Why is the lotus flower so sacred in Buddhism?

The Lotus: Your Unstained Potential\n\nMany of us feel that we aren't spiritual enough or that our lives are too chaotic, messy, and complicated for practice. This feeling of unworthiness is exactly what the lotus flower is meant to heal.\n\n### Out of the Mud\nThe lotus flower begins its life deep in the mud at the bottom of a pond. It must push its way through the dark, murky water to reach the surface. Yet, when it blooms in the sunlight, not a speck of mud clings to its petals.\n\nYour mind is the same. The "mud" of daily stress, family conflicts, and personal struggles is not an obstacle to your growth—it is the very soil from which you awaken. Your true nature is already pure and untouched by the dirt of the world.