The Bodhi tree has long been one of the most important symbols in Buddhism. The word Bodhi comes from Hindi Sanskrit, the official language used in Buddhism. Bodhi means awakening, enlightenment, and spirit. Before Buddha became enlightened, he came to the river Nairanjana, in Nepal to meditate for 49 days, under a bodhi tree. Hence, the meaning of enlightenment and the name bodhi were given to that special tree. The tree also means endurance, both impermanence and permanence.

One beautiful afternoon in May 1997, as my friends and I sat at a bodhi tree of a Buddhist temple, I observed the leaves turning yellow and falling down on the ground. The shape of the leaves, their elegance, beauty, delicacy, simplicity, and durability immediately captured my attention and inspired my artistic creativity. I took some leaves home and soaked them in water. After several weeks the leaves started to rot. Thousands of tiny white veins appeared as I carefully and slowly rubbed them with my fingers. The task was not easy since I had no experience doing this; the desire to transform them to an artform, however, was so strong.

After cleaning, soaking, and drying the leaves several times indoors, I finally got one of nature's most exquisite gifts. I was breathless, speechless, and so overjoyed... While working on and looking at bodhi tree leaves, I can see all the principles and teachings I have learned from Buddhism (but sometimes had forgotten to apply them in my life!) Most of all, they teach me perseverance, awareness of this present moment, of the people around me, happiness, and concentration.