At first glance, one might not think much of the lotus flower. The flower symmetry and colors are striking, sure, but beneath the lotus’s delicate exterior lies a deeper meaning nearly as old as time. The flower holds great symbolic weight in many Eastern cultures and is considered one of the most sacred plants in the world. So, why so special. 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.
In many cultures, this process associates the flower with rebirth and spiritual enlightenment. With its daily process of life, death, and reemergence, it’s no wonder that the lotus holds such symbolisms. The lotus flower’s daily resurrection is certainly interesting, and surely symbolic of revival. But the flower also has a fascinating will to live. A lotus seed can withstand thousands of years without water, able to germinate over two centuries later.
The flower also blooms in the most unlikely of places such as the mud of murky water. Not only does it find sanctuary in the muck, but due to the waxy protection layer on its petals, its beauty is blithely unaffected when it re-blooms each morning. It continues to resurrect itself, coming back just as beautiful as it was last seen. With such refusal to accept defeat, it’s almost impossible not to associate this flower with unwavering faith. The Buddhist proverb, aims to edify; living life with unwavering faith, as the lotus does, ensures the most beautiful revivals.
The Lotus flower represents our ability to come from a place of suffering into the light, much like the lotus, whose roots start in the muddy earth and rise up through the water to the light of the sun.
This reminds us that we too can rise up from any difficult situation and reconnect to the light that surrounds us. Each of us are like the beautiful lotus flower that floats “Above” the muck like an enlightened mind unfazed by the trials, traumas and tribulations of life. Believe you too can rise, stand strong in the midst of adversity, inner strength that helps you rebound from a setback or life challenges. You can develop skills to become more resilient, and rise like the lotus flower from the mud, blithely unaffected when it re-blooms each morning.
Even when stress, adversity or trauma strikes, you still experience anger, grief and pain, but you’re able to keep functioning — both physically and psychologically. However, it is not about putting up with something difficult, being stoic or figuring it out on your own. In fact, being able to reach out to others for support is a key part of being part of the process.
“Just like the lotus, we too have the ability to rise from the mud, bloom out of the darkness and radiate into the world.” ~Unknown.
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