The Lotus Flower in Buddhism
During the first discourse in Early Buddhist Discourses, the Buddha references a pond full of many lotus flowers. The editor/translator then added a footnote to that reference, and he shares that the lotus flower holds a significant meaning in Buddhism, “especially in the texts of Mahayana tradition” (Holder, 11). Apparently, the lotus flower symbolizes “purity and divine birth” within the Buddhist tradition (BBC News). Although lotus flowers can grow out of murky and dirty ponds, the flowers always maintain their beauty. One might see the flower as something that goes beyond the pond, but the flower “is still rooted in the pond” (Holder, 11). This observation seems to reflect the Buddhist ideal of becoming a pure being out of an impure world. The lotus flower is “usually pink,” but lotuses can also appear as white, red, blue, or purple (The Pond Clinic Water Garden Centre). In Buddhism, each color represents a different aspect of the practice. For example, a red lotus “signifies the qualities of the heart” and a purple lotus represents mysticism (BBC News). The pink lotus flower “is considered to be the true lotus of Buddha” (Ravenscroft). In addition to the colors of the flower, the lotus structure also enforces other Buddhist ideals. Many varieties of lotus flowers tend to have eight pedals after blossoming. These eight pedals are said to be “representative of the noble eightfold path” and to remind admirers of their journey towards purity (Ravenscroft). Ultimately, lotus flowers act as a vehicle for the Buddha’s teachings, and they themselves should not be worshiped or considered holy. Their mere existence naturally represents some of the Buddhist ideals, but the same observations can be applied to countless other works in nature.
Works Cited
"Buddhism - An Introduction." BBC News. BBC. Web. 12 June 2014.
"Lotus Varieties." The Pond Clinic Water Garden Centre. Web. 12 June 2014.
Ravenscroft, Dean. "Lotus Flower Meaning and Symbolisms." Lotus Flower Meaning. Web. 11
June 2014.
This was really interesting I'd always wondered about the significance of the lotus flower.
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