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Karma and the death of a tree
I am not sure this should be posted here or where, So please move this where ever it should be.
I will first explain what has happened. I have been battling the home owners association where I live over the taking out of a small tree on the side of my property. I tried to tell them that trees were important to the enviroment and that they only added value to their and my property. That this one small tree was not a hazard to anyone, being that it was on the side of the property. I even consulted an attorney, who told me I didn't have a leg to stand on and just remove the tree. Last week I lost the battle and had to remove the tree. While it had not done anything to anyone, except give of itself unconditionally, Shade, Shelter for the birds,etc. I am finding it very difficult to come to terms with this.
Why is it that people in their so called inifinate wisdom have to destroy such things of beauty? Just becasue they have the power to do so? And by me taking and killing this tree is it affecting my own Karma? or theirs?
Does anyone have an opinon on this?
I will first explain what has happened. I have been battling the home owners association where I live over the taking out of a small tree on the side of my property. I tried to tell them that trees were important to the enviroment and that they only added value to their and my property. That this one small tree was not a hazard to anyone, being that it was on the side of the property. I even consulted an attorney, who told me I didn't have a leg to stand on and just remove the tree. Last week I lost the battle and had to remove the tree. While it had not done anything to anyone, except give of itself unconditionally, Shade, Shelter for the birds,etc. I am finding it very difficult to come to terms with this.
Why is it that people in their so called inifinate wisdom have to destroy such things of beauty? Just becasue they have the power to do so? And by me taking and killing this tree is it affecting my own Karma? or theirs?
Does anyone have an opinon on this?
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Comments
Answer: Avijja.
Question: And by me taking and killing this tree is it affecting my own Karma?
Answer: You had no intention to "kill". Your hand was forced. You followed the law and tried your best to preserve a life. Your actions are blameless. You can have no negative kamma from compassion.
Question: Does anyone have an opinon on this?
Answer: Yes. Be proud of the fact that you did something. Let go of any ill-will you may feel towards those who out of ignorance made you remove the tree. Continue to see all of life with the same compassion that you felt for this tree, and let that guide your actions in the future.
and hya everyone...!
MoonLgt, on a "practical" note.....
Is there any way you could "replace" it by buying a tree from a gardening store and placing it in a pot on your patch of land? I have two olive trees, a ginkho and a fig, all in pots because the house I'm in is rented, and although the owners would have absolutely no objection, I'm not planting them out because I'll want to take them with me when Nick and I buy our own place.... It need not be very big, and container grown trees tend to stay smaller anyway, due to root restriction.... how would that work?
Elohim...what does "Avijja" mean?
It is said about avijja:
"Yaya ca bhikkhave, avijjaya nivutassa balassa
Yaya ca tanhaya samyuttassa ayam kayo samudagato"
It means—Bhikkhus, this body of the fool comes into existence being obstructed by (avijja) ignorance, and being associated with (tanha) craving.
"A samudaya sankhárá samudayo, avijja nirodha sankhárá nirodho."
It means— If there is (avijja) ignorance (sankhárá) actions arise. If (avijja) ignorance ceases to be, the (sankhárá) actions also cease. Don't think so lightly the cessation of (sankhárá) the actions. It is the cessation of an existence, the extinction of an existence, the culmination of a being.
"Avijja bhikkhave pubbangama akusalanam dhammanam samapattiya."
It means—"Bhikkhus, for the commitment of evil Dhammas (avijja) ignorance is the forerunner. If (avijja) ignorance, the root of all defilements be cut off, all defilements will be well uprooted. Why?
The Buddha said:
"kilesanam mulabhutaya avijja chinnaya sabba kilesa samugghatam gacchanti."
"Bhikkhus, if (avijja) ignorance, the root of all defilements be cut off, all the defilements are well uprooted."
Then by which means (avijja) ignorance must be cut off? (avijja) ignorance must be cut off by means of Mindful contemplation. Mindful contemplation itself is (vijja) knowledge. If (vijja) knowledge arises, (Avijja) ignorance cannot exist.
~Taken from the teachings of Taungpulu Sayadaw http://www.buddhistinformation.com/maha_satipatth%C3%A1na_vipassana.htm
In answer to your questions, their reasoning was that it was to close to the property line. According to the home owners association where i live, And I wish i didn't. Any and all trees/ shrubs must be at least 3' away from the property line. I did not plant this tree, It came up all on it's own. I figured either a bird or small animal must have dropped the seed there. This tree had been there for at least 10 years and no one said anything about it before. I have always kept the dead leaves cleaned up and it trimmed up so that people wouldn't get hurt walking around it. So Why now? I don't have a clue.
Unfortunately the type of tree it was ( Umbrella) doesn't do well when moved so moving it was not really a solution, that and the fact that they only gave me 7 days in which to do this or vacate the premises.
But your idea of replacing it with a smaller tree in a pot is a nice idea and one I will plan on doing as soon as I get paid.
I cleared away a few of the rock so as to give it room and gave it a good drink. Isn't Life wonderful. For out of the Ignorance of life, the good can come through.