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Australian Crafted Jeweled Bodhi Tree

to be presented to

His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama

during his visit to Melbourne, May 2002

Photographs by Lisa Nelson

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama will be presented with a gift of an Opal Gem Tree, representing the Bodhi Tree, during his visit to Melbourne in May 2002. The gems come from White Cliffs, New South Wales, Australia. The Opal Gem Tree was crafted by Elspeth Helen Hughes at the request of her daughter, Jocelyn Matilda Hughes. Jocelyn is the daughter of John D. Hughes, Vice President of the World Fellowship of Buddhists.

A metal image of Buddha with the mudra Bhumisparsamudra (Ch'u-ti-yin) sits on the rock base below the branches of the Opal Gem Tree.

The Opal Gem tree is composed of four main limbs and 16 branches made from copper wire. Each of the 16 branches holds one leaf made of White Cliff opals that have been polished and shaped into the form of Bodhi leaves.

The base of the tree is made of rock from Penanga Field, New South Wales, Australia.

The Buddha image is 3cm high and 2.5cm wide. The Opal Gem Tree is 9.5cm high and the breadth is 15cm. The trunk of the Opal Gem Tree is 4.5cm high. The rock base is 7.5cm long and 3cm high.

Most of the opals were located by Elspeth Hughes. Two of the opals and the copper wire were supplied by Dick Mathery. The opals were polished and shaped by Ron Gill. The rock base was supplied by John McKashill.

Elspeth Hughes wrote in a letter in May 2002 to her daughter accompanying the Opal Gem Tree. The letter reads as follows.

"Dearest Jocelyn

Please find enclosed the Opal Gem Tree, so happy to be sending this lovely tree to you; for you to give to Ajarn for a gift to the Dalai Lama. A gift from the heart to my beloved daughter, with every loving thought and prayer.

Dick was able to find sturdier copper wire, the first two times I made the wire was fine and some snapped, also the leaves, polished by Ron Gill, shaped too. John Mc Kashill gave the base (from Penanga field). All the opal is White Cliffs, from my noodlings, and two Dick dug out last week. Claire helped with a spec. opal tree.

Do hope this finds you well, take care of your dear self, to Ajarn my deepest wishes of good will, and to dear Vanessa my love.

Enclosed is a plastic bag with two more "leaves" in case of problems.

Will close, love you dearly. Many hugs and lots of love Mum.

There are 16 stones, twice the 8 ways of Righteousness of the Buddha."

The Ajarn mentioned is the Most Venerable Dr. Ajarn Viriyananda Mahathero of the Buddha Vihara Temple.

Images of the Opal Gem Tree will be available to view online at www.bddronline.net.au in bddr12no1.

May the merit of this gift assist the long life and health of Members of the Hughes family.