The Lotus Symbol in Buddhism The lotus (Sanskrit and Tibetan
padma) is one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols and one of the
most poignant representations of Buddhist teaching. The roots of
a lotus are in the mud, the stem grows up through the water, and
the heavily scented flower lies pristinely above the water,
basking in the sunlight. This pattern of growth signifies the
progress of the soul from the primeval mud of materialism,
through the waters of experience, and into the bright sunshine
of enlightenment. Though there are other water plants that bloom
above the water, it is only the lotus which, owing to the
strength of its stem, regularly rises eight to twelve inches
above the surface. According to the Lalitavistara, "the spirit
of the best of men is spotless, like the lotus in the muddy
water which does not adhere to it." According to another
scholar, "in esoteric Buddhism, the heart of the beings is like
an unopened lotus: when the virtues of the Buddha develop
therein, the lotus blossoms; that is why t