Sharing by Bhante U Cittara

A sharing on trimming of Bodhi Tree  ........

QUESTION : 

Bhante, I’m very confused. Some say that one should not cut or trim a Bodhi tree for whatever reason and some say that one can do this in a positive way. Please advise.

An MV Devotee

ANSWER: 

Four Citiyas are found in the Buddhist literature. They are :

1)    the relic of the Buddha, pagoda or stupa where the Buddha’s relic is enshrined (dhatu-cetiya),

2)   the teachings of the Buddha including books, CD, VCD of the Dhamma (dhamma-cetiya),

3)   the Buddha image, Buddha statue and painting of Buddha (Uddissa-cetiya), and

4)   requisites of the Buddha like robe, bowl, Bodhi tree etc. (paribhoga-cetiya).

Should a Bodhi tree, paribhoga-cetiya, be cut or trimmed? The answer totally depends on one’s attitude.

Stories of Physician Jivaka and Devadatta are perfect examples to illustrate this.

Physician Jivaka shed the blood of the Buddha when he was operating on the Buddha to heal his illness and Devadatta also shed the blood of the Buddha when he wanted to take the Buddha’s life. Shedding the Buddha’s blood is the same as cutting or trimming the Bodhi Tree and the only difference is the volition which motivated the two actions. So what Jivaka had done was considered a great meritorious deed while what Devadatta had done was a great evil deed.

The Buddha also said, “Oh monks, volition is kamma, I declare (cetanaham, bhikkave, kammam vadami).” 

Come to think of it, if one can shed the Buddha’s blood with a positive attitude, why cannot he or she cut or trim a Bodhi tree?

However, one should perform some religious services like paying respect and asking for forgiveness before he cuts or trims a Bodhi tree because it is a cetiya which deserves respect.

With Metta,

Bhante U Cittara

A sharing on Buddhist Chanting by Bhante U Cittara

A sharing on Buddhist Chanting by Bhante U Cittara ......❇️

QUESTION : 

Dear Bhante,

I've the following enquiries on chanting which require your kind advice:

1.  Nowadays, many chanting verses are accompanied by melodious music. By doing so, do they lose their effects?

2.  Does chanting aloud and chanting within ourselves give the same effects?

With metta

ANSWER :

1.  First and foremost, I want to tell you the story of Visakha, in the Dhammapada Story. She was chanting some verses on the day she donated Puppharama Monastery to the Buddha and Sangha. Some people did not understand or realise why she was doing that. 

They thought that she was merely singing. Thus they criticized her saying that the old lady did not mind her age. The Buddha had to explain to them that she was not singing but chanting verses because she had fulfilled her wish.

This story tells us that Visakha was chanting verses in a very musical way and the Buddha did not denounce her action at all. So we think there is nothing wrong for a lay person to chant verses accompanied by melodious music or whatever.

Do they (verses) lose their effect? 

Yes. It does appear to show disrespect to the Dhamma. So our conclusion is that if verses are chanted to invoke the blessing to others, it is not very appropriate to do that way but if verses are chanted for other purposes, then there is nothing wrong doing it with the accompaniment to music.

For your wider knowledge, we need to let you know other traditional views too. There are two ways of expressing the Dhamma in order to make it more attractive:

a) the Dhammic music and

b)  musical dhamma.

The Dhammic music means, like what you have asked, chanting or singing verses (from Tipitaka) accompanied by melodious music.

Musical Dhamma means some verses or poems or songs composed by someone, not from Tipitaka, to introduce the Dhamma in musical way.

Our teachers do not encourage the creation of the Dhamma music though they did not say anything about musical Dhamma.

So the final conclusion lies with you.

 2.  Chanting aloud and within oneself depend on time, occasion and situation. Of course, one should not chant aloud late at night and disturb others who are sleeping. One should also not chant to loudly when other people are concentrating and doing something. Last but not least one should not chant in the presence of others who have different faith. This is fundamentally showing respect and practising social responsibility. 

However, chanting aloud (not too loud) can be more effective because:

a)  when we chant aloud, we can concentrate better,

b)  when we chant aloud, we are performing all three actions, physical, verbal and mental. (When one chants within oneself, it lacks verbal action.)

c)  If beings (visible and invisible) are around, they will have the chance and opportunity to listen to the Dhamma. It is an act of sharing the Dhamma.

So if time, occasion and situation allow, you should chant reasonably loudly.

With Metta,

Bhante U Cittara