This paper reimagines
Tri
Hita Karana, the Balinese philosophy of balance between the
spiritual, social, and natural realms, as a globally relevant framework for
integrated community development. Drawing on over two decades of collaborative
fieldwork through the Bali Field School, we examine how this philosophy is
lived out in Balinese ritual, ecology, education, and governance. By examining
the lived expressions of Parahyangan (human–divine), Pawongan (human–human),
and Palemahan (human–nature), we demonstrate how these interdependent values
shape everyday practices of sustainability in Bali. Situating Tri Hita Karana within global
discourses on indigenous knowledge, moral development, and sustainability, we
compare it with other culturally rooted frameworks such as Buen Vivir, Ubuntu, and Aloha ʻĀina. Through qualitative
analysis of student reflections, community interviews, and ethnographic
observations, we demonstrate how relational ethics and spiritual ecology inform
resilient, place-based models of development. We argue that Tri Hita Karana offers not only a
local philosophy, but a holistic, ethically grounded, and adaptable paradigm
for addressing global challenges through decolonial pedagogy and
community-based sustainability.
