By: Chirya Risely
Source: The Daily Guardian https://epaper.thedailyguardian.com/view/2822/the-daily-guardian/15
Dated: August 9th, 2025

The lotus symbolizes resilience, thriving in adversity, transformation, beauty, new beginnings, inner calm and harmony, perseverance, purity, and detachment.

"Out of the mud of your fears, struggles, pain, and confusion, the lotus flower of your inner heart will spontaneously grow." - Anon

Rise above the impure muddy waters and grow into something more beautiful. Yet, at the same time, be fully grounded. Just as the muddy water sustains the lotus flower, in the same way the gritty realities of life help us to bloom and reach our potential. So, do not just look at the muddy water; appreciate the beautiful lotus that blooms totally unblemished and untouched by it.  

The journey of the lotus from muddy waters to a blossoming flower is a metaphor for the soul’s journey from ignorance to spiritual awakening.

The thoughts we place in our awareness eventually create our personal world and experience of life. All problems start in our awareness… and so do all solutions. "I am a soul. Peace is my nature". Peace is the inner nature of humankind. When you find it within yourself, you will find it everywhere.

Consciously choose the quality of your thoughts – accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, and clean up the waste. Ensure your thoughts are positive and your feelings towards others are filled with good wishes.

Problems are exacerbated by a mind that has weak and negative thoughts. Without spiritual power, we are unable to remove the problem at its root. It would be like trying to stop floodwaters with a box of tissues.

Tiredness comes from thinking about everything I have to do. Stop thinking; just do it!

The energy of our pure thoughts has the strength to heal the Earth. Just as renewable power sustains our planet, let the light of wisdom and unity sustain our world. When we uplift our consciousness, we uplift nature.

You become whatever you think about deeply. Take time to find that quiet and peaceful place inside and happiness will stay in your heart forever. Think only about spiritual love and happiness. Feel these values as part of your life, leave the mud of body consciousness and become a true, spiritual, lotus flower.

Chirya Risely is a Rajyoga meditation teacher
based at the Brahma Kumaris Peace Village Retreat Center, USA.