monk forbidden to cut tree

Buddhist ethical conduct including the Five Precepts (Pañcasikkhāpada), and Eightfold Ethical Conduct (Aṭṭhasīla).
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asahi
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monk forbidden to cut tree

Post by asahi »

Is it true ? Especially tree taller than an average man height . What are the reason .
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Bhikkhu Pesala
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Re: monk forbidden to cut tree

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The True Charioteer

Whoever checks his arisen anger as though it were a rolling chariot,
him I call a true charioteer. Others merely hold the reins.” (Dhammapada verse 222)

A Certain Monk’s Story
A monk, while cutting down a tree with an axe to make a dwelling for himself, accidentally severed the arm of a tree deity’s child. She grew angry and wanted to kill him, but she controlled her anger, reflecting that she would be reborn in hell if she killed a virtuous man, and that other deities would also kill monks in future following her bad example. Instead, she reported the matter to the Buddha, who praised her self-restraint and uttered the above verse. On the conclusion of the verse, the deity was established in Stream-winning. The Buddha pointed out an empty tree at Jetavana near his Perfumed Chamber, and she took up residence there. This occasion was the reason for the laying down of the rule for monks regarding damaging plants.
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Gwi
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Re: monk forbidden to cut tree

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asahi wrote: Sat Sep 25, 2021 5:49 am Is it true ? Especially tree taller than an average man height . What are the reason .
Damaging plant reproduction,
is a violation of pacittiyå
(just admit the mistake).

Plants are not living things,
but LIVING (reproduce).
An ascetic (bhikkhu) is forbidden
To harm or damage those two things.
Bahagia Tidak Harus Selalu Bersama

Dhammapadå 370
"Tinggalkanlah 5 (belantara) dan patahkan 5 (belenggu rendah),
Serta kembangkan 5 potensi (4 iddhipādā + 1 ussoḷhi).
Bhikkhu yang telah menaklukkan 5 kungkungan (belenggu tinggi),
Lebih layak disebut 'orang yang telah mengarungi air baih (saṃsārå)'."
Ontheway
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Re: monk forbidden to cut tree

Post by Ontheway »

Bhikkhu Pesala wrote: Sat Sep 25, 2021 8:12 am The True Charioteer

Whoever checks his arisen anger as though it were a rolling chariot,
him I call a true charioteer. Others merely hold the reins.” (Dhammapada verse 222)

A Certain Monk’s Story
A monk, while cutting down a tree with an axe to make a dwelling for himself, accidentally severed the arm of a tree deity’s child. She grew angry and wanted to kill him, but she controlled her anger, reflecting that she would be reborn in hell if she killed a virtuous man, and that other deities would also kill monks in future following her bad example. Instead, she reported the matter to the Buddha, who praised her self-restraint and uttered the above verse. On the conclusion of the verse, the deity was established in Stream-winning. The Buddha pointed out an empty tree at Jetavana near his Perfumed Chamber, and she took up residence there. This occasion was the reason for the laying down of the rule for monks regarding damaging plants.
Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu
Hiriottappasampannā,
sukkadhammasamāhitā;
Santo sappurisā loke,
devadhammāti vuccare.

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Bhikkhu Pesala
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Re: monk forbidden to cut tree

Post by Bhikkhu Pesala »

asahi wrote: Sat Sep 25, 2021 5:49 am Is it true ? Especially tree taller than an average man height . What are the reason .
One can use allowable modes of speech (kappiya vihāra), to get a tree cut down. When speaking to a lay-person who visits the monastery:

Allowable: “This tree attracts lots of nesting birds, which disturbs those practising meditation here.”

If the lay-person understands, and cuts down the tree, or gets it cut down, or pruned, all is well, and there is no offence.

Not Allowable: “This tree attracts lots of nesting birds, please cut it down, or get it cut down.”

An offence of wrong-doing. If the lay-person cuts it down, or gets it cut down, it is an offence to be confessed.
BlogPāli FontsIn This Very LifeBuddhist ChroniclesSoftware (Upasampadā: 24th June, 1979)
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