Ailing Bodhi Tree Arouses Buddhist Fears

[camerata]

The ailing Bodhi tree arouses Buddhist fears

By Peter Foster in New Delhi

Concerns are mounting in India for the well-being of a sacred tree under which Lord Buddha first attained enlightenment more than 2,500 years ago.

The "Bodhi tree" in Bihar state, eastern India, has been afflicted with a mystery ailment, causing it to shed its leaves.

The giant peepal, or ficus religiosa, situated outside the Mahabodhi shrine is sacred to Buddhists who make pilgrimages from all around the world to worship at it.

Scientists have been called in to examine the tree, which began dropping large quantities of fresh leaves late last month, raising fears that it was starting to die.

"We have taken soil and leaf samples which are currently undergoing laboratory analysis," said Dr A K Singh, of the Agricultural Research Institute in the nearby town of Patna. "The concern is that the new, young leaves are falling from the canopy."

The fate of the tree - which is 110 years old and is, according to the temple authorities, the sixth regeneration of the original tree under which Lord Buddha attained perfect insight - is a highly sensitive subject in the Buddhist world.

Last year rumours that a local mafia gang had lopped off a branch to sell to Japanese pilgrims caused several countries, including Sri Lanka, Burma and Japan to send high-level diplomatic delegations to inspect the place where the limb had allegedly been severed.

Temple authorities vigorously denied that the incident had even occurred, saying the branch was an "old cut". Amid further wild rumours of a cover-up, inconclusive scientific tests were ordered to ascertain how recently the branch had been cut down.

Dr Singh, who was visiting the shrine yesterday, said he was quietly called in 10 days ago after local monks noticed that the tree, whose leaves are sold to pilgrims for up to £5 each, was shedding at an unusually high rate.

More at Daily Telegraph.

[DrFisher]

I would refer everyone to the teaching of impermanences.

As far as anyone doing damage or taking a branch from the tree I would point out:

1. destruction of living beings is demerit.

2. steeling is demerit.

3. lying is demerit.

4. tale-bearing is demerit.

5. covetousness is demerit.

6. ill-will is demerit.

I can't quite make the other 4 "first steps" fit but with a little imagination I'm sure we could link them.....