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society. This pattern of thinking is accompanied by a relationship with the ancestors in
ritual practices.
Yali communities in the Central Highlands of Papua (Indonesia) have a pattern of
cosmic dualistic thinking by emphasizing the polarization and the dichotomy between
the terms humli and tabui. Both words literally mean cold (humli) and hot (tabui), which
geographically can be interpreted as follows. The first one refers to the mountainous area
with cold climates, and the second one points to low-lying areas with hot climate. Yali
society has the ecosystem knowledge that is very neat with sketches of understanding
linking between the real world and the concepts of life related to the Holy One (Sawaki
and Walianggen, 2014).
Spirituality or religion and patterns of belief are parts of essential elements of the
cultural system of Melanesia in general. In the life of the society, things related to the
Divine One are seen as something inherent in the traditions and heritage that is attached
to the culture. Therefore, to understand the religious dimension, there should be a process
of understanding about social life and local culture. Society does not recognize the strict
separation between the empirical and non-empirical, between the natural realm and the
supernatural realm in cosmos (Nongkas and Tivinarlik, 2004).
Spiritual movement to further explore the universe and its wealth happens in networks
of belief in the interference of the Holy One in the whole totality of the community in
relation to spirits, forests, mountains, rivers, birds, animals and all that is contained in
the universe. Traditional religion for the community is a bridge to find the root of human
life. Melanesian spirituality has emerged from the experience of the people who inhabit
the region since time immemorial. It can be seen very clearly in people’s lives; there is no
dichotomy in their treatment between ‘sacred’ and ‘profane’ matters, religion and non-
religion, the visible and non-visible ones.
The religious perspective always focuses on ‘every encounter’ of a man with another
man (neighbors, nature, ancestors including the Divine One) in the course of the history
of everyday life. People are the key elements and embrace the highest value in the culture
because in this society all encounters can be appreciated contextually. The existence of the
community has always been on the ideals and efforts to support and care for the value of life.
For a cause that is noble and in the integrity of the cosmos thinking, oftentimes, the interests
and needs of an individual are ignored due to society’s needs which are highly preferred.
To maintain harmonization in relation to religion or spirituality, Melanesian societies
rely on ritual celebrations. In certain aspects, the rites are appreciated not only as a means

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