Are you a child of the Lotus or maybe the Rose?

The Lotus grows out of the mud as the Rose rises above the thorns, are the mud and thorns of the lower realms pointers to the transcendent? : )

Are you a child of the Lotus or maybe the Rose?
The symbolism of lotus in Hindu (and its offshoots Jainism and Buddhism) philosophy, theology and mythology is too well known. In devotional literature the Lord's or Divine Mother's form and every feature of the form has been likened to the lotus flower. The famous poem "Sri Ramachandra Kripalu bhaja mana" of Tulasidasji is full of this symbolism. Philosophically the "hridaya" (heart) has been likened to lotus as the abode of the Divinity in Absolute state.

The symbolism of the stem of the lotus plant, the bud, and full-blossomed flower to the umbilical cord, the fetus in womb and the creative human child too can not be missed. The form of Brahma the Creator emerging from the "padmanabha' form of Lod Vishnu is indicative.

Also the likening of the lotus leaf, in water but not getting wet to a philosophy of life to be attached and detached rom the wordly phenomena is also noteworthy. Also, the moral that accomplishment and not origin is to be given importance is conveyed in devotional literature with the symbolism of mud.

The rose flower, to my knowledge does not find figure in indian literature till about the 15th century, perhaps indicative of its foreign origin. In later period, poets have indicated the thorn and flower symbolising the difficulties in the pathway to a goal as well as representing unhappiness and happiness. Barring these, to my knowledge no other symbolism is discernible.

Answer to the question:

Question: Negative

Sub-text: yes.
Reply:I'm a child that came from tulips. *wink*
Reply:I'm a child of John and Helen
Reply:Lotus or Rose, does it matter really?

Till the time I am conscious

of the Fragrance inherent to me

born of the lotus or rose

as you choose to see

does it matter really?



Thanks
Reply:I prefer Columbines :) Soft and gentle, and at the same time strong and resilient.
Reply:Lucifer is in the mother Christ form just to let u know coyote ugly.
Reply:I am a child of the sunflower. All flowers rise out of the mud and reach out to the world in perfect geometry and splendor. Every flower is beautiful, sweet and beloved.
Reply:The Lotus cannot become the Lotus without the mud neither will the rose survive to bloom without its thorns. The rose is not just it's bloom nor is the Lotus only what is seen above the water. All is one. All is transcendent.
Reply:I am a child of the Swamp Rose.



http://www.vintagerosery.com/roses/swamp...
Reply:Yes.. because the one whose child I am is as gentle and soft as a lotus or a rose

and his love is a bit thorny at times :)
Reply:crane stands in a cold, clear lake.

A crane stands in a stinking marsh.

Either way, he is a crane.
Reply:hhmmmmmm....

do I have to choose???

I love them both



although, for my own spiritual references, the lotus is more indicative of my path



the mud, the thorns, are ~ I believe ~ to be our own 'believed to be real' experience of the struggles of life as it exists within the phenomenal world



until we taste the 'real' of the transcendent, and begin to orient our awareness towards tasting more and more of that realm......the mud and thorns are vividly real, and point only towards more of the same until the ego mind is tamed, and drawn into the sweetness of the sublime transcendent....



born of the lotus, the birds fly over the Lake of Bliss,

and sing 'All is impermanent, all is without a self....'



namaste......
Reply:My surname means The Rose. I wear a silver rose charm on a chain around my neck, alongside a green obsidian heart. I also wear a pewter, open lotus, containing a small amethyst at its centre, at my throat, on a leather band. Seven roses are prominent in one of my prophetic self-portrait paintings.....I did not consciously paint them in.......and there is symbolic reverence (and reference) in them. Another 3 symbol, Japanese ink painting I made, that is my soul path is: Sun, Flower (rose and or lotus), Water. And the lotus flower in water, series of images that are among my many Beings drawings, holds significant meaning for the focus for my soul path. I am a child of the universe. The lotus and the rose bless my way. Peace, friend.
Reply:A beautiful analogy! I must say I am the rose, having risen above many thorns!

Blessings!
Reply:I suppose I am a clover, growing right down in the lowly dirt.