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laughing Buddha?
Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2018 3:21 am
by clyde
I’ve read a fair number of suttas and sutras, but I’ve not read any that describe the Buddha as laughing. Did the Buddha have a sense of humor?
Re: laughing Buddha?
Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2018 3:33 am
by dzogchungpa
clyde wrote: ↑Thu Jul 05, 2018 3:21 am
I’ve read a fair number of suttas and sutras, but I’ve not read any that describe the Buddha as laughing. Did the Buddha have a sense of humor?
You might find this interesting:
https://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/Wri ... 151017.pdf
Re: laughing Buddha?
Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2018 3:34 am
by Virgo
clyde wrote: ↑Thu Jul 05, 2018 3:21 am
I’ve read a fair number of suttas and sutras, but I’ve not read any that describe the Buddha as laughing. Did the Buddha have a sense of humor?
According to some traditions Arhants cannot laugh, but under certain circumstances they can smile, which the Buddha did in certain Suttas.
Kevin...
Re: laughing Buddha?
Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2018 3:37 am
by 如傑優婆塞
There's
this and
that and
here....
Re: laughing Buddha?
Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2018 6:11 am
by clyde
Thank you for the link.
I guess an academic book about the Buddha’s humor was destined to be humorless. The Introduction argues that the suttas are not without humor, that the fault is with the translators or with us, but fails to present (even with explanation) anything that can remotely be called humorous.
Even the story that made the Buddha’s smile lacks humor.
Re: laughing Buddha?
Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2018 6:12 am
by clyde
Thank you for the links to earlier discussions. It seems the answer is “not really” and there’s not much more to say about it.
Re: laughing Buddha?
Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2018 6:58 am
by cyril
clyde wrote: ↑Thu Jul 05, 2018 6:12 am
Thank you for the links to earlier discussions. It seems the answer is “not really” and there’s not much more to say about it.
Apparently, back in the days when he was still a Bodhisattva on the Path, The Tathagata used to poke fun here and there.
https://sdhammika.blogspot.com/2008/09/ ... ataka.html
Re: laughing Buddha?
Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2018 4:03 pm
by Sentient Light
I think SA110 is hilarious.
https://suttacentral.net/sa110/en/analayo
After defeating a Jain in a debate, the Buddha proceeds to ridicule the Jain thusly:
At that time the Blessed One, in that great assembly, took off his upper robe and bared his chest, [saying]: “Try to see if you could stir a single hair of the Tathāgata!”
Re: laughing Buddha?
Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2018 5:52 pm
by dzogchungpa
clyde wrote: ↑Thu Jul 05, 2018 6:11 am
Thank you for the link.
I guess an academic book about the Buddha’s humor was destined to be humorless. The Introduction argues that the suttas are not without humor, that the fault is with the translators or with us, but fails to present (even with explanation) anything that can remotely be called humorous.
Even the story that made the Buddha’s smile lacks humor.
Tough room.
Re: laughing Buddha?
Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2018 9:26 am
by Grigoris
Vajrakilaya laughs. His laugh is a bit hair raising, but it is a laugh nonetheless!