Question 1

True or false: Buddhist monks meditate under the Bodhi Tree because its shade is perfectly cool year-round.

Accepted Answer

True. The dense, broad canopy of the Sacred Fig provides deep shade, and its leaves have a cooling effect through transpiration, making it ideal for meditation in hot climates.

Question 2

True or false: The Bodhi Tree's fruit is a popular ingredient in traditional Indian sweets.

Accepted Answer

False. Sacred Fig fruits are small, inedible figs that are not used in cuisine; the tree is revered, not harvested for food.

Question 3

True or false: Leaves of the Sacred Fig rustle even in still air due to their long, flexible stems.

Accepted Answer

True. The petioles (leaf stalks) are extremely long and flexible, causing leaves to tremble and rustle with the slightest breeze or even thermal currents.

Question 4

True or false: The Sacred Fig can live for over 3,000 years, making it one of the longest-lived trees.

Accepted Answer

False. Sacred Figs typically live 200–300 years; the Sri Maha Bodhi is about 2,300 years old, an exceptional case due to constant care.

Question 5

True or false: The Sacred Fig is actually a type of banyan tree with aerial roots.

Accepted Answer

False. Sacred Fig (Ficus religiosa) has heart-shaped leaves and lacks the prominent aerial roots typical of banyan trees (Ficus benghalensis).

Question 6

True or false: The original Bodhi Tree was destroyed by a storm in the 7th century and never regrew.

Accepted Answer

False. The tree was damaged by a storm in 1876 but was not destroyed; it was later replaced by a cutting from the same tree.

Question 7

True or false: The Bodhi Tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment is a direct clone of the original tree from 600 BCE.

Accepted Answer

True. The current tree at Bodh Gaya was grown from a cutting of the Sri Maha Bodhi in Sri Lanka, which itself came from the original tree planted in 288 BCE.

Question 8

True or false: A sapling from the Bodhi Tree was sent to Hawaii and planted at a temple there.

Accepted Answer

True. In 1913, a cutting from the Sri Maha Bodhi was planted at the Hawaiian Buddhist Temple in Honolulu, where it still thrives.

Sacred Fig Bodhi Tree Trivia Questions