THE LOTUS |
| The lotus symbolises spiritual growth and
enlightenment. It also symbolises the religious path. Starting life as a seed, it grows in the muddy darkness at the bottom of a pond. The darkness is like our ignorance - we can't clearly see the truth about life. The seed grows toward the warmth and light of the sun just as humans naturally grow toward the warmth of love and compassion, and the light of truth. The mature flower floats freely on the surface, bathing in the full light of the sun. You can see the petals of a lotus around the carving on page 23. The Buddha is standing on a lotus on pages 5, 13,14 & 16 and sits on a lotus throne on pages 6, 11 & 15. The two elephants in the picture on page 26 can be seen offering lotuses to the stupa. |
