What makes the Buddha laugh?

A person told me one time he didn't like Unitarian Universalists because they were too serious, too earnest, even self righteous seeming to think they were superior to people whose religious beliefs tended to run in a literal and funamentalist track.

I understood his point and I too have run into UUs who impressed me because of a sanctimonious judmentalist attitude like a reformed smoker. And yet, I have also known UUs who have a great sense of humor and don't seem to take themselves seriously at all. They seem easy going and accepting of everyone even people who seem to be more spiritually immature and childish.

An indicator of spiritual maturity is a rising above the ego and seeing beyond the mistakes of our brothers and sisters to their oneness with us in God's creation. This seeing beyond is what some call "forgiveness." In simpler, more vulgar language, it is overlooking the bull shit and side stepping the drama.

People are more than their problems and often they can't see that, but we that can have a role to play in gently laughing at the absurdity. When our brothers and sisters can laugh along with us we have joined with them in what A Course In Miracles calls a "Holy Relationship."

Why is the Buddha sometimes depicted as smiling? What is the Buddha amused by. What makes him laugh?

First week of advent - Tuesday

Mother Teresa said a couple of things which are relevant and appropriate during this advent season of preparation for the remembering of the divine.

"Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person."

Mother Teresa

"Each one of them is Jesus in disguise."

Mother Teresa

Osho tells us to love the interdependent web of all existence.

Let your love be unaddressed. Love the whole of existence; it is one reality. The trees and the mountains and the people are not really different. We all participate together, we exist in a deep harmony. We go on breathing in oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide. Trees go on breathing in carbon dioxide and breathing out oxygen. Now, without trees we will not be able to exist. We are joined together, we interpenetrate. And that’s how the whole of existence is interlinked. So let your love be unaddressed – the trees, the stars, the mountains, the people, the animals. The point is not to whom you are loving, the point is that you are loving.

Osho. Last in the Evening: 365 Relaxing Moments to Enter the Night Consciously, Osho Media International. p.4-5

Question of the day

A wise person said one time that the definition of a mature person was the ability to hold two contradictory thoughts in the mind at the same time. To what extent do you appreciate paradox, the ying and yang of life? As the bumper sticker says, "To dichotomize is either good or bad."

First week of Advent - Making room for the coming divine presence

The Roman Centurion said to Jesus, "Jesus, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed." Matthew 8:8

During this advent season can we develop a similar attitude of setting aside our personal drama and delusions and make room for the divine light being born into the world?

Question of the day

The bumper sticker says, “My God is too big for any one religion. What do you think about this idea?

First Sunday Of Advent

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. We are getting ready for Christmas Day. How are you preparing? There is the decorating, the buying and wrapping of gifts, the planning for get togethers. It is a busy time of the year.

But the deeper question is how are you spiritually preparing? Are you finding quiet time to clear away the clutter that blocks your awareness to Love's presence in your life? Are you sitting still to listen, to tune into the frequency on the divine channel of Love, Peace, and Abiding Joy? Are you doing other things to help people listen with you to the Peace and Joy we once again intentionally and deliberately focus on and re-member?

As it says in the Desiderata:

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.