Though the lotus plant starts out its growth, budding and flowering rooted deep in mud, muck, murky water and scum. In order to blossom, however, lotus plant its way up through the dirty water emerges out clean to bloom in the sun. in many cultural ans spiritual tradition of the East, the blossoming of the lotus flower symbolizes purity and detachment as paths of purposeful living.
For people who once realize that the world - the Samsara - is mired with murk of sufferings caused by desires and other evils, they can get inspired by lotus to pursue a spiritual journey. First detachment is practiced which is followed by life beyond body-senses-mind confine or a life of non-attachment
The prime text in Mahayana Buddhism talks about the 'Lotus Sutra' to sum up the teachings of Buddha. The frequently practiced mantra in Buddhism, "Om Mani Padme Hum" alludes to the lotus flower for invoking the 'Bodhisattva' of purity and compassion.
In Hinduism, the lotus flower symbolizes both divinity and purity and many gods and goddesses are shown seated atop lotus flowers. The spiritual message is that we should not get bogged down by the worldly and materialistic muck or evils and in detached way reach the highest spiritual stage of self-realization.
However, the lotus flower has a spiritual message irrespective on one's personal religion, faith or beliefs, its journey from a muddy seed to unaffected tightly closed bud to a glorious blossom inspires us that divinity can grow from suffering through detachment and non-attachment.