[LeslieMoran]

Something that has bothered me for quite some time now. When my mom bought her house, she had a couple of Thai monks come over to bless it. Well, in the corner a small potted tree with US denominations tied to the branches.

Further in the day, the more money tied to the tree.

What significance is this tree, if any?

[DownloadMan]

I don't know about there, but here they have the same sort of thing and the money, usually 20 baht bills are donations for the monks or a temple/Wat or some such thing.

[verybigf]

Money tree is symbolic of life and gathering of families and friends joint in to make the tree more green (money) and donate to the Wat.
Normally just one person wishes to donate the money to Wat simply just put money in donation box, but if person puts up the money tree it is meant invitation to families and friends to joint in without have to say much.

[Leaters]

The small tree is Phaa Bpah Tree (phaa = cloth, bpah = forest), used in Tod Phaa Bpah ceremony, merit making in Buddhism, which offering the robe or อัฐบริขาร 8 (atha borritkharn paed) to a monk.

อัฐบริขาร 8 = atha borritkharn paed or the eight things that a monk must have, including สบง – a monk’s skirt, จีวร – an outer robe, สังฆาฏิ – a yellow cloth worn over a monk’s shoulder, บาตร – an alms- bowl, มีดโกนหรือมีดตัดเล็บ (a razor or nail clipper), เข็ม – needle, ประคดเอว – a belt for the monk, กระบอกกรองน้ำ – a water strainer).

Brief history, during the time of the Buddha, monks were not allowed to receive the robes directly from any laymen, so they had to use abandoned cloth or a shroud then cut, sew and dye the robes for themselves. The laymen saw this difficulty, so they intentionally left good cloth in the forest for the monks. Without owner, the monks took it to make the robe. In Thailand, this ceremony was recalled during the time of King Rama the fourth. Anyway this ceremony has been developed and deviated depends upon each areas and convenience.

Originally, this ceremony is performed in the temple, having celebration and also raising funds for the temple. Nowadays many people cannot go to the temple often, for convenience, they tend to add this ceremony whene making merit at home. Instead of presenting the robe and/or necessities for the monk, some tie only money to the branches. Friends, relatives and guests who want to make merit with the host will tie their bank notes to the branches, how much??? depends on social status of the host, and also your financial status.

[usaneisfiecup]

Mel, thank you for explaining that. Very informative and now it makes so much sense with the connection to the trees/forest!