Today in Japan it is Buddha’s Birthday and Hana Matsuri (花祭り - the Flower Festival). According to the legend, Gautama Buddha was born in the Lumbini garden in Nepal, a garden full of flowers. That’s why the statue of Buddha’s Birthday, which is displayed today at Buddhist temples, is always symbolically placed on flowers.
The lotus flower is one of the most important symbols in Buddhism, one of the eight auspicious symbols.
In Buddhism, the lotus symbolizes the purity of body, speech and mind, “floating above the muddy waters of attachment and desire". The opened flower represents enlightenment and that’s why Buddha is often represented sitting on and opened lotus flower.
Also, the color of the flower has a complex meaning. The red lotus is the lotus of love, compassion, passion and other qualities of the heart…
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Yesterday’s Japan Photo:Crape myrtle and Skyscrapers |
