The Bodhi tree plays a very important role for Buddhists of all traditions, acting as a symbol of peace, an inspirational reminder of Buddha’s enlightenment and of the ultimate potential that lies within.
According to Buddhist tradition, the Bodhi tree, or sacred fig, is the tree under which the Buddha sat when he attained Enlightenment. The young Prince Siddhartha meditated without moving from his seated position under the Bodhi tree for seven weeks (49 days), seeking answers to the problems of suffering and the continual cycle of birth, death and rebirth. He rejected the extreme path of complete asceticism, rejecting also the hedonistic indulgences of his former royal life. The young prince resolved to sit under the Bodhi tree and meditate on these issues until the answer to these problems became clear.
In the 2022 Festival, a Bodhi Tree Mural was painted by Melbourne’s street artists Mike Maka & Conrad Bizjak on a five-storey-tall wall and each night the mural was brought to life with a stunning mapped projection created by the internationally renowned studio, Artists in Motion showing the Tree cycling through different states and experiences to symbolically demonstrate the emotional journey and challenges faced by the young Prince Siddhartha on his path to nirvana. The Bodhi Tree Mural remains a proud legacy and is fast becoming a landmark mural of the Melbourne CBD.