July 20 (Lunar calendar: June 3), 2023 Thursday | Dawnxisoul393art

 

《The Magic Lotus》, painted by dawnxisoul393

First Part: The Soul of the Lotus

Living in Hong Kong, a maritime subtropical monsoon climate region with four distinct seasons, beautiful lotus flowers can be seen everywhere, and we have grown up with a love for lotus flowers. If everything in the world has a soul, then the beauty of the blue of the sky and the sea, the beauty of the green of the mountains and the water, the lotus is their soul. If there is no lotus soul, if there is no lotus spirit, if there is no lotus persistence and resilience, if there is no lotus "out of the mud, but not dyed" high moral character, today, presented in front of us, that will be a world full of dirt and stink everywhere. Thanks to the perseverance of the lotus-like soul, there is a beautiful scenery of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and a charming world of the river and the sea in a thousand years. 

Illustrated by dawnxisoul393

The lotus' delicate beauty is certainly lovely, but that is only a superficial phenomenon, the real connotation of the lotus lies in the inside, in its inner soul. The lotus grows in the sludge and blooms on the surface of the water, and it has the deeper meaning of coming out of the sludge but not being dyed. The lotus is an aquatic plant, water is the source of life, as long as there is the right water and soil, it will grow, blossom, and has seeds. Where there is water, there are lotus flowers, and where there are lotus flowers, there are lotus seeds. In the cycle of lotus life, there is always a spiritual thing flowing like water. Every time we see a lotus flower, it always gives us a kind of respectful admiration and impulse. The lotus is worthy of being a rare and wondrous flower in the plant world. 

Illustrated by dawnxisoul393

Before the emergence of mankind, in that ancient time when it was still barbaric, the lotus came in the vast and endless swamp. The lotus seeds are so vital that scientists have been reported to have produced flowers in the laboratory from lotus seeds that have been dormant underground for thousands of years. Just as the lotus blooms to its fullest, the seeds grow at the same time, maturing as the lotus fades. At this time, the lotus seeds are simple and unpretentious, a modest gentleman's demeanor, clinging to the black and hard shell, protecting the light green lotus bud inside. In the long summer season when the trees are thickly shaded, it is also the time when the lotus flower blooms most abundantly. The lotus gives people much deeper thoughts than its meaning as a plant itself, and people take it as a symbol of elegance and purity. 

Illustrated by dawnxisoul393

In the pond, the quiet surface of the water is covered with emerald lotus leaves, like a dense emerald umbrella, covering the surface of the water tightly. The sea breeze sends a gust of lotus fragrance, and the turquoise lotus leaves were rolling with fluorescent dewdrops, like layers of green waves, like pieces of emerald jade. The buds burst out of the sludge, the budding buds, some standing proudly on their stalks, some hidden under the leaves, all of them carefully receiving the feeding of the roots and the nurturing of the leaves. When the flowers bloom, a single lotus flower stands out from the bright green leaves. The fragrant lotus flowers are like shy maidens, blushing and smiling, and the lotus leaves are infinitely blue, and the lotus flowers are red. When the flowers fade, they leave behind not only beautiful memories in people's minds but also lotus seeds that sway gently in the wind. 

The lotus is not as graceful as the peony, or the plum blossom, however, she silently emits fragrance and sends coolness to the world in the heat. The lotus does not leave its beauty in the spring when the light of spring is interesting, the birds are singing, and the flowers are growing, but chooses the summer as its booming season. 

In the sun, they are charming, in the wind, they are dancing, and in the rain, their skin is smooth and moist. The lotus dedicates its beautiful flowers to the summer, but it has no regrets, that is because the lotus is not weak, but brave. The brave ones certainly do not think of summer as a cage, no wonder the lotus can bloom fragrant flowers, greeting the upcoming harvest of golden autumn. Whenever we finish our day's work in summer, the thing we want to do most is to go to the quiet lotus pond to enjoy the beautiful lotus flowers, hoping to use their coolness to eliminate our anxiety in the summer heat. Whenever we come to the lotus pond, looking at a pool of blue water, enjoying a pool of lotus flowers, and immersing ourselves in a pool of seclusion, there is a burst of lotus fragrance floating towards our heart, soothing our tired hearts. The lotus is also a kind of people-friendly plant, they do not compete with the grains for land, they do not compete with the grasses for the favor, they can settle down in any pond and swamp, ditch, or river. 

Illustrated by dawnxisoul393

In the spring, they give up the wonderful flowering period to other plants. In the summer, they make every effort to open beautiful and colorful flowers for the earth, bringing people a refreshing. In the fall, they hold the lotus seeds, which carry their hopes for a new life, high above their heads and in the sky, as the lotus seeds ripen, they return to the pool, following the waves to new waters to grow and develop. In winter, they bury their roots deep in the bottom of the pond and wait for the next year's old roots to sprout a new green. In the early days of Hong Kong, it was a popular custom that when a boy in the family married, on the day of the wedding, the mother-in-law would always give her daughter-in-law a bowl of lotus seed soup with a handful of lotus seeds, a few lotus petals and a few pieces of lotus root in order to pray for her daughter-in-law to have a baby early, which actually meant that the powerful life force of the lotus flower was incorporated into the life of the new generation. 

Illustrated by dawnxisoul393

In the life of the lotus, the lush green of the leaves is its true color, the redness of the flowers is its frankness, the stubbornness of the stems is its will, the toughness of the roots is its commitment, and the dedication to the benefit of others is its character. The lotus grows in the sludge, but blooms on the water. In high summer, the green stem of lotus stands on the mirror-like water with its noble and upright posture, and the beautiful lotus flowers protrude from the green leaves. We love lotus flowers, we love their beautiful maiden-like posture, however, we love them even more for their high-minded souls that are undefiled by the mud. Laozi, the originator of Taoism, believed in the Tao Te Ching that the laws of man, heaven, earth, human beings, and even the entire universe are all connected and that people should learn about life and discover its true meaning from nature. The lotus flower, like other plants and flowers, can give enlightenment and help people understand many truths of life. 

People with high realms can understand three symbolic meanings of the lotus flower, which go far beyond something as simple as "spotlessness". The first realm - cleanliness, not forgetting the original intention, should be like the lotus flower "out of the mud and not dyed", the gentleman is open and honest, adhering to the quality of chastity, purity, innocence, and cleanliness. The second realm - tolerance and absorption, the sea knows how to tolerate and absorb a hundred rivers, and finally to have a large capacity, the lotus is nourished by the sludge, in order to grow better and better. Similarly, people should know how to tolerate everything, and draw nutrients from the "fertile soil" of setbacks and tribulations to strengthen their bones and grow their minds and abilities. Humility and prudence, tolerance of all things, yin and yang peace, in order to become stronger and stronger. The third realm - before the flowers bloom before the moon is full - is the most beautiful moment to seek flowers and wait for the moon. This is the unchanging truth of nature. The higher the realm, the more people can understand the third realm of the lotus. 

Illustrated by dawnxisoul393

When we are young, especially in college, sometimes we treat people too strongly, just like a lotus flower, high and clean. But after we reach middle age, we should learn to be tolerant, content, and not arrogant. We already know that if we understand these three realms of the lotus flower, we will understand life better.

Second Part: Lotus and Sakyamuni Buddha 

Lotus and Buddhism are very close, the lotus is the symbol of Buddha, the lotus in Buddhism means beautiful, holy. The scriptures say that Siddhartha's mother had large, beautiful, clear eyes like lotus flowers. When Prince Siddhartha（Sakyamuni Buddha）was born, there were eight kinds of auspicious appearances in the imperial palace, one of which was a white lotus flower as big as a wheel growing in the pond. The white lotus flower grew when the birth of Prince Siddhartha on earth, Prince Siddhartha was born at the beginning of the tongue and flashed a thousand golden lights, each golden light and turned into a thousand leaves of white lotus flower, In the middle of each lotus flower sits a small Bodhisattva with his legs crossed and the feet of his feet facing upward. The little prince opened his eyes and stood up happily, unaided, and took seven steps. 

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Every step the little prince took, a lotus appeared on the ground, a time, the earth shook, the fragrant wind scattered, the rain, the fairy music played, the gods praise. The Western blissful world is compared to the pure and undefiled lotus realm. According to Buddhism: "the flower blossoms to see the Buddha-nature", the flower means the lotus flower, the flower blossoms means that the practitioner reaches a certain state of wisdom, metaphorically speaking, when a person has the state of mind of the lotus, he will show the Buddha-nature, the lotus flower, representing a state of wisdom. The Buddhist scriptures say that the lotus on earth has at most tens of petals, the lotus in heaven has at most hundreds of petals, but the lotus in the Pure Land has more than a thousand petals. 

Illustrated by dawnxisoul393

When we walk into a monastery, we all see many statues of Buddha and Bodhisattva, as well as the scenery of the monastery, the Dharma objects, almost all of which are related to the lotus. The symbolic meaning of the lotus is that Buddhism can bring people a cool and calm state of mind on troubled earth. All sentient beings in the three realms, whether born in the womb or in the egg, are born from lust, but the saints in the Pure Land are born from the lotus. The lotus flower indicates pure virtue and cool wisdom and represents the pure Dharma body. In ancient India, there has been a culture of loving the lotus since ancient times. In India, the lotus was regarded as a symbol of gods and the national flower of India, therefore, after the birth of Buddhism, in order to facilitate the public to accept the teachings, the lotus was also used as a metaphor for Buddha, which eventually spread widely. 

Illustrated by dawnxisoul393

In Buddhism, there are countless words that use lotus as a metaphor, the Buddha's seat is called "lotus seat" or "lotus platform", Buddhist scriptures call the Buddha's kingdom "lotus world", the Buddhist disciples call each other "lotus friends", call temples "lotus houses", call monks' robes "lotus clothes". Buddhist scriptures say that using lotus seeds as rosary beads is better than using wooden beads, the same chanting once, the blessings can be obtained a thousand times more. The lotus is the Buddha, the Buddha is the lotus, the two have been inseparable. The lotus, a perennial aquatic plant, has won the supreme worship of Buddhism for its "undefiled" nature and its ability to bloom against the scorching summer sun. Buddhism considers the "Six Dusts", as the world is full of "Six Dusts", so the human world is called "Six Dusts World". Because of the pollution of the "Six Dusts", the human world is full of desires and competition, making it difficult for people to have inner peace and clean behavior. 

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In order to enter the Buddha's kingdom, one must stay away from the earthly world, enter the pure and empty gate, and concentrate on Buddhist practice to eliminate pollution. The special property of the lotus flower to be free from pollution is consistent with the desire of Buddhists in the human world to keep themselves free from the pollution of the earthly world and to remain clean in order to enter the Pure Land of Buddha. In India, in the summer, when the sun burns like fire, it is the season when lotus flowers are in full bloom. In the summer night or early morning, when people walk around the ponds and lakes where lotus flowers are in full bloom, the breeze blows and the fragrance of lotus flowers emanates from the dense lotus leaves with the wind, making people's body and mood as cool as if they have been washed by water. In the Buddhist scriptures of India, the classification of the lotus is also associated with Buddhism, which is very different from today's scientific classification, and the meaning of lotus in Buddhism is wide including different genera of water lilies and so on. 

Illustrated by dawnxisoul393

In terms of the color of the lotus, there are five colors in the scriptures, including white, blue, red, purple, and yellow, which are called the "five kinds of heavenly flowers. Among them, white and green are the most popular. The petals of white and blue lotus flowers are distinctly blue and white, resembling the wise eyes of Buddha. The Lotus Temple in New Delhi is located in the middle of a lawn. From a distance, the Lotus Temple looks like a white lotus flower in full bloom, standing on this lawn, a piece of pure land, revealing everywhere the spiritual temperament of "out of the mud but not stained". Lotus Temple was completed in the 1980s, the whole building consists of three layers of petals, each layer of nine pieces, the reason for the adoption of the shape of the lotus has a lot to do with the history of India, the lotus is not only a Buddhist deity but also the national flower of the Indians. 

Illustrated by dawnxisoul393

Under the lotus flower, there are also nine clear water pools designed in a chain, and the base of the lotus flower is placed in these pools. It is easy to see through the numbers, the 9-sided building, the 9 petals on each floor, the 9 clear water pools ... The number "9" has the meaning of supremacy in Buddhism. The design of the building also reflects the harmony and unity between architecture and nature. After walking in, looking up to the top, the huge lotus flower comes into view, echoing with the outside buildings. This Lotus Temple architecture is simple without losing connotation, atmospheric without losing elegance, open-heartedly embracing the world, with its unique charm, fully embodies the religious culture of India. In the supporting institutions of Lotus Temple, such as in the orphanage, hospital, library, school is the busy figures of devotees caring for the helpless people. 

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In the solemn and serene Lotus Temple, devout volunteers work diligently. In this complicated world, one lotus flower, one world, great love, watchfulness, and maintaining a sense of reverence for nature. In India, a land of many sects, beautiful lotus flowers bloom in harmony, and people stay away from sectarian strife under the shelter of the holy lotus flowers to maintain a pure land for the soul. One step, one lotus, in the silence and coolness of the holy land, what a kind of extraordinary and solemn! It has been more than 2,500 years since Sakyamuni Buddha came into existence, and today he still uses his compassionate wish to enlighten all beings. We feel that devout faith and genuine emotion, and feel the greatness and compassion of the Buddha!

Third Part: The Value of the Lotus 

The lotus is also known as the "gentleman of flowers" because of its special nature of "emerging from the mud". People often use the lotus as a metaphor to praise those who refuse to be out of step with the world and have noble virtues. Lotus is a famous ornamental plant with a refreshing fragrance that is pleasing to the eye. Since ancient times, the lotus has been a valuable aquatic flower in court gardens or private gardens. It is also widely used in modern landscape gardens and in ordinary homes where it can be arranged on balconies or inserted into vases to enjoy and beautify the living environment. Lotus can be divided into three types of viewing, lotus water feature viewing, lotus bonsai viewing, and lotus flower arrangement viewing. Lotus water features mainly refer to dedicated lotus gardens or lotus pond water features in landscapes. These lotus water features are mainly in the open air and are formed according to the needs of the environment and the unique design of the designer.

Illustrated by dawnxisoul393

Potted ornamental lotus is mainly a way to raise lotus flowers at home, but it is also often used in some gardens. Keeping lotus flowers in small pots, tanks or any container with water and stones makes the whole potted plant look extraordinarily elegant and is a great beauty point for lotus viewing. The ornamental arrangement of lotus flowers originated mainly from Buddhism, but over time, the arrangement of lotus flowers developed into unique art. Lotus flowers, lotus leaves, as well as lotus roots, lotus beards, etc., can all be used in flower arrangements. In the 11th century BC, lotus flowers began to move from the wild state of lakeside marshes into field ponds. At that time, the wild lotus was already used as an edible vegetable and became one of the early vegetables consumed by our ancestors. The whole body of the lotus flower was consumed, especially the lotus seeds, which have been considered a precious food by our ancestors since ancient times and are still highly valued for tonic and nutrition.

Illustrated by dawnxisoul393

Lotus seeds can be cooked with sugar to make sweet lotus seeds or lotus seed soup, and can also be added to cakes and pastries. Lotus root is an excellent vegetable and preserves, containing protein, starch, and vitamin C. Sweet, crunchy and juicy, it can be eaten raw as a fruit or used in soups and stir-fries. Lotus leaves can be used as a substitute for tea, and fresh or dried lotus leaves can be used to steam lotus rice, which has the special flavor of lotus leaves. Other familiar foods include lotus seed congee, lotus leaf congee, lotus seed powder, lotus seed soup with fungus, sliced lotus root meat, and steamed meat with lotus leaves. In particular, steamed meat with lotus leaves is a highly reputable dish made from fresh lotus leaves wrapped in fried rice noodles and seasoned meat. Lotus root is a low-fat food with high nutritional value and can be eaten raw, cold, in desserts, steamed, stewed, stir-fried, braised, fried, and made into lotus root powder.

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The first section at the top of the lotus root, called the lotus head, has the best flavor, high vitamin content, and low fiber content, making it suitable for raw consumption. Eating lotus root raw has a clearing and detoxifying effect and is especially suitable for people with dry heat or acne. Lotus root tastes great when used in both stews and soups. Lotus root is rich in iron, which is beneficial for people who are weak and anemic. Also, lotus root is rich in vitamin C and crude fiber, which can help digestion and prevent constipation, as well as provide the body with carbohydrates and trace elements needed to prevent arteriosclerosis and improve blood circulation.

Lotus root can strengthen the spleen and stomach. Eating more lotus roots during childbirth can clear the accumulated blood in the abdomen and promote the secretion of breast milk. It is also a brain tonic and blood tonic. Lotus seeds can be used to make thin rice, can be eaten raw, and can be used as a flavoring for desserts. The lotus flower has a high food value and all its parts can be used for food except lotus seeds and lotus roots. Lotus roots are mainly used as vegetables and preserves, while lotus leaves and lotus flowers can be added to cooking and eaten as a side dish. Lotus leaves can also be used to make a refreshing tea. Lotus flowers can be eaten in many different ways. Drying lotus, lotus root, and lotus seeds in a cool place grinding them together into a powder, and boiling them in water can help to nourish the skin and prolong life.

Illustrated by dawnxisoul393

Lotus has a long history of being used as a health product and is a rare treasure in the health treasury. The whole body of lotus, including lotus, lotus seeds, lotus heart, lotus puff, lotus root, lotus beard, lotus room, lotus stem, lotus coat, etc., all have the value of health strengthening effects：

Lotus flower petals - Lotus is warm and bitter in nature and can invigorate the blood and resolve blood stasis. It has the effect of removing dampness and heat, detoxifying fever, invigorating blood, and stopping bleeding, and is commonly used for heat stroke and hemoptysis. It can be used externally to improve rheumatism and poisonous sores and scabies. To use, take lotus flowers rub them together, and apply to red and swollen areas, and in the same way, it can be used to improve the pain of bruises and injuries.

Lotus seed - It has the effect of nourishing the heart and calming the mind and is often used to improve spleen deficiency and diarrhea, kidney deficiency, spermatorrhea, gynecological disorders, to prevent premature birth, miscarriage, and lumbago in pregnant women, as well as to improve palpitations and insomnia caused by heart and kidney disorders.

Illustrated by dawnxisoul393

Lotus seed core - Lotus seed core is the central green germ of lotus seed, bitter in taste, with medicinal effects of clearing heat, fixing essence, and calming the mind, used to improve irritability and confusion caused by high fever, hypertension, palpitations, insomnia, moistening the throat and mouth ulcers.

Lotus leaf - With the effect of relieving summer heat, strengthening the spleen, dispersing blood stasis and stopping bleeding, preventing and improving summer heat and thirst, headache and dizziness, edema, bloating with little food, diarrhea and dysentery, gynecological diseases, prolapse caused by hemorrhoids, various bleeding disorders, uterine bleeding, postpartum dew, and blood stasis, diuretic and laxative, weight loss and lowering blood lipids.

Lotus root - Astringent in taste, stops bleeding and resolves stasis, vomiting, hemoptysis and other symptoms, recurrent nosebleeds, intestinal flora imbalance, lotus root juice with skin can be used to improve severe cough.

Illustrated by dawnxisoul393

Lotus beard - Nourishing the kidney and aphrodisiac, stopping bleeding, relieving summer heat, inducing thirst, stopping bleeding, seminal emission, excessive leucorrhea in women, aiding labor.

Lotus House (lotus flower receptacle after opening, inverted conical shape, with many small holes, each hole is separated like a room, hence the name) - Mainly has the effect of dispelling cold and dampness, stopping bleeding, activating blood circulation, and removing blood stasis, strengthening the spleen and appetite, clearing heat and detoxifying, improving various physical discomforts such as excessive menstruation and leucorrhea in women, treating pain in the small abdomen, blood stasis, rectal distension, dysentery, weakness of the spleen and stomach, etc. In addition to this, it can also improve insomnia and dreaminess, memory loss, palpitations, etc.

Illustrated by dawnxisoul393

Lotus seeds (leaves and flower stems of lotus) - Clears heat and fire, diuretic and laxative, and calms the stomach and fetus. Dizziness, chest tightness, chronic enteritis, diarrhea, dysentery, intestinal bleeding, inflammation of the uterus in women, seminal emission in men, excessive nocturnal urination in pregnant women, vomiting during pregnancy, and fetal movement caused by summer stifling heat.

Lotus coat (skin of lotus seeds) - Tonifies the spleen, benefits yin, and has the effect of helping to stop vomiting of blood.

The discovery and cultivation of ancient lotus seeds have been a great miracle for mankind in recent centuries. The discovery and cultivation of ancient lotus seeds in the last century have been a great miracle for mankind, and in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, researchers unearthed a pebble-hard, charred shell of ancient lotus seeds in Pulandian, Dalian, China, which caused a sensation in the botanical world. Scientists from China, Japan, the United States, Russia, and other countries studied the ancient lotus seeds. For more than 100 years since then, local farmers have often found ancient lotus seeds in the ground. Since these ancient lotus seeds were found near Pulandian, they became known as "Pulandian ancient lotus". Back in 1907, the Tokyo Botanical Garden in Japan first conducted biological experiments on ancient lotus seeds, but without success. After that, Japanese scholars and paleobotanists collected a batch of ancient lotus seeds in the peat layer in the area of Pulandian in 1923. 

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In that year, some ancient lotus seeds germinated in the laboratory and were transferred to a pond in Dalian North Park and grew well. Unfortunately, these resurrected ancient lotus seeds soon disappeared again during the subsequent war. 1952, researchers collected 500 ancient lotus seeds in Pulandian. After that, the researchers began to cultivate the ancient lotus seeds. At first, they soaked the ancient lotus seeds for 20 months, but they failed to germinate. Later, the researchers drilled a small hole in the shell of the ancient lotus seeds, shortened the ends of the seeds by 1 or 2 mm with a file, then soaked them in water at 25-30°C for cultivation, and planted them in pots. After a month or so, they blossomed, two with white flowers, two with pink flowers, and one with fuchsia flowers, the petals of which were almost indistinguishable from those of modern lotus flowers, and after the petals withered, they all produced rosettes containing lotus seeds, allowing people to see what lotus flowers looked like more than 1,000 years ago. 

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The news of the lotus was published and caused a lot of excitement. The news caused a sensation in the whole society as soon as it was published, and in 1965, after being carefully cultivated by Japanese researchers, the offspring of the ancient lotus of Pulandian blossomed in a temple in Japan, and then gradually sprouted, spread its leaves and blossomed all over Japan. Unfortunately, China's own original cultivated varieties of ancient lotus in the 1950s did not survive for various reasons. After 1979, the descendants of the "Pulandian ancient lotus" were successfully cultivated throughout China, with medium-sized, pale pink, heavy-petaled flowers. In the following nearly 20 years, scientists have cultivated a series of excellent new lotus varieties, which have greatly enriched the variety of lotus resources. 

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The "Pulandian Ancient Lotus" is a temperate lotus with a large plant shape, few petals, pink color, typical wild lotus traits, and not high ornamental value, but as a germplasm resource, it is the original material valued by breeders. Later, the "ancient lotus of Pulandian" was given to botanical gardens in many countries for trial planting and took root in foreign countries. In fact, the ancient lotus is edible, immortal, and even "resurrected" for thousands of years, which is recorded in many ancient books and happens in reality. There are many local records where ancient lotus seeds have been unearthed. The lotus is the most distinctive, largest cultivated area and the richest variety of aquatic cash crop in Asia, with a long history of cultivation. Many Asian regions regard the lotus as a symbol of nobility and beauty. The lotus connection between countries goes back a long way. 

The Magic Lotus （Part 3: Surreal Cultural Connotations of Ancient Lotus Seeds）

More than 1,200 years ago, a monk who crossed from China to Japan east to reach Nara planted the ancient lotus seeds he brought with him in a temple in Nara. On the other hand, after years of research, Japanese researchers believe that the seeds of the ancient lotus may be found along the river in the city of Chiba, Japan. For this purpose, they used a large amount of manpower to excavate. In late March and early April 1950, Japanese researchers excavated the remains of an ancient ship thought to have come from China 2,000 years ago and three ancient lotus seeds on the banks of the Chiba River, and in July 1952, after cultivation, one of the three ancient lotus seeds blossomed, with pink flowers and large petals. In 1954, the ancient lotus seeds of Chiba City had a lifespan of more than 2,000 years, as determined by American scientists, and in 1954, Chiba City designated the ancient lotus as a natural monument. 

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In 1951, American scientists measured Pulandian ancient lotus seeds were dated to about 1041. in November 1997, a scientific research institute in the United States used modern technology to determine that 1 grain of Pulandian ancient lotus seeds came from about 1300 years ago and that the seed coat and the endosperm and endosperm inside were normal and could germinate and bloom again after treatment and planting. In 2013, the Millennium Lotus Garden in Pulandian provided five ancient lotus seeds unearthed in Pulandian in the 1950s for testing by Peking University, and in June 2014, the test report showed that the oldest one dated back to 1950 years ago, and the nearest one was 1670 years ago. In addition, some experts previously believed that the ancient lotus seeds in Pulandian may have existed 5,000 years ago. 

Why are the seeds of plants in general short-lived, while lotus seeds are so long-lived? After cultivation, these "old life spans" that have been sleeping underground for hundreds or thousands of years can actually be "resurrected", they germinate, grow, flower, bear fruit, and even grow into a wild lotus pond. Scientists believe that the amazing vitality of ancient lotus seeds is mainly due to the special substances it contains its own special structure and the special environment in which it is buried. To put it simply, the ancient lotus seeds have a hard shell on the outside, similar to the "hermetic chamber" of a spacecraft, which not only completely prevents water and air from seeping in and out, but also creates a small air chamber with 0.2 cubic millimeters of air to sustain the life of the ancient lotus seeds. In addition, they are buried in a peat layer and are in dry, cold, and airtight conditions for a long time, so they can maintain their vitality for a thousand years. 

Illustrated by dawnxisoul393

When lotus seeds sprouted, spread their leaves, and blossomed hundreds or a thousand years ago, they not only demonstrated the powerful vitality of lotus seeds and the magic of nature but also had a high scientific value, which was important for studying biological dormancy, extending the life span of plant seeds, studying the origin and continuation of species, bionomics, as well as ancient geology and climate. What is the story behind the "resurrection" of ancient lotus seeds? When Daniel returned to Asia from Cambridge, UK, to do research for his Doctoral thesis, he visited the ancient lotus garden in Pulandian, which, according to Daniel's memory, covered a large area of more than 400 acres (nearly 200 acres of water). 

Illustrated by dawnxisoul393

It was the season when lotus flowers were in full bloom, and Daniel recalls that when he arrived at the Pulandian Ancient Lotus Garden that afternoon, it was still raining lightly, and viewing the lotus flowers in the rain made a particularly deep impression on him that he will never forget.

Original by dawnxisoul393, 

(One of our spiritual healing thoughts) 

The Magic Lotus （Part1：The Soul of the Lotus）(one of our spiritual healing thoughts) Dawnxisoul393

The Magic Lotus （Part 2 ：Lotus and Sakyamuni Buddha）

The Magic Lotus （Part 3 : The Value of the Lotus）

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