Photo Reflection Inspired by the Dhammapada Verses 58-59 (Garahadinna Vatthu)
Pali Verses
Yathā saṅkāradhānasmiṁ, ujjhitasmiṁ mahāpathe,
padumaṁ tattha jāyetha, sucigandhaṁ manoramaṁ.
Evaṁ saṅkārabhūtesu, andhabhūte puthujjane,
atirocati paññāya, sammāsambuddhasāvako.
Translation
Just as a beautiful and fragrant lotus may bloom amidst a heap of rubbish discarded by the roadside,
Even so, among the blind and deluded worldlings,
Shines the disciple of the Fully Enlightened One,
Illuminated by wisdom.
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Reflection
In the images above, we see the graceful bloom of a lotus — a flower that emerges from muddy waters yet remains pure and radiant — and a serene Buddhist monk holding a lotus bud, symbolizing inner purity and spiritual awakening. These powerful visuals beautifully echo the timeless wisdom expressed in the Dhammapada.
The Buddha likens the disciple who develops wisdom and virtue to a lotus flower rising from a heap of refuse. In a world full of ignorance, attachments, and delusions (resembling a rubbish heap), it is still possible for one to cultivate insight, compassion, and inner beauty. Such a person, though born into ordinary conditions, becomes extraordinary through their noble practice and understanding.
The lotus does not wait for the water to become clean; it grows and blooms in the midst of it. Likewise, the Dhamma practitioner does not wait for perfect conditions but transforms within the imperfections of the world — radiating the sweet fragrance of wisdom and compassion.
Let us be reminded that no matter our surroundings or past, we all have the potential to rise above and blossom like the lotus, guided by the teachings of the Buddha.
