Bali has a mysterious spirituality unmatched by the other 17,000 islands that make up the Indonesian archipelago. Strangely at the root of this spirituality is a system of irrigation sourced from water temples. <br><br>Bali has an estimated 2,000 temples, known as ‘puras’, which can be found throughout the island, nestled on mountain tops or even floating on lakes, giving rise to the title, ‘The Island of a Thousand Puras.’ Aside from serving as picturesque landmarks for tourists and locals alike, these temples form a central feature of an ancient Balinese practice. <br><br>Nearly a thousand years ago, Balinese farmers carefully designed an irrigation system known as ‘Subak.’ At the source of every Subak is a water temple. Groundwater springs from the temple, flowing to the surrounding paddy fields below. The foundation of the Subak system is the ancient Balinese philosophy known as ‘Tri Hita Karana.’ Literally translated as ‘three reasons for prosperity’, it promotes harmony between the spiritual realm, humans, and nature. Subak is a manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana philosophy. <br><br>Bali is home to over 1000 Subak systems, which have been operating in harmony with nature since the ninth century. The system is still in use throughout the island today.<br><br>Subak is a living example of the ancient rituals and practices that continue to dominate Balinese daily life. It has remained an essential part of the Balinese economy, ecology, and spiritual life for centuries, despite the ever-increasing pressures of our rapidly changing world.<br>