The lotus flower is a symbol of perfection. As the enlightened man passes undisturbed through life, according to Buddhism, the same happens to the lotus, that grows pure over the muddy water it blooms out of. Like the rose, the lotus too has different meanings according to its colour.
Thomas requested an Aztec-styled lotus flower.
We could read this design like this: perfection is reached by overpassing individual limits by the union with the whole.