Seeing and not seeing the Bōdhi tree as a non-conventional tree to Heladiva

බෝධි වෘක්ෂය හෙළදිවට ආවේනික නොවන වෘක්ෂයක් වශයෙන් දැක්ම හා නොදැක්ම

 

Seeing and not seeing the Bodhi tree (Bōdhi) as a non-conventional tree in Heladiva is based on the grips established in the thoughts of each individual. The main reason for this situation is that they have limited their thinking to viewpoints which are predetermined and had been the victims of them. When the incidents in the history are closely analyzed it can be understood that there had been a very close relationship between Heladiva and the Bodhi tree (Bōdhi).

When we ‘lock in’ our thinking that Therini Sanagamiththa (Sanagamiththā) had brought the Bodhi tree (Bōdhi) for the first time, we will limit ourselves to that point and will not see anything beyond that. The general acceptance of this limit, the limit which is highlighted in the texts, as a conventional theory is the reason for this point of view. This formation or attitude cultured from the very small age in one’s life is encouraged by frequent teachings and they do not encourage one’s self confidence to ‘break out’ them and analyze them from a new point of view. This has generated the results of total collapse of the methodology of realizing the ultimate truth disclosed by the Buddha Dhamma and instead people have become the victims of the conventional wrong point views or false views.

It was attempted to show that the Bodhi tree (Bōdhi) which was an aid for the Gauthama Buddha in his supreme Enlightenment as something not conventional to this Heladiva. This is purely due to the interest in presenting it as something established from the period of Ashoka. The ones who are not aware of the never ending conspiracies executed to destroy the sacred Bodhi trees (Bōdhi) which were conventional to Heladiva would make their statements and try to mislead the Buddhists in Lanka. The best example in driving these false views to the right path is the Bodhigara (Bōdhigara) in Nillakgama. The Vargapoornikawa (Vargapoornikāwa) records that in the Buddha’s time this place was known as an area of Bodhi tree (Bōdhi). (Yaksha Gothrikayange Aprakata Thoraturu, Page 41). This place or any other place situated close by are not recorded for a plantation of Bodhi trees (Bōdhi), the Maha Bodhivamsa (Bōdhivamsa) firmly states. Hence, anyone will understand without any doubts in mind that the attempt of showing that the Bodhi tree (Bōdhi) is not a conventional tree to Heladiva is made purely due to their unawareness.

{The English translation of 'බුද්ධෝත්පත්තිය හෙළදිවයි' (Buddha was born in  Heladiva) - Part – 3}

Translated by Amal Meemanage (amalmeemanage@gmail.com)