A Lotus for you … a Buddha to be!
This is a common greetings between Buddhists at temples and meditation centers. With half cupped palms symbolizing a lotus flower yet to bloom, you prayerfully greet the other by saying the beautiful words “A Lotus for you … a Buddha to be”! ‘Buddha to be’ implies the other person is a potential Buddha yet to be realized.
In the words of the great Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh ~ “The meditation practitioner is like a lotus flower in the process of blooming. Buddhas are fully bloomed flowers, beautiful and refreshing. All of us are Buddhas-to-be.”
Among other colors of the lotus flowers it is the Pink lotus which is held as the supreme lotus and considered to be the Buddha’s lotus.
The lotus pond here is a golf course water hazard
What can we learn?
The beautiful lotus emerges from muddy waters in its natural beauty and purity unaffected by the mud around it. So can man remain healthy and happy despite the suffering and greed in his life. There is no place in the world where suffering does not exist. Yet without suffering it may be difficult to understand the supreme reality of compassion and love.
So my dear friends here’s “A Lotus for you … oh Buddha to be”!
Breath of Joy 
I love Lotus but somehow I haven’t been able to take good photos of the Lotus..hopefully I will someday. Thank you for sharing the information about Lotus 🙂 The flower itself always make me feel peaceful, maybe because of its beauty and color.
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Yes Indah there is something about a Lotus which emanates peace, Always a pleasure hearing from you and ~ “A Lotus For You”!
🙂
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I didn’t know about the symbology of lotus, thus I am grateful to you for sharing this post, Dilip!. All the best to you, Aquileana 😀
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Thank you kindly Aquileana for your kind words. I am delighted to you liked the information on the meaning of the Buddhist lotus greetings.
With kind regards,
Dilip 🙂
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My kind of golf water hazard Dilip! Water lilies are so gorgeous, in any setting.
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True Margie the lotus is a beautiful flower. The water hazard though is quite daunting for golfers. 🙂
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Thanks for the explanation.
I would like to learn more about Buddhism.
Kind regards,
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Yes Rob there is plenty to learn in.Buddhism. I know very little.
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What a lovely style of greeting! New? Yes, and I’m already in love with it. What you said about the suffering and learning to show compassion and love is very true. I believe that someone who has passed through suffering has a deeper understanding of such state and if he’s filled with kindness, goes the extra length to alleviate the suffering of those around him. Great post, my friend.
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Hi my friend. My apologies for the belated response as I just recovered your thoughtful comments from my spam folder 😦
You are so right its only a person who has experienced the trials and tribulations of life who can perceive the others suffering and do something to help.
Thank you and best-wishes always!
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I am not very familiar with Buddhism. That is such a lovely way to greet one another. The pink lotus blossoms are so beautiful, I can understand why they are considered the Buddha’s lotus. Your posts are always inspirational.
I love the photo of the lotus pond in the golf course. I don’t golf, but golf courses are usually beautifully maintained. My grandparent’s had a home on a golf course at the Jersey shore when I was growing up. The pond looks like a little sanctuary in the midst of golfers, clubs and the often exclaimed: Fore.
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Enjoyed reading your comments. Oh yes the lotus is beautiful calming flower. I am thrilled to know your grandparents had a home on a golf course 🙂 Playing a round on the course makes one feel re-energized even if you had a bad game 🙂
Many thanks and have a lovely weekend.
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Hey, I recommended this to another person who is a psychologist and writes about depression on his blog. So thanks.
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That’s OK though my blog is about inspiration and faith.
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A lotus to you too… Lovely pond. It is so soothing to read such peaceful thoughts these days. Your blog is a ‘lotus’. 🙂
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My response will be “Oh Buddha to be”! I am touched y what you wrote. 🙂
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It’s a beautiful thought — so healing and positive.
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Your beautiful comments too are positive. Thank you and be very well.
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A buddha-to-be; I LOVE that thought Dilip. Nice post!
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I am so glad you liked this beautiful way of greeting Tina.
Good wishes always.
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Oh! I thought it was your Blog. Anyway, all is well that ends well.
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Thanks so much for explaining the symbolism of the Lotus flower. That’s wonderful!
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Happy moments during the day!
Cheers!
Love and Blessings.:)
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I am indeed blessed to have a mentor like you! Thank you and have a lovely day.
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So nice of you to appreciate. Thank you and have a beautiful day.
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A sweet and to the point greeting. Love it, beautiful flowers and greeting.
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Nice of you to stop by and leave a lovely comment. Sweet greeting from you too which I heartily reciprocate.
Best wishes always Maria 🙂
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I like the comparison of the lotus flower and our own growth from muddy surroundings. The lotus is a beautiful flower!
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Oh yes the symbolic meaning is so true! Glad you liked it 🙂
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Awe, I hadn’t heard that greeting before so nice to learn it~!
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I am glad you liked the Buddhist greeting! Have a lovely day 🙂
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Thanks and enjoy your weekend too 🙂
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🙂 thank you.
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Nice post. The blooming lotus is the symbol of many philosophies due to its beauty, serenity and origin. You have a nice blog. Am bound to visit so following 🙂
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Gracious of you to appreciate my blog. I found yours very interesting and look forward to visit regularly 🙂
Cheers 🙂
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It’s inspiring..the way they greet…I love it… I wrote a haiku on this too…Thanks Dilip for sharing … 🙂
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Yes indeed its inspiring and the reverential bow makes it more beautiful. Oh I must surely read your haiku Maniparna.
Regards 🙂
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Very apt quote, There is no place n this world where suffering does not exist.
We only note the suffering & not the happiness.
If the ball drops in the hazard though full of lotus one would remember it all along.
“Without suffering it may be difficult to understand the supreme reality of compassion and love.”
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Suhas it always a pleasure to hear from you 🙂 More so as you always capture the essence of the wisdom especially if it is related to spirituality or the Bhagavad- Gita.
Thank you so much and have a lovely week.
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We all have much unrealized potential. It would be great if we could realize it.
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Yes my friend we can keep trying by exploring and experimenting and enjoying the efforts.
Thanks and cheers 🙂
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In Bali, Lotus is believed to be where the Saraswati Goddess (the Goddess of wisdom, art, and knowledge) sits or stands. It is a holly flower and have important role in religious ceremony. Thanks for the beautiful post, Dilip.
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Hello Indah your message are always enriching with the cultural insights of beautiful Bali. Thrilled again to know that we have the Goddess of knowledge as Saraswati in common. She too is associated with a lotus I think.
Wish you a lovely week 🙂
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A positive message and got something new to learn. Despite all the fact lotus always bloom in the muddy. Thank you for that though provoking post and yes a lotus for you too.
Regards,
Swetank (Being Bettr)
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Many thanks Swetank for appreciating the positive message. How is your blog doing? Will visit you again :).
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Made few precious friends, learned new things from there blog .. to say, the week was good. As for my blog will soon posting. It’s really hard to mange blog and studies. How are you doing?
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I love that! Wonderful post Dilip. … a lotus for you!
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I am happy you liked the post Ute. Wishes to you for a lovely week. 🙂
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I just love your golf course Dilip, did I tell you I played once upon a time… I didnt get a handicap, didn’t play it only to keep hubby company, but I did have lessons.. I really should dust off the golf bag and see if my muscles will take a swing again.. they are not complaining too much with the weeding,, so maybe I should! 🙂
Love the post.. And Love the Lotus blossom and its symbolism..
Many thanks and Blessings to you and yours..
Sue
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Ha Ha good to know you played golf and as they say “once a golfer always a golfer” 🙂 Its the only game where we play against ourselves so its ok to have breaks and play again 🙂
So nice you liked the post. And have a lovely week Sue. Best regards.
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Lotus has been considered as a spiritual inspiration since ages… Nice post Dilip…
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You are right Sindhu. Glald you liked the post. Cheers 🙂
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Lovely post. I loved the way they greet. Makes one feel good and encourages self-improvement. Thanks for sharing this. 🙂
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So nice to know you liked the Buddhist way of greetings. I have a few friends who are students of Buddhism and it’s nice to see them greeting each other with a slight bow.
Cheers 🙂
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Just Beautiful !
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Thank you Freya and all the best to you. Take care 🙂
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Beautiful thoughts. Please see my re-blog also.
Love and Blessings.
Surinder
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A re-blog from you is an honor sir! I appreciate.
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Reblogged this on God and Love and commented:
Dear Dilip,
Thank you for offering the pink lotus to us. it is a beautiful thought that reminds us that a lotus is within us ready to blossom into a ‘Buddha’, if only we try and persist in our efforts. Let us be blessed in our efforts. Life is also like a drop of water sitting precariously on the leaf of a lotus flower uncertain when it would fall and disappear! So our efforts be continuous.
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Yes sir let us be blessed in our efforts. And more so as you remind us that life is like a drop on the lotus leaf it could slip off any moment.
With respects!
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May Krishna Bless our efforts, though small, to reach Him
Have a good day
Surinder
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Yes indeed! And a lovely day to you too. 🙂
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A lotus to thee! This morning on my walk in the PSA Park I read a beautiful ‘caption’ for the Buddha fountain by the Bombay Sappers. it says that the Buddha reminds us about the transformation that should take place from consciousness of turbulent thoughts to peace and tranquillity!!
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“Thank you oh Buddha to be”!
How beautiful read the Buddha’s profound wisdom so early in the morning in the salubrious environment of PSA park. And here’s one more from the Master.
“There is only one moment in time
when it is necessary to awaken
That moment is now”
Many good wishes sir.
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Happy Moments to thee.
Blessings
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My dear dilip, many many thanks for such a lovely gift on BUDDHA PURNIMA. A lotus for you …. a Buddha to be. The golf course pond full of blooming lotuses is such a gift for the eyes of golf ears. You are a great photographer. A great inspiration for all the golfers. Love. Ajay
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Ajay my dear golf-buddy glad you enjoyed the post and the lotus pond picture. I can spot you in the picture on the green across after a brilliant drive-shot 🙂 As they say ‘Oh what a shot’ 🙂
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now that is thoughful indeed .. if only ..
God bless and have a great day sir
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Oh oh my dear Bikram thankfully I just recovered your comment from my spam mail 😦 😦 My apologies – in future I must check on a regular basis.
You too have a lovely day 🙂
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A wonderful wish for all. Love the symbolism (such as what you write here … The beautiful lotus emerges from muddy waters in its natural beauty and purity unaffected by the mud around it.) … Wow … that is applicable to so much in life. … So may I greet you in your tradition … “A Lotus for you … oh Buddha to be”!
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I am happy you liked the symbolism and its relevance to our lives. And thank you for your kind greetings. Namaste my friend.
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🙂
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The lotus is my favourite flower for the serenity it evokes. So thank you dear Dilip, a lotus flower to you too! 🙂
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Gracious of you dear Madhu for appreciating. I acknowledge your Lotus with a bow and a _/\_ Namaste 🙂
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I really like this post. I have a photo of a lotus on my desk and it helps me to bloom in spite of it all. Be like a lotus.
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Oh your words “photo of a lotus on my desk and it helps me to bloom in spite of it all” are so inspiring. Yes lets really practice to be like a Lotus.
Many thanks 🙂
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What a beautiful wish, my dear Dilip. Wishing you beautiful celebrations today and …“A Lotus for you … oh Buddha to be”!! 🙂
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A Lotus from you dear Marina is acknowledged by me with the reverential Namaste _/\_ dear Marina 🙂
Thanks and regards.
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Namaste, my dear Dilip! 🙂
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🙂
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Something about a peaceful lotus in a golf course with people who would get frustrated, If the ball were to land in the pond 😀
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Ha ha this hazard is tough enough to make even the good golfer nervous 🙂 Yet the lotus remain serene and peaceful unmindful of the golf balls dropping into the pond.
Thanks Andy and have a lovely week-end.
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