pub. on Feb 20, 2008
 
Enlightenment
The anomaly of the lotus flower is a powerful symbol in Buddhist religion. The flower stands tall and unpolluted in muddy waters. It germinates in the darkness below, emerges above the water, and blossoms into a beautiful flower in bright sunlight. Buddhists use the symbol to refer to the complete purification of the body, soul, and mind even as the roots remain firm in the ground.
The lotus represents the path of life as it emerges from the mud (samsara), grows clean and pure through the water (purification), and produces a beautiful lotus flower (enlightenment). That the lotus flower can stand tall in the water can be attributed to the strength of the lotus stem—a powerful analogy to the strength of one’s beliefs in the Buddhist doctrine.
The leaves of the lotus flower are resistant to water. Like water droplets that fall off the lotus leaf, the soul can be touched by material temptations but must remain untainted. And it is important, Buddhism teaches, that existence be rooted in the world, in order to experience the reality of suffering. And thereby, do something about it. The blooming of the lotus flower is also symbolic. The flower, as a closed bloom, is like the human heart. When enlightened with the teachings of the Buddha, it blossoms.
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