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Bodhi Tree: The Sacred Tree of Wisdom

Bodhi tree is quite revered in Buddhism. It is considered as the symbol of salvation and awakening, as it was under the tree that Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment. The term Bodhi in Sanskrit and Pāli have meanings such as “awakening,” “enlightenment”. The tree of awakening, as it is also called, is a holy shrine for Buddhist pilgrims who worship the tree to seek the blessings of Buddha.

To understand why the Buddha tree is a sacred symbol in Buddhism, it is important to know more about the history of Buddhism and the role of the holy tree.

How Bodhi Tree got its name?

Bodhi Tree is said to be the sacred fig tree (Ficus religiosa) under which Siddharth Gautam meditated to find answers to his quest. It is under the tree that he attained supreme knowledge and became “Buddha”, the enlightened one. Thus, the tree that sheltered Buddha, became the Bodhi Tree and holds great significance among Buddhist followers.

History of the Bodhi tree in Buddhism

Buddhism was founded by Lord Buddha. The ancient religion is based on his teachings that are simple life philosophies. The religion that originated in northern India soon spread to the outside world due to its simplicity. Buddhism in Singapore is quite popular where the Buddhist teachings are widely accepted. Bodhi Tree being sacred to Buddhism is also worshipped here and carries a lot of significance.

Born as a prince of the Shakya clan, Siddhartha Gautam enjoyed a life of luxuries. However, he was destined to become a nobleman who would teach the world the path to ultimate salvation. Young Siddhartha could not find happiness in the luxuries and gave up his princely life to find true knowledge.

Leaving his royal life behind, the prince dedicated himself to find the reason behind human suffering. He followed various ways of asceticism the stricter versions of which included causing physical harm to oneself. However, he could not find his answers. It was after six years of his search that he finally came to the conclusion that moderation is the key to enlightenment. He sat under a fig tree in Bodh Gaya, in Bihar (India) to meditate. After continuously sitting for 49 days in the meditative position, he opened his eyes, got up, and thanked the tree for its shade and the wisdom. He had attained enlightenment and became the Buddha, or the enlightened one.

The fig tree that sheltered the Buddha during his enlightenment became the sacred Buddha Enlightenment Tree and attained great significance in the Buddhist religion. Just as Siddhartha Gautama became the Buddha, the common fig tree became the Bodhi Tree or the Bodhi Vriksha.

Buddha’s Bodhi tree is still visited by Buddhist pilgrims in Bodh Gaya in India. The Mahabodhi Temple Complex in Bodh Gaya has the direct descendant of the original tree while many cuttings from the tree were planted in various places around the world. The Anandabodhi tree in Shravasti and the Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka are believed to have been originated from the native Bodhi Tree. The holy tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka is the oldest living tree cut from the original tree, shortly before the tree was destroyed.

With time, as Buddhism spread all over the world, so did saplings of the Bodhi tree. Many Buddhist temples across the world have Bodhi Tree planted from the saplings of the original tree. To date, the tree is a sacred symbol of Buddhism.

The Bodhi Tree in Buddhism

The Bodhi Tree in Buddhism represents the journey to enlightenment. The holy tree is a symbol of belief. Buddhists regard the tree to be too scared to be touched or robbed of a leaf. Devout pilgrims kneel, pray and wait until a leaf detaches itself and flutter down as the Lord Buddha’s blessing.

Symbolically the tree in Buddhism serves a bigger purpose. Buddhist pilgrims believe it to be a symbol of:

● The Journey to Infinite Potential

As a tree starts its journey of life from a seed to a massive tree with branches, blossoms, and fruit, similarly every individual must embark on a journey to self-growth to reach their truest potential. Like the Buddha tree gives shade, life-giving oxygen, fruits, and shelter to birds and others, a person must not stop at self-growth but spread its potential for the welfare of the society and universe.

● Strong Roots to Rise

As the Bodhi Tree reached deep in the soil with its strong roots, it also grows upwards spreading massively. Similarly, every individual must trust in the strength of himself while growing in his/her potential.

● Reflection Breeds Awareness

The Bodhi tree is an image of the infinite potential one must achieve in their lifetime. Like the tree silently achieves its immense height and width and stays strong through the many storms, one must silently keep working to attain salvation. Through meditation, compassionate works, and other practices one must try to be aware of the higher purpose of leaving behind the worldly pleasures.

● Sense of Playfulness

The Bodhi Tree is not all complex; it is a lesson on many other things. Playfulness is one such basic lesson. The tree leaves play and dance in the wind, and teach us a very basic lesson of our existence. Similarly, every individual must always have a nature that lets us enjoy the moments in life.

The Revered Heritage of Buddhism- The Buddha Tree in Singapore

Buddhism is one of the most practiced religions in Singapore. With a one-third population of Buddhists and many practicing devotees, the Bodhi tree is a sacred symbol of worship. As the Buddha tree is considered holy in Buddhism, it is worshipped in Singapore too. The Buddhist Temples in Singapore have Bodhi trees in their complex. The holy tree is used for meditation, prayers, and many Buddhist rituals. The devout pilgrims in Singapore pray to the tree and believe the falling leaves of the tree as blessings of the Buddha.