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The Lotus (Hasu-No-Hana) 



As I have stated before, this garden has a characteristic feature 

 of a Buddhist Temple garden, namely, the Lotus (Nelumho nuci- 

 fera). It is indeed a rare treat on this Western Hemisphere to 

 see the genuine Lotus flowers. In this garden they grow pro- 

 fusely, having spread from a small area under the Torii (Fig. 17) 

 until now they almost fall the lake (Fig. 18). In Japan, the culti- 

 vation of the Lotus flowers was originally confined to the Buddhist 

 Temple gardens, for it is regarded by them as a sacred flower. It 

 has, however, escaped from cultivation and grows extensively in 

 marshy places, where its rootstocks are gathered and used as food. 



I have often been asked by the admirers of oriental art why 

 so many phases of Buddhist art are associated with the Lotus 

 flower and why the Buddhist considers the flower sacred. The 

 Lotus flowers in remote time were transported into China, Corea, 

 and Japan from India. We call this flower by the single word 

 Lotus, but in ancient India it had three separate terms applied, 

 according to the stage in the life of the flower. When it was in 

 the bud it was called Kumar a, when in full bloom Pundarika, and 

 when the petals were falling from the developing seed pod it was 

 called Kaniara. 



The Lotus at the stage of Pundarika, or full bloom, discloses 

 the pod holding the seeds all ready for their renewing of life. 

 The root in the water is the past, full bloom is the present, and 

 the seed pod is the future. Of all flowers in the world, the Lotus 

 is the only blooming plant that clearly demonstrates the past, pres- 

 ent and future, all at one time. It thus symbolizes the immortal- 

 ity of the soul. It was for this reason that Sakamuni-Buddha 

 adapted the name of Lotus and applied to his most important 

 doctrine " The Covenant of Eight Years," preaching SaddJiarma- 

 Pundarika or " The Supreme Law of the Lotus Flower," which is 

 of great and central interest in Chinese and Japanese civilization. 

 Buddha often quoted in his scripture : — " Emanating from dirt 

 through the water and seeking the light of the sun — Immaculate 

 purity." 



The real lovers of Lotus flowers watch them at midnight from 

 the edge of the pond when the whole universe is solemn and quiet, 

 not only to inhale their fragrant odor, but also to hear the fascin- 



