Story about the sacred lotus, its botany, and its role in the history, religion, medicine and ecology.

1. Danuse Murty
Produced by the Buddhist Council of NSW
For Free Distribution Only

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Dedication
To children
“We have a brief window of opportunity to take action, to preserve
humanity from imminent disaster and to assist the survival of the
many diverse and beautiful forms of life on Earth.
Future generations, and the other species that share the biosphere
with us, have no voice to ask for our compassion, wisdom, and
leadership. We must listen to their silence. We must be their voice,
too, and act on their behalf.”
From “A Buddhist Declaration on Climate Change”[1]

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Sacred Lotus
The Sacred Lotus has a scientific name Nelumbo nucifera and it
belongs to a plant family Nelumbonaceae. It is known by a number
of other names, including Indian Lotus, Bean of India, Chinese
Waterlily, or simply Lotus.
This plant is an aquatic perennial, native to Asia from modern
Afghanistan to Vietnam, and to New Guinea and north Australia,
and it was introduced to ancient Egypt from Persia late in the
ancient Egyptean history. It has been held sacred by the native
people for more than 5000 years and used widely by them as an
ornamental and food plant. Today it is rare or extinct in the wild in
Africa, but it is widely naturalized and commonly cultivated in water
gardens around the world. It is the National Flower of India and
Vietnam. [2, 3, 4]
Botany
The Nelumbo nucifera grows in shallow ponds, lagoons, marshes
and flooded fields, with roots in the muddy soil and leaves floating
on top of the water surface. The flowers are usually found on thick
stems rising several centimeters above the water. The plant grows
up to 6 m in height, depending on the depth of water, and spreads
horizontally up to 3 meters. The leaves may be as large as 60 cm
in diameter and the flowers can be up to 20 cm in diameter. Leaves
repel water and hence are self-cleaning, and the plant has an ability
to regulate temperature of its flowers within a narrow range, just like
warm-blooded animals can.[3]
There are a number of different varieties of the plant, with the flower
colours varying from snow white to yellow, light pink and blue. The
plant can be grown from seeds or rhizomes. The oldest seed that

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has been germinated into a viable plant was from a 1,300-year-old
lotus fruit, taken from a dry lake in northeastern China.
Human use
The flowers, seeds, young leaves and rhizomes are all edible. In
Asia, the petals are sometimes used for food decorations, while the
large leaves are used to wrap food. The roots are used as a
vegetable, and rhizome is a common soup or stir-fry ingredient and
is the part most commonly eaten.
Petals, leaves, and rhizome can also all be eaten raw, but without
being cooked there is a risk of parasites transmission. That is why it
is recommended to cook them first before eating them. Chinese
people have long known that Lotus roots are a very healthy food
and have been using them to promote health for many centuries.
They are rich in fiber, vitamin C, vitamin B and various minerals,
while low in saturated fat.
The stamens can be dried and made into a fragrant herbal tea or
used to scent the tea leaves. Lotus seeds or nuts called Phool
Mhukhana are used in Indian cooking. The seeds are quite
versatile, and can be eaten raw or dried and popped like popcorn.
They can also be boiled down until soft and made into a paste.
Combined with sugar, lotus seed paste is one of the most common
ingredients used in pastries such as mooncakes and rice flour
pudding.
Various parts of the sacred lotus are also used in traditional Asian
herbal medicine and the distinctive dried seed heads, which
resemble spouts of watering cans, are widely sold throughout the
world for decorative purposes and for dried flower arranging.[2, 3]

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Religious symbolism
From ancient times the lotus has been a divine
symbol in Hindu tradition. It is often used as an
example of divine beauty and its unfolding
petals suggest the development of the soul.
The Hindu deities are often depicted with lotus flowers as their
seats, and the meditating yogis traditionally sit in the lotus posture
(padmasana).
Based on the ancient Hindu tradition, a lotus flower is also among
the earliest Buddhist symbols. It represents an enlightened being,
Buddha or Bodhisattva, rising above the muddy waters of the world
and the Buddha is often depicted sitting on a giant lotus blossom.[2,
4]
According to one legend, Siddhartha Gotama was born with the
ability to walk and everywhere he stepped, lotus flowers bloomed.

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According to another story, a few days after he attained the
Supreme Enlightenment the Buddha contemplated on what to do
next. At first he was very reluctant to teach the Dhamma, as most
people are caught up in sense pleasures and don’t want to learn the
deep truth and practice. But then he discerned a few people who
had only a little delusion and craving, and they reminded him of the
lotuses that extend their stalks from the bottom of the pond up in
the air, to receive sunshine. So out of compassion he decided to
teach the Dhamma to those willing to listen and learn.[4, 5, 6]
“Upon a heap of rubbish in the roadside ditch,
blooms a lotus fragrant and pleasing.”
(Buddha, Dhp 58)[7]

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The Buddha taught the Dhamma using words and also in a silent
way, using flowers and other means. The first and most important
way he taught the Dhamma was just by living the Middle Way
himself. Without that all his other teachings would have been
fruitless.[7, 8, 9]

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Healing power
of the lotus
Since the ancient times flowers, stalks, seeds,
and other parts of the sacred lotus were known
for their healing properites. They were used as herbal medicine to
treat diarrhoea, fever, fungal and bacterial infections, and weak
heart.[3]
The Buddhist Tipitaka, the Vinaya or the Book of Discipline,
includes the following short story in support of the healing power of
the sacred lotus:
“Once Venerable Sariputta was suffering from fever and Venerable
Moggallana offered to get him the medicine he required - the lotus
stalks. He then went to a great lotus lake, and an elephant nearby
saw him and asked if he could help him. Moggallāna told him what
he needed and the elephant instructed another elephant to get the
lotus stalks. This second elephant then uprooted a trunkful of lotus
stalks, washed the mud off them, tied them into a bundle and then
gave them to Moggallāna” (Vin.I,214).[4, 10]

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Its place in the
natural ecosystems
Lotus species is an integral part of the
tropical wetland ecosystems. It thrives in
shallow ponds, lagoons, marshes, along the river banks and in river
deltas. It is an umbrella species because many species of wildlife
depend on it for survival. The whole web of species, ranging from
small freshwater primary consumers or herbivores, to secondary
and tertiary consumers, or omnivores and carnivores, are
dependent on it for food, shelter and other life requisites. Health
condition of the lotus is also a good indicator of the health of the
whole associated community.[3, 11]
Lotus roots, shoots and blossoms provide abundant food and
shelter for small aquatic invertebrates that live among or on the
lotus plants. These range from tiny zoolankton, to sponges, worms,
hydras and water mites, to limpets, snails, water beetles,
caterpillars and mosquito larvae, to crustaceans and other
creatures. Its stems and leaves supply food and safe haven to a
variety of frogs and herbivorous fish. Insect pollinators such as
beetles, flies, bees and butterflies also find abundant food nectar
and pollen in the lotus flowers.
Omnivorous and carnivorous aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates,
such as some insects, fish, frogs, turtles and snakes, in turn feed on
the primary consumers. Freshwater crocodiles also live in these
tropical wetland habitats and find abundant food and good places to
raise their young. Waterbirds find among the lotuses plentiful supply
of fish, frogs and invertebrates and use the lotus leaves for nesting,
and the native people of south Asia and north Australia also have
enjoyed the lotus fields bounty for centuries.
The bottom dwelling decomposers such as worms, fungi and
bacteria break up and feed on the lotus plant dead parts. By so
recycling them, they help to create muddy soil and make the
released minerals again available for the new lotus plants growth.

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Other aquatic plants, ranging from microscopic phytoplankton to
water lilies, large reeds and rushes coexist with the lotus in these
wetlands and also supply food to many animal species. By
providing for them a variety of food and shelter, they prevent pest
plagues and also help to maintain the whole wetland community
resilience to environmental change. Hence while the lotus provides
abundant services to the whole wetland community, its survival and
continued life cycle is also dependent on it.
However, due to the current climate change the Ganges Delta
wetlands, Kakadu wetlands, and other tropical coastal wetlands
may be severely damaged through enundation with sea water. The
plant and animal communities of these places are adapted to the
fresh water environment and cannot survive in saline conditions. In
addition to this, water in many tropical wetlands is now polluted with
toxic chemicals and many species are threatened with extinction.
[12, 13, 14]
Hence helping to alleviate the climate change and water pollution
are acts of boundless kindness to thousands of species that depend
on these wetland ecosystems for survival.

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Reflection on food
The following short reflection before meals is a helpful reminder of
the significance of what we consume and to use it wisely.[15]
“In this food,
I see clearly the presence
of the entire Universe
supporting my existence.”
“I promise myself
to use it wisely
for the benefit
of all beings.”

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References
1. Ecological Buddhism, 2009. A Buddhist Declaration on Climate
Change. www.ecobuddhism.org
2. Wikipedia, 2011, Nelumbo nucifera. www.wikipedia.org
3. Plant Cultures, 2011. Lotus. www.kew.org/plant-cultures/
4. Dhammika S Bhante, 2011. 1) Dictionary of Flora and Fauna in the Pali
Tipitaka. Forthcoming. 2) Guide to Buddhism A to Z. www.buddhisma2z.com
5. Thanissaro Bhikkhu, 2004. Majjhima Nikaya: Ariyapariesana Sutta -
The Noble Search, MN 26. www.accesstoinsight.org
6. Nanamoli Bhikkhu and Bodhi Bhikkhu, 2005. The Middle Length
Discourses of the Buddha. Majjhima Nikaya: Ariyapariesana Sutta - The
Noble Search, MN 26.
www.bodhimonastery.net
7. Buddharakkhita Acharaya, 1985. The Dhammapada - The Buddha’s
Path of Wisdom. Buddhist Publication Society, Sri Lanka. www.bps.lk;
www.buddhistcouncil.ogr/bodhitree
8. Vajira Sister and Story F, 1998. Digha Nikaya: Mahaparinibbana Sutta -
Last Days of the Buddha, DN 16. www.accesstoinsight.org
9. Hecker H, 1985. Maha Kassapa - Father of the Sangha. Wheel
Publication No. 345. Buddhist Publication Society, Sri Lanka www.bps.lk;
www.accesstoinsight.org
10. Murty D and Dhammika S Bhante, 2011. Crisis in the Forest. Buddhist
Council of NSW. www.buddhistcouncil.org/bodhitree
11. Stiling P, 2002. Ecology - Theory and Applications. Ch 20. -Trophic
Structure. Prentice Hall, NJ, USA.
12. Wikipedia, 2011. 1) Comb-Crested Jacana; 2) Ganges Delta; 3) Kakadu
National Park. www.wikipedia.org
13. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, 2011. www.ramsar.org
14. Wetlands International, 2011. www.wetlands.org
15. Part 1: Hanh Thich Nhat, 1997. Present Moment Wonderful Moment -
Mindfulness Verses for Daily Living. Published by Full Circle, Delhi, India.
Printed for Free Distribution by The Corporate Body of the Buddha
Educational Foundation. Taipei, Taiwan. Part 2: Anonymous.

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