There are millions of reasons to smile! The fat Buddha In the gift store of a temple, the nearsighted woman asked, "How much is that fat Buddha, the one standing back there next to the door?" "Shh! Speak softly," whispers the monk at the cash register, "that's our abbot." Buddha is often depicted as a "Happy Buddha"; in Chinese there is the expression "Mi Le Fo" (弥勒佛). The broad laughter on his face is said to symbolize his endless love for all living beings, and his fat belly shows the joys of life. Many people think that the Buddha's teaching is a very serious matter, just that, the "enlightenment" as the core statement of Buddhism would be quite a joyless thing. The preoccupation with one's own "I" is clearly a rather heavy subject, but in the life of a Buddhist, joy, laughter and fun should by no means come "too short". According to Buddha, suffering is an integral part of life. But only where there is shadow, exactly there you can see the light very well. This reminds us that we should enjoy life (as it is), experience beautiful moments, meet great people, fun and joy are a completely normal part of all life, we should "turn off" suffering, make the attitude towards "joy" in us. Some people have forgotten how to laugh, but you can learn to laugh again. With laughter we get out of thinking, reach the present again, relaxation occurs, energies can flow again. If life is sorrowful then start to change something. The historical Buddha found "enlightenment" for us, but he was certainly also a joyful person, he knew about human hardships, about emotions, and about their place in life. We should enjoy our lives, rejoice in every day despite all adversities, look at every encounter with pleasure, allow serenity and amusement in every possible moment. Every day that you do not smile is a day lost. - Charlie Chaplin - British actor - 1889 to 1977 When I look at my daughter, when I look at the beauty of nature, when I take in the colors and smells, when I think of a good meal, when I look at my partner, when I look at my work, I almost always have to smile. There are millions of reasons to smile! The certainty around the teachings of Buddha is a truly good reason to rejoice in one's own existence. Suffering and joy are then the two sides of the same coin! Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de (Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores) Please rate us on Apple, Google, or Spotify podcast to help us promote the show