The lotus flower is a symbol of enlightenment and the realization of non-dual consciousness. Within the Buddhist tradition, the lotus is revered as a manifestation of Buddha Nature or the One Mind, transcending the dichotomy of the material and spiritual realms. The lotus flower, with its roots in the murky depths, represents our origin within the material plane, while its ascent towards the light symbolizes the potential for enlightenment within us all.

The journey of the lotus is emblematic of the soul’s ascension from the shadowy realms of ignorance to the luminous state of pure consciousness. It is a testament to the beauty and resilience of the human spirit, as the lotus remains untainted despite its emergence from the mud. This growth towards the light mirrors our own spiritual quest, seeking transcendence amidst the dualistic conflicts of life.

Buddha’s Flower Sermon encapsulates the silent, profound transmission of wisdom through the lotus. As Dōgen recounts, “Sakyamuni Buddha held up an udumbara flower and winked… This I entrust to Mahākāśyapa” (Moon in a dewdrop By Dōgen). The lotus flower becomes a catalyst for awakening, a non-verbal teaching that transcends the limitations of language, pointing directly to the heart of enlightenment.

The silent exchange between Buddha and Mahākāśyapa during the Flower Sermon is a pivotal moment in Zen Buddhism. It is an acknowledgment that the truth of enlightenment, a truth “that does not rest on words or letters,” is beyond the grasp of conventional language and can only be comprehended through direct, experiential realization.

The symbol of the lotus is effective because it provokes an intuitive understanding, a ‘felt-realization’ that transcends intellectual comprehension. It is an image that resonates with the innate purity of the mind, as described by Dōgen, ‘the marvelous mind of Nirvana’ is ‘the true form of the formless’. This formless nature of the mind is the essence of Buddha Nature or non-dual consciousness.

The lotus thus becomes a metaphor for the manifestation of non-dual consciousness: the blossoming of awareness within the material world. It signifies our potential to emerge from a source deep within the muddy waters of the unconscious, to realize the boundless nature of our being upon enlightenment.

In its pristine emergence from the mud, the lotus embodies the untouched state of non-dual consciousness. Despite the muddiness of the material world, this consciousness remains pure, a testament to the inherent purity and resilience of the awakened mind.

This notion is further emphasized in Hinduism, where the lotus is associated with deities such as Lakshmi, who is often depicted emerging from a lotus, representing both spiritual and material wealth. This imagery connects to the primal force of Adi Shakti, the divine mother, infusing the world with conscious compassion, much like the lotus which blooms in muddy waters.

The lotus’s journey from the mud to the open air reflects the emergence of non-dual awareness within a conflicted mind. As outlined in the Bhagavad Gita, the unattached action leads to purity, just as “the lotus leaf is untouched by water [or mud]” (Bhagavad Gita). The lotus, therefore, serves as a beacon of hope, a reminder that amidst life’s dualistic strife, the potential for awakening to a state of pure, non-dual consciousness is ever-present.

The lotus, with its silent but potent presence, teaches us that even within the depths of dualistic conflict and strife, there lies the potential for the unfolding of a serene, enlightened existence. It is a symbol of the eternal truth that in the heart of darkness, the light of wisdom awaits, ready to unfurl in the open air of the awakened mind.

References:

• Moon in a Dewdrop by Dōgen.
• The Archetypes and The Collective Unconscious (Collected Works of C.G. Jung Vol.9 Part 1).
• The Jingde Record of the Transmission of the Lamp.
• The Bhagavad Gita.
• Mystics by William Harmless.
• Hishida Shunso, Mahakasyapa smiling at the lotus flower, 1897, Wikimedia Commons.

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