The Tree of Life: Temple symbol in Ancient Eastern Philosophies and Mormonism

discussions. Colleen Is there a Tree of Life motif within Hindu and/or Buddhist tradition? It seems that the Tree of Life shows up in almost any ancient tradition. Is it found in Vedic and other Asian traditions? And, if so, what does it mean? 3 months ago Like CommentFollow Flag More Lisa J. M., Natubhai P. and 4 others like this 35 comments • Jump to most recent comments Avinash Bhushan Avinash Bhushan S. • I cannot speak of other traditions. But there are references in the Dharma traditions to a tree whose root is Brahman - the One Soul of the Universe, that is the source of light (consciousness) for all living beings, and that is beyond the laws of time, space and causation. Here is a reference from the Upanishads: This is that eternal Ashvattha Tree with its root above and branches below. That root, indeed, is called the Bright; That is Brahman and That alone is the Immortal. In That all worlds are contained and none can pass beyond. This, verily, is That. Katha Upanishad 2.3.1 This Ashvattha tree was the most important tree for the ancient rishis (sages). In the Bhagavad Gita (10.26), Lord Krishna states that "Of all trees (I am) the Ashvattha." 3 months ago Lisa J. Lisa J. M. • I've seen it very much in Celtic culture and tradition as well...really, The Tree of Life, is shown or conveyed in most traditions even if in the way of metaphor. 3 months ago Colleen Colleen D. • Thank you, Avinash and Lisa. Your comments are helpful. 3 months ago RHEA RHEA M. • I'm most familiar with the tree of life from the Sioux Native American culture. I was cast as Black Elk and got to speak about the sacred tree back in my actress days. It made me do a ton of research on it. I even drew my own version of it. This was fifteen years ago. I wish I could remember the details now but memory fails me. The tree is such an awe inspiring symbol. The roots are like links to our ancestors and the branches are like many paths our lives can take. Aside from that, trees are beautiful metaphors for life in general. The Christians had their tree of knowledge of good and evil The Buddhists have their bodhi tree I would love to hear about other traditions Another symbol that has universal appeal is the circle. 3 months ago Colleen Colleen D. • Rhea, In your experience of the Sioux tradition, is there a story that accompanies the tradition of the sacred tree? It really is interesting to me the way that sacred symbols show up in multiple traditions, and sometimes at great distance from each other. 3 months ago RHEA RHEA M. • yes, there is but I can't remember it. I'll have to go back to the library and bring up all the research I did so many years ago. Maybe I will for fun and get back to you. I think Black Elk himself saw it in some of his amazing visions. I'm not surprised that the tree shows up in so many traditions. A tree is such an awe inspiring object that a child who has never been exposed to any culture, would see the sacredness of it. 3 months ago Colleen Colleen D. • Thank you Rhea. If it is interesting to you, please share what you learn. The branching nature of the tree is a frequently occurring pattern (fractal) in nature. It is rich with allegorical possibility. 3 months ago RHEA RHEA M. • Your question made me nostalgic, so I did an internet search and found this for you: http://nwindian.evergreen.edu/curriculum/SacredTree.pdf 3 months ago RHEA RHEA M. • http://www.arbutusarts.com/sacred-trees.html 3 months ago Regis Regis C. • Interesting question! I always draw a tree-like structure when I describe the nature of this philosophical structure of Gods and Goddesses (Brahman, Ishwara; Brahma, Vishnu, Siva and so on), but have not seen any iconography on the topic. I will peruse the comments to see if I can find references to nice ones. Thanks! 3 months ago Colleen Colleen D. • Great, Regis, welcome back! Circles, spirals, branching structures, hexagons, 6-pointed stars, etc. They are interesting shapes but they are also geometry, and geometry is math. Back to the numbers, and it kind of makes me laugh. How much mystery is right in front of us, and we don't see it? 3 months ago Colleen Colleen D. • Thank you, Rhea. I enjoyed the links. They are just what I am looking for. If anyone has more to add.....please! 3 months ago Spafford Spafford A. • The conversation piqued my curiosity too! Here's what I turned up (as the importance of the Bodhi tree came to mind in the Buddhist tradition): http://www.whats-your-sign.com/bodhi-tree-symbolism.html Thanks! 3 months ago Vijay Vijay B. • In Bhagvat Geeta Ch 15, the Supreme Lord said: 'Anyone who knows that the As'vattha is said to be an imperishable [banyan-]tree that has its roots upwards, its branches downwards and of which the leaves are the Vedic hymns, knows the Vedas. Extending downward and upward, its branches by the modes of nature downward developed twigs as the sense objects and to the extending roots [upward] the karma that binds one to the human world. The form of this tree which is without a beginning or end cannot be perceived in this world nor can one see how it is maintained; this strongly rooted Banyan must be cut by the weapon of detachment. After doing so one has to find out about that place for which one is going and from where one never returns and then surrender to Him, the Primordial Original Person, from whom everything extended since time immemorial. 3 months ago Simon Simon G. • HARI-OM Hi....Colleen, A beautiful question. Yes there is mentioned in the Buddhist and Hindu Scriptures ( Vedas) regarding the "TREE OF LIFE" The Human Brain is the TREE OF LIFE Wisdom and Knowledge are its fruits. Even in the "HOLY BIBLE" also it is mentioned about such a Tree …..Lest he put forth his hand and take also of the TREE OF LIFE and eat and live for ever …… (Gen.3:22) In the Midst of the street of it, And on either of the River, was there the TREE OF LIFE-(REV.22:2) Namaste 3 months ago Swami Swami P. • what is question ? could you Please elaborate it Please? 2 months ago Susan Susan H. • From Yogi Ananda Saraswathi: (Part 1) ASVATTHA TREE. In spiritual literature, this tree is represented as the Upside-down tree with roots exposed above. It is called the Tree of Samsara. Asvattha is the Sanskrit name for the Peepal or fig tree. It is familiar in the Indian landscape. Its leaves are heart shaped; the fruit is purple when ripe. The tree is said to be first depicted on a 3000 BC Mohenjodoro seal. It is also linked to the Buddha as he supposedly meditated under its cool shade and got enlightened. There it got called Bodhi and some writings writing more about Bodhi than the Buddha himself. There could be some substance to emphasizing the Asvattha. TREE OF KNOWLEDGE: Traditional and symbolical treatment of the asvattha is seeing it as the mystical tree of knowledge and tree of cosmic life represented in a reversed position; the branches extend downwards typifying the visible cosmic universe and the roots are upwards typifying the invisible world of spirits. Hindus were not alone in such representations. Tree symbolism depicted that the roots sprang from the divine heart of things; the trunk, branches and leaves represented various planes and spheres of the world and the universe. The seeds from the cosmic tree were the seed of future ‘trees’ being evolving entities. At the end of the evolutionary journey through long eons of majestic rounds, they (men and gods) become cosmic entities. Thus, every living thing, and the so-called inanimate objects are trees of life with their roots in their spiritual realms, the trunks passing through intermediate spheres and the branches manifesting in physical realms. GITA versus UPANISHDS: In the beginning of Bhagavad Gita, Book Fifteen, Sri Krishna teaches Arjuna that the Asvattha is the Tree of the Universe, the Tree of Samsara; the relative universe with its endless cycles of births and deaths: Gita 15.3. Urdhvam – roots are above; adhas – its branches are below; guna pravradhah – nourished by the Gunas; visaya pravalah – sense-objects are its buds; karma anumbandhini – originating action; manusya loke – in the world of men. The upside down tree is also a metaphor for the mirror imae of the unreal which is only a reflection of Real. SHANKARACHARYA: Of this the great Sri Adi Sankaracharya wrote: “This Tree of the Universe, Samsara, is said to be noisy ‘constantly reverberating with the tumultuous’ sounds that arise from the cacophony of all human activity. Its trunk is formed by ‘the various subtle bodies of living beings.’ Its growth is fed by desire and its fruits are the Lokas, the worlds of the afterlife, which are experienced as the reward for actions.” Thus longing for results, the fruits of our acts, engenders the roots which reach down into the earth plane and further blind human consciousness. 2 months ago Susan Susan H. • (Part 2) ADIH-ANTAH: In Gita 15.3, Sri Krishna states that the form of the Tree of the Universe cannot be known by living beings on earth as it has no adhih-beginning or antah-end; nor can its continual existence be perceived. Thus it forms the link between the transcendental aand phenomenal worlds. ASANGASASTRENA DRDHENA CHITTVA: ‘Having cut asunder this firm rooted (asvattha) with the axe of non-attachment.’ The Samsara tree is an illusion projecting Imperishable Oneness. During births and deaths, Souls enjoy the experiences provided b transmigration. They must also learn to discern the Real from the effects of guna-maya and cut down this tree with asange-sastrena, Axe of Non-attachment. Sastrena is an axe or weapon; asange means that which is opposed to desire. Dispassion and renunciation of the signals which transmit the perceptions of the five senses to the brain, become a drdhena-mighty sastra-weapon because they detach human consciousness from the world of desire, attachment and aversion, likes and dislikes, pleasure and pain. What makes the axe strong is eagerness for knowledge of the Supreme Self. What sharpens the weapon is the repeated practice of discriminations between the eternal Real and the temporal unreal produced by prakriti-guna-maya. KATHA UPANISHAD: This is That eternal Asvattha Tree with its root above and branches below. That root, indeed, is called the Bright That is Brahman, and That alone is the Immortal. In That all worlds are contained, and none can pass beyond. This verily is That: Katha Upanishad 2.3.1. ‘The eternal Asvattha tree with its root upwards and branches downwards, which is the pure immortal Brahman, in which all these worlds are situated, and beyond which there is nothing else: Katha 2.6.1. According to this passage, the Asvattha tree is the Brahman itself, and that it is imperishable. How far does the description in the Bhagavad-Gita correspond to the description in the Katha Upanisad and are there inherent contradictions between the two texts? Both Katha and Gita agree that the Asvattha tree is regarded as having its root upwards and its branches downwards. In one aspect, the Gita could be antagonistic to the Katha. Katha states that the Asvattha tree is real and identical with the Brahman and is, therefore, impossible of being cut off. However the Gita states that the Asvattha tree must be regarded as unreal, and identical with existence. It further states that it is necessary to cut off this tree of existence by the potent weapon of nonattachment. These are opposing views. In Gita 15.4 Sri Krishna speaks of Padam-goal. Padam is also place or footing. The state of being that is beyond that illusory Tree of Samsara is to be sought. The detachment from Prakriti and the staunch attachment to the Supreme Purusha are the potent means for the destruction of the tree of Samsara of the Jivatman. Those who attain, who have gatah-gone to this abode beyond the Tree, they do not nirvartanti bhuyah – again return to the world. The wise ones who have cast off the veils of amudhah- delusion, go the avyayam padam – imperishable abode They have become free from nirmana - pride and arrogance; they have conquered sanga –attachment. YGGDRASIL: This is the Tree of the Universe in Scandinavian mythology. It is in the centre of their divine world. Here, the roots of a big ash grow in the three underworlds, the world of death, world of forest giants and world of men. The branches spread over the world. The tree unites earth and heaven and the underworld. Parts of the Scandinavian Yggdrasil would agree with both the Katha and Gita. It would agree with Katha Upanishad to the extent of the Tree identical with Reality, and, therefore, having a real concrete existence. It also agrees with the Gita in making the actions, the motives, and the histories of mankind the boughs and branches of this Tree of Existence. The Yggdrasil is as a Tree of existence is past, present and future. 2 months ago Colleen Colleen D. • Wow, Susan, thank you so much! Prem, I am asking if there are references to a "tree of life" in Dharmic traditions? I hope that helps. 2 months ago Colleen Colleen D. • In Judeo-Christian tradition, there are two trees: the tree of Life and the tree of Knowledge (of good and evil). They were somewhat in opposition to each other, somewhat like the relationship of Non-duality and Duality. It sounds like the tree of Samsara is more like the tree of Knowledge. Are there two trees or are they represented with just one tree? 2 months ago Jay Jay G. • Hi Colleen: A wonderful question and a big opportunity for all of us to learn from different traditions. Please elaborate on the 2 trees from Judeo-Christian tradition. Thanks. 2 months ago Colleen Colleen D. • I must preface my post with a caveat, that what I am writing is from a Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) perspective. In some ways it is closer to Hindu thought than the typical Christian view. As the story goes, among the trees of the Garden of Eden, there were two trees of particular importance. One of them was the Tree of Life, the fruit of which would have maintained life as it was forever. The other, the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil, offered the "fruit" of duality. The partaker would be immersed in a world of opposites--happiness/misery, right/wrong, etc. The point of it is to offer choices, and the opportunity to learn from one's own experience. It also brought mortality with birth and death. When Adam and Eve (first mortal parents) ate the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, the "fruit" of the Tree of Life was no longer available as it would have trapped them in this duality. So, it was required that there be one who would be powerful enough to overturn this condition. A Messiah or Christ through His atonement of this transgression, makes the Tree of Life available to us again. Unique to Latter-day Saint doctrine is the story of a dream of an ancient prophet, repeated also to his son, about a Tree of Life, the fruit of which is Eternal Life. Surrounding this tree, are many objects. There was a deep canyon filled with dirty water and mists of darkness. There was also a path with a rod of iron as a railing that led to the Tree. Also present was a great and spacious building full of people who laughed and mocked at the people who were on the path. The metaphor is probably quite obvious to most people of faith. If anyone is interested, you can find the story by following this link in the Book of Mormon: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/8?lang=eng This will take you to Chapter 8 where the prophet tells of his dream. Chapter 11 tells of the son's desiring to understand his father's vision and his own experience with it. 2 months ago Dr. Satyajit Dr. Satyajit K. • Interestingly there are mentions about seeds in (advaita vedanta) and tree in the song of Mahamudra. Both my favorite. But these represents tree which are illusions which are to be rid off. In the monumental book Vivekachudamani Shankara says : The seed of the samsara tree is ignorance, identification with the body is its shoot, desire is its first leaves, activity its water, the bodily frame its trunk, the vital forces its branches, the faculties its twigs, the senses its flowers, the manifold pains arising from various actions its fruit, and the bird on it is the individual experiencing them. 145 Of the tree of conditioned life truly the seed is tamas, the sprout is the conviction that the body is the ego, attachment is the leaf, Karma truly is the sap, the body is the trunk, the vital airs are the branches of which the tops are the organs, the flowers the objects (of the organs), the fruit the variety of sufferings from manifold Karma, and jiiva is the bird that feeds. 147 Identification of oneself with the body is the seed of the pain of birth etc. in people attached to the unreal, so get rid of it with care. When this thought is eliminated, there is no more desire for rebirth. 164 A seed is seen to grow with the development of the necessary conditions, while the failure of the conditions leads to the failure of the seed. So one must remove these conditions. 312 It is observed that the growth of motive is the growth of the seed (of changing existence), the destruction of the former is the destruction of the latter; therefore the former is to be annihilated. 346 The fire of the knowledge of the oneness without limitation, burns down completely the forest of avidyaa; where then is the seed of changeful existence of him who has completely attained the state of oneness? (347) Now from Mahamudra my favorite song: Tilopa says to Naropa, Mahamudra is beyond all words And symbols, but for you ,Naropa Ernest and Loyal, must this be said ... .... ....Cut the root of the tree and the leaves will wither; cut the root of your mind And Samsara falls. The light of any lamp Dispels in a moment The darkness of the long kalpas; The strong light of the mind In but a flash will burn The veil of Ignorance. 2 months ago Ari Ari V. • In tibetan buddhist traditions they use refusetrees as a meditation object. There is also a tree in the centre of universe or mandala sometimes 2 months ago Colleen Colleen D. • More Trees and Bushes: I found this quote on Facebook this morning but I don't know the author: "Those who aspire for self-transformation have to adopt this practice of conscious self-discipline in their lives. Human life, with myriads of latent physical, mental and spiritual qualities, may be likened to a garden of sweet fruits. Even if only a few of these qualities are cultivated systematically, one can relish the fruits of joy. But if the baser tendencies and bodily habits are left undisciplined, they run amuck. Such aimless life leads to the growth of thorny bushes of misery and suffering in the garden of life. Like a kalpavriksha (a mythological tree supposed to fulfil every desire of a person sitting beneath it), the human life is potentially full of innumerable precious gifts. One can benefit from these divine gifts only when life's energies are properly focused, disciplined and directed towards noble deeds." 2 months ago Colleen Colleen D. • Thank you, Satya: [The light of any lamp Dispels in a moment The darkness of the long kalpas; The strong light of the mind In but a flash will burn The veil of Ignorance.] What a beautiful passage! Thank you Ari! Interesting parallels from around the world. 2 months ago Colleen Colleen D. • I like to think that if we plant and cultivate the Tree of Life with its eternal fruit in our lives that eventually it will grow so large that it will crowd out the other stuff. Another thought ...or two. Eternal is another name for God. So when we speak of Eternal Life, we speak of God's life. I think that there is an interesting parallel in the terms "Eternal Life" and "Sanatana Dharma" Sanatana=Eternal Dharma=That which sustains I love making connections.... :-) 2 months ago Dr. Satyajit Dr. Satyajit K. • Colleen, however trees themselves are worshiped in Hindu tradition. If you are interested I can send you few details about that. 2 months ago Dr. Satyajit Dr. Satyajit K. • You can see the following two links : http://www.esamskriti.com/essay-chapters/Sacred-Trees-of-the-Hindus-1.aspx http://handicraft.indiamart.com/products/religiousproducts/sacred-trees.html 2 months ago Colleen Colleen D. • Thank you, Satya This is perfect. I enjoy the symbolism 2 months ago Colleen Colleen D. • The second link is a valuable source of information about the medicinal properties of these trees. Thanks, again. 2 months ago Dr. Satyajit Dr. Satyajit K. • You are most welcome Collen ! 2 months ago Dan Dan B. • There is much talk in Judaism about trees, life, an trees of life. The Hebrew Bible, or Torah, is sometimes referred to as a Tree of Life. The German-Jewish language of Yiddish has an affectionate word for tree: boimeleh. Judaism even has a New Year for the Trees, originally for tithing and now as a sort of Earth Day or Arbor Day with lots of fruit, nuts, juice, and wine (all vegan).. May our collective tree keep thriving! 2 months ago Colleen Colleen D. • In the last few days, Dr. Pradeep Sharma posted some pictures of jelly-fish on Facebook. Through their beautifully delicate bodies you can see the translucent images of their branched circulatory systems. I thought to myself, "Look at those tiny trees pulsing with life." The tree of life is everywhere. Circulatory, lymphatic, and most especially our nervous systems diverge and converge in this endless expression of being. ...and the Eternal Family Tree, perhaps the greatest of all of the expressions of Eternal Life. 2 months ago Fernando Fernando Y. • In the south of Chile and Argentina, we have the "Canelo" tree (Drymis enteri/winteri) that is the Mapuche main Sacred Tree. It is the symbol of kindness, peace and justice. Also, it has many medicinal uses and that's why the Canelo gives "magic" powers to the Machi (shaman). The Voigue (Canelo) is in the center of any social and religious meetings. http://www.myetymology.com/encyclopedia/Legend_of_Licarayen.html (Notes: the old Indian was an old Machi and the cinnamon-coulored was a branch of Canelo).