The Bodhi Tree thread

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The Bodhi Tree thread

Post by DNS »

Bodhi, a Pāḷi word meaning ‘awaken,’ is the name given to the particular tree growing at Bodh Gayā which the Buddha was sitting under when he became enlightened. This Bodhi Tree was a variety of fig known to botanists as Ficus religiosa and which has large spreading branches and rounded leaves with a characteristic pointed tip. In the several accounts of the Buddha’s enlightenment in the Tipiṭaka, the Bodhi Tree is only mentioned twice (D,II,4 and Ud.1, repeated at Vin.I,1-7). Tradition says that after his enlightenment, the Buddha stood for seven days gazing at the Bodhi Tree out of gratitude for the shelter it had given him (Ja.I,77), and modern Buddhists still revere this species of tree for the same reason.

The present Bodhi Tree at Bodh Gayā was planted in 1880 and is distantly related to the original one. Bodhi trees are sometimes mistakenly called banyans although the banyan is a different species of tree altogether.

from: http://buddhisma2z.com/content.php?id=45" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Image

This thread can be the place to post your favorite photos of the Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya or other Bodhi Trees from around the world or to discuss the Bodhi Tree and its significance.

A website with resources and information, including where to acquire seeds and plants:

http://cbs.ntu.edu.tw/bodhitree/en/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: The Bodhi Tree thread

Post by DNS »

Did you know that there is no specific species of Bodhi Tree? Except of course for the tree Gotama-Buddha meditated under and attained enlightenment. That one was the ficus religiosa, a variety of fig tree. But the previous Buddhas each sat and meditated under different species of trees. The complete list can be seen here at the Dhamma Wiki page:

Bodhi Tree (Dhamma Wiki article)
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Re: The Bodhi Tree thread

Post by Khalil Bodhi »

Good stuff Dr. S! Thanks!
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Re: The Bodhi Tree thread

Post by mikenz66 »

There was a brief discussion here, when discussing heartwood similes, that the heartwood of the bodhi tree is empty:
http://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... 81#p174024" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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Re: The Bodhi Tree thread

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings,

Image

This is a close up of the leaves of a Bodhi Tree at Daham Nikethanaya in Yuroke, Victoria, Australia.

Bodhi Trees take a fair bit of looking after to get them established at this sort of latitude, as they tend to prefer warmer climes. One of the resident bhikkhus advised me that Bodhi Tree saplings are often grown in glasshouses in order to get them established prior to planting them outside.

Structures like this help to shield them from cold winds.

Image
Image

Metta,
Retro. :)
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Ben
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Re: The Bodhi Tree thread

Post by Ben »

Hi all,

This photo was taken by me at a famous shrine behind some of the main buildings on Shwedagon Paya.
I believe it is the same Buddha image that Bhikkhu Pesala has as his avatar.
Behind the Buddha image is a Bodhi Tree.
IMGP5245Resized.jpg
IMGP5245Resized.jpg (211.8 KiB) Viewed 32335 times
kind regards,

Ben
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Re: The Bodhi Tree thread

Post by DNS »

Thanks KB, MikeNZ. Good information there about fig trees in general.

Great photos, retro and Ben!
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Re: The Bodhi Tree thread

Post by DNS »

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi

The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Tree is located in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It was grown from a sapling of the original Bodhi Tree the Buddha sat under and attained enlightenment.

The tree is said to be the southern branch of the Maha Bodhi Tree at Bodh Gaya in India under which Buddha attained Enlightenment. It is the only sapling that was saved from the original tree. The original Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya was destroyed and the current Bodhi Tree there is a sapling from this tree in Sri Lanka, making the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Sri Lanka the most authentic to the original tree the Buddha sat under and attained enlightenment.

Many Sri Lankans consider this to be the most significant Buddhist site in the world due to the above.

I have noticed that nearly all Sri Lankan temples have a Bodhi Tree on their grounds. Some have elaborate designs surrounding the tree, with an open pavilion and tiles around it. Temples from other cultures, countries don't seem to have it at the same rate as the Sri Lankans. Sri Lanka's significance to Buddhist history / the Bodhi Tree certainly must play a role in the significance of it to the Sri Lankans.
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Re: The Bodhi Tree thread

Post by seeker242 »

David N. Snyder wrote:Bodhi, a Pāḷi word meaning ‘awaken,’ is the name given to the particular tree growing at Bodh Gayā which the Buddha was sitting under when he became enlightened. This Bodhi Tree was a variety of fig known to botanists as Ficus religiosa and which has large spreading branches and rounded leaves with a characteristic pointed tip. In the several accounts of the Buddha’s enlightenment in the Tipiṭaka, the Bodhi Tree is only mentioned twice (D,II,4 and Ud.1, repeated at Vin.I,1-7). Tradition says that after his enlightenment, the Buddha stood for seven days gazing at the Bodhi Tree out of gratitude for the shelter it had given him (Ja.I,77), and modern Buddhists still revere this species of tree for the same reason.

The present Bodhi Tree at Bodh Gayā was planted in 1880 and is distantly related to the original one. Bodhi trees are sometimes mistakenly called banyans although the banyan is a different species of tree altogether.

This thread can be the place to post your favorite photos of the Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya or other Bodhi Trees from around the world or to discuss the Bodhi Tree and its significance.

A website with resources and information, including where to acquire seeds and plants:

http://cbs.ntu.edu.tw/bodhitree/en/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I almost had an opportunity to travel to Bodh Gayā this past November, although work got in the way so I could not go. Oh well! Several members of my sangha were able to go though. They visited Varanasi, Deer Park in Sarnath, Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Vulture Peak, Kushinagar and Lumbini. They said it was a very good trip and very motivating for their practice. This video, although not from people I know, has some good footage of the tree and Mahabodhi Temple right next to it.

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Re: The Bodhi Tree thread

Post by Maitri »

This is a great little puja book focused on the Bodhi tree, and it's free from Inward Path Publishing

http://www.inwardpath.org/ipp2u/catalog ... cts_id=129
"Upon a heap of rubbish in the road-side ditch blooms a lotus, fragrant and pleasing.
Even so, on the rubbish heap of blinded mortals the disciple of the Supremely Enlightened One shines resplendent in wisdom." Dhammapada: Pupphavagga

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/
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Re: The Bodhi Tree thread

Post by KASHI »

Dear friends,

I very much like the idea of this thread. I have no pics (i just happen to click on this thread out of pure curiosity and decided to post something)
However, Although I mostly consider myself a follower of Theravada Buddhism, I do enjoy the practice of Mantra on mala beads. On my personal and self-made shrine at home, I keep and use a mala made from Bodhi seeds, with an extra carved wooden bead that has the character in chinese for "Buddha"

To me it is a good reminder that even if I never become a Buddha myself, it is possible to become enlightened, and I like to have it around my neck from time to time so that when I start to become angry, have wrong view ect ect...I can hold the beads in my hand and remember the practice.

May ALL benifit from the teachings of the Buddha!

Namaste
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Re: The Bodhi Tree thread

Post by yawares »

retrofuturist wrote:Greetings,

Image

This is a close up of the leaves of a Bodhi Tree at Daham Nikethanaya in Yuroke, Victoria, Australia.

Bodhi Trees take a fair bit of looking after to get them established at this sort of latitude, as they tend to prefer warmer climes. One of the resident bhikkhus advised me that Bodhi Tree saplings are often grown in glasshouses in order to get them established prior to planting them outside.

Structures like this help to shield them from cold winds.

Image
Image

Metta,
Retro. :)
Dear "retrofuturist",

I so love your picture of Bodhi Tree, exactly look like the Bho Trees in Thailand that I've seen at almost every Thai temples. When I was young there were no rest area on the highways in Thailand, whenever we needed rest after long drive, we would stop at a temple that we saw and stretched our legs by walking under the Bho trees that gave us super shade.

In Thailand we call " Bho tree".
yawares
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Re: The Bodhi Tree thread

Post by Maitri »

After a major setback last year, I was finally able to visit India for pilgrimage in April with my husband. Seeing the Bodhi Tree, temple complex, and the Vajrasana in person was one of the most moving experiences of my life. We arrived before dawn at 4:30am and stayed until later in morning offering puja, taking refuge, offering dana, and sitting in meditation. We had a chance to do this over several days in the morning and evening. Rounding the corner for the first time to see the full Mahabodhi complex from the eastern gate was totally overwhelming and beautiful.

I am so profoundly grateful to have been in the same vicinity as the Blessed One once was.

Image

Image

The weather was stifling hot, but the upside was that it was not very busy. Every morning we were able to sit directly under the tree near the Vajrasana for the several hours because not many people were there. We used this fantastic puja book:
BODHI: compiled by VENERABLE K. SEELANANDA from Inward Path Publishers.
"Upon a heap of rubbish in the road-side ditch blooms a lotus, fragrant and pleasing.
Even so, on the rubbish heap of blinded mortals the disciple of the Supremely Enlightened One shines resplendent in wisdom." Dhammapada: Pupphavagga

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/
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Re: The Bodhi Tree thread

Post by SarathW »

Did you know?
• The world’s oldest tree planted by a human and with a recorded history is the Bodhi Tree which is still living in the city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
According to records, it was planted in 288BC and was taken as a sapling from the Bodhi Tree under which Buddha became enlightened.


• A copy of the Diamond Sutra is the world’s oldest surviving printed book. Please take ten minutes of your valuable time to read the translation of this book which is a historical document describing how Buddha explains the concept of Anatta to his disciples.

Diamond Sutra:
http://www.diamond-sutra.com/diamond_su ... ation.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: The Bodhi Tree thread

Post by jagodage »

Dear SarathW

Thanks for link Diamond Sutra

Be Great Merit accrue upon you !

With Metta
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