The Tree of Life and the Seasons.

This is an amazing tree opposite my apartment. This tree is like a barometre for the current season. And this is a Winter pic in Chennai.Talking about seasons I saw this movie called "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring" a 2003 Korean movie directed by Kim Ki-duk.Its about a Buddhist monastery floating on a lake in a pristine valley. The location is simple awesome. The story tracks the life of a young monk through the seasons of his life from childhood to old age.This movie has won several awards.

Ode to the Peepal Tree

Thou art in rythm with the universe,
Abounding in nobility, compassion and wisdom.
You live true to your mission,
the mission of helping others.

We use every moral fibre of your soul,
Still you stand tall grazing the azure sky.
What an original creation,
You personify the Buddha Nature

Thou art insentient full of divine consciousness!!

10 Dec 2008 Goddess MaaKali Temple Visit

Peepal tree at the temple

On Lord Shiva's special day (a day most suited for propitiating him-pradosham), I visited a temple dedicated to the Goddess MaaKali, it also houses a spatika(quartz) Lingam.This is located in Anna Nagar 4th Main road chennai. Every temple houses a Sthala Vriksham(a temple tree). Being a tree hugger I just love the concept of temple tree! "Hindus associate the tree with the three gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Vishnu being reputed to have been born under a Peepul, which is therefore Vishnu himself in the form of a tree."Women tie a yellow thread around the bark of the tree for their wishes to be fulfilled.The message of conservation has beautifully been woven in to this milieu.This temple also houses a Peepal tree(Sacred Fig)( Ficus religiosa).It is called Arasa Maram in tamil.Women generally go around the tree to worship it. Again it proves to be very beneficial because of the copious supply of oxygen.It is such a mood uplifter and a good form of exercise.What a beautiful metaphor. Buddha also attained enlightenment under the peepal tree.