The Lotus Way
We see the lotus symbol used extensively throughout the yoga industry. What connection and correlation are we to make of this mystical flower and the practice of yoga?
The story of the lotus has so much symbolic inspiration. Its roots are birthed in the deepest muddiest part of still lakes and ponds. Its bud surfaces the water and connects with the pristine energy of the suns rays, and begins to unfold one bloom at a time until finally in full bloom we are in the presence of an exquisite expression of nature.
As humans we tend to live in the world of form. We forget who we are, where we came from and why we chose to come here. Who are we really? And really why are we here? This question often haunts us, for some it inspires us and for others there’s no reason to entertain the question at all. It is also a very much debated question. In spite of the countless opinions and beliefs of who we are and why we’re here, one thing most will agree on is that we are all seeking transformation on some level.
If we were to ask the question “Is there anything you would like to change about yourself or your life?” the response of the majority would be “Yes.” The changes desired would range from physical improvements such as health or appearance to psychological improvements such as self esteem, more joy, or a sense of purpose. Then for some they can’t put their finger on it but feel a deep sense of longing. A void they can’t seem to fill regardless of all the material possessions they try to fill it with, or all the goals they execute and conquer.
Our inability to be satisfied and truly at peace with our life does not stem from anything in the physical realm. Contrary to popular belief the transformation we seek is not about our physical appearance, our bank accounts, our job, our significant other, or any other label we might have assigned it. The deep sense of longing for “more”, stems from deep inside of us. It’s our true essence, our divine spirit that resides in our physical body that has a deep longing and desire to be remembered.
As humans we make connections and comprehensions through the physical relationship of things and people in the world. If the eyes can see it, and the hands can touch it then we are more inclined to give our attention to it. Out of sight out of mind as the saying goes. So, we tend to forget about our spirit. We forget the importance of nurturing it the same way we nurture our physical bodies, our cars, our children and life partners and even our pets. We get bogged down with the collective energy of society and all the pain and suffering of our past. This mud and muck gets so deep it becomes a very dark, very cold and very scary place for us to venture. So instead we lay down some nice stones so we don’t step in it and say “ah what a nice rock bed”, and then relentlessly throw ourselves into our work. We constantly stay plugged into the world of technology; cell phones, iphones, text messaging, Facebooking, Tweeting. The list can really go on and on, anything to take our minds off that muddy mess. We are so afraid to sit in quiet with ourselves for 5 minutes. For most we can’t shut our minds up for 2 minutes much less 5. Yoga teaches us how to get quiet. Our practice takes us within and helps us to see that we are equipped with all we need to wade through our mud so that our true essence and beauty can rise up and shine forth.
At first sight the lotus flower is so beautiful floating upon the waters surface. One might not give a single thought as to how that beauty came to be. We don’t think about the mud and muck the lotus grew up from before it bloomed into its full expression of shri or beauty. We just see it and think “hmmm a flower, floating on the water. It’s so pretty.” We see it with our eyes but don’t expand our awareness to its true mystical nature and auspiciousness of being.
A human life is very much like the life of the lotus. The lotus flowers only desire and intention is to grow up through the muddy murky waters to unite with the suns rays, where it can express itself fully and exquisitely. The deep and constant sense of longing we feel is our desire to grow up through our own mud and muck. To re-align with our divine source so that we too can evolve into our fullest expression of shri. We are constantly seeking that alignment. That is the void we feel inside; although for most it takes years and sometimes multiple life times to discover this truth.
We all have our “mud” to wade through, even the person that appears to have the perfect life. The definition of yoga literally means to yoke or to join. The practice of yoga takes us on a journey deep within and re-joins us with our spirit. It brings awareness and creates the space for healing. It is through this healing process that we rise up from the mud. This is when our blooms begin to unfold one petal at a time until we become an expression of the most magnificent beauty floating upon the surface and highest vibration of the Universe.
By: Brandi Nelson
The Yogi Way
