Ayu Putu Yuniarthi, 73, used to work as an elementary school teacher in Singaraja. Now she’s retired and lives in Denpasar with her four children and 12 grandchildren.

What’s the greatest lesson life has taught you?
To be moral, to have character and to perform religious rituals.

What’s most important?
Ethics and modesty.

What advice you would give the younger generations?
Behave yourself and be useful to society.

Are you worried about dying?
No, when it’s your time, it’s your time.

When was the happiest time of your life?
I am happy when I can relax and nothing bothers me.

And the worst?
Being confused and stressed.

What’s humanity all about?
Feelings, respecting each other, taking care of each other.

Why are there so many conflicts in the world?
Because there is a social gap in life; so there are corruptors, thieves and more. This creates tension.

Is a peaceful world possible?
Only if people’s attitudes change.

How old do you feel?
I feel 72.

Is one lifetime enough?
It’s not enough, but I hope I can be reincarnated as a human again.

How has Bali changed?
It has developed a lot in terms of society and the economy.

Has tourism been good for Bali?
Yes, it has; and it has increased our earnings.

What’s the major difference between the East and the West?
In the West it’s technology and the economy that are strong and in the East it still developing and can’t be the same yet as the West.

Have you ever doubted your religion?
No.

What makes you so sure of it? 
Because religion makes me calm, peaceful and confident. I believe in the law of karma – with karma we can stop ourselves from doing bad things. For example, if we’re going to steal, we think what the consequences might be; we then remember God.

SS/BT