For a while after the Buddha’s enlightenment, he stayed in the area of Bodh Gaya, meditating. He could not decide whether to keep his new found knowledge to himself, or whether to go out and preach it. He was unsure whether people would understand, or want to hear his words.

It is said, that the Buddha was then approached by Brahma (the Hindu god of creation) who begged him to go out and share his new knowledge. He told the Buddha, that people were like the lotus flowers in the lake. Some were still growing through the mud, others had already reached the surface – and some had cleared the water completely and were about to blossom.
Brahma suggested that people were like this too. Some were stuck in the mud of ignorance and suffering, and many were just waiting for his teaching in order to blossom and reach their full potential.

This particular lotus flower, seems to be clear of the mud and dirt of ignorance. It’s reaching up into the cool blue sky, yet is aware of the fact that it’s surrounded by suffering and decay…. And is just waiting for Truth to be revealed to it – so it can blossom and shine.

At the moment – I feel a little like that lotus flower.

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Mural - unknown artist/s. Darley Lane, Newtown (Sydney)

Thanks for looking.