Tree ordination, or 'buat ton mai', is a ceremony in which monks symbolically ‘ordain’ a large tree by wrapping it in saffron-coloured cloth, or 'Ta Laew'. An 'ordained' tree assumes the prestige of a monk as a 'saint tree,' implying that it should be protected, thereby enabling the tree and its environment to thrive and grow.
According to the Thailand Foundation, harming such a tree is considered to be the harming of monks and can lead to severe karma and consequences.
The custom originated in northern Thai culture in the 1980s and was created by Phra Sophon Phatthanadom, the abbot of Photharam Temple in Phayao Province. At that time, there was rapid deforestation, driven mainly by commercial logging and agricultural expansion. According to Global Nature Watch, forest cover changed from 48% in 1967 to 32% in 1980. Monks and conservationists were trying to find a solution to protect nature, so this is how tree ‘ordination' began.
Tree ordination can serve as both a spiritual blessing and an environmental movement, and the ceremony is still performed today.
On the morning of August 25th, U.S. Ambassador Sean O'Neill and Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt 'ordained' a century-old rain tree in the grounds of the U.S. Ambassador's residence in Bangkok. This is the first time that the U.S. Ambassador and the Bangkok Governor have participated in such a ceremony, underscoring the importance of green spaces and showing respect for nature.
In this case, the large tree is a rain tree, or Samanea saman, also known as a 'monkeypod tree', which has stood in the grounds of the U.S. Ambassador's residence for more than a century. It represents the long-standing relationship between Thailand and the U.S., which spans over 193 years.
The participants included the spouse of the U.S. Ambassador, Sachiyo Kubo, monks from Suthiwararam Temple, including Phra Ratsutthivajarasuthi (Abbot), Phra Suthivajarabundit (Deputy Rector of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University) and Phra Kriengsak Sirisakko.
During the ceremony, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt presented the city's green policy, noting that, during his last term, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) planted over 2.7 million trees. Currently, Bangkok has around 6 square meters of green space per person, which is lower than the World Health Organisation's requirement of at least 9 square meters per person. In his second term, he said the BMA aims to plant another 2 million trees and implement a new policy to register old trees, so that the spaces can be properly cared for.
During a press interview with Thai PBS World, the Bangkok Governor emphasised the importance of the tree ordination ceremony: "I think it reminds us of the importance of the trees in the city. As I said, it's a very precious asset but, sometimes, we forget it. We may focus more on building expressways and buildings and forget that trees are among the most important things. So, it reminds us to take good care of them and that were here long before us, like this rain tree. So, this kind of ceremony reminds us of the importance of trees in the city, and that we have to live together with the trees."
In his previous appointment as the U.S. Consul General in Chiang Mai, U.S. Ambassador Sean O'Neill said that the tradition of blessing trees deeply touched him and that he was happy to help venerate the trees that have long been part of these communities. He noted that this shows respect for what we have and what we created in the city.
The ambassador also agreed with the governor, noting "This is a reminder and it's a way of recognising that a good city has both. It has green spaces and it has wonderful modern conveniences, as Bangkok does."
