[Intro]
A child of seven years of age,
Met the Buddha, wise and great.
With a heart of joy and faith,
He planted a tree in love and praise.
[Verse 1]
An Asana tree upon the ground,
He cared for it as seasons turned around.
For five long years, he gave his care,
Until its flowers blossomed there.
Trees grow strong with rain and sun,
Hearts grow wise through deeds well done.
With patient hands and faith sincere,
He nurtured goodness year by year.
[Chorus]
Plant the Bodhi in your heart,
Let the seeds of goodness start.
Water them with patience bright,
Let wisdom be your guiding light.
Grow in kindness, grow in peace,
Let attachment slowly cease.
From faith to wisdom, walk the way,
And find the freedom of Nibbāna's day.
[Verse 2]
Tissa Buddha blessed his deed,
And spoke of fruits that would succeed.
Through heavenly joy and human birth,
His wholesome roots would guide his worth.
He practiced seclusion, calm and clear,
Let go of bonds and conquered fear.
The taints were gone, the mind was free,
He reached the truth eternally.
[Chorus]
Plant the Bodhi in your heart,
Let the seeds of goodness start.
Water them with patience bright,
Let wisdom be your guiding light.
Grow in kindness, grow in peace,
Let attachment slowly cease.
From faith to wisdom, walk the way,
And find the freedom of Nibbāna's day.
[Outro]
A tree gives shade to those who stay,
The Dhamma lights the darkest way.
Plant good deeds wherever you are,
And let your wisdom shine like a star.
Asanabodhiya Thera Apadāna: Planting the Bodhi Tree and the Path to Liberation
1. Background and Story
The Asanabodhiya Thera Apadāna, found in the Khuddaka Nikāya, Apadāna, Vījanīvagga, Book 32 of the Pali Canon, tells the story of a devoted follower who planted and cared for an Asana tree as an offering to Tissa Buddha.
According to the verses, when he was only seven years old, he encountered the Blessed One, Tissa Buddha, and was filled with faith and joy. With a heart full of devotion, he planted an excellent Bodhi tree for the Buddha.
The tree was known as the Asana tree, identified in the Thai text as the Padauk tree. He cared for it for five years. When he saw the tree blossoming in a wonderful and extraordinary way, he felt deeply moved and went to the Buddha to recount his meritorious deed.
Tissa Buddha then made a prophecy. Whoever plants a Bodhi tree and respectfully performs an offering to the Buddha will enjoy divine sovereignty for thirty aeons and become a Universal Monarch sixty-four times.
After experiencing the results of these meritorious deeds in different realms, the wholesome roots accumulated through his actions would support his spiritual progress. Eventually, he would develop firm effort, attain tranquility, understand all the mental defilements, and realize Nibbāna free from all taints.
2. The Results of Planting the Bodhi Tree
The verses describe how the future elder continued to cultivate seclusion and tranquility. He cut through the bonds of attachment, just as an elephant breaks free from its restraints.
The text also refers to several Universal Monarchs associated with his past merit:
King Daṇḍasena, endowed with the seven treasures, in the seventy-fifth aeon before the present one.
King Samantanemi and six other Universal Monarchs, in the seventy-third aeon before the present one.
King Puṇṇaka, a powerful Universal Monarch endowed with the seven treasures, in the twentieth aeon before the present one.
Ultimately, the elder declared that he had realized the Four Analytical Knowledges, the Eight Liberations, and the Six Higher Knowledges. He had completed the task of the Buddha's teaching.
3. The Biography According to the Commentary
The commentary explains that Asanabodhiya had accumulated meritorious qualities under previous Buddhas, creating conditions supportive of final liberation.
During the time of Tissa Buddha, he was born into a family. Having developed faith in the Buddha's teaching, he took a fruit from the Asana Bodhi tree, collected a young shoot that had grown from it, and planted a new Bodhi tree. He carefully protected and nurtured it by watering it and performing other acts of care so that it would not perish.
Through this meritorious deed, he experienced happiness in the realms of gods and human beings. During the dispensation of Gotama Buddha, he was born into a suitable family. When he was seven years old, he entered the monastic life and attained arahantship while his head was being shaved during the ordination ceremony. He became known as Asanabodhiya Thera, named after his former meritorious deed.
The canonical verses describe his planting and tending of the tree, while the commentary supplies further details about the propagation of the tree, its care, and his attainment of arahantship during the shaving ceremony.
4. Main Buddhist Teachings
Faith (Saddhā): True faith inspires wholesome actions. The elder's devotion to Tissa Buddha motivated him to plant and nurture the Bodhi tree.
Buddha-pūjā — Reverence for the Buddha: Planting the Bodhi tree was an expression of respect and devotion. Worship can be demonstrated not only through material offerings but also through meaningful actions.
Right Effort (Vāyāma): Caring for the tree for five years demonstrates patience, dedication, and consistency. Spiritual development also requires continuous effort.
Karma and Wholesome Roots: The Buddha's prophecy illustrates the results of wholesome actions. However, the highest spiritual goal requires wisdom and the eradication of mental defilements.
Seclusion (Viveka): The elder repeatedly cultivated seclusion and tranquility, showing the importance of withdrawing the mind from attachment and distractions.
Knowledge of the Destruction of Defilements: The ultimate achievement was the destruction of the mental taints and the realization of Nibbāna.
5. Lessons for Modern Society
The story of Asanabodhiya Thera offers several lessons:
Plant trees with genuine care and responsibility, rather than treating tree planting as a temporary activity.
Perform good deeds consistently, recognizing that meaningful results require time and patience.
Create benefits that future generations can enjoy.
Develop wisdom alongside faith and generosity.
Protect nature and the environment as a practical expression of respect for life.
Conclusion: The Asanabodhiya Thera Apadāna teaches that faith should lead to action, good deeds should be sustained through effort, and the highest purpose of spiritual practice is liberation from all defilements.
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