The Spirit Who Lived in a Tree

The Buddha decided to be born as a tree. He became a Sal tree and grew for sixty-thousand years. Beneath its enormous branches, hundreds of little Sal trees were growing up. This tree was so enormous and beautiful that all of the people in the nearby village would come and worship it. The King of Benares also heard of the tree.

“Many kings have their palaces built with many a pillar. Well, I shall build my palace with only one great pillar in the middle. This big tree shall be that pillar. I order it cut down!”

All of the townspeople were dismayed. They loved the tree, but they were worried what would happen if they did not carry out the King’s orders.

One night, the people lit oil lamps and walked to the great tree. They tied a string around its great trunk and put a nosegay of flowers on the end. Then they prayed, “Oh great spirit that resides in this tree. The King has ordered that in seven days we must cut you down. We don’t want to do it, but fear for our families. Please spirit, go somewhere else, and do no harm to us. Forgive us. We love and will miss you greatly.”

The tree thought, "This King is determined to cut me down. But my life only lasts as long as this tree. The thought of my death does not bother me as much as ….ah! Look at the little Sal trees around me! Their death and destruction is more painful to me than my own death.”

So that night, at midnight, a bright golden light filled the room and the spirit appeared next to the King’s bed, weeping.

The King awoke. “Oh! Who are you spirit, and why have you come? Why do you weep?”

“I am the spirit that lives in the tree you wish you cut down. I ask that you spare my life.”

The King thought a moment. “No, I cannot. I want my palace to stand on only one tree, and you will be that tree. I must cut you down,” he said.

“Then please,” said the spirit, “I make one request.”

“What is that?” the King asked.

“Please cut me down bit by bit. Begin with the branches, then cut the trunk and cut down to the roots last of all.”

“Why, this is a most painful death,” the King said. “One swift blow at the roots would fell you and you would be out of your misery.”

But the spirit said, “Yes, it is painful. But it is not as painful as seeing my beloved little Sal trees around me destroyed by my fall. Please, I ask you to honor my request.”

The King was deeply moved by the tree’s spirit of sacrifice.

“Oh, spirit,” the King said, “fear not. Your great concern for the life of others has moved me deeply. I will not cut you down. Return, great tree, to the forest in peace.”