New Year’s Resolution: To laugh like the laughing Buddha!
New Year’s Resolution:
To laugh like the laughing Buddha!
I’m sure most of you have come across the funny little round Buddha with the big smiling face. This is the laughing Buddha. In folklore he is admired for his happiness, abundance, and wisdom of contentment. One belief popular in folklore maintains that rubbing his belly brings wealth, good luck, and prosperity.
All too often life can become very serious so for the New Year, my only Resolution is to Laugh like the Laughing Buddha and to try to radiate a happy loving energy no matter what is happening.
A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION:
TO LAUGH LIKE THE LAUGHING BUDDHA!
by Susan Jeffers, Ph.D.
As many of you already know, I am a lover of the Laughing Buddha. As it is, we all seem to take life much too seriously! Because of my love of the Laughing Buddha, I’ve placed a number of them around my house and office as a reminder to lighten up and enjoy it all!
I have a wooden Laughing Buddha on my night table next to a picture of my laughing husband (who is also a Laughing Buddha!), a gorgeous pink quartz Laughing Buddha on my desk, a magnificent amber Laughing Buddha on my husband’s desk, and a large stone Laughing Buddha sitting outside on our balcony…and many more! What they all seem to have in common is that they have all learned how to “enjoy the feast” and they certainly seem to have no worry about the future. They are always laughing!
My outdoor Laughing Buddha is the one that never ceases to amaze me. He is laughing when the rain pours down on him. He is laughing when the sun bakes down. He is laughing when we put a Santa hat on him at Christmas time. There is nothing that takes away his laughter. I know he would be laughing even if a tree fell on him and crushed him into a million pieces. I would be crying, but he would be laughing! Obviously, the Laughing Buddha has learned that, “It’s all happening perfectly!” The spirit that emanates from his smile is one of trust, appreciation and inner joy.
I believe the Laughing Buddha represents the inner intelligence that lives within us all. He represents the part of us that is in tune with the “Grand Design”. He doesn’t try to control the chaos. Instead, he listens and moves comfortably within the chaos as the world unfolds around him. He stays open to a constant flow of “joyous survival” versus “turbulent survival.” He makes us realize that we can’t get rid of the chaos, but we can get very creative with the turmoil. We are all the creators of how we want to see this world.
As a constant reminder for the New Year, I suggest you purchase a Laughing Buddha. They come in all sizes. A little one to put on your desk or next to your bed…or both…would be a good start. Understand that the Laughing Buddha does not have to be seen as a religious symbol. To me, the Laughing Buddha represents an inspiring philosophy…a way of seeing the world and becoming more enlightened about life. There are Jews, Catholics, Protestants, Atheists and others who embrace the symbolism of the Laughing Buddha as a way of improving one’s life. So no matter what your religious beliefs, the Laughing Buddha can bring you great wisdom and peace of mind.
Once you acquire your Laughing Buddha, make sure you look at his joyous presence every time something is troubling you and ask yourself what your Laughing Buddha would tell you. I know you will find answers that will lift you out of your upset and elevate you to a more cosmic space. That’s what the Laughing Buddha does for me. Any time I am driving myself crazy trying to control everything around me, I look at my Laughing Buddha and laugh right along with him. I let go and lighten up. The Laughing Buddha reminds me that peace and joy lie within, not “out there” somewhere. And we all need reminders!