In Buddhist, Hindu, Chinese and Japanese cultures, the lotus is not just a flower, but the beautiful symbol that reflects an “ideal way of life” in this earthy world.
The main virtues that are embodied in the lotus flower may be summarized as follows.
Cleanliness and purity:
A metaphor for a mind that is never tainted by dirt, no matter what the environment.
Spiritual dignity:
The flower blooms higher than the surface of the water and does not come into direct contact with muddy water. This represents the spiritual growth beyond worldly ignorance and suffering.
Perseverance and growth:
The process of sprouting out of the mud and growing to the surface of the muddy water in search of sunlight is likened to the process of training and effort.
Rebirth and liberation from Samsara (the endless circle of birth, death, and rebirth):
The lotus is a flower that opens in the morning and closes in the evening, and its daily activity shows the cycle of life. In the Buddhist Pure Land, deceased persons are believed to be reborn in lotus buds.
Harmony and peace:
The multiple evenly spaced, overlapping circle of the flower petals looks like a planetary nebula, which symbolizes the harmony and peace of the universe and the Dharma (the absolute principle of the universe).
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