Lotus, flower of symbolism
(Abstract)
From the Mediterranean to India and to China, the symbolic importance of the lotus is manifested in many ways, which are all covering the same meaning.
The lotus blossom depicts the totally accomplished being, who has left the obscure water depths for the clarity of the full daylight. The Buddha is often represented sitting at the centre of an eight petal lotus. The centre is associated with the immutable Principle, from which irradiates the manifestation of any thing and being described by the eight cardinal and intermediary points of the “cosmic wheel”. This representation evokes the “compass rose”, a symbol related to the lotus in the West.
Moving from the motionless centre towards the wheel periphery in movement means to manifest oneself to the world. Conversely, going back from the restless periphery to the fixed and non manifested centre indicates the return towards the first state of being, the primeval state, the world unity.
The various traditions do nothing but illustrate this symbolic meaning in different forms.
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