One of the most compelling symbols
of Buddhism is the blooming Lotus plant.
The lotus is a plant that has been admired in Asia for many centuries. It is easy
to know why, when we see a very healthy lotus plant in a pond. A healthy specimen
can show three or four big green leaves, more than a foot long, and a majestic
bloom perhaps 10" in diameter. What is amazing to see is that the leaves
and blooms do not lie flat on the water surface like a water lily; they arch triumphantly
out of the water, to stand freely, several inches above. On seeing this, we can
only marvel at the biological vigour of the plant, as well as the beautiful colour
and form of the lotus flower.
If we look at statues and paintings describing Buddhism, we will see that Buddhas
are usually pictured as sitting or standing on a lotus bloom. This is true also of
Amida Buddha statues and Nembutsu scrolls on the shrine of Jodo Shinshu temples. Buddhism
has taken the lotus bloom as a symbol of Enlightenment. How does the whole plant
serve as a metaphor for the spiritual growth of human beings? First of all there
is the lotus seed. The lotus seed, like any seed, contains the natural materials
and intelligence required to become an adult plant. An oak seed contains all the
knowledge and ability to become an oak tree. A lotus seed contains all the internal
programming and materials to become a beautiful blooming Lotus. In the same way,
all human beings are born with Buddha-nature, or the natural aspiration and potential
to become an Enlightened Being. Our internal Buddha-nature not only urges us to
seek spiritual fulfillment, but also knows intuitively how to do it.
The lotus seed is born into the dark, sticky mud at the bottom of the swamp.
Here, the seed germinates, and begins its long journey of growth and development.
The foul-smelling black mud of the seed's birth can be compared to the myriad
of dark karmic forces that affect us in the world of samsara. We are all born
with Buddha-nature, and also the many negativities and challenges coming from
our early childhood experiences and our ego - polluted mental processes.
After germination, growth downward and upward begins. Will the young plant
develop a strong root system, absolutely essential for grounding and sustaining
upward growth? Will the aspiration to become a healthy plant be sufficient to
overcome the negative forces of abusive water currents, sudden temperature changes,
or overcrowded conditions at the bottom of the swamp? Will the young lotus plant
grow to be tall and strong?
Plants are phototropic - that is, they grow toward the light. You have seen
this in your houseplants growing on windowsills. The foliage grows toward the
window light, and we have to keep turning the plant around every few days for
it to grow straight. Human beings are phototropic too - we grow naturally toward
spiritual LIGHT. Amida Buddha is our symbol of the Infinite Eternal All-Pervading
LIGHT of the Universe. As humans, we are internally programmed to be attracted
to the LIGHT of Amida Buddha.
And so, the lotus plant grows. The question then becomes, "Will this plant
stop growing before its leaves break through from the realm of water into the
realm of air?" Many lotus plants, for various reasons, do not ever grow tall
enough to discover the realm of air. And, once breaking out of the water, not
all lotus plants succeed in "coming into bloom."
Each seed has the potential to become a blooming plant. Some plants bloom;
some do not.
Isn't that the same with human beings? For whatever reasons, we may fail to
make it out of samsara into the experience of Nirvana. We become caught in the
tangles of other plants, or we become so accustomed to the watery darkness, that
we neglect our deep impulse to grow toward LIGHT. We find it too frightening to
leave the familiar darkness of our swampy samsara. We dare not explore the possibility
of another realm in our mind - the Pure Mind of Buddha. We are afraid to let go
and be transformed into a blooming person.
Buddhism is a religion of self-reflection. Those Buddhist devotees who follow
their inner promptings to bow to Amida, and to let the perfections of the Buddha
cast LIGHT on their own dark fears and doubts - those devotees start to grow toward
the TRUTH of the Buddhist message. Among our Jodo Shinshu friends, we can see
many examples of blooming personalities; we can follow their example, and do our
best to listen to the call of Amida, deep within:
"Come as you are.
This Way! This Way!
Toward the LIGHT
Come now
I am here for you always."
Every human baby is born as a lotus seed. Siddhartha Gautama is one lotus seed
who became a blooming personality. Our Shin Buddhist religion of "naturalness"
suggests that we can all grow into bloom - more by surrendering to the workings of
Other Power, than by following our own self-power. But, self-effort comes first.
It takes self-effort to get out of the muck at the bottom of the swamp. After
that, spiritual fulfillment is reached by just letting go to our natural yearning
for PERFECT LIGHT.
May we all Bloom!
"Namo Amida Butsu" |
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