Danuse Murty

Produced by the Buddhist Council of NSW

For Free Distribution Only

Dedication
To children

We have a brief window of opportunity to take action, to preserve humanity from imminent disaster and to assist the survival of the many diverse and beautiful forms of life on Earth. Future generations, and the other species that share the biosphere with us, have no voice to ask for our compassion, wisdom, and leadership. We must listen to their silence. We must be their voice, too, and act on their behalf. From A Buddhist Declaration on Climate Change[1]

Sacred Lotus
The Sacred Lotus has a scientific name Nelumbo nucifera and it belongs to a plant family Nelumbonaceae. It is known by a number of other names, including Indian Lotus, Bean of India, Chinese Waterlily, or simply Lotus. This plant is an aquatic perennial, native to Asia from modern Afghanistan to Vietnam, and to New Guinea and north Australia, and it was introduced to ancient Egypt from Persia late in the ancient Egyptean history. It has been held sacred by the native people for more than 5000 years and used widely by them as an ornamental and food plant. Today it is rare or extinct in the wild in Africa, but it is widely naturalized and commonly cultivated in water gardens around the world. It is the National Flower of India and Vietnam. [2, 3, 4]

Botany
The Nelumbo nucifera grows in shallow ponds, lagoons, marshes and flooded fields, with roots in the muddy soil and leaves floating on top of the water surface. The flowers are usually found on thick stems rising several centimeters above the water. The plant grows up to 6 m in height, depending on the depth of water, and spreads horizontally up to 3 meters. The leaves may be as large as 60 cm in diameter and the flowers can be up to 20 cm in diameter. Leaves repel water and hence are self-cleaning, and the plant has an ability to regulate temperature of its flowers within a narrow range, just like warm-blooded animals can.[3] There are a number of different varieties of the plant, with the flower colours varying from snow white to yellow, light pink and blue. The plant can be grown from seeds or rhizomes. The oldest seed that

has been germinated into a viable plant was from a 1,300-year-old lotus fruit, taken from a dry lake in northeastern China.

Human use
The flowers, seeds, young leaves and rhizomes are all edible. In Asia, the petals are sometimes used for food decorations, while the large leaves are used to wrap food. The roots are used as a vegetable, and rhizome is a common soup or stir-fry ingredient and is the part most commonly eaten. Petals, leaves, and rhizome can also all be eaten raw, but without being cooked there is a risk of parasites transmission. That is why it is recommended to cook them first before eating them. Chinese people have long known that Lotus roots are a very healthy food and have been using them to promote health for many centuries. They are rich in fiber, vitamin C, vitamin B and various minerals, while low in saturated fat. The stamens can be dried and made into a fragrant herbal tea or used to scent the tea leaves. Lotus seeds or nuts called Phool Mhukhana are used in Indian cooking. The seeds are quite versatile, and can be eaten raw or dried and popped like popcorn. They can also be boiled down until soft and made into a paste. Combined with sugar, lotus seed paste is one of the most common ingredients used in pastries such as mooncakes and rice flour pudding. Various parts of the sacred lotus are also used in traditional Asian herbal medicine and the distinctive dried seed heads, which resemble spouts of watering cans, are widely sold throughout the world for decorative purposes and for dried flower arranging.[2, 3]

Religious symbolism
From ancient times the lotus has been a divine symbol in Hindu tradition. It is often used as an example of divine beauty and its unfolding petals suggest the development of the soul. The Hindu deities are often depicted with lotus flowers as their seats, and the meditating yogis traditionally sit in the lotus posture (padmasana).

Based on the ancient Hindu tradition, a lotus flower is also among the earliest Buddhist symbols. It represents an enlightened being, Buddha or Bodhisattva, rising above the muddy waters of the world and the Buddha is often depicted sitting on a giant lotus blossom.[2, 4] According to one legend, Siddhartha Gotama was born with the ability to walk and everywhere he stepped, lotus flowers bloomed.
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According to another story, a few days after he attained the Supreme Enlightenment the Buddha contemplated on what to do next. At first he was very reluctant to teach the Dhamma, as most people are caught up in sense pleasures and dont want to learn the deep truth and practice. But then he discerned a few people who had only a little delusion and craving, and they reminded him of the lotuses that extend their stalks from the bottom of the pond up in the air, to receive sunshine. So out of compassion he decided to teach the Dhamma to those willing to listen and learn.[4, 5, 6]

Upon a heap of rubbish in the roadside ditch, blooms a lotus fragrant and pleasing. (Buddha, Dhp 58)[7]

The Buddha taught the Dhamma using words and also in a silent way, using flowers and other means. The first and most important way he taught the Dhamma was just by living the Middle Way himself. Without that all his other teachings would have been fruitless.[7, 8, 9]

Healing power of the lotus

Since the ancient times flowers, stalks, seeds, and other parts of the sacred lotus were known for their healing properites. They were used as herbal medicine to treat diarrhoea, fever, fungal and bacterial infections, and weak heart.[3] The Buddhist Tipitaka, the Vinaya or the Book of Discipline, includes the following short story in support of the healing power of the sacred lotus: Once Venerable Sariputta was suffering from fever and Venerable Moggallana offered to get him the medicine he required - the lotus stalks. He then went to a great lotus lake, and an elephant nearby saw him and asked if he could help him. Moggallna told him what he needed and the elephant instructed another elephant to get the lotus stalks. This second elephant then uprooted a trunkful of lotus stalks, washed the mud off them, tied them into a bundle and then gave them to Moggallna (Vin.I,214).[4, 10]

Its place in the natural ecosystems

Lotus species is an integral part of the tropical wetland ecosystems. It thrives in shallow ponds, lagoons, marshes, along the river banks and in river deltas. It is an umbrella species because many species of wildlife depend on it for survival. The whole web of species, ranging from small freshwater primary consumers or herbivores, to secondary and tertiary consumers, or omnivores and carnivores, are dependent on it for food, shelter and other life requisites. Health condition of the lotus is also a good indicator of the health of the whole associated community.[3, 11] Lotus roots, shoots and blossoms provide abundant food and shelter for small aquatic invertebrates that live among or on the lotus plants. These range from tiny zoolankton, to sponges, worms, hydras and water mites, to limpets, snails, water beetles, caterpillars and mosquito larvae, to crustaceans and other creatures. Its stems and leaves supply food and safe haven to a variety of frogs and herbivorous fish. Insect pollinators such as beetles, flies, bees and butterflies also find abundant food nectar and pollen in the lotus flowers. Omnivorous and carnivorous aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates, such as some insects, fish, frogs, turtles and snakes, in turn feed on the primary consumers. Freshwater crocodiles also live in these tropical wetland habitats and find abundant food and good places to raise their young. Waterbirds find among the lotuses plentiful supply of fish, frogs and invertebrates and use the lotus leaves for nesting, and the native people of south Asia and north Australia also have enjoyed the lotus fields bounty for centuries. The bottom dwelling decomposers such as worms, fungi and bacteria break up and feed on the lotus plant dead parts. By so recycling them, they help to create muddy soil and make the released minerals again available for the new lotus plants growth.
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Other aquatic plants, ranging from microscopic phytoplankton to water lilies, large reeds and rushes coexist with the lotus in these wetlands and also supply food to many animal species. By providing for them a variety of food and shelter, they prevent pest plagues and also help to maintain the whole wetland community resilience to environmental change. Hence while the lotus provides abundant services to the whole wetland community, its survival and continued life cycle is also dependent on it. However, due to the current climate change the Ganges Delta wetlands, Kakadu wetlands, and other tropical coastal wetlands may be severely damaged through enundation with sea water. The plant and animal communities of these places are adapted to the fresh water environment and cannot survive in saline conditions. In addition to this, water in many tropical wetlands is now polluted with toxic chemicals and many species are threatened with extinction. [12, 13, 14] Hence helping to alleviate the climate change and water pollution are acts of boundless kindness to thousands of species that depend on these wetland ecosystems for survival.

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Reflection on food
The following short reflection before meals is a helpful reminder of the significance of what we consume and to use it wisely.[15] In this food, I see clearly the presence of the entire Universe supporting my existence. I promise myself to use it wisely for the benefit of all beings.

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References
1. Ecological Buddhism, 2009. A Buddhist Declaration on Climate Change. www.ecobuddhism.org 2. 3. Wikipedia, 2011, Nelumbo nucifera. www.wikipedia.org Plant Cultures, 2011. Lotus. www.kew.org/plant-cultures/

4. Dhammika S Bhante, 2011. 1) Dictionary of Flora and Fauna in the Pali Tipitaka. Forthcoming. 2) Guide to Buddhism A to Z. www.buddhisma2z.com 5. Thanissaro Bhikkhu, 2004. Majjhima Nikaya: Ariyapariesana Sutta The Noble Search, MN 26. www.accesstoinsight.org 6. Nanamoli Bhikkhu and Bodhi Bhikkhu, 2005. The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha. Majjhima Nikaya: Ariyapariesana Sutta - The Noble Search, MN 26. www.bodhimonastery.net 7. Buddharakkhita Acharaya, 1985. The Dhammapada - The Buddhas Path of Wisdom. Buddhist Publication Society, Sri Lanka. www.bps.lk; www.buddhistcouncil.ogr/bodhitree 8. Vajira Sister and Story F, 1998. Digha Nikaya: Mahaparinibbana Sutta Last Days of the Buddha, DN 16. www.accesstoinsight.org 9. Hecker H, 1985. Maha Kassapa - Father of the Sangha. Wheel Publication No. 345. Buddhist Publication Society, Sri Lanka www.bps.lk; www.accesstoinsight.org 10. Murty D and Dhammika S Bhante, 2011. Crisis in the Forest. Buddhist Council of NSW. www.buddhistcouncil.org/bodhitree 11. Stiling P, 2002. Ecology - Theory and Applications. Ch 20. -Trophic Structure. Prentice Hall, NJ, USA. 12. Wikipedia, 2011. 1) Comb-Crested Jacana; 2) Ganges Delta; 3) Kakadu National Park. www.wikipedia.org 13. 14. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, 2011. www.ramsar.org Wetlands International, 2011. www.wetlands.org

15. Part 1: Hanh Thich Nhat, 1997. Present Moment Wonderful Moment Mindfulness Verses for Daily Living. Published by Full Circle, Delhi, India. Printed for Free Distribution by The Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation. Taipei, Taiwan. Part 2: Anonymous. 16

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