Apples

[dannyk]

Hi all ,

I have just looked at some aspects of Buddhism for the first time and noticed the apple tree under which Buddha found jharma .

After the tree of knowledge saga and the newton apple on head saga does anyone know of any other apples that occur in religion , teaching etc.

Thanks

Graeme

[premjan]

that was a "bodhi" tree, not an apple tree. The bodhi is another name for peepul, or ficus religiosa, a relative of the banyan tree, which was dear to Lord Krishna.

[Mageth]

IIRC, Buddha allegedly sat under a Jambu or Rose Apple tree, which is not a true apple tree (a member of the Rosaceae, or Rose, family), but a member of the myrtle family.

[Karalora]

All over the place! You have Idun's golden apples of youth and beauty in Norse mythology, the apple engraved "For the Fairest" that ultimately led to the Trojan war in Greek legend, the association of unicorns with apple trees, and on and on. The Romans even had a goddess of apple trees: Pomona.

Wherever apples have grown in ancient times, great symbolic importance has been attached to them. The symbolism usually related to either wisdom, or love and beauty--sometimes both.

Even today, Neo-Pagans are fond of apple symbolism. Slice an apple across the middle between stem end and flower end, and you will see a five-pointed star--a pentagram--in the core. Apples cut this way are often rubbed on warts, then put back together and buried in the ground, in the hope that as the apple decays, the warts will shrink also.

[Mageth]

I believe premjan is right in that it was a bodhi tree under which Buddha gained enlightenment, but earlier in his life the story goes that he sat under a jambu tree one night when he decided to leave his family and take up a religious life.

[dannyk]

quote from the buddhist news( I think )

The Rose-Apple Tree

Consequently, he began eating again, much to the disgust of other ascetics who thought that he had become weak and given up his quest. At this point Siddhattha recalled a time in the past when he had sat under a rose-apple tree and contemplated the nature of the world. His heart filled with compassion, he had pondered on the suffering of others and the transience of life. As he sat, his mind became serene and he entered what later he would describe as jhana, a joyous state brought on by deep meditation. Perhaps this was the way to enlightenment, avoiding the extremes of sensuous enjoyment and self-mortification.

I dont know much about vegetation .

[dannyk]

I just remembered about "Apple Picking " Robert Frost

Apples are everywhere .


Why? Do we have some innate engram relating to apples ?


They dont taste that good .

[Jogyo]

At the western side of the Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya, stands a large and historic Pipal Tree ficus religiosa, known throughout history as the Bodhi Tree, under which Shakyamuni Buddha, then known as Gautama, attained Enlightnment some 2500 years ago.


http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/bodhidharma/bodhi_tree.html

[premjan]

the peepal (bodhi) and the banyan are members of the fig family (holy and strangler fig respectively).

note the fig is important in christianity, wherein Adam and Even covered their private parts with fig leaves.

[Sarpedon]

figs are associated with procreation, as prejam pointed out. There is also a charming copulatory gesture in Italy called "figs". Now, knowing that, what is the significance of Jesus cursing the fig tree?

[premjan]

i think the fig had leaves from afar, but bore no fruit when seen up close. thus jesus cursed it for appearing fruitful, but bearing no fruit (like the pharisees). it then withered and died.

[Karalora]

I have to correct myself. I did some double-checking...Idun's golden apples were the apples of immortality, not youth and beauty. That is all.

[premjan]

I think this appears to be an important element of Christianity: the curse on those who do not bear fruit. Perhaps the intellectual climate of Israel had become sterile at the time of Jesus and this was his means of fixing it (bridging the gulf between appearance and reality).

[long winded fool]

Originally posted by premjan
the peepal (bodhi) and the banyan are members of the fig family (holy and strangler fig respectively).

note the fig is important in christianity, wherein Adam and Even covered their private parts with fig leaves.

The Tree of Knowledge itself is widely believed by theologians to have been a fig tree. The "apple" is just western tradition.

[premjan]

figs have been used for food in the middle east for a very long time. also, not all fig trees bear fruit (e.g. the males don't). maybe jesus mistook the tree to be a fruiting tree and cursed it. maybe the whole parable was against impostors.

[Boro Nut]

Originally posted by long winded fool
The Tree of Knowledge itself is widely believed by theologians to have been a fig tree. The "apple" is just western tradition.

No wonder god was mad with Adam. If I had a fig tree and an apple grew on it I would be pissed off with whoever picked it too. It must have taken him ages to grow that. Just think how much better off we would all be now if he had only stuffed his greedy fat face with figs instead. I never realised what a complete twat he was. He deserves every last little bit of eternal punishment we've all got coming to us if you ask me.

Boro Nut

[premjan]

:notworthy

[Heurismus]

Like it all, just a point.
As we all know, Newton and the apple tree is fallacious like most good myths. Seemed like a good idea at the time.
As to Newton and the Royal Society, worth a close look if you want to follow up on Alchemy and the 'Great Architect' in the sky.