Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,
Slowly we are going through mid-summer, we are already over the middle of the whole Summer with our prompts for this month. So in a few days we will enter the phase of late-summer, longing for Autumn, picking the fruits of the fruit trees and bushes, but ... well we have to go through a few mid-summer kigo. Today that mid-summer kigo is, Hasu (Lotus), it's a wonderful waterplant and it has a very deep spiritual meaning which I love to share here with you all. It's based on Buddhism by the way.
The lotus flower represents one symbol of fortune in Buddhism. It grows in muddy water, and it is this environment that gives forth the flower’s first and most literal meaning: rising and blooming above the murk to achieve enlightenment.
The second
meaning, which is related to the first is purification. It resembles the
purifying of the spirit which is born into murkiness. The third meaning refers
to faithfulness. Those who are working to rise above the muddy waters will need
to be faithful followers.
The color
bears importance in the meaning of the lotus flower in Buddhism. A white lotus
flower refers to purity of the mind and the spirit. If a lotus flower is red,
it refers to compassion and love. The blue lotus flower refers to the common
sense; it uses wisdom and logic to create enlightenment. The pink lotus flower
represents the history of Buddha and the historical legends of the Buddha. A
purple lotus flower speaks of spirituality and mysticism. Finally, the gold
lotus flower represents all achievement of all enlightenment, especially in the
Buddha.
The stage
of growth the lotus flower is in represents a different stage of enlightenment.
A closed lotus flower represents the time before a Buddhist follower found
Buddha or enlightenment. A lotus flower fully bloomed and open represents full
enlightenment and self-awareness.
The mud represents
an importance in the meaning of the lotus flower in Buddhism. All humans are
born in a world where there is suffering. This suffering is a vital part of the
human experience; it makes us stronger and teaches us to resist the temptation
of evil. When we banish evil thoughts from our mind we are able to break free
of the muddy water and become one with the Buddha. The mud shows us who we are
and teaches us to choose the right path over the easy one.
Finally,
the lotus flower represents rebirth, both in a figurative and a literal sense.
The rebirth can be a change of ideas, an acceptance of Buddha where there once
was none, the dawn after one’s darkest day, a renaissance of beliefs or the
ability to see past wrongs. In a literal sense, the meaning of the lotus flower
in Buddhism represents rebirth as a reincarnation, such as in the Buddhist
religion, when a soul leaves this world in its present form to be reborn in
another. (Source: Shiva ) |
| Credits: Lotus |
The Lotus ... a wonderful flower full of light and spirituality. I like this flower very much. And I love to share the next haiku with you all.
spirit grows -
from the bottom of the pond
into the light
into the light
the Lotus reaches from the deep -
spirit grows
This prompt will stay on 'til June 18th 11.59 AM (CET) and I will post our new episode, Shoobu (Japanese Iris), later on today around 10.00 PM (CET). !! The linking widget for this episode will open at 8.00 PM (CET). So have patience before linking up !!
Superb haiku - in so many ways - like a reflection in the muddy water too - and if it is muddy, why is there a reflection? Why not? Wonderful 2 haiku there, really worth meditating and discussing about.
ReplyDeleteThe beautiful first haiku, which has it's opposite in the undergrowth beneath it. Very nice.
Thanks!
I wrote my haiku for this prompt yesterday with zero knowledge about it's significance in Buddhist philosophy, especially the mud part. I love it when coincidences occur like this. Part of me thinks it's never a coincidence. ;)
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