The Lotus Story
The Lotus flower is one of the great symbols associated with yoga. The legend and its symbolism provides hope and inspiration.
A lotus flower begins growing at the bottom of a muddy, murky pool, and slowly emerges toward the surface, bursting out of the water into a beautiful blossom. During the night the lotus closes and sinks under the water, and emerges again with the sunlight of a new day.
The lotus seeds contain perfectly formed leaves as miniatures of what they will become when the lotus blooms. Its stem is flexible but does not break. As the lotus flower emerges from the mud and up toward the surface, it is completely unstained.
The lotus in the mud symbolizes the hardships and difficulties of life, or a challenging time we have faced or are facing. As with the stem growing toward the surface, we also grow through our experiences, through our difficulties, learning lessons along the way, removing obstacles, and overcoming our adversities. As the petals unfold, we too unfold, and become like a lotus rising from the murky waters and flowering into something beautiful. Its open blossom stands for enlightenment.
The lotus seeds, containing perfectly formed leaves, symbolize our potential. Its flexible stem symbolizes our resilience. As the lotus begins to emerge, this symbolizes never giving up, never quitting when things seem difficult. The blossom of the lotus flower symbolizes enlightenment, our awareness, and our beauty. During the night, the flower closes and sinks, like a cleansing, and then emerges with the light, a renewal.
According to a traditional story, the more muddy and more opaque the water, the more beautiful the Lotus flower when it emerges.