Other day I was taking morning walk in a pleasant and warm atmosphere. I was in meditative mood. Suddenly group of people gathered doing aerobics, started laughing loudly. I was irritated for a while. I kept on walking and started laughing, smiling with myself as reflection of their act.
Is laughing infectious? I felt good, no doubt laughing makes you feel good, serotonin level might be raised. Your face is relaxed, muscles are relaxed and mood improves. No doubt laughing is a powerful antidote to stress, pain and conflicts.
Let me share with you a beautiful Story of ‘Three laughing Buddhas’ . 10th Century Chinese monk Ho Tei , the incarnation of Bodhisattva who was known as laughing Buddha. Do not confuse “Three laughing Saints” with laughing Buddha Ho Tei.
All The three were bald, jolly fat men with generous pot-belly stomach. They did nothing, simply moved from one village, to another.
They would stand in market place, mall road & start laughing. All the people at market place and from the villages would surround them and they too start laughing, laughing became contagious & the whole market place nothing traded except laughter, people were dancing , enjoying and laughing. This changed the quality of life & everyone felt rejuvenated.
These ‘Three Saints’ did not preach any religion, philosophy, no commandments, , no sermon.
As the chronological time advanced they too become old, One day news spread across the village that one of the laughing Saint has passed away. Entire village gathered to pay homage to the departed soul. The villagers wanted to witness and curious to see how other two Saints react .They have seen them laughing, now wanted to see them wiping. But they were surprise and annoyed too.
At this sad moment remaining two Saints were laughing and dancing and rejoicing. Old men from the village express anguish, questioned their behavior. The laughing Saints talked for the first time, they said ‘Entire life we together enjoyed, laugh, danced , this is our biding retreat to our departed friend and we all were committed to make death a celebration, who so ever moves first and today our friend has won, he is celebrity for the day, please understand”
The story moves forward, the body was taken to the cremation hall, for burning. As per rituals prevalent in those time, the body need to be bathed with water. The two friends skipped this rituals they said ‘ Our friend has said don’t do this’. They put the body on fire, the departed Saint has last laugh. There was fireworks at cremation. He has hidden many fireworks, crackers under his cloths, suddenly the entire atmosphere was charged ,changed into festival of light. Whole village started laughing ,they paid tribute to the departed soul with joy, laughing, smiling, dancing .
Yes , I know it is difficult to comprehend, it may sound good in fairy tale but far stretched for real life. If one has lived the life with full glory, happiness and in present tense then one can take own personal death as Happy beginning to New Openings. Please do pounder over it.
By Ajeet Bhide
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