posted February 24, 2008 01:14 AM         

Wow!

posted February 24, 2008 12:44 PM         

Although this Laugh sarced me a little at times, I got the point!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXgdSOxaCGI&feature=related

posted February 25, 2008 02:00 PM         

I read the the laughing Buddha was a Buddhist monk who went from town to town. When he got there, he would stand in the middle of a market place and start to let out a deep, belly full of laughter.
Soon, the laughter would spread, the whole town would be laughing and atmospheres lifted, becoming more harmonious.

posted February 25, 2008 04:13 PM         

The Laughing Buddha's image graces many temples, restaurants, and amulets, as he has become a deity of contentment and abundance. The image of Hotei is almost always seen carrying a cloth or linen sack (that which never empties) which is filled with many precious items, including rice plants (indicating wealth), candy for children, food, or the woes of the world. He is patron of the weak, poor and children.

Laughing Buddha statues depict a stout, smiling or laughing bald man in robes with a largely exposed pot belly stomach, which symbolizes happiness, good luck, and plenitude. Some sculpture has small children at his feet. Another item that is usually seen with the Laughing Budda figure is a begging bowl to represent his Buddhist nature.

In some scenes the Laughing Buddha may be found sitting on a cart drawn by boys, or wielding a fan called an oogi (said to be a "wish giving" fan -- in the distant past, this type of fan was used by the aristocracy to indicate to vassals that their requests would be granted). All of these images display Hotei as a wandering monk who goes around and takes the sadness from people of this world.

According to legend, if one rubs the Laughing Buddha's great belly, it brings forth wealth, good luck, and prosperity. Hotei is also referred to as the patron saint of restaurateurs, fortunetellers and bartenders. When one overeats or over drinks, friends jokingly attribute it to the Laughing Buddha's influence.
http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/deities/laughing_buddha.htm

Budai

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Laughing Buddha)

For the township in Taiwan, see Budai, Chiayi.
Maitreya in Budai form with disciples, as depicted at Feilai Feng grottos, near Lingyin Temple in China
Maitreya in Budai form with disciples, as depicted at Feilai Feng grottos, near Lingyin Temple in China

Budai (Chinese: 布袋 or Budai Luohan, pronounced Hotei in Japanese, also known as the Laughing Buddha, is an interpretation of the Bodhisattva Maitreya, the predicted Buddha to succeed Gautama Buddha in the future.

He has become incorporated into Buddhist, Taoist and Shinto culture and is based on an eccentric Chinese Chán monk who lived in the time of the Liang Dynasty. His image graces many temples, restaurants, amulets, and businesses. Budai has become a deity of contentment and abundance, when adopted by religious Taoists and Buddhists. In Japan, Hotei persists in folklore as one of the Seven Lucky Gods (Shichi Fukujin). He is almost always shown smiling or laughing, hence his nickname in Chinese, the "Laughing Buddha" (Chinese: 笑佛 .

posted February 25, 2008 04:22 PM         

Laughing Buddha
Hotei, Japanese; Pu-tai Ho-shang, in Chinese, derived from Mi-lo Fu ~ he's a Chinese Zen master who wandered homeless and happy. He would often entertain kids with goodies from his back sack, sometimes containing stuff found from his travels. Originally considered a bodhisattva who'd become the next Buddha, Maitreya, these days he's merely a good luck token: people rub his big belly and make a wish.
http://www.abuddhistlibrary.com/Buddhism/A%20-%20Tibetan%20Buddhism/Subjects/Tantra/Introductory%20essays/Buddhas%20Deities%20and%20others/Buddhas,%20Deities,%20&%20Others%20%20A%2 0Who's%20Who.htm
http://www.dragonsculptures.co.uk/hotei.html

posted February 25, 2008 04:29 PM         

Future History

Shakyamuni Buddha predicted that due to the inevitable degeneration of the times, his own teachings would last just five thousand years before disappearing from this world. People will grow more and more immoral and their lifespan will gradually decrease, as will their health, stature and fortune. While such delusions as miserliness, hatred and jealousy gain strength, the world will go through prolonged periods of famine, disease and continuous warfare until it eventually resembles a vast battlefield of graveyard. Thereupon Maitreya will appear, not in his fully evolved buddha form, but as a person of regal bearing, very handsome and taller than those around him. On seeing this unusual being, people will be filled with wonder and faith, and will ask how he came to have such an attractive appearance. Maitreya will reply that this is due to his practice of patience, avoiding giving harm to others, and if others will also abide in love and tolerance, they could become similar to him.
See above link for rest of the story.

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The Significance of The Maitreya (Laughing) Buddha
Written by Tiandi
Oct 01, 2005 at 02:14 AM
Maitreya Buddha exists in different forms in different religions. In China, he is known as "the laughing Buddha" and is usually represented as a rotund figure with a significant wide smile. His Chinese name is "Pu-tai" or "Hemp-bag monk". He was always seen to give goodies from his cloth sack and brought happiness to the local townsfolk. In Japan he is called Hotei and is one of the seven lucky buddhas.

Happy Face: To be cheerful and optimistic in our daily life.
Hugh Ear Loop: To listen to different people's opinion from all directions.
Big Tummy: To accept all people from different cultures and backgrounds, even people that you do not like.
Bare Chested: To be open minded and have nothing to hide.
Rosary: To always maintain a state of calmness and serenity in everything that we do.
Big Cloth Sack: To show compassion to all living beings and able to sacrifice for others.
http://www.acmms.org/content/view/47/44/