tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post5628794999237069290..comments2024-03-27T23:37:20.556-07:00Comments on dhamma musings: Tree WorshipShravasti Dhammikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06246408068143301108noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-68968712913367028252011-10-15T18:33:21.070-07:002011-10-15T18:33:21.070-07:00Hi. I live in Bangalore. I went for a walk today, ...Hi. I live in Bangalore. I went for a walk today, early morning, and saw two trees garlanded and smeared with sandal wood paste. It is so sweetly surprising and beautiful. I would have imagined that these rituals and beliefs are limited to the villages or hills. How little I know of my country :)<br />So, I just stumbled into your blog while googling for tree worship, and felt like speaking. Nice reading. :) Have a nice day..Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708859299249069643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-31287354388887321602011-03-21T20:07:33.730-07:002011-03-21T20:07:33.730-07:00I'd be interested in that research, having kno...I'd be interested in that research, having known of the distress of Burmese, who had shared the water of donation with the devas of particular trees, when the authorities ordered those trees felled. I think our acquaintances would maintain they hadn't worshipped the trees per se, but they had shared merit with those particular deities as a family and felt a bond.Ken and Visakhahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16713910044241151429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-37464044997330328802011-03-20T23:13:48.477-07:002011-03-20T23:13:48.477-07:00Dear Ken & Visakha,
Indeed it would. However, ...Dear Ken & Visakha,<br />Indeed it would. However, research has shown that tree worship rarely translates into a consciousness of the importance of preserving trees, any more Ganesh worship translates into a concern for the declining elephant population. Such beliefs can be used to launch an environmental awareness and concern but in themselves they seen to have little effect.Shravasti Dhammikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06246408068143301108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-46338336152371850862011-03-20T19:19:36.473-07:002011-03-20T19:19:36.473-07:00In the Jatakas, the Bodhisatta is sometimes reborn...In the Jatakas, the Bodhisatta is sometimes reborn as a tree spirit, from which perspective he observes and comments on kammic happenings. What a happier, greener, more diversified, less polluted world we would have if tree worship/respect were more widely practiced!Ken and Visakhahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16713910044241151429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-9271727836274678722011-03-19T07:40:42.806-07:002011-03-19T07:40:42.806-07:00Dear Richard,
I’m not that familiar with SE Asian ...Dear Richard,<br />I’m not that familiar with SE Asian superstitions and animism but broadly it’s probably the same as the Indian while having its own unique details. And while on the subject, if you ask a well-educated Asian Buddhist about attitudes to Bodhi trees they will tell you that people only ‘revere’ them because such a tree gave the Buddha shelter on the occasion of his enlightenment.In reality traditional Asian Buddhists ‘worship’ Bodhi trees in the belief they will answer their prayers. It’s a case of animism being grafter onto Dhamma.Shravasti Dhammikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06246408068143301108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-82925793315449920632011-03-19T06:12:32.972-07:002011-03-19T06:12:32.972-07:00Very interesting. Is this why "spirit houses&...Very interesting. Is this why "spirit houses" are ubiquitous especially in Thailand? Someone told me that businesses often put up spirit houses on their property to appease the spirits in the forest that was cleared to build the business. The spirit house is supposed to give the spirits a new place to live. Is that how it works?Richard Harroldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02943119066949899198noreply@blogger.com