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Topic Summary

Posted by: Danilo
« on: August 30, 2020, 09:55:30 AM »

* Danilo: May all have a share in these merits
Posted by: Dhammañāṇa
« on: August 26, 2020, 09:54:54 PM »

* Johann : Sadhu for giving corrections, Nyom Danilo , into spelling and gramma. Just seen this previous moment.  :)
Posted by: Dhammañāṇa
« on: May 11, 2020, 09:46:41 PM »

 _/\_ _/\_ _/\_
Venerable members of the Sangha,
Venerable fellows,

Valued Upasaka, Upasika
Dear interested,

Outside, at BSE, Householder Dheeraj Verma asked:

Quote
How can I smile when existence itself is dukkha?

 see many monks smiling ,which is a good thing, but logically speaking how can they smile when they know life is dukkha. Can you smile when you are watching somebody getting tortured ?

My question is : How can I smile when I know existence itself is dukkha ?

...of which was answered by my person in this way:

Good observed, good householder, good observed,

...the greedy...

...the nasty...

...the ignorant...

...the "leaving home" one..

- Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa -

Why is there laughter? Why is there joy although (the world) is always burning? Shrouded in darkness why not seek the light? Story to Dhp 146

It's completely inappropriate, a trace of lack of seriousness and it's safe to assume that one have not even reached the Noble Path. Smile, let alone laughing, means that one have completely lost his mindfulness/sati, and end up enganging in the Samsara

It's extremely discouraged to smile while receiving the going forth as well as while on alms-round or when receiving gifts.

It ruins the possibility to foster and nurish faith for many people, and that being the case, The Buddha declared a rule of conduct which forbids the monk
to smile to the point of showing the teeths. So, monks aren't allowed to laugh or smile unrestrictedly because this behavior is inappropriate for those who see how dangerous is to be infatuated with the world.

In regard of making people laugh at "Dhamma-talks" occasions, and often joining in the laughs, good monks would usually refer to them as "into hell leader"-teacher. It is not different from the livelihood of an actor:

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa

...Any beings who are not devoid of passion to begin with, who are bound by the bond of passion, focus with even more passion on things inspiring passion presented by an actor on stage in the midst of a festival. Any beings who are not devoid of aversion to begin with, who are bound by the bond of aversion, focus with even more aversion on things inspiring aversion presented by an actor on stage in the midst of a festival. Any beings who are not devoid of delusion to begin with, who are bound by the bond of delusion, focus with even more delusion on things inspiring delusion presented by an actor on stage in the midst of a festival. Thus the actor — himself intoxicated & heedless, having made others intoxicated & heedless — with the breakup of the body, after death, is reborn in what is called the hell of laughter. But if he holds such a view as this: 'When an actor on the stage, in the midst of a festival, makes people laugh & gives them delight with his imitation of reality, then with the breakup of the body, after death, he is reborn in the company of the laughing devas,' that is his wrong view. Now, there are two destinations for a person with wrong view, I tell you: either hell or the animal womb."...

It's good to be aware that laughing, and sometimes smiling, is a trace of intense lobha, greed.

Laughing, based on what ever prejudice of others, it's a way to brag about himself over others, is very akusala and there are rare cases where laughing and smiling wouldn't involve the prejudice of others (individuals, groups...), even if just for prestige. It requires for the most a lot of pride to get even on the bodily surface.

But as it is, smile/sex sells, and few would be so attentive and careful to discriminate such appearence properlly. Smiles attract and are "low" means for common socialization for the sake of sense-pleasure and becoming.

As for: "How can I smile when I know existence itself is dukkha ?"

If "laughing" about your previous foolishness and at the point when path for the ending of Dukkha has been reached.

There is of course such as renouncing-smile, effected by contentment, right release, a smile which does not take, even not take part, serene.

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa

he should abandon sloth, deception,
   laughter, sports,
   fornication, & all that goes with it;