The Tree of Enlightenment
The Banyan & Bodhi Trees

His father, Suddhodana, was the ruler of the Sakya people and Siddhartha grew up living the extravagant life of a young prince. His father had ordered that he live a life of total seclusion, but one day Siddhartha ventured out into the world and was confronted with the reality of the inevitable suffering of life.

This Buddha from the Kashmir/Swat Valley is a portrayal of Prince Siddhartha who renounced his wealth and set out on a journey in a quest to find the true meaning of life. It was thus that one evening, seated under a tree; since then known as the Bodhi-tree, The Tree of Wisdom, on the bank of the river Neranjara at Buddha-Gaya, he attained Enlightenment.

Buddhism is a religion that originated in India, later it became well established in China while no longer a major religion in India. More than 900 years ago, the prefect of Fuzhou, who loved banyan trees, ordered the local people to grow them everywhere, so the place became known as The City of Banyan Trees. It is also known as Sanshan (Three Mountains ) after the three surrounding peaks, Yu, Wushi and Ping.

    The Enlightened:
  1. Fuzhou, China Banyan Trees
  2. Chinese Buddhism Basics of BuddhismSunday Observer - Feature Sec. As in the case of the Bodhi at Anuradhapura the Kalutara Bodhi is also considered sacred to Buddhists all over the world including Sri Lanka who visit it daily.
  3. Bodhi Gaya - Place of Enlightenment
  4. Pruning the Bodhi Tree: The Storm over Critical Buddhism
  5. Buddhist Association At UT
  6. Enlightenment
  7. Zen & Buddhism
  8. Buddha Sakyamuni Confronted with the reality of life and the suffering of mankind, he decided to find the solution, the way out of this universal suffering.
    The Unenlightened:
  1. Banyan Tree Phuket Home Page
  2. Other Banyan Tree Spas
  3. Banyan Tree Golf Course
  4. TravelAsia - September 19, 1997/ Banyan in Ubud Dispute
  5. TravelAsia - December 19, 1997/ Banyan Withdraws Form Ubud
    Botany:
  1. University of Hawaii Campus Plants, UH Botany A very large, spreading tree with numerous aerialroots, native to S. China; quite similar to F. benjamina L., fruits about 1/4 in.
  2. Ficus benjamina The leaves are leathery and about five inches long and two inches wide. Link to Plant Tracker Ethno-botanical Database from Plants for a Future
  3. Flowering Plant Families, UH Botany The ovary is superior or inferior and contains a single pendulous ovule in a solitary locule. The upper part of the pistils and the styles and stigmas of female flowers are visible in the upper part of the photo.
  4. Floridata: Ficus carica Originally from the eastern Mediterranean region, figs have been cultivated by humans for over 5000 years. Most cultivars of fig trees produce two crops, a spring breba crop on last season's growth, and a summer or fall, main crop on new wood.
  5. Tropical Botany Primer
  6. Welcome to Botanica
  7. BBS: The Banyan A wide spreading Indian fig, the tree like the one where the Buddha sat for 49 days in deep reflection before obtaining enlightenment. It's a beautiful tree anyway and such strong connections to reflection must make it the candidate for the symbol of thinking & reflection.
    Misc.:
  1. Save the Banyan Tree
  2. Dearest Meir: Keep in mind that knowledge grows on every tree, and some fruits taste better and feed more.
Mythical and Mystical Trees
Sandalwood Tree
Agricultural Perspectives
Warrior Island Links