Purpose of scattered thing or food under tree?
score:2
The fruit etc is probably offerings to the spirit that lives in the tree. Worship of tree spirits (or dryads) is widespread through South and South-East Asia, and a very common element of traditional Buddhism. In Thailand such spirits are known as Nang Mai.
A Buddhist Tree Shrine, Thailand.
Tree spirits (Pāḷi rukkhadevatā) can be found in the Cūḷadhammasamādāna Sutta (MN 45; p.406 in the Ñānamoḷi and Bodhi translation). Tree spirits along with other nature spirits are also found in the Gilānadassana Sutta (SN 41.10). They are also found in a number of Jātaka tales. According to Bhante Dhammika, in his essay Trees in the Buddhist Scriptures, it was common practice to make offerings to such tree spirits:
Other trees were worshipped and given offerings because the spirits were believed to grant wishes. Milk and water were poured on the roots, garlands were hung in the branches, lamps of scented oil were burned around them and cloth was tied around their trunks (Ja.II,104). There is the occasional mention of animal and even human sacrifices being made to trees. The victim’s blood was poured around the foot of the tree and the entrails were draped over the branches (Ja.I,260; III,160).
Note Ja = Jātaka.
Many animist elements, such as yakṣas and nāgas, are evident at every level of the early Buddhist texts and must have been assimilated very early on.
According to the London Buddhist Vihara website offerings of flowers etc, and food, are made from feelings of devotion and not with the expectation of reward.
Upvote:2
In some Asian countries they will set out food as offerings so that hungry ghosts can make merit. In some instances they will even build tiny houses for them.
Upvote:2
Feeding local animals is also a form of generosity, it could be for that reason as well. You could wait near the tree in silent meditation until the food scattering person arrives and ask them personally for the best answer.
More post
- 📝 It's ok to grow, harvest and consume vegetables and fruits, because they are not sentient?
- 📝 How did Buddha's teachings about samsara differ from earlier Indian tradition?
- 📝 Why does one suffer because of ignorance if ignorance is unintentional?
- 📝 Did Gautama Buddha exist?
- 📝 Advice for a prostitute, from the wisdom of Buddha
- 📝 Is it not conceit when you compare yourself to other people?
- 📝 Is Mahāyāna Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra later creation?
- 📝 Does any Mahayana school teach that I am atman?
- 📝 Vipassana sharpens my ability to feel the feelings of others, but I'm not yet sure how best to use that?
- 📝 View of Thervada and Mahayana Buddhism on where Conciousness is located
- 📝 Inter-relation between the four brahmaviharas?
- 📝 Buddhism Open Activities for all communities
- 📝 Feeling versus Analysis in Compassion Meditation
- 📝 Translation of Akkosa Sutta: Insult - ."He who repays an angry man in kind Is worse than the angry man"
- 📝 Are arahants infallible?
- 📝 What do "contradictions" mean in Buddhist philosophy?
- 📝 Buddha's advice regarding meditation practice
- 📝 How to Practice Vipassana?
- 📝 Can bad karma be created and paid back in the same lifetime
- 📝 Does SN44.9 imply an intermediate state between births?
- 📝 Is it fine to learn Vipassana meditation online?
- 📝 What did the Buddha teach about aliens?
- 📝 Noticing Sensations
- 📝 What are the Three Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma according to Tibetan Buddhism?
- 📝 Impermanence causing depression and anxiety
- 📝 Duty of Student
- 📝 Jhana for rest and relaxation
- 📝 What are the aggregates made up of?
- 📝 What's the role/relevance of drugs when Arada taught Buddha?
- 📝 What fault is found in denying Dharmakirti's notion of "substantial cause" as necessary in the arising of things?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 Purpose of scattered thing or food under tree?
- 📝 Buddha meditation under the bodhi tree
- 📝 What is the meaning and/or purpose of life?
- 📝 Purpose of touching tongue to roof of mouth during meditation
- 📝 What is the purpose of not eating after noon?
- 📝 Is there any such thing as a bad meditation?
- 📝 What if there was no one to offer food to monastics?
- 📝 What is the purpose of using a wand to hit a monk in Zen meditation?
- 📝 Does Theravada believe in feeding food to hungry ghosts?
- 📝 Is what is taught under the term "Radical Buddhism" consistent with Buddhist values?
- 📝 Noting craving for food : Ven. Mahasi Saydaw tradition
- 📝 Karma, right effort, letting go, heroic sacrifices: what's the right thing to do?
- 📝 The purpose of associating with the wise
- 📝 How does a monk cope with all the bad things happening in the world if the only thing monks do is sitting and meditating?
- 📝 Is it only possible to pay attention to one thing at a time?
- 📝 What is the purpose of the Mahayana 'emptiness' doctrine?
- 📝 If Buddhas don't feel bliss, what is the purpose of attaining nirvana?
- 📝 What is the origin and purpose of the alms bowl used by monastics?
- 📝 Does breeding dogs fall under right livelihood?
- 📝 Do we know in what posture the Buddha sat under the Bodhi tree?
- 📝 Not getting what one wants as a good thing or something to be thankful
- 📝 Why do I have to suffer due to a thing that a person in a past life has done that I have no control over?
- 📝 Past life memories: what is the purpose of those memories?
- 📝 Does Mahayana Buddhism discourage attaining enlightenment under the Gautama Buddha Sasana?
- 📝 Is Bhikkhu allowed to keep his food in refrigerator for next day or for long period?
- 📝 Tradition and purpose of prostration practice
- 📝 Unintended but mindless action resulted in death of a living thing
- 📝 Is there such a thing as craving for enlightenment and would it be unwholesome?
- 📝 What's the purpose of AN 2.61?
- 📝 Is sloth the same thing as torpor?