Meaning of The Lotus Flower in Buddhism

The sacred lotus, which gracefully raises its elegant flower above the muddy waters where it grows, has long been revered by Buddhists. The lotus bud is perhaps the single most popular offering of Buddhist in temples. Lotus flower is also the viewed as sacred flower by Hindus and the ancient Egyptians.

According to ancient legend, the Buddha was born able to walk, and with each step, lotus flowers bloomed under his feets. The Buddha is often depicted sitting on a giant lotus blossom.

The first and most literal meaning is from the lotus ability to rise and bloom above the muddy to achieve enlightenment. The second meaning, which is related to the first is purification. It resembles the purifying of the spirit which is born into murkiness. The third meaning refers to faithfulness. Those who are working to rise above the muddy waters will need to be faithful followers.

The stage of growth the lotus flower is in represents a different stage of enlightenment. A closed lotus flower represents the time before a Buddhist follower found Buddha or enlightenment. A lotus flower fully bloomed and open represents full enlightenment and self-awareness.

The mud represents an importance in the meaning of the lotus flower in Buddhism. All humans are born in a world where there is suffering. This suffering is a vital part of the human experience; it makes us stronger and teaches us to resist the temptation of evil. When we banish evil thoughts from our mind we are able to break free of the muddy water and become one with the Buddha. The mud shows us who we are and teaches us to choose the right path over the easy one.

Finally, the lotus flower represents rebirth, both in a figurative and a literal sense. The rebirth can be a change of ideas, an acceptance of Buddha where there once was none, the dawn after one’s darkest day, a renaissance of beliefs or the ability to see past wrongs. In a literal sense, the meaning of the lotus flower in Buddhism represents rebirth as a reincarnation, such as in the Buddhist religion, when a soul leaves this world in its present form to be reborn in another.

The color bears importance in the meaning of the lotus flower in Buddhism. The following show the symbolization of the different colors.

White lotus

The white lotus symbolized bodhi (Sanskrit for enlightenment). It symbolizes a pure body, mind and spirit, along with spiritual perfection and a pacification of one’s nature. A lotus flower normally has eight petals, which corresponds to the Eightfold Path of Good Law. It is the white lotus that is found at the heart of the Garbhadhatu Mandala, where is serves as the embryo of the world. The white lotus is considered the lotus of the buddhas (but not Buddha himself) because of the above stated symbolism associated with it).

Blue lotus

The blue lotus symbolizes the control of the spirit over one’s material senses. It also symbolizes knowledge, wisdom and intelligence. The blue lotus is always depicted only partially opened—perhaps to symbolize that knowledge should never be finished blooming. In a similar vein, its center is never seen. The blue lotus is the lotus associated with Manjusri, and is also one of the attributes of Prajnaparamita, the embodiment of the perfection of wisdom.

Red lotus

The red lotus symbolizes the original state of the heart. It is a symbol of love, compassion, activeness, passion and other emotions associated with the heart. The red lotus is typically depicted with its petals opened, which may be to symbolize the beauty and openness of a giving heart. The red lotus is associated with Avalokitesvara.

Pink lotus

The pink lotus is the supreme lotus, it is often associated with the highest deity, the Buddha himself. Though often confused with the white lotus, it is the pink lotus that symbolizes Buddha where the white lotus is used for lesser holy figures.

Purple lotus

The purple lotus is known as the mystic lotus, and is only represented in a few esoteric Buddhist sects. This lotus is often depicted several ways; it may be in bloom or merely a bud. It can be supported by a single stem, a triple stem which symbolizes the three parts of the Garbhadhatu (which are vairocana, lotus and vajra), or a quintuple stem which symbolizes the Five Knowledges of Vajradhatu. The eight petals again symbolize the Eightfold Path and also the eight principal acolyte deities of the central deity on the mandalas. If depicted in a cup or on a tray, it is considered to be a symbol of homage.

Golden lotus

The golden lotus that is mentioned in Buddhist sutras has two meanings, one is the symbol for the achievement of enlightenment and the other points towards a real flower which is beyond our normal perception.

Once when the Buddha was speaking the Dharma, the Great Brahma Heaven King presented him with a golden lotus. The Buddha held up the flower before the assembly. At that time hundreds of thousands of gods and men were present, but no one responded except Mahakashyapa, who simply smiled. The Buddha said, ‘I have the Right Dharma-Eye Treasury, the wondrous mind of Nirvana, the reality beyond appearance. The Dharma-door of mind to mind transmission has been entrusted to Kashyapa.’ Thus Mahakashyapa received the transmission of Dharma and became the first Buddhist patriarch.

Source: Buddhist.org