The lotus has always been an object of immense marvel and beauty. But very few are aware of the environment in which it is born, specifically the dirty and muddy water from which it is known to originate. Such conditions would, otherwise, prove to be very hostile for most living organisms to survive, let alone thrive, in.
To truly appreciate the lotus’ exquisite beauty, one must first understand the process of its development. Before it can bloom into the beautiful and absolutely wondrous piece of flora that it is, the lotus has to undergo an extremely gruelling and painstaking growth process. From underwater tubers, they eventually grow into a long stem that reaches towards and then outside the surface of the water. Once the leaves appear, the stem falls further down into the mud, allowing the roots to be able to firmly anchor the flower in place.
As with most aquatic plants, the lotus also requires an environment that has abundant moisture. These include swamps, lakes and ponds. They can also only grow in a climate that is either mild or warm and which experiences moderate rainfall that is spread out throughout the year. Because of the various stages of development involved as well as the adverse circumstances in which it grows and eventually blooms, the lotus has been widely regarded as the perfect analogy for the human condition; that even though the origins of your story may not be as pleasant or positive, you still have the capability to grow and bloom into the best version of yourself. For this purpose, the lotus has come to be known as a symbol of purity, enlightenment, self-regeneration and rebirth.
Much of the symbolism of the lotus flower comes from its significance in many religions, specifically Buddhism and Hinduism. According to Buddhist beliefs, every person has the potential to achieve enlightenment and ultimate perfection. He/she must be reborn thousands of times and be refined via numerous manifestations of life before they are able to attain nirvana – the highest state of self-actualization a human being can achieve. This is why the Buddha is depicted as sitting atop a lotus flower as it signifies the struggle against pain that most of us experience in the material world. Just as we rise above adversity and overcome whatever challenges that may come our way to eventually become enlightened human beings, the lotus flower too begins its journey from dirty and muddy waters, surpasses all obstacles and eventually emerges as a beautiful flower.
At Endura Rose, the latest addition to our collection of highly rare and preserved flowers is the Lotus Collection, a symbol of the endless struggle towards achieving one’s full potential and becoming the best version of oneself amid numerous and sometimes insurmountable challenges. It is our way of saluting those who continue to strive against adversity and misfortune and emerge victorious and success.
