The lotus of enlightenment

Perhaps you remember from Foundations class how the lotus blossom is the symbol of spiritual practice. Here's an exercise I found in Meditation for Beginners by Naomi Ozaniec:

Allow yourself to enter a meditative state. Imagine that you sit beside a shallow lotus pool. the surface of the pool is dotted with lotus plants. Most are closed, tightly budded upon the surface. A few are beginning to open, revealing a glimpse of creamy white beauty. One lotus catches your eye. It is in full bloom; its many petals lay open to the sunlight. It is quite beautiful.

You allow your eye to descend into the waters beneath the surface. The waters are shallow and you see that these wonderful plants are all rooted in the mud. Each plant must make its way to the surface. Only then can it flower, revealing its true beauty. Sustained in the darkness, nourished by the depths, the lotus root will generate a humble shoot which will rise to the heights to reveal its natural beauty. Here is the symbol of the enlightened mind reaching up for light, awakening from the depths, fulfilling its own nature. Record your own thoughts.

When we are out in the world, we should not forget to bring the meditational state of mind to bear. Full concentration, full awareness and total mindfulness enrich all life activities whether at work or in leisure time. Meditation is not a withdrawal from life, but a way of deepening our experience of life.

I love the symbol of the lotus. It reminds me that the dark, murky, seemingly slimy aspects of my consciousness are not to be despised or rejected. They provide material for my practice.