Laughing Buddha  |  Anthony Satori

The Laughing Buddha.  What a wonderful symbol.  Arising out of 8th Century China, Budai is the very image of contentment.  He carries his material possessions in a simple cloth sack, and he is always depicted smiling or laughing.  He is a jovial, yet profound reminder that spirituality is not meant to be a dour, somber affair.  Quite to the contrary, any genuine exploration into our spiritual nature — and thereby into the nature of the universal Creative Spirit — will be a journey toward increased compassion, peace, vitality and happiness in our lives.