the tree of life sangha

the tree of life in buddhism 3

“The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

The Tree of Life is used in art, literature, and religion to illustrate the concept of interconnectedness within our universe. It is a timeless symbol of our connections to everything around us, and a powerful reminder that our own happiness and health are inextricably intertwined with the happiness and health of all living things. The Tree of Life appears in many different cultures under many different names, but here is a look at three defining features of this legendary icon:

1. Leaves

The individual leaves depicted on the Tree of Life represent the uniqueness of all earthly creations, including ourselves. Like the leaves of a tree, we are all different shapes, colors, and textures, yet the Tree of Life reminds us that we can coexist peacefully.

2. Branches

The branches reaching outwards represent our human need for expression- in arts, science, and spirituality, among other outlets. In this way, the Tree of Life is also symbolic of our potential to improve and expand our notions of the human condition through compassionate action (literally reaching out our hands and arms).

3. Trunk/Roots

Above all else, the trunk and roots are the anchoring image of the Tree of Life. The solid trunk is a symbol of strength, a place we can always return and remember what we are made of, while the roots remind us not only where we originate and to stay grounded, but also imply that our actions in this life have deep meaning, even if we cannot see it right away.

The Tree of Life can also serve simply as a sign of inner strength in all that you do.

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Three-quarters of Scots support rewilding says new research | Trees for Life

Three-quarters of Scots support rewilding says new research | Trees for Life

https://treesforlife.org.uk/three-quarters-of-scots-support-rewilding-says-new-research/

Nembutsu

NEMBUTSU

by Christopher Kakuyo

Namu Amida Butsu is Nembutsu

It is the call of Buddhas to put everything down.

We need only one thing . . . less.

 

So stop torturing yourself

with all those made-up stories

of who you think you are

 

and aren’t, regardless of who

you are or are not, regardless

of what you have done

 

or have left undone.

 

Namu Amida Butsu

Namu Amida Butsu

Namu Amida Butsu

 

Let us attend to each other

right now, right here

Let us attend to each other

 

to our own funerals

to our own births

in that order

 

Namu Amida butsu

 

Do let us attend to each other,

to our lives
to all of life,
as it is,
as you are

 

Right here

Right now.

Namu Amida butsu

 

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ordaining trees

TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, BUDDHIST MONKS ARE ORDAINING TREES

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Traveling from several provinces across the heavily logged Cambodian landscape, two dozen Buddhist monks met at a local pagoda last October to attend a workshop held by The Alliance of Religions and Conservation. For Cambodia’s emerging network of “ecology monks” working in an increasingly authoritarian climate, the meeting was a critical and rare opportunity to discuss best practices for local conservation projects. And then two cops showed up and shut it down.

“They’re very wary of the monks getting together,” Chantal Elkin, a program manager for The Alliance of Religions and Conservation, told Sojourners. “Forest activism is [seen as] a threat to the government.”

Several of the monks were visibly upset, Elkin said.

Though traditionally revered in Cambodia’s majority-Buddhist society, monks today are not immune to the government’s crackdown on civil society actors. But where efforts at civic organization meet rebuke, Cambodia has seen the rise of one act of conservation — the holy ordination of trees — which originally emerged in Thailand and has risen in practice under the auspices of the Buddhist faith.

The most venerable of the group took the two officers, local cops not antagonistic to the meeting but seemingly following orders, up the hill where the group ordained a tree into the Buddhist faith, and then dispersed.

the tree of life - symbolism

Everything in life is connected

The Tree of Life symbol is commonly depicted as a large tree with roots that spread inward to the ground, and branches that spread outward to the sky. This represents the interconnected nature of all things in the universe; an eternal bonding of the physical realm we are rooted in and the spiritual realm. The Tree of Life serves as a reminder of our universal connection to the Mother Earth, and our dependence on her to grow and flourish.

A symbol of re-birth

The tree changes with the seasons. During autumn and winter, many trees will enter a hibernation phase and lose their leaves. Come springtime trees will slowly awaken. Tiny buds appear and grow. Similarly, our lives can experience seasons of darkness and light, death and rebirth. The Tree of Life symbol represents rebirth and new beginnings.

Family and ancestry

We often use the term ‘family tree’ in relation to our ancestry. The Tree of Life symbol represents a connection to our human family, these shared roots linking us to our past and future generations.

We appreciate our place as part of the family of our beloved planet, all her creatures of earth, sky and water, the mountains, forests and seas. May we treat all as beloved siblings. 

It also symbolises our connection with the sangha - reaching forward from the beginnings and on to the future. And branches spreading wide, connecting us to the worldwide sangha in the present day. The life of a tree can be seen to symbolise the growth of family and sangha.

A symbol of personal growth

The Tree of Life symbol represents our personal development as we practice together. Just as the branches of a tree strengthen and grow upwards to the sky, we too grow stronger as we move through life. All trees begin life in the same way, yet as they grow older, they weather nature’s forces and develop in their own unique ways.