At every shop, restaurant, commercial establishments, offices, even at homes, one statue you would probably see would be that of ‘Laughing Buddha’.
‘Laughing Buddha’ comes in a whole lot of shapes, sizes, designs, and varieties, and for the manufacturers and traders of it, it’s a hugely profitable business. But the question arises that ‘Laughing Buddha’ is in demand because it is cute to look at, or there is some different belief behind it?
Well, it turns out that people perceive and strongly believe that ‘Laughing Buddha’ is a symbol of money and prosperity. The bag that he carries on his bag is actually a bag full of money and goodies, and keeping an idol/statue of ‘Laughing Buddha’ would bring an abundance of money, finances, and prosperity.
Some even believe that rubbing the big fat round tummy of ‘Laughing Buddha’ would further enhance the inflow of money, finances, and prosperity.
So, there is an umpteen number of believes that have evolved and revolve around our cute looking ‘Laughing Buddha’.
However, have you for once… thought of the exact reason… the real story… behind our ‘Laughing Buddha’?
Let’s take a trip down memory lane.
This goes back to some 1000 years when some powerful ‘Zen Monks’ used to walk this Earth.
So, generally, the ‘Zen Monks’ were perceived as righteous people with proper discipline. They would behave, walk and act in a manner which was defined and guided by strict guidelines.
And amongst these strict followers of rules, discipline, and decorum, was our very own ‘Laughing Buddha’ – The Fat, Cute looking, always Smiling, with loose shabbily dressed clothes, walking freely and with a complete carefree attitude, carrying a big smile on his face, and a whole big fat bag on his back.
Wherever our ‘Laughing Buddha’ used to go, he used to spread smiles and happiness. Kids used to surround him as he used to offer goodies to them from his big fat bag. Everyone loved him, kids adored him, and he was the ideal and perfect happy go lucky feel of the town.
Now, there was this one monk – the very serious rule observer and follower kinds. Now, he was observing the ‘Laughing Buddha’ for some while now, and as the days were passing his fury and anger was increasing, as he considered the acts of ‘Laughing Buddha’ as very Non-Monk like, as for obvious reasons, ‘Laughing Buddha’ did not fit the strict rules observed by Monks.
One day, so happened that our ‘Laughing Buddha’ was walking the street and this other monk happened to be there as well. Now this time his anger and fury turned into rage, and he decided to confront the ‘Laughing Buddha’.
So, he stopped ‘Laughing Buddha’, and told him that don’t you have any shame – you are doing everything that a monk would never indulge into. You are a disgrace to the Monk community and are not fit to be called a Monk. Just look at you, always smiling, shabbily dressed, jumping all around, carrying this stupid bag – what do you think you are really doing? Continuing in his rage, he further asked the ‘Laughing Buddha’: ‘Do you even know what is it to be a Monk’?
After listening to this, the ‘Laughing Buddha’ stopped smiling, and took the bag from his back, and just let it on the ground making a huge sound… Thump!
Confused with the actions of ‘Laughing Buddha’, the Monk again said – this doesn’t impress me. Do you even know how should a Monk lead his life?
To this, ‘Laughing Buddha’ again smiled, picked up his fit fat bag – turned around, and started moving.
This other ‘Zen Monk’ speechless and surprised stood there in awe, and then once he regained his senses, he ran behind the ‘Laughing Buddha’ and apologized and begged for forgiveness.
Now, this is the part where most of my listeners/readers tell me that this does not make any sense.
Well, communication is not only an exchange of words, but it’s also an exchange of gestures as well.
Without saying a word, our ‘Laughing Buddha’ said it all.
- The letting down of the bag symbolized, getting rid of the burden of negativity and stress which arises due to the situations we are in, our work, people around us, or our losses, etc.
What the ‘Laughing Buddha’ implied was that one should know to tackle the stress, and let go of the negativity. The big fat burden of negativity can let anyone down – so it’s best to let down the bag of negativity which is the result of our tangled and confused thoughts.
- The second action of the ‘Laughing Buddha’ – Wearing the smile back, and again carrying the bag – turning around, and starting to walk again implied that one should know how to tackle the confused and tangled thoughts, as it is these tangled and confused thoughts only which lead us into situations which lead us to the path of self-destruction.
Humans have been blessed with a mind which has the ‘Freedom to Choose’ – which we call as ‘Free Will’. With this great asset, we can choose the path whenever we hit the crossroads. And there is always a way, provided we want to explore the less taken paths, instead of choosing the path which most of the people walk. As it is only the less taken paths which would possibly lead you to new destinations.
So, considering the problems like the opportunity to new learnings, the ‘Laughing Buddha’ got back into the situation, by carrying the bag again – turned around to explore a different path, and started moving ahead in search of his new destination.
Now, that is what is being a ‘Monk’. People often perceive that monks are the ones who would leave this materialistic world, go to the Himalayas in isolation and try and connect with the Supreme.
Well, my friends, the Energy is everywhere, and the real ‘Monk’ is the one who would know when to drop the bag, gather the courage to pick it up again and start moving in a new unexplored direction.
Now, the question arises, how does one gather the strength to do this?
Well, again, the answer is pretty obvious. But again, if you still want to hear from me; the answer is just one – ‘MEDITATE’!
Comments
Post a Comment