Why Flowers Are the Ultimate Embodiment of Dharma

Every living thing on earth reflects the glory of creation. The delicate beauty of a flower is no exception, and some consider them the ultimate embodiment of the dharma. 

Like snowflakes, no two blooms are identical. Yet, all share similarities and a certain symmetry that calls to mind the creation of the universe into countless racing rays of light like so many petals. Let’s examine the connection between flowers and dharma in Hindu and Buddhist scriptures and how they symbolize the interrelatedness of everything in existence. 

What Is Dharma?

Dharma is easy to define but difficult to comprehend. The term refers to the universal law of everything that applies to all living things. It describes how things are as opposed to how perception clouds them. 

Dharma also refers to a way of life. It denotes the behaviours that one should participate in to align oneself with universal laws. It concerns itself with the right way of living, and acting in violation of the dharma creates negative karma that extends beyond death into the next life. 

What’s the Connection Between Flowers and Dharma? 

When Western minds conceptualize dharma, they often imagine it as a sort of harsh, judgmental force meant to punish the less-than-perfect. They ignore the other side — that walking the path of dharma results in peace, harmonious relations and everything working as it should without demanding effort. Dharma isn’t as concerned with perfection as it is with intention. 

The connection between flowers and dharma shows how beautiful life can be when you behave as the universe intended, with peacefulness and loving-kindness. They also represent nonduality — while there is no such thing as a “perfect rose,” each bloom is nevertheless perfect in its unique beauty. Flowers don’t concern themselves with how things “should” be, which frees their glory to shine.

Observing how flowers grow helps us let go of our obsession with perfection and appreciate life as it is, not as we want it to be. A garden can contain bugs and lopsided plants and still provide a tranquil, “perfect” meditation spot or photographic background.  

Flowers and Their Symbolism in Eastern Religions

While any flower can embody the dharma, certain blooms play symbolic roles in many Eastern religious texts. Here are seven you should know — and perhaps plant in your garden. 

1. Lotus

In both Hinduism and Buddhism, the lotus flower represents purity, spiritual awakening and faith. It’s also a symbol of interdependence. Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh uses it in his explanation of how this beautiful bloom cannot exist without the mud in which it grows. In addition to their beauty, lotus roots are edible like potatoes, and you can pop the seeds as a nutritious snack. 

2. Jasmine

Jasmine represents beauty and the feminine element. It’s not surprising that the female side is also often equated with the moon and nighttime, like the bloom of some species that only open after dark. Add a few petals to your evening bathwater to ease you into dreamland, or add them to your tea to encourage sleep. 

3. Plumeria

Plumeria, also called champa or nag champa, is a small tree with delicate whitish-yellow blooms. It’s often associated with religious rituals in Hindu temples. It’s symbolic of immortality as it has the remarkable ability to continue to produce blooms even after someone uproots it. In the West, it’s a popular ingredient in incense. 

4. Water Lily

Water lilies symbolize resurrection because they close each night, reopening in the morning. Like the lotus, they also represent interdependence, as they also grow in damp, muddy conditions. These blooms are important parts of the ecosystem, keeping algae in check and are the national flower of Bangladesh.

5. Sala

You’ll often see sala planted around Buddhist temples, as it’s believed that Siddhartha was born under such a tree. It’s also sacred to Hindus in India, where childless couples often worship the tree. It symbolizes impermanence, thanks to the fleeting nature of its blooms. 

6. Sandalwood

You might best know sandalwood as a component of perfume, and it’s the most common flower used in fragrant incense in China, Japan and Korea. It’s a small, tropical tree that is endangered in India. However, many varieties used commercially today come from Australian sandalwood, of which there is no shortage.  

7. Palash

Here’s another flower that grows on a deciduous tree in southeast Asia. Its orange flowers represent Agni, the god of fire and war. However, the white versions are important as offerings to the goddess Saraswati, who rules knowledge, abundance and wealth, making these a crucial part of many Hindu rituals. 

Flowers and Dharma 

Meditating on flowers and dharma can bring a deeper understanding of universal law and how things are as opposed to how faulty human perception would like them to be. Spend some time in your garden or a natural spot mentally exploring how each bloom is different — yet also utterly perfect and a reflection of creation.

Flowers and dharma play important symbolic roles in many Eastern religious practices. However, you need not be among the devout to recognize the lessons these blooms can impart.

_

Beth, the Managing Editor and content manager at Body+Mind, is well-respected in the mental health, nutrition and fitness spaces. In her spare time, Beth enjoys cooking and going for runs with her dog.