首页分享 What does the “lotus” symbolize? The relationship between lotus flowers and Buddhism

What does the “lotus” symbolize? The relationship between lotus flowers and Buddhism

来源：花匠小妙招时间：2025-12-10 21:02

The lotus flower is very closely related to Buddhism, and it can also be said that the lotus flower is a symbol of Buddha.

Walking into Buddhist temples, you can see lotus flower images everywhere. In the Hall of Great Nobility, the Buddha sits on the lotus throne, with kind eyebrows and kind eyes, and lotus eyes drooping; The three saints of the West, Amitabha Buddha, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, and Dashi Bodhisattva also sat on the lotus flower. The rest of the bodhisattvas, some hold lotus flowers in their hands, some step on lotus flowers, or make lotus flower gestures, or throw lotus flowers into the world. On the walls, algae wells, railings, shrine accounts, table surrounds, sachets, and worship mats, various beautiful lotus patterns are also carved, drawn or sewn everywhere.

The lotus flower represents holiness and beauty. In Buddhist stories, Shakyamuni's mother has a pair of beautiful and clear eyes like lotus flowers. When Prince Siddhartha was born, eight auspicious signs appeared in the palace garden, one of which was a white lotus flower as large as a wheel growing in the pool.

In Buddhism, there are countless words that use lotus as a metaphor. the Buddha's seat is called a lotus seat or lotus platform; The Western Pure Land is compared to the pure and untainted lotus realm, so it is called the lotus state; The "Amitabha Sutra" describes the Western Pure Land as follows: there are seven treasure pools in the land of pure bliss, eight merit waters, and lotus flowers in the pool are as big as wheels. Therefore, the Buddha country is called the Lotus Kingdom; Buddhist temples are called lotus temples. Sha is Sanskrit, that is, the meaning of pure land, with lotus flowers as the place of rebirth, so it is called lotus temple; People who chant Buddha are called lotus fetuses, which is a metaphor for living in a lotus flower, as if in the mother's womb; The Buddha's eye is called the lotus eye, and the green lotus flower is used as a metaphor for the beauty of the Buddha's eye; The eight-leaf heart lotus flower in the chest is called the lotus palace, that is, the lotus-like realm in the heart; Shakyamuni's hand is called the lotus hand; monks and nuns are ordained as lotus ordination; The robes of monks and nuns are called lotus clothes, which means pure and unadulterated; The wonderful observation wisdom among the five wisdoms is called lotus wisdom; those who are good at preaching the Dharma are called lotus on the tongue; It is said that asceticism and happiness are the lotus of returning home; The Buddhist scriptures "Lotus Sutra" is referred to as the "Lotus Sutra", which is based on the lotus flower as a metaphor, symbolizing the purity and elegance of the teachings; The earliest Buddhist association in our country founded by Master Huiyuan of Donglin Temple in the Eastern Jin Dynasty is called the Lotus Society; The Buddhist Pure Land sect advocates practicing to achieve the Lotus Pure Land in the West, so it is also called the Lotus Sect.

Why does Buddhism revere the lotus flower so much?

There are two main reasons for this:

1. Buddhism originated in India, which has a hot climate. Lotus flowers bloom in summer, bringing people coolness and beauty. In Indian literature, the lotus flower is a symbol of beauty, kindness, holiness, tolerance, and generosity. For example, "The Story of the Lotus Prince" compares the good national flower with high morals, kindness, integrity, and adherence to the ten laws of the king to the lotus flower. The story says that in order to save the people from famine, Prince Lotus jumped into the Ganges River and turned into a big red fish, telling the people to cut his flesh to eat, and his meat was cut and then reborn, so he persisted for twelve years, and he used his own meat to feed the people of the whole country and survived the twelve years of famine. "The Story of Mrs. Deer Mother" says that every time Mrs. Deer Mother Lotus takes a step, a beautiful lotus flower immediately appears behind her feet, and she gave birth to 500 virgins in one birth, all of whom are handsome strongmen and heroes who defend the country, so Mrs. Deer Mother Lotus has become a symbol of being able to give birth to more beautiful men.

2. The character and characteristics of the lotus flower are consistent with Buddhist teachings. Buddhism is a religion that focuses on seeking relief from the suffering of life, regards life as a sea of suffering, and hopes that people can get rid of the sea of suffering. That is, from the earthly world to the pure world, from all evils to perfection, from ordinary to Buddhahood. This is the same as the lotus flower growing in sludge and murky water and being otherworldly, not stained by sludge, and finally blooming incomparably delicious flowers.

One of the Buddhist teachings is compassion for sentient beings. Those who have cultivated to a very high level of enlightenment (bodhisattva or above) will naturally produce compassion for all sentient beings. Compassion refers to the unrelated kindness and the sorrow of the same body. Compassion is to hope and help others to be happy; Compassion is hope and helping others to get rid of their suffering. For all living beings, regardless of good or evil, regardless of human or animal, they are all compassionate and kind. tolerate and forgive all kinds of evil deeds, and use compassion to help and influence those who do evil, so that they can turn to good and bear good results; but also to be in the filthy world and not be polluted by it. It is the lotus flower that expresses this beautiful thought and sentiment.

Lotus is born in the mud, just like living in a world of muddy dust, which will be invaded by many evil and filth. Buddhism requires people not to be disturbed and influenced by the evil and filth of the world. Like a lotus flower, it comes out of the mud without staining, and blooms beautiful flowers, which is the most beautiful symbol. The Buddha often compares the lotus nature to the Buddha nature. "The Great Wisdom Treatise on the First Grade of the Middle Household Paramita" says: For example, the lotus flower comes from the sludge, although the color is bright, the source is not pure. The "From the Forty-Two Chapters" says: I am a monk, in a turbid world, I should be like a lotus flower, not polluted. The Great Brahma King who saved the world was also born on the golden lotus flower of Chiba. Buddhas and bodhisattvas also sit on the lotus platform, or hold lotus flowers in their hands, expressing the Buddha's pure and untainted state from the earthly world.

It is not easy for people to cultivate to the state of being muddy and not polluted, and it requires a high level of awareness and concentration, which requires continuous practice to enrich Buddha nature and cultivate demonic nature.

The lotus flower also represents a state of wisdom, the so-called enlightenment. "Infinite Life Track" says: It is the bodhisattva who thinks, and in all sentient bodies, there is this enlightenment lotus, and the pure world is not tainted with afflictions. The "Tripitaka Image White Treasure Oral Copy" says: On the heart of an ordinary person is like a lotus flower, and the heart of a sage is like a lotus flower. Question: Why is the nature of sentient beings like a lotus flower? Answer: The "Secret Record" says: In the Lotus Department, there is the principle of purity of the bodhicitta in myself, and although this principle flows through the dead mud of the six realms and four lifetimes, it is not tainted and untainted, so it is called the Lotus Department. The "Twelve Commentaries" says: Observing the lotus flowers rather than the remaining flowers? This is also meaningful, just as the lotus flower in the world is in the mud, although the place of birth is said to be evil, the lotus flower's body is pure, and its beauty is incomparable, and it is not tainted by all kinds of dirt. Ordinary people change like this, even if all kinds of inexhaustible three poisons and faults are immeasurable and boundless, this lotus samadhi is very deep, and the fruits are born in it, which is the light of the Tathagata's equality and great wisdom.

Buddhism says that flowers bloom to see Buddha nature. This flower refers to the lotus flower, and the flower blooms means that the practitioner has reached a certain state of wisdom. For example, if a person has a lotus state of mind, he will manifest his Buddha nature.

True practitioners also understand that when their practice reaches a very high level, they may see that a very small lotus-like lotus platform will be born in their abdomen (in fact, it is not a lotus platform, there is no corresponding auspicious flower in the world, just a lotus metaphor), and at the same time, a very small Buddha body (Vajra indestructible body) will be cultivated to sit on the lotus platform. As the cultivation realm improves, this Vajra indestructible body grows bigger and bigger, and the lotus platform also grows; When he finally cultivated, the Vajra body was as big as his own body, and he became one. At this time, some people with special functions can see that there are two bodies in the practitioner's body. This is the fundamental reason why Buddhism uses the lotus flower to symbolize Buddhism and metaphorically practice Buddhism.