The Bodhi and the Cross - A tale of two spirit - odysseys

Christianity and Buddhism are undoubtedly two of the world's greatest living religions continuing to exert influence across continents even in this post-modern era. Christians account for nearly 2 billion while Buddhists of all hues account for nearly half a billion throughout the world. Most of modern civilization as we perceive today in the western world and in continents where it has had some influence with the discovery of the new world by Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama resulted from a religious and cultural value-system that came with Christianity. Buddhism on the other hand, has had a vast impact in the east covering a large expanse of the Asian continent. Asia continues to be the oasis and the sacred sanctuary of Buddhism founded on the pristine Dhamma taught by the Lord Buddha. Both these religions have brought in paradigm shifts in history for the last 20 centuries of human civilization. However, we must all take pride that both Christianity and Buddhism have as their founders the hallowed personages of Jesus and the Buddha who are from Asia and as such bear witness to the religiously contemplative cultures that color the Asian scenario. Buddha and Jesus truly give us a tale of two sages from the East, though their vision of man and life show a clear contrast. The Bodhi and the Cross were turning points that marked the life and message of the Buddha and Jesus respectively in a decisive way. The cross was raised on a hill in the city of Jerusalem whilst the Bodhi nestled serene, lost in the luscious verdure of the forest in Gaya. Associated with both is the story of two human beings who radically changed the course of history. The two have become trees of life whose fruits are meant for the good taste and benefit of the many.

Wherever Christianity is introduced and established, the sign of the Cross begins to span all its spiritual edifices, social institutions and ethical values in as much as the same way Buddhism everywhere considers the Sacred Tree of the Bodhi to be a unique symbol of spirituality and culture. Devoid of these two symbols and signs so deeply ingrained in these two religions, they cannot be identified. In fact, the Bible teaches a wisdom connected with the mystery of the Cross as St. Paul of Tarsus, the great missionary of early Christianity taught the Christian converts of Corinth, reputed to have been a colorful cosmopolitan center of ancient Middle-East. The wisdom contained in the cross far surpassed all manner of human wisdom and acumen. It may be unpleasant to some, but to those who walk in the path of salvation it is a wonderful divine light and guidance to righteous living. According to the teaching of the Lord Jesus, all his true disciples are challenged to carry their own personal crosses and follow his example that led not to his annihilation but rather to this glorification. Without his death and loving sacrifice he made of his life for the freedom of sinful mankind, there would not be his risen Glory, the power of the One who vanquished death and all that it entails, including the mysterious power of sin. Therefore, the tree of the Cross is a central symbol of veneration amongst the Christians. It is the cynosure of every Christian religious building. People sign themselves with the sign of the Cross as a means of benediction, good fortune and protection from evil and all harm. At the head of all religious processions a cross is always carried.

On the other hand, the Sacred Tree of the Bodhi or simply the Bo-Tree under which Gauthama Siddhartha attained enlightenment on that auspicious and hallowed moonlit night of the Vesak Poya, graces all hallowed shrines of Buddhist viharas, dagobas, temples and monasteries. One of the most revered and adorable relics of Buddhism is the Maha Bodhi of Anuradhapura which is believed to be a branch of the Sacred Bo-Tree of the Enlightenment brought to Sri Lanka, by Sangamitta, the sister of Mahinda Thera who introduced Buddhism to Sri Lanka. What is however important is not the external symbol that we might plant or construct. Strange as it may seem a Cross can even be gilded in marble or gold but not the Bodhi-Tree; a statue of the Buddha, yes, as is a statue of the Lord Jesus. These two trees carry immense depth- meanings and indeed are sacraments in that sense of the most inner-core realities of the two respective spiritualities, Christian, the other Buddhist. They symbolize the way the two religions and their founders interpret the ineffable realities of life and its vicissitudes.

The most sublime truths of the life of Jesus and the Buddha radiate from the Cross and the Bodhi. In the cross of suffering and death, Jesus saw the consummation of his life and its mission. He looked forward to this free life-giving as his final and lasting contribution to mankind’s emancipation from the stain of sin. In his death, mankind was to discover the path to life. In his wounds incurred, five of them, in the hands, feet and the side, we find healing to our own wounds that weaken and drain the spirit. Early Christians are told by Peter, the chief disciple and head of the community, that in those wounds we are healed of our infirmities. Many religious services that are meant for healing invoke the power of the wounds of Christ to bring solace to those feeling hurt and wounded in body and mind in many ways. With the cross we bless and invoke divine protection on devotees. Devout Christians always sign themselves with the sign of the cross while on their errands, when leaving the house, beginning an important task, in time of danger and as a stating -gesture for prayer, meditation and contemplation. At times, it is also made as a sign of thanksgiving and gratitude for blessings received and achievements made. Jesus often saw the image of the Cross that he referred to in strange terms as the Son of Man to be betrayed there on when the “Hour” comes. It was to be an hour of darkness. But, soon to be followed by the Day of God, which is full of light, sunshine and warmth. The spirituality of Christians consist in nailing to the cross, their own sins and evil passions, bury them with Christ and in turn rise with him to a new life of grace and truth - become a new creation. All believers are called by their Master to carry their individual crosses in life in imitation of Him who set the example. Such imitation is absolutely essential for becoming a true disciple of Jesus. No cross, no Christianity. It is its typical sign of identification. The cross is no more an instrument of torture used by Roman authority to punish rebels, extortioners, criminals and traitors, but with the death of Christ on it, is now transformed to be a symbol of hope and freedom.

The parallel is true of the Sri Bodhi - the Pippala tree of the Gaya that witnessed the Enlightenment of the Buddha as he sat with mind tranquillized and purified; and hence, it is a hallowed relic and symbol of great veneration to all Buddhists. Often its precincts are well guarded, decorated, landscaped and beautified with golden fences. It is the object also of poojas or devout acts of worship and hovered with yellow cloth. Lamps are lit around and devotees chant “Saadu” in praise. They greet and worship it on banded-knee and joint hands. It is said that the during the seven weeks that followed the Enlightenment, Lord Buddha spent lot of time sitting near the Bodhi-Tree and remained motionless in contemplation and gratitude. In fact the first week was entirely spent sitting under the tree enjoying the bliss of emancipation from sorrow and greed - Vimutti Sukha. Throughout the second week, He stood gazing at it with motionless eyes in gratitude to that tree that sheltered him during the struggle for enlightenment. The story of the post-enlightenment period show that the Buddha had chosen several trees to sit motionless in contemplation and peaceful rest such as the Ajapala Banyan tree, the Mukalinda and the Rajayatana. They all served him with the shade needed to sit tranquil in enjoying the bliss of emancipation - the state of Nirvana.

The Bodhi or simply the Bo-Tree invites devout Buddhists to recall the unmatched memory of the Lord Buddha’s enlightenment. It reminds Buddhists of the struggle Gauthama Siddhartha went through to attain the bliss of liberation during the three watches of that memorable night of the Vesak full moon day. That is the story of how he was able to have reminiscence of his past births, have a clairvoyant vision dealing with the death and rebirth of beings and finally developing knowledge about the destruction of passions, he came to comprehend things as they are revealed in the four noble truths, thus attaining perfect enlightenment - Samma Sambodhi. The Bodhi is thus a dramatic symbol for all those who can still gaze at it in wonder as the sacred tree that is part of the hallowed event of Enlightenment and could never be divorced from that significant happening to which it is an auspicious witness. Thus, a simple tree takes on a tremendous meaning as it claims a linkage with the Buddha’s full realization of the Dhamma, which is his own treasure that was later, bequeathed to the disciples whom he formed into a sacred community of monks - Sangha. Gazing at the Bo-Tree it would be easier for a simple devotee to recall the Master and what He taught. Thus, the Bo-Tree together with the Buddha statue, the dagoba and the kotha becomes important in the religious practices and devotion of the Buddhists. Since the arrival of Buddhism, it was easier to transform the popular worship of the trees in the rural kingdom of Sri Lanka, by introducing the veneration of the Bo-Tree. It is a perfect example of religious enculturation that in fact integrated well into the rites and rituals of the rural population and their culture.

Will the Tree of the Cross, on which Lord Jesus sacrificed his life for emancipating mankind from sin, death and dominion of evil continue to be a sign of the sacred and part of the core-spirituality of Christianity? Would people embrace it with devotion and hope of eternal life? Would the Bo-Tree continue to fascinate the devout Buddhist-beholder as a memorial of the ecstatic triumph of the Lord Buddha, the master-teacher of the Dhamma? In both cases, the answer is in a crystal-clear affirmative. In an age where symbols and images keep proliferating in the globalized world filled with mass media communication networks, with more and more people longing for solace, peace of mind and freedom in a troubled and sick society, these two radical symbols if globalized powerfully, would for sure serve to wane us away from this oft-disillusioned post-modern era where greed and selfishness abound, and thus become signs of hope to a bereaving humanity and a demoralized civilization. The Cross and the Bodhi, rooted firmly in the soil and very much down to earth, can be hailed as a pedagogy of the Sacred. In a spirit of inter-religious cordiality, Christians and Buddhists can jointly wish that wherever the sight of these immortal symbols catch the eye. Those who behold may capture the memory of the two great religious luminaries who revealed to the world a twin-path of spiritual liberation and true bliss.

Composed by Rev. Fr. Leopold
Ratnasekera O.M.I., Professor, National Seminary, Ampitiya, Kandy

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