Lotus, for Buddhism, lotus is a very noble and sacred thing.
The lotus flower is immortal and will appear again in the next year. It symbolizes the immortality of the human soul and the continuous reincarnation. Buddhism regards the lotus as a holy flower, using the lotus as a metaphor for the Buddha, symbolizing that the Buddha was born amidst the worries of life and death and was not disturbed by the worries of life and death.
Lotus symbolizes the law of cause and effect
Among all plants, the lotus grows in a unique way. Most plants bloom first and then bear fruit. But the lotus is different. When the lotus opens, the lotus seeds have already been formed in the stamens. The flowers represent the cause and the lotus seeds represent the effect. This unique phenomenon reveals the law of cause and effect that Buddhism emphasizes.
Law of cause and effect
When we see a lotus blooming with the seeds already inside it, it is as if we are observing a direct manifestation of the law of cause and effect. This is also used to graphically illustrate that every moment of our thoughts, words, and actions will bear fruit in the future. Whether good or bad, it is all caused by our own actions.
This law, also known as the “continuity of cause and effect,” is one of the core of Buddhist teachings. According to this teaching, all phenomena do not exist in isolation but form and perish in a causal relationship. All happiness, pain, gains and losses come from our past actions and will also have an impact on our future.
Therefore, the lotus flower, with its unique life process, has become a vivid symbol of the law of cause and effect in Buddhism. On the road to pursuit of awakening and liberation, it inspires us to understand cause and effect, grasp life, and illuminate the path of life with kindness and righteousness.
