Lotus Lessons

It seems like the perfect week to revisit the significance of the lotus in Eastern spiritual traditions.

In the Indian tradition, the goddesses of yoga are often depicted seated on a lotus throne representing purity, perfection, and the transcendence of worldly life. 

Similarly, the Buddha is also sometimes depicted seated on a lotus flower, symbolizing his state of self-realization.

The way the lotus floats on the water’s surface represents how spiritual teachings and practices help us rise above the fluctuations of the outer world as well as the turbulence of our minds, leading us to a more serene state of being.

The journey that the yogi undertakes is likened to the blossoming of the lotus. Just as the lotus gets its nourishment from its roots in the mud to produce an exquisite flower, the yogi’s spiritual attainment comes from transcending the “muddy waters” of everyday life.

Depending on your inclination, yoga might help you temporarily rise above the noise of daily life; ten minutes on your cushion can provide a respite from the ever-unfolding narrative in your world.  

Or your practice might serve to elevate seemingly mundane
experiences to the realm of the sacred. Like the lotus transforming muddy water into beauty, yoga offers the tools and perspectives to approach everyday events as fuel for inner growth.

The result is that ordinary experiences become imbued with new, elevated significance. Cooking, cleaning, or gardening become opportunities to recognize and appreciate life's blessings.

Both approaches— rising above or embracing daily life— share a common goal: fostering a transcendent perspective that recognizes the inherent sanctity within us and all things.