The Laughing Saints … ( 05 / 30 / 2013 )
The Laughing Saints … ( 05 / 30 / 2013 )
Once upon a time in China , there were three mystics — known as the “ Laughing Saints ”, because all they ever did was laugh . Whenever they would encounter a fellow traveler on the road , they would wave and laugh … Whenever they would be asked a question or offered advice , they would smile and laugh … And whenever they would pause to rest , they would sit together and laugh . These three were so beautiful – always laughing ; sometimes tears of joy running down their faces , and always their bellies shaking with mirth .
And , of course , whenever others would be near them for even a short time , their happiness would spread and those others would start laughing as well . When they were in someone ’ s home , the entire household would laugh . When they would walk through a town , the entire marketplace would smile & giggle . When they sat in a temple , all the monks would roll & roar . Where there had before been sadness & worry , there always came joy & gratitude . Where there had before been greed & callousness , there blossomed giving & kindness . And where there had before been seriousness & arrogance , there ever awoke a sense of humility & celebration .
They moved all over China in this way , these three — road to road , town to town , home to home ; simply helping people remember to laugh . And everywhere they went , a new world was reborn … Wherever they passed , even if it was just for a few minutes , others were transformed ; reawakened to how glorious life was and could always be .
Then , during one of their visits to a larger village , it happened that one of the three mystics took ill and died …
The villagers were stunned at the news , and whispered their certainty that the laughter of the other two would surely cease . After all , “ Their friend has died ; so they must rightly weep .”
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