The Bodhi Tree at Kahumana Farms
May 14, 2012 Leave a Comment
This is a contribution from Alyssa.
Visit her blog @ mookology.com
The Bodhi Tree at Kahumana Farms
The Bodhi Tree is a very sacred symbol in Buddhism. According to Buddhist literature, Gautama Buddha achieved his enlightenment, or “Middle Way”, through 49 days of meditation seated under a Bodhi tree, a venture which he sought to find eternal truth. From that point on, his followers referred to him as Buddha and acknowledged the Bodhi tree as an equal force of enlightenment.
The Bodhi Tree
The original Bodhi Tree, named Sri Maha Bodhi, is located at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, India. Because of its great sacredness, Sri Maha Bodhi is a place of great worship and one of the focal points of the yearly Buddhist pilgrimage. Three spawns of Sr Maha Bodhi can be found in the world today: Ananda Bodhi in Jetavana, Sravasti, Tivakka in Sri Lanka, and the Bo tree in Oahu, Hawaii. On my recent trip to Hawaii in April 2012 I was lucky enough to embrace the presence of the Bo Tree – the oldest living tree in the United States.
Kahumana Farms in Waianae, Hawaii currently houses this sacred Bodhi Tree, a special place on the island in general. Since its origin in 1974, Kahumana has provided for Lualualei Valley in Waianae, Oahu whether it be through its organic food, transitional housing, or just a place of worship. The presence of the Bodhi Tree radiates energy throughout the farm – it is such a big and beautiful piece of nature, it is impossible not to feel the spiritual vibe it gives. I was shocked with how large the circumference of the tree actually was – I had expected it to be big, of course, but the beauty of this tree is only comparable to its size. Surrounding the Bodhi Tree is a small area for prayer with a statue of Buddha, as well as a gazebo for worship.
The Buddha Statue at Kahumana Farms
Kahumana Farms is also a WWOOF location (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms – http://www.wwoof.org/) and the WWOOFers who work on the farm are genuine and very kind. They truly appreciate the beauty of Kahumana and the opportunity to work in such a sacred place.
Visiting the Bodhi Tree on Kahumana was an exhilarating experience like no other. The feeling of being next to a natural force that is so special was truly moving and its positive energy is impossible to recreate.
-Alyssa
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