KEYCHAIN Lotus

The Lotus Flower (Tib. padma) The Lotus Flower symbolises spiritual purity. In Tibetan Buddhism it refers to the complete purification of body, speech and mind. The lotus refers to many aspects of the path, as it grows from the mud (samsara) but is unstained by it, so it appears clean on the surface (purification), and finally produces a beautiful flower (enlightenment). A lot of deities hold one or two lotus flowers in their hands, like Green Tara, White Tara and Avalokiteshvara (chenrezig). By holding a lotus flower Avalokiteshvara is showing that, because he attained enlightenment, he is free from all obstacles and his body, speech, and mind are completely pure. The lotus throne on which most Buddha’s sit or stand symbolises their natural purity; the deities manifest into cyclic existence, yet they are completely free from its defilements, emotional hindrances, and obscurations. Throughout Egypt, Persia, India, Tibet, China, and Central Asia the lotus was adopted as a sacred symbol.