The lotus has gradually become my favorite flower. It means a lot to me because it somewhat represents my life and the spiritual awakening I have experienced within myself and the universe. It begins its life in the mud at the bottom of a pond and slowly moves up toward the light where it begins to blossom once it gets to the surface. It closes and sinks at night, and rises and reopens at dawn… constantly seeking the light. It is also the only plant to fruit and flower simultaneously.
For thousands of years it has represented spiritual enlightenment to the Egyptians, Hindus and Buddhists and is a symbol of rebirth and creation. The ancient Egyptians believed the lotus arose from the water during chaos at the beginning of time, and from the lotus, the sun god, Ra, was born. (There are other versions of this story.) The Egyptians also used it to induce an ecstatic state, for stimulation and/or hallucinations. It was and still is used as a general remedy against illness…
In Buddhism, when the virtues of the Buddha develop, therein the lotus blossoms.
White Lotus: This symbolizes Bodhi, the state of total mental purity and spiritual perfection, and the pacification of our nature. It generally has eight petals corresponding to the Noble Eightfold Path of the Good Law. It is the lotus found at the heart of the Garbhadhatu Mandala, being the womb or embryo of the world. It is characteristic of the esoteric sects, and the lotus of the Buddhas.
Red Lotus: This symbolizes the original nature of the heart (hrdaya). It is the lotus of love, compassion, passion, activity and all the qualities of the heart. It is the lotus of Avalokitesvara.
Blue Lotus: This is the symbol of the victory of the spirit over the senses, of intelligence and wisdom, of knowledge. It is always represented as a partially opened bud, and (unlike the red lotus) its centre is never seen. It is the lotus of Manjusri, and also one of the attributes of Prajnaparamita, the embodiment of the ‘perfection of wisdom’.
Pink Lotus: This is the supreme lotus, generally reserved for the highest deity, sometimes confused with the white lotus it is the lotus of the historical Buddha.
Purple Lotus: This is the mystic lotus, represented only in images belonging to a few esoteric sects. The flowers may be in full bloom and reveal their heart, or in a bud. They may be supported by a simple stem, a triple stem (symbolizing the three divisions of Garbhadhatu: Vairocana, lotus and vajra), or a quintuple stem (symbolizing the Five Knowledges of Vajradhatu). The eight petals represent the Noble Eightfold Path and the eight principal acolyte deities of the central deity on the mandalas. The flowers may also be depicted presented in a cup or on a tray, as a symbol of homage.
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