"Hotei, or Bu-Dai (pinyin:bù dài luó hàn, literally Calico Bag Arhat) is better known in the English-speaking world as the obese Laughing Buddha. In China, he is called Bu-Dai (Wade-Giles Pu-Tai) or Mí Lè Fó and dubbed the Loving or Friendly One. He has become incorporated into Buddhist & Shinto culture and is based on an eccentric Chinese Chan monk. His image graces many temples, restaurants, and amulets. Hotei has become a deity of contentment and abundance, Taoist in origin. Hotei persists in Japanese folklore as one of the Seven Lucky Gods (Shichi Fukujin)." (Wikipedia)
There are a multitude of reasons why we need a Hotei thread...but my favorite reason is that at the moment of enlightenment, his response was to burst forth with uprorious laughter....he was an actual person; a wandering C'han monk in China whose Zen consisted of making children laugh with delight by presenting them with little donuts! He helped to pave the way for much more popular acceptance of Zen (C'han) culture in both Japan and China. There are literally thousands of Hotei images from Asia...what could be better than a thread about fat holy men? Eh? Oh...my friend Joseph Caezza once wrote an article on fat holy men for Magical Blend magazine...I will try to dig it up...there are many interesting points! Salutations on all Three Points!
Shri Shri Swami Jalaram Jalanandaji (Timmy) :bow:
There are a multitude of reasons why we need a Hotei thread...but my favorite reason is that at the moment of enlightenment, his response was to burst forth with uprorious laughter....he was an actual person; a wandering C'han monk in China whose Zen consisted of making children laugh with delight by presenting them with little donuts! He helped to pave the way for much more popular acceptance of Zen (C'han) culture in both Japan and China. There are literally thousands of Hotei images from Asia...what could be better than a thread about fat holy men? Eh? Oh...my friend Joseph Caezza once wrote an article on fat holy men for Magical Blend magazine...I will try to dig it up...there are many interesting points! Salutations on all Three Points!
Shri Shri Swami Jalaram Jalanandaji (Timmy) :bow:
