what i noticed about every picture of yongxin

[liutangsanzang]

Dear friends, ok to be depressed might not be a solution. Though if you read Daodejing 20:
"All men, indeed, are wreathed in smiles,
As though feasting after the Great Sacrifice,
As though going up to the Spring Carnival.
I alone am inert, like a child that has not yet given sign;
Like an infant that has not yet smiled.
I droop and drift, as though i belonged nowhere.
All men have enough and to spare;
I alone seem to have lost everything. ...
They look lively and self assured;
I alone, depressed."

Laozi says he belongs nowhere. I think it is important not to discriminate far from near. Why are we more concerned with our suffering and that of our close circle? That s another sense of the ego.
Selfless service as Gandhi pointed out must be constant: it might be a lack of service to go dancing or watch the new comedy on TV. Maybe we have better to do?

I guess there must be a middle way between depression and laughing superficially. Like being serious at the suffering of the world. Personally i would have a hard time laughing with an israelian army man. I dont know, that is just a feeling!

[LFJ]

Well LFJ as you wish to choose between mudita and karuna. Anyway i think it is very important to restrain one's feelings when there is so much suffering. Would you laugh while your neighbor is dying without medicine? The same goes with dancing, i think it is a good rule for monks and people on retreat not to dance. Would you dance while your friend is sent to jail for his political ideas or while he has been shot on a terrorist attack in the streets of Bagdad or Gaza?
I think some austerity is worthwile if you have compassion for the suffering of every sentient being.

not choosing between mudita and karuna, just distinguishing the two.

and while i agree with fahui, samsara is not a reason to be depressed, i noticed you said for monastics and those who attend a retreat.

in that case i agree. there are practices more conducive to the goal of the monastic life or a retreat.

but still, dancing or laughing does not mean you are taking joy in the suffering of the world.

in the same way, being a stick in the mud does not mean you are lessening the suffering of the world!

[Fa Hui]

Well LFJ as you wish to choose between mudita and karuna. Anyway i think it is very important to restrain one's feelings when there is so much suffering. Would you laugh while your neighbor is dying without medicine? The same goes with dancing, i think it is a good rule for monks and people on retreat not to dance. Would you dance while your friend is sent to jail for his political ideas or while he has been shot on a terrorist attack in the streets of Bagdad or Gaza?
I think some austerity is worthwile if you have compassion for the suffering of every sentient being.

That is the worst thing I have heard!

Just because there is suffering in the world does not mean we all have to be depressed. In fact I would see that as a greater opportunity for us to generate a better sense of humor.

Lighten up Liutangsanzang. Seriously (lol), just let go and let the world be the world. No human being can be so intense for so long, we just don't work that way.

You are way, way, way off the mark.

[liutangsanzang]

Well LFJ as you wish to choose between mudita and karuna. Anyway i think it is very important to restrain one's feelings when there is so much suffering. Would you laugh while your neighbor is dying without medicine? The same goes with dancing, i think it is a good rule for monks and people on retreat not to dance. Would you dance while your friend is sent to jail for his political ideas or while he has been shot on a terrorist attack in the streets of Bagdad or Gaza?
I think some austerity is worthwile if you have compassion for the suffering of every sentient being.

[LFJ]

Well about smiling, you should rememner that mudita, sympathetic joy, is one of the four brhamaviharas. That means you should not laugh with people who laughs because or instead of the suffering of other sentient beings.

thats not mudita, thats karuna.

mudita is appreciative joy, rejoicing in the good fortune and happiness of others.

karuna is compassion, the true wish for other's suffering to cease.

not laughing at the suffering of others would more likely fall under karuna than mudita.

[dogchow108]

Now, guys, play nice : )

[onesp1ng]

you should rememner that mudita, sympathetic joy, is one of the four brhamaviharas.

why should he remember that? is he buddhist?

perhaps it would be better to know who you are speaking with first before telling him/her what to do.

[liutangsanzang]

Well about smiling, you should rememner that mudita, sympathetic joy, is one of the four brhamaviharas. That means you should not laugh with people who laughs because or instead of the suffering of other sentient beings.
To laugh when the world around you cries could be a bad sign.

[LeiYunFat]

I guess. If you really take enjoyment in having someone else do your work for you. Cause it sure as hell wasn't because the girl was hot. Come on, you guys can photoshop some hotter pictures...

And no, I'm not talking about BL's. Hahahahhaahah...low. That was low.

[doc]

He's smiling because he was getting his car washed...

[arhat]

lol I think he smiled when he won his car.

[dogchow108]

Lol...im expecting to see that stuff today actually. Happy Jewish New Year people.

[Thenightangel]

roflmao!! it's nasty stuff indeed. I'll douse mine in horseradish and try anyway.

[dogchow108]

that sutff is ****ing disgusting

[Thenightangel]

Can I bring gefilte fish??? a delicacy from wher I'm from- Happy new year everyone- I'm gettin haamered.