Lotus

.

Nelumbo nucifera (Lotus): photo by Shin-改 12 September 2004

The candle burning in the window of the dark house in the wood of the valley of the mind --

the epiphenomenal heaven, the signal within the sign --

always lost, yet again to be found

some time.

The boy Buddha rising up from lotus: Trần-Hồ dynasty, 14th-15th century; image by Jbarta, 28 December 2008 (National Museum of Vietnamese History, Hanoi)

Vishnu and Lakshmi on Shesha Naga: artist unknown, c. 1870; image by Aavindra, 11 November 2010 (Victoria & Albert Museum, London)

The Goddess Lakshmi: Raja Ravi Jarma (1848-1906), 1898; image by Praveenp 31 January 2011 (Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum, Lakshmi Vilas Palace, Gujarart)



Flower of Nelumbo nucifera, bean of India: photo by T. Voekler, 3 July 2008