There is a very old tale that is called the Story of the Lotus Flower. It first shows up in Buddhism and later became a part of the narrative of growth and transformation in many yoga traditions.
The beauty found in Mother Nature offers us a deep well of wisdom. All of the flowers have a sacred meaning–the sunflower symbolizes long life and abundance; a pink rose is gratitude and peace; the lily is the pure messenger of Love–often you will see in traditional religious art the angel Gabriel offering the lily; and the belle of the south, the magnolia, not only is one of the sweetest fragrances, but it stands for perseverance.
Written and read by Deana Vassar with quote source material by Goldie Hawn.
The lotus has been called the beautiful survivor. Maybe you can relate to that. The lotus pushes its way through the mud, rising toward the sun’s light. As the lotus bud first emerges at the surface of the water and basks in the sunlight, the first petal opens.
A lotus is a survivor, it rises from the dark muddy waters and finds the warmth and nourishment of the Light. As the bud hits the surface of the water and drinks in the sunlight, that single petal opens, signifying an achievement. Oftentimes in our busy lives, we overlook the smallest achievements. Each petal that opens is an achievement of survival, life, and opportunity. A lotus has strength and beauty, it is able to overcome all of its environmental obstacles and show the world its beauty.
Famous Jewish Buddhist Goldie Hawn says this precious bloom is her favorite. She writes: “The lotus is the most beautiful flower, whose petals open one by one. But it will only grow in the mud. In order to grow and gain wisdom, first, you must have the mud — the obstacles of life and its suffering. … The mud speaks of the common ground that humans share, no matter what our stations in life. … Whether we have it all or we have nothing, we are all faced with the same obstacles: sadness, loss, illness, dying and death. If we are to strive as human beings to gain more wisdom, more kindness, and more compassion, we must have the intention to grow as a lotus and open each petal one by one.”
According to one story, the muddier and more opaque the water the more resplendent the Lotus flower when it rises to life, to the water’s surface–a gift for all who see. May the muck and struggle of our lives yield such beauty.
Deana Vassar, Awakenings Health, 2021
Quote source: Goldie Hawn, via Goodreads.com, “A Lotus Flower Grows in the Mud”
FAQs
First and foremost, the lotus has a life cycle unlike any other plant. With its roots latched in mud, it submerges every night into river water and miraculously re-blooms the next morning, sparklingly clean. As a result, this has led the lotus to have associations as the flower with rebirth and spiritual enlightenment.
What does a lotus flower always have answer? ›
The Petal is a basic constituent of any flower, So, A lotus flower always has flowers with Petals.
What does the lotus flower mean in health? ›
They symbolize longevity, purity, and beauty in Buddhism and Hinduism, giving background to the nickname sacred lotus ( 2 ). Additionally, its stems, seeds, leaves, and flowers have long been used in traditional medicine preparations.
What is the lesson of the lotus flower? ›
Buddhism teaches that human life is like the “lotus flower” and the “muddy water” the harsh realities of daily life. Daisaku Ikeda, the Buddhist philosopher, explains how we can understand this concept in our daily lives: Nothing, no matter what happens, can change your inherent worth.
What does the lotus flower mean in the Bible? ›
For Christianity, the white blossoms of the lotus represent purity and creation, specifically God's creation of the universe. Similar to how the lotus rises from the murky depths of mud, this religion states that God brought creation, light and beauty out of the dark and empty space.
What is the message of lotus flower? ›
Because lotuses rise from the mud without stains, they are often viewed as a symbol of purity. Since they return to the murky water each evening and open their blooms at the break of day, lotus flowers are also symbols of strength, resilience, and rebirth.
What does lotus mean spiritually? ›
In Hinduism, the lotus represents spiritual enlightenment, beauty, fertility, purity, prosperity and eternity. It is said that there's a lotus flower in every Hindu's heart, and that when this lotus blooms, the person achieves enlightenment.
What is the secret meaning of the lotus flower? ›
The Lotus is a plant that belongs to the Nelumbo genus, and it has been connected with purity, rebirth and divinity. The lotus flower symbolizes rising from a dark place into beauty and rebirth, as this is precisely how a lotus flower grows.
What religion is the lotus flower? ›
The lotus, Nelumbo nucifera, is an aquatic plant that plays a central role in the art of Indian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. In Asian art, a lotus throne is a stylized lotus flower used as the seat or base for a figure.
What are the 5 benefits of lotus? ›
2. Health benefits of lotus
- 2.1. Prevent diarrhea. ...
- 2.2. Helps reduce blood sugar and high cholesterol levels in the blood. ...
- 2.3. Effectively reduce inflammation. ...
- 2.4. Helps to add nutrients to the body. ...
- 2.5. Beat "fly" acne. ...
- 2.6. Helps regulate menstrual cycle. ...
- 2.7. Soothes a cough. ...
- 2.8. Prevent the growth of cancer.
These results show that the lotus seedpod extract can effectively improve renal dysfunction, so as to achieve treating or improving kidney damage-related diseases.
Is lotus a symbol of healing? ›
The lotus is a beautiful symbol of healing. The powerful lotus plant has been used in Traditional Eastern medicine and cuisine for centuries. The lotus has the title of India's national flower and is a symbol of purity in Buddhist and Hindu traditions. This plant's medicinal usage goes back generations.
What is the magical power of the lotus flower? ›
In Eastern cultures and spiritualities, especially, the lotus is sometimes called the “Flower of Life” due to its association with the cycle of life, death, and rebirth or reincarnation. Each lotus' color also has significance of its own. White has come to represent beauty, grace, purity of mind, fertility, and faith.
What is the spiritual meaning of the lotus flower? ›
In general, however, the lotus is seen as a symbol of purity, spiritual enlightenment, and rebirth. It is considered sacred in Eastern cultures.
What special powers do the lotus flowers have? ›
Learn about them below!
- Spiritual cleansing – Lotus flowers have the habit of surfacing from ponds. ...
- Divine affinity – The supernatural significance of lotus flower is associated with Hinduism and Buddhism. ...
- Thermoregulation – The ability to keep warm in cold climates was thought to be only present in plants.
