Download Story of the Bodhi Tree PDF

Danuse Murty
Buddhist Council of NSW
For Free Distribution Only
Dedication
To children
“We have a brief window of opportunity to take action, to preserve
humanity from imminent disaster and to assist the survival of the many
diverse and beautiful forms of life on Earth.
Future generations, and the other species that share the biosphere with
us, have no voice to ask for our compassion, wisdom, and leadership.
We must listen to their silence. We must be their voice, too,
and act on their behalf.”
From “A Buddhist Declaration on Climate Change”[1]
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The Sacred Fig
The Bodhi tree (scientific name Ficus religiosa), also known as
Sacred Fig, Bo tree or Pipal tree, is a species of banyan fig native to
Nepal and India, southwest China and Indochina east to Vietnam. It is a
large semi-evergreen tree up to 30 m tall and with a trunk diameter of
up to 3 m. [2, 3]
The Bodhi tree leaves are heart shaped with a distinctive extended tip.
They are 10-17 cm long and 8-12 cm broad, with a 6-10 cm petiole. The
fruit is a small fig 1-1.5 cm diameter, green ripening purple.
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This plant is considered sacred by the followers of Hinduism, Jainism
and Buddhism, and hence the name ‘Sacred Fig’ was given to it. More
than 2500 years ago Siddhartha Gotama attained the Supreme
Enlightenment, or became Buddha, while sitting under the Bo tree in
Bodh Gaya, India.[4, 5]
The Mahabodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya and the Sri Mahabodhi Tree in Sri
Lanka, propagated from it, are famous specimens of this Sacred Fig.
Emperor Asoka, a Hindu who converted to Buddhism, had a railing built
around the Mahabodhi Tree to protect it. A branch was taken from this
tree in 288 BC and planted in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
While the original Mahabodhi Tree died many years ago, the Sri
Mahabodhi tree is still alive, which makes it an oldest flowering plant.
The Mahabodhi Tree now growing at the Bodh Gaya is less than 120
years old. It has been propagated from the Sri Mahabodhi Tree. A
sapling from that tree was brought back to the Mahabodhi Temple,
where it is now growing. It is located at the same place where the
original tree once stood.
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Today in India, Hindu Sadhus and Buddhists still meditate below the
Bodhi trees, and in Theravada Buddhist Southeast Asia, the trees
massive trunks are often the sites of Buddhist and animist shrines .
(Mahabodhi Tree, 1997)
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An ancient Buddhist symbol
Bodhi tree is one of the earliest Buddhist symbols and objects of
reverence. According to the Buddhist scriptures, people asked the
Buddha whom should they pay respect to when he was absent and he
replied that they should pay respect to a Bodhi tree.[6]
Since then the Bodhi trees have been planted in Buddhist temple
gardens all around the world. They remind us of the forest origins of the
Buddhist tradition and of the dependence of our lives and achievements
on nature and to be kind to all living beings.
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Its medicinal uses
All parts of the Bodhi tree have been used as
a medicine for their cooling and healing
properties, as part of the Ayurvedic healing
system.[3] They have been used to treat
various diseases of the skin and blood,
digestive, reproductive, respiratory and other
body systems.
Some known medicinal uses reported in the literature are:
Leaves - to relieve diarrhoea and dysentery
Fruit - to treat asthma, digestive problems and as an antidote
against venom and other poisons
Seeds - for urinary ailments
Bark - as an anti-biotic against Staphylococcus aureus and
Escherichia coli
Sap (latex) - to remove warts
Roots - to heal ulcers and gum disease
“Proper use makes a good remedy even out of poison, while a good
medicinal plant acts as a poison if used improperly.”
(Caraka-samhita, 1000 B.C)[3]
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Its place in
the natural
ecosystems
Bodhi tree species belongs to
Mulberry or Moracea plant family,
and it has been an important part of
the natural forest ecosystems of
Asia.[2]
It provides shelter, food and medicine to many animal species, ranging
from elephants to tiny insects. The fruits, tender leaves and twigs
provide fodder for elephants and cattle, and the fruits form a treat for
many species of birds and other arboreal animals. Its branches and
bark give shelter to many birds and insects, roots offer a natural hiding
place to snakes and the ground beneath the leafy crown a resting place
to many weary travellers.
This species depends
for
its
continued
healthy survival on a
symbiotic species of
wasp,
Blastophaga
quadraticeps. Hence,
wherever
pollinator
wasps are not present,
the seeds are not
viable and the trees
must be propagated
from cuttings.
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But like other plant species, the
Bodhi tree depends for its
continued survival in the wild on
the
survival
of
the
forest
communities of which it is an
integral part.
It depends on other species not
only for pollination, but for the
continuation of its whole life-cycle.
Fruit eating birds and bats
disperse its seeds through their
droppings, insectivorous birds,
frogs and invertebrates protect it
from pests and snakes guard it from excessive use by herbivores.
Decomposing organisms in the forest litter and soil break up and
recycle its old leaves and other dead parts, so making the released
nutrients again available for the tree uptake. Nearby plants shelter it
from wind and excessive heat and also help to maintain suitable water
level in the soil.
While the Bodhi tree future in the human
history is secure, its future in the wild is less
certain. Saving its natural habitat is an act of
boundless kindness to many living species.
Even saving a small piece of native forest is
better than nothing.[7]
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How the Mahabodhi Tree
was saved from an early death
Around the year 2000, the
Mahabodhi Tree was attacked by a
millibug – an insect which slowly
kills trees.[8, 9] An alarm was
raised by the Mahabodhi Temple
Management Committee when the
leaves started turning black in
2002. Following reports in the
media in Japan, organisations from
the country came forward to help.
Scientists soon discovered that the
carbon monoxide (CO) emitted
from the oil lamps lit near the tree
had formed a thin layer on its
leaves, making photosynthesis
difficult. A study and laboratory
tests warned that the tree would die
if steps to protect it were not taken
immediately.
Experts treated the tree for three years using various measures. To
begin with, the burning of oil lamps near the tree was banned and a
lamp house constructed. The water level in the roots was maintained
and pesticides were used.
Since then the Mahabodhi Mahavihara’s management committee has
also banned burning of candles or lamps around the Muccalinda Lake
as an anti-pollution drive. According to the ancient story, from this lake
the legendary serpent King Muccalinda rose up to cover Lord Buddha
with its hood, to save him from the violent storm raised by the Mara.[10]
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At last in 2005, after several years of sickness, the tree bore new
leaves. The bark has also regained its original colour, which indicates
good health. So the third generation Mahabodhi Tree was successfully
rehabilitated through love and right understanding.
“As a post deep-planted in the earth stands unshaken by the winds from
the four quarters, so, too, I declare is the righteous man who
comprehends with wisdom the Noble Truths…”
(Jewel Discourse - Ratana Sutta, 500 BC)[11]
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References
1.
Ecological Buddhism, 2009. A Buddhist Declaration on Climate
Change. www.ecobuddhism.org
2. Sacred Fig, Encyclopedia Wikipedia, 2007.
www.wikipedia.org
3. The Bodhi Tree, The-Tree, 2007. www.the-tree.org.uk
4. Piyadassi Thera, 1982. The Buddha, His Life and Teaching. The
Wheel Publication 5 A/B.
www.bps.lk; ww.buddhistcouncil.org/bodhitree
5. Dhammika S Bhikkhu, 2011. 1) Dictionary of Flora and Fauna in
the Pali Tipitaka. Forthcoming. 2) Guide to Buddhism A to Z.
www.buddhisma2z.com
6. Tipitaka. Khuddaka Nikaya: Kaligga Bodhi Jataka. Jatakas Vol 4:
Jataka No 479. Internet Sacred Text Archive.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/j4/j4043.htm
7. Rainforests. The Hunger Site, 2008.
www.thehungersite.org
8. Chowdhury AH, 2004. Mahabodhi tree and temple under threat.
Buddhist Channel, November 2004.
www.buddhistchannel.tv
9. Khan I, 2005. Scientists save Bodh Gaya's holy Buddhist tree.
Buddhist Channel, July 2005.
www.buddhistchannel.tv
10. Tipitaka. Khuddaka Nikaya: Udana 2.1.
www.accesstoinsight.org
11. Piyadassi T, 1999. The Book of Protection - Paritta. Buddhist
Publication Society, Kandy, Sri Lanka.
www.bps.lk; www.buddhistcouncil.org/bodhitree
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