24: See Section VIII, Secret Doctrine, Volume I.
The Lotus is symbolical of both the Macrocosm and of the Microcosm.
a. The seeds of the Lotus contain in miniature the perfect plant.
b. It is the product of fire and matter.
c. It has its roots in the mud, it grows up through the water, it is fostered by the warmth of the sun, it blossoms in the air.
MACROCOSM
The mud................The objective physical solar system.
Water....................The emotional or astral nature.
Flower on water....Fruition of the spiritual.
Method.................Cosmic fire or intelligence.
MICROCOSM
The mud................The physical body.
Water....................Emotional or astral nature.
Flower on water....Fruition of the buddhic or spiritual.
Method.................Fire of mind.
"The significance of the tradition that Brahma is born from or in the lotus, is the same.  The lotus symbolises a world-system, and Brahma dwells therein representing action; he is therefore called the Kamal-asana, the Lotus-seated.  The lotus, again, is said to arise from or in the navel of Vishnu, because the navel of Vishnu or all-knowledge is necessary desire, the primal form of which, as embodied in the Veda-text, is:  May I be born forth (as multitudinous progeny).  From such central and essential desire, the will to live, arises the whole of becoming, all the operations, all the whirls and whorls, of change and manifestation, which make up life.  In such becoming dwells Brahma, and from him and by him, i.e., by incessant activity, arises and manifests the organised world, the trib huvanam, the triple world.  Because first manifested, therefore is Brahma named the first of the gods; by action is manifestation, and he is the actor; and because actor, therefore is he also sometimes called the preserver or protector of the world; for he who makes a thing desires also the maintenance and preservation of his handiwork, and, moreover, by the making of the thing supplies the basis and opportunity for the operation of preservation, which, in strictness, of course, belong to Vishnu."—Pranava-Vada, pp. 84, 311.