The Business Bytes
Hyderabad, September 28, 2024 (TBB Bureau): The Heartfulness Institute held a special consecration ceremony for a Mahabodhi sapling, a descendant of the sacred tree under which Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment, at Kanha Shanti Vanam, the world’s largest meditation center located on the outskirts of Hyderabad. The event also marked the birthday of Daaji, Guide of Heartfulness and President of Shri Ram Chandra Mission.
Distinguished guests included Geshe Tenzin Pelchok, representing His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Ven Khemachara Bhikkhu, Deputy Secretary General of the International Buddhist Confederation, and Daminda Porage, Additional Secretary General of the International Buddhist Confederation (Sri Lanka).
Buddhist monks from Gaya, Sri Lanka, and other regions participated in the consecration, alongside approximately 60,000 practitioners from around the world, both in-person and virtually, who joined the ceremony and Heartfulness meditation.
The consecration of the Mahabodhi sapling marked a milestone in the Bhandara festivities. A soulful musical performance by students of Heartfulness International School followed the ceremony, along with a felicitation of the esteemed guests and Rev. Daaji.
Speaking on the occasion, Geshe Tenzin Pelchok expressed his admiration for Heartfulness and its mission. He remarked, “His Holiness the Dalai Lama revolutionized the concept of human instincts by introducing Universal Compassion as a tool for humanity. Heartfulness resonates with this same oneness. I hope that visionaries like Daaji and His Holiness the Dalai Lama can come together, as they both embody compassion and practicality. The term ‘Heartfulness’ reverberates with the universal ethics His Holiness promotes, and I believe it is critical that we integrate compassion and ethics into education to fill the vacuum of peace in the modern world.”
Daminda Porage highlighted the significance of the event, stating, “This descendant of the sacred Bodhi tree, where Buddha attained enlightenment, has now arrived at Heartfulness. It is a great blessing for all of us. This holy tree is a symbol of awakening, and its presence here is a powerful moment for the entire community.”
Daaji emphasized the universal significance of the Mahabodhi Tree, adding, “The Mahabodhi Tree holds special meaning for humanity, as it represents the quest for ultimate happiness and peace. While Buddha showed the way, it is up to each of us to explore and discover the Ultimate Truth for ourselves. With this consecration, we invite the Divine to guide us on this journey.”
Thirty young ordinands from the Mahabodhi Buddha Vihara in Hyderabad, accompanied by their tutor, attended the ceremony. They spent the night at Kanha Shanti Vanam, immersing themselves in the spiritual atmosphere and exploring the Yatra Garden, where they received teachings on Spiritual Anatomy from a senior Heartfulness trainer.
The Mahabodhi tree, revered worldwide for its connection to Buddha’s enlightenment, has offspring saplings planted in a few other locations, including the Theosophical Society in Chennai. The consecration of the Mahabodhi sapling at Heartfulness is intended to serve as an energy center of positivity, contributing to the evolution of collective consciousness. This event also symbolized the coming together of two great traditions—Shri Ram Chandra Mission and the International Buddhist Confederation—paving the way for peace, unity, and human evolution.
