Like a lotus in the water

Say not, “I have found the truth,” but rather,”I have found a truth.” Say not, “I have found the path of the soul.” Say rather, “I have met the soul walking upon my path.” For the soul walks upon all paths...

The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of countless petals.

~ Kahlil Gibran (1883 - 1931)

The lotus flower is one of the most ancient, peaceful and powerful symbols of our planet. They grow in shallow, dusky, and muddy waters. Though it comes forth out of the mud and mire; it rises as a beautiful flower that lives in the water, without being affected by its origins and untouched by the murky waters beneath.

The lotus is a symbol of love and devotion. The lotus flower has its head always turned towards the sun; continuously facing the light, it receives the light constantly. Hence, it will not be at all inappropriate to say that it as an ever-enlightened flower.

Beauty

The lotus flower is revered by the followers of Buddhism and Hinduism, as a holy and divine flower; not only justly because of its beauty and attachment to religion, but also because of its qualities. The lotus, though originating in mud and mire, rises as a beautiful flower that lives in the water; without being touched, or sullied by it.

So much so, the lotus flower is show caused as an example - an illustration - for anyone who wants to live spiritually in the world.

It is said, “Live like a lotus in the water”. The lotus leaf is right in the water, but never moistened by the water. When you pick it up, it is completely dry. It never gets wet. If you throw a little water over it, the water will roll off and scatter around like pearls.

A person should live like the lotus, being in the world but not affected by it. We should always express our natural beauty, though our birth be sullied by mud and mire.

Nothing from outside should affect us. Sometimes, life is so muddy, murky, messy, dirty, and stinky, that it seems hopeless to go forth.

At that moment, keep in mind the symbol of lotus.

If we can live like the lotus, unaffected by our origins, our surroundings, and the happenings around us, our life will be beautiful.

It is significant that the Goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswati - representing wealth and learning respectively - are often depicted standing on a lotus.

It is to signify purity - the pure manner in which wealth and learning ought to be, and should sought to be, acquired.

Like the lotus, we experience three primary stages of evolution.

The first is marked by ignorance and darkness, when we lie below the dense mud - a closed chrysalis - that which, by nature of existence, will eventually be pulled upwards by the warmth of the Sun.

The second phase is exemplified by the climb through the clouded waters of our emotional experience, yet still the flower reaches to the Sun, knowing no other destiny, no other purpose.

The third brings full illumination in the splendour of the light. The Lotus flower blossoms, baring its exquisite beauty to all those who are aware enough to recognize: wisdom unfolding.

To quote Jacquelene Close Moore, a naturally gifted sixth generation psychic medium, and healer: “The lotus, a pristine water lily, undiscouraged by its surroundings, rises from the depths of a murky pond.

Becoming a spiritual person does not mean you to leave your prior life behind, but instead, you integrate, learn, remember, and respect what brought you to this point in the first place.”

Heart

When the heart is open, it is said, the lotus blossoms where there appeared to be no lotus. So, let us open our hearts, let people marvel at our beauty; not the physical loveliness, but that of our inner self. Let our determination to grow out of the muddy pond that the world is, be a reminder to all people of the Buddha and his journey towards Enlightenment.

That way, we become a beacon unto others. Prince Siddhartha, who became the Buddha, the enlightened one, like a lotus, was determined to grow out of the muddy surroundings: the defilements and sufferings of life.

Having attained his goal, he went forth, showing mankind the way to go forward. We may have defilements, but we all have the potential of growing out of our defilements and achieving wisdom.

By being like a beautiful white lotus flower, arising above the muddy water, not dirtied by the mud, which surrounds us, we can be an example and induce others as well to rise above their defilements and sufferings.

Then the world will be as it ought to be: beautiful, peaceful, and serene “The one who wanders independent in the world, free from opinions and viewpoints, does not grasp them and enter into disputations and arguments. As the lotus rises on its stalk unsoiled by the mud and the water, so the wise one speaks of peace and is unstained by the opinions of the world.” said the Buddha.

There are five colours of the lotus flower. White Lotus: symbolizes the state of total mental purity and spiritual perfection, and the pacification of our nature. Red Lotus: symbolizes the original nature of the heart.

It is the lotus of love, compassion, passion, activity and all the qualities of the heart. Blue Lotus: 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 embodiment of the ‘perfection of wisdom'. Pink Lotus: is the supreme lotus, generally reserved for the highest deity. Purple Lotus: is the mystic lotus, represented only in images.

See you this day next week. Until then, keep thinking; keep laughing. Life is mostly about these two activities.

For views, reviews, encomiums, and, brick-bats: [email protected]