In Buddhism the lotus flower, representing purity of body,...

BEPPU, OITA/KYUSHU, JAPAN - 2007/05/25: In Buddhism the lotus flower, representing purity of body, speech, and mind, floating above the muddy waters of attachment and desire; represents the full blossoming of wholesome deeds in blissful liberation. The lotus in India symbolizes the union of the four elements; earth, air, fire, and water. The roots are in the earth, it grows in and by means of water, its leaves are nourished by air, and it blooms through the power of the sun's fire. The lotus is therefore the perfection of the fourfold order of the natural world. The growth of a new flower directly from the earth-bound original may be interpreted as a symbol of transcendence as found in Indian philosophy.. (Photo by John S Lander/LightRocket via Getty Images)