Do the suttas mention the Buddha laughing

Textual analysis and comparative discussion on early Buddhist sects and scriptures.
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Lombardi4
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Do the suttas mention the Buddha laughing

Post by Lombardi4 »

They mention him smiling on certain pertinent occasions, but what about laughing?

Teachers like Ajahn Chah would laugh a lot sometimes.
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Sam Vara
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Re: Do the suttas mention the Buddha laughing

Post by Sam Vara »

The Concise Pali English Dictionary gives the same word (hasati) for both laughs and smiles, so this might be a difficult one to disentangle according to context.

https://suttacentral.net/define/hasati

You will also see from the link that there is some kind of conflation with being excited, which further complicates matters.

Interestingly, the NT gospels have no record of Jesus laughing, either.
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retrofuturist
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Re: Do the suttas mention the Buddha laughing

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings,
Ruṇṇa sutta wrote:Bhikkhus, singing is crying in this discipline of the noble ones and dancing is insanity. Bhikkhus, it is childish to laugh too long showing your teeth. Therefore give up singing, dancing and it is suitable that you, delighting in the Teaching should laugh to a certain extent only.
( Source )

Metta,
Paul. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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