Master Ketut Arsana
The Spiritual Journey of Master Ketut Arsana
Born in Ubud, Bali, Ketut Arsana began his spiritual journey at the young age of 8. Guided by spirit, he was drawn to meditation and self-reflection, despite not knowing what these practices were called. His early life was marked by sadness and struggles, as he grappled with existential questions about the purpose of life and the nature of God.
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Arsana came from a lineage of healers, with the gift typically skipping a generation. As a sickly child, he faced many challenges. At age 2 or 3, he nearly died but was miraculously healed after his grandfather's prayers and sacrifice. This event set the stage for Arsana's spiritual awakening.
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Throughout his childhood, Arsana experienced frequent spiritual encounters. His grandfather's spirit visited him, imparting healing knowledge. He developed clairvoyant abilities, communicating with plants and spirits. These experiences, while profound, made it difficult for him to have a normal childhood.
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Struggling with his current life, Arsana had visions of a past life as a guru. He often meditated in cemeteries, seeking release from his earthly existence. A pivotal moment came when he experienced a brief separation from his body, which instilled in him a renewed appreciation for life.
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Arsana's path became clearer when he met a spiritual teacher who introduced him to yoga, meditation, and the concept of Moksha (oneness with God). This encounter ignited his passion for spiritual studies and led him to pursue a degree in Religious Studies.
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Throughout his life, Arsana dedicated himself to yoga, prayer, and healing practices. He eventually discovered his spiritual master, Maha Guru, which allowed him to fully devote his life to serving God and humanity.
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Master Ketut Arsana's journey exemplifies the path of a yogi: evolving into a beacon of pure devotion and selfless service, embodying the way of Great Souls.
Accomplishments and Experience
Master Ketut Arsana studied to be a teacher of religion in philosophy, yoga and meditation. He received his Bachelors in Religious Studies and graduated at the top of his class at Denpasar State Hindu Dharma Institute. Master Arsana was recognized for yoga excellence early in life teaching weekly on Bali television (TVRI) by the age of 17. Bali was not yet recognized for yoga as it is today, though many recognized and sought him out as a Balian for his healing abilities (Balian, means healer). Thanks to his grandfather and cultivated spiritual life, he has been able to change a great deal of lives by easing people’s suffering with his healing modalities.
Master Arsana started teaching yoga to locals during his school years decades before Ubud became the yoga mecca that it is today. Long before yoga establishments became prevalent in the area, he taught western students and locals alike. These students found him through their hearts or from his healing. Many of them still follow him today as students at his ashram. Ubud Bodyworks Centre, his home and healing centre, is where he began teaching regularly more than 30 years ago. He also taught & gave healing as a massage therapist all over Bali in hotels like the prestigious Amandari for many years. As more and more western students came to study, Master Arsana dedicated more of his time travelling overseas for workshops, consultations and retreats.
Establishing Ubud Bodyworks Centre was truly a gift and special opening. With this base he was able to connect with more people from around the world through healing and yoga. In order to offer more of his knowledge and healing he later established Ubud Aura Retreat, Om Ham Retreat & Resort and founded Ashram Munivara. Master Ketut Arsana is the spiritual teacher at Ashram Munivara where he helps people grow on their spiritual path through Yoga & spiritual practices.
What does Master Arsana value most about yoga?
Master Ketut Arsana says, “All Life is Yoga” and should be the first and foremost in life, viewed as top priority. Life is in Yoga, because it is living life through the heart. Hence, any action when connected with the heart is Yoga. To be one with the heart is to be with love so ultimately, happiness is achieved. Contentment is a state of being. One carries this state into all activities. Yoga is invaluable and not separate because the goal is to do all things connected to God within. Through the teachings, one cultivates the best self for the best outcome and lives a purposeful life.
When all action and inaction are accomplished with the heart the goal of Yoga is achieved. For example, Master Arsana’s parents’ generation did not speak while eating food. Eating was like a meditation, not just grasping at food and eating without gratitude, or thought. To eat without consciousness is negative. When eating with consciousness, focus on the food, and feel it. This is the Mother feeding her child and is always a blessing. There is love in receiving food.
We have two energies in ourselves, negative and divine. However, when one is in True Yoga, the middle is the goal. This means to strive for the middle road without ups and downs. Swinging from extremes creates a volatile state with no centre, no ground. Remaining neutral and not swayed too far to one side or another, is Yoga. Think of this as 3 electric cables, one positive, one negative and one zero. Too much positive and too much negative creates imbalance. In Yoga the goal is zero. Trust yourself more and with access to a positive and grounding centre, the heart or the True Self, will bring understanding to the real meaning of grounding. It is at the Heart Chakra (4th), between lower (1, 2, 3) and upper chakras (5, 6, 7) not literally on the earth or ground in the feet. The grounding is zero, in the heart because that’s the root of your life = LOVE.
What is zero? God is zero (infinite) and then God blesses with zero. For example, a person does one thing that helps someone and then God blesses with zero, which becomes 10! That means 10 blessings. When one gives selflessly more, God adds another zero, so the total becomes 100, and so on. God blesses with zero always. According to this karmic calculator, zero multiplied by ten all good deeds. This is the grounding one receives in life which happens when a person is in action with their heart, and how negative aspects become neutralized. The master teaches that this is the grounding of life. The purpose is to ground in the Heart (True Self), not the feet.
The body is essential because it is a temple of God or a container for pure energy. Yoga asanas are just a small part of the practice though essential because the poses nourish and take care of the body. Through the practice, pure actions (selfless giving), one’s characteristics are raised to higher levels and understanding of one’s mission in life can be realized. Yoga will become your life. This awareness is actually high knowledge, coming from within though the mind takes time to understand the meaning. People need to process themselves in order to get better understanding and to acquire wisdom. With growth, of course problems always materialize. Problems are lessons in life. A yogi gains knowledge by working through problems in a positive way. Once a person gains knowledge in yoga, and is no longer attached, deep understanding is realized.
The earth is like a school and how one handles and regards life is the homework. In Yoga, it is called “Earth School” or Bhur Loka, the bottom place ‘Bhur’ means below and ‘Loka’ means place or realm. The spirit takes a body to learn and raise its spiritual consciousness. In school everyone receives homework and starts to learn about life. In general, most people value yoga because they find a bit of happiness. Why does yoga help elevate the mood? The benefits of stretching and breathing are more blood flow and oxygen. This process supports the detox of toxins which become accumulated over time in the body. The toxic release and increased prana result in feeling lighter in body and mind. Burning all the toxins and becoming brighter and healthy result in increased peace. So, of course yoga makes people happy!
What is the goal of yoga? Yogis dedicate themselves to finding Moksha. Moksha is liberation from karma and rebirth through union with the Divine. This may seem like a goal too lofty for many, however, Moksha in a spiritual sense can mean success in your life. Success means you find happiness with whatever you are doing, regardless of the task. This is contentment. A Yogi seeks the middle. Wisdom exists in the middle. For example, sadness always comes after happiness. Happiness whether short or long is always followed by sadness. Everything comes together in the Earth School. This is a law of nature. Thus, a Yogi strives to neither go too high up nor too far down. The more attached one is to the ups in life the more affected one is by the downs. Practice staying in the middle. This practice helps to cultivate gratitude so that learning and growing happen with less and less attachment. Over time, this process becomes more refined and occurs naturally. The mind becomes balanced by emotional stability, and physical wellness, the effect of the practice.
As students grow in yoga, tolerance and understanding increase, making life sweet. Emotional trauma and blockages in the chakras are released. Knowledge is stored in the chakras where one can access the ‘Book of Knowledge’ within. In order to grow and make room for the light, the negative must be transformed. The more one practices, the more you open the book of your life. A Yogi understands, accepts challenges and tries to minimize complaints. In this way, the transformation may be gentler, the process less timely and with less toxic build-up.
You need to learn the four paths to yoga. These four paths are Raja, Bhakti, Jnana and Karma Yoga. Practiced together, the learning and understanding of the benefits of yoga can truly be realized.