus that can turn people into zombies. Those that turned into zombies will not realize what has gotten into them and will start attacking the "normal humans". Those that are bitten by the zombie will turn into one within hours. Soon enough the whole world is filled with these dreadful zombies. The "normal" human beings became the outcast, hiding in darkness trying to survive. I see some resemblance between the zombie virus in that movie and the philosophy of time is money. Many people may not realize how much the influence of this philosophy has crept in to their daily lives. Even more people may not realize that by allowing it to creep in, we are contributing to the spread of the contagion.
But what is the alternative?
In my view, the first thing to do is to understand that this philosophy is wrong. It is important to separate the concept of time vs. the concept of money. In our life in this world, time is limited, finite. Money is unlimited and never enough. Time allows us to realize our dreams, it allows us to stay healthy. Time allows compassion and creativity to flourish. To me, the amount of time to do the things you care for is the ultimate measure of prosperity. As for money : what is it really worth if it can't buy any of the above?
