ha ha ha ha ha.....
Rub... rub... rub the Laughing Buddha for good luck. My Malaysian relatives came to Singapore in 3 cars, to visit my son. Before bringing them for lunch, the elders reminded us to offer thanks to the deities. It is a Chinese tradition to give thanks after a family member has recovered from an illness. We brought them to the famous Temple of the Goddess of Mercy (四马路观音堂) at Waterloo Street.
At the entrance of the temple, groups of people were queuing to rub this rotund, cheerfully smiling statue. The statue of Laughing Buddha (Maitreya) is usually found at the entrance of Chinese temples.Chinese Buddhists sometimes worshipped him as a god of good luck and prosperity. His fat stomach, which protrudes from the robes he wears, symbolizes the largeness of his soul. It is also a symbol of happiness, luck, and generosity. His large elongated earlobes are a sign of wisdom.
Many believe that rubbing the Laughing Buddha's belly brings joy, luck and prosperity. I saw my elderly relatives rubbed their faces and then their grandchildren's faces after rubbing the deity's stomach. They want joy and luck. My cousins put their hands into their pockets (symbolizes putting wealth in their pockets) after rubbing the statue all over. :)
If you see a Laughing Buddha, RUB his belly, SEE what happens! hehe.....
Temple of the Goddess of Mercy at Waterloo Street. (四马路观音堂)
weekend-snapshot
Hi ECL! My Aunt and Mom has been a believer of rubbing the Buddha's tummy brings good luck too:)
ReplyDeleteHave a great week ahead!
Xo
If I laugh, will you rub me too? :-) LOL @ LB...
ReplyDeleteHi!!! Laughing Buddha is a must-visit each year I return home. I would pray at the Guan Yin Temple. To return my gratitude for all the blessings in each year and over to Laughing Buddha for more happiness!
ReplyDeleteSuperstitious or not? If you believe in it, then it's true!
yen,
ReplyDeleteMy Mom used to bring my younger brothers and I to Chinese temples when we were kids. We never missed to rub Laughing Buddha's tummy. :)
Now I don't..... I see people eating with their fingers and then rubbing them all over the statue and rubbing their faces! Yucks.
lb,
ReplyDeletegeeez... you're always making me laugh. You want to rub me!? hehe....
sher,
ReplyDeleteLooks like many people believe it. :)
The queue to rub it doesn't seem to end!
I love the Laughing Buddha. His cheerfulness makes me smile every time I see him. :)
ECL, I'll rub his tummy just cause he's so smiley! :)
ReplyDeletemariuca,
ReplyDeletePeople get attracted to his cheerful smile and tummy!! hehe.... Go on! Rub! Rub! Rub!
may prosperity come yr way this coming months and all the years to come :)
ReplyDeleteThanks beng beng! :)
ReplyDeleteWhen are you coming to Singapore? :)
i rubbed the LB in Macau b4... hehehe...
ReplyDeleteWhat strange tradition we have!
ReplyDeleteGosh!
Really?!
I must say that I haven't rubbed a Buddha's belly. Give it a rub for me.
ReplyDeleteHow is your son doing? I saw where you posted on my blog...thank you. Let us know how he's doing.
ReplyDeleteah, now i understand why you're rubbing at my blog and lb's, hahaha.
ReplyDeleteI always love those laughing buddhas. They always look so happy. However, I usually see them in Chinese resaurants,I hope I won't get weird looks when I rub it^^
ReplyDeleteHello my dear friend.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear that you're son is 'OK' now.. Hugs... you must be worried all the way, don't you?
And about this rub rub smiling buddha, I did this before. Haha.. especially the tummy!
Wealth are rushing to me!
yeah!
;D
For a second when I read your relatives asking you to 还神 I thought of roasted pig :P *knocks.head*
ReplyDeleteSo glad Jaymes is alrite now :)
Limit his bak-zhang intake wor. Scare his tummy can't tahan too much of the glutenous rice.
My rainbow angel,
ReplyDeleteI was so excited when I read the comment.... I thought I smell a scandal.
cheh!
Laughing Buddha = LB?
LB = Laughing Buddha?
hehehe.....
wilfrid,
ReplyDeleteYes, we do have many weird traditions .... some are superstitions. :)
I shall find out more from my elders.
Captain Picard,
ReplyDeletehokey. I shall rub the Laughing Buddha for you the next time I'm there... which part do you want me to rub? hehe.....
Hi simply sweet,
ReplyDeleteThanks for checking on my son. He's fine now, although he still has the pain. It'll take a while for the inflammation to go away.
misti,
ReplyDeletehehe.... how's the durian?
speak in doodles,
ReplyDeletehahaha.... people will be giving you weird looks if you start rubbing the ornamental Laughing Buddha in restaurants!
It's a superstitious belief for the worshippers at a temple. Those Laughing Buddha statues at Chinese restaurants, shops or even homes are ornamental. They have no magical powers. :)
curryegg,
ReplyDeleteThanks for checking on my son. He's going back to school for classes although he is given another week's medical leave.
Wishing you lots of wealth and health too! ;)
napabaoniya,
ReplyDelete还神 is another different Chinese tradition. This is when you make a promise to the deity in exchange for a request. This is 'borrowing'.
You have to return it.... multiply by a few times when your wish comes true. Even if your wish doesn't come true, you have to return to offer prayers.
Don't play play with deities.
Glutinous rice dumplings are banned from my house for this festival. Jaymes has been told to avoid them. :)
Wishing You All the Best..even if you do not rub the Laughing Buddha.....
ReplyDeleteOh thats nice shot and fun. Happy WS!
ReplyDeleteHis smile and laughter seem contagious. I hope they are! Beautiful photos.
ReplyDeletesweet jasmine,
ReplyDeleteThank you. hehe...
Next time I see a laughing Buddha I will definitely rub his tummy.
ReplyDeletenatalie,
ReplyDeleteThe Laughing Buddha's smiling face is contagious eh. It does make you want to be as happy as he looks. :)
That is very interesting belief. It's the first time I heard the laughing Buddha's tummy.
ReplyDeleteThis is very funny. I can sense the relief you all are experiencing. :)
ReplyDeleteyou had a nice weekend....
ReplyDeleteMine in here Thanks
too bad i never meet laughing Budha. How is your son?? Hope he is better now.
ReplyDeletePlease visit mine also Thanks
hahaaa.. thanks for the "Opening Ceremony" woh... actually renovation not ready yet but u oledi came to officiate it.. paiseh paiseh.. haha... but thanks anyway.. now it's 'closed' again for reno *wink*
ReplyDeletenothing happens lei?
ReplyDeleteyour comment to yen made me laugh.. :) true, it's not a sanitary thing to do.. he he
ReplyDeletesweeta,
ReplyDeleteI guess not many people know about this Chinese belief, even if they are Chinese. :)
indrani,
ReplyDeleteThank you dear for the message you left when my son was hospitalised.
We are relieved that he's fine.... Boy, we are glad we can smile and laugh again.
Juliana,
ReplyDeleteThanks for checking on my son. he's fine and back to school today. :)
Congrats on getting your new ID card.
My rainbow angel
ReplyDeleteOops!! paiseh paiseh... alamak!
You have to close down after my unofficial opening ah! Did I cut the wrong 'ribbon'?
*scratches head*
leonard,
ReplyDeleteWhat were you expecting to happen?
You went to watch movie with leng lois also never call me. Oops.... I forgot I'm an aunty. hehe.... paiseh
I feel happy everytime I see Laughing Buddha, like all my worries just gone! *rub rub rub*
ReplyDeletethat belief has been running for ages already.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't help but laugh with one of your comments, the yuck part where people put their fingers in their mouth then rub. ^_^
Doreen,
ReplyDeleteYa, me too. His laughing face relaxes me. I feel happy whenever I see him. :)
*rubs harder....*
girlie,
ReplyDeleteYep, when I was in kindergarten, my Mom brought us to this same temple and we would rub the Laughing Buddha before we leave. This statue has probably been changed over the years.
It's really unhygienic when you think of it later.
*shudders at the grimy, greasy hands touching it every day*
Beautiful and fun tradition, the Laughing Budda looks wonderful!!
ReplyDeleteHappy ws :)
Looks wonderful, that is very interesting tradition. It's the first time I heard the laughing Buddha's tummy.
ReplyDeleteGot to find me a Buddha now and rub his belly. Hehe. So that is the story of the Buddha's physical attributes.
ReplyDeleteI know of this tradition. I'm not a Buddhist but I have 2 red, laughing Buddhas in my home that get rubbed often.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your son is ok.
Cookie
http://scroochchronicles.blogspot.com/
Hi ECL,
ReplyDeleteNice to have you back. I'm not a Buddhist but I remembered rubbing the Buddha's tummy more than twice when I was in Singapore last year. I'll surely rub it again when I visit SG on August :)
Have a great week ahead!
mommyallehs,
ReplyDeleteYou can bring your lil Princess to rub the laughing Buddha's tummy. :)
lynn,
ReplyDeletehaha.... not an ornamental Laughing Buddha. Go to a Chinese temple for the good luck and a huge dose of happiness! :)
scroochchonicles,
ReplyDeleteThanks for checking on my son. :)
haha.... I can imagine you rubbing the LB now.....
emmyrose,
ReplyDeleteGood for you! It's not limited to the Buddhists. Any one can rub the Laughing Buddha for good luck and happiness. :D
Are you here on holiday? You should come now, we are having Great Singapore Sale! From 23rd May to 22 June 2008! Huge discounts!
Good entry! Hey even I find this facinating (although I'm staying in the same side of this world as you).
ReplyDeleteI live in Waterloo and the laughing Buddah has to be in Waterloo street of course, lol ! I think already the fact of rubbing a big belly would make me laugh and therefore bring me luck !
ReplyDeleteHe's such a hearty-looking statue. Good to hear that he has brought you and your family some good luck. :)
ReplyDeleteMaybe I am reserved, I would prefer to see this statue from a distance than to rub him all around. My vision would 'rub' him in a different way. ;)
Those are wonderful shots and a very informative post. I'm so glad your son is better.
ReplyDeleteHi ECL
ReplyDeleteI will rub anyones belly if it helps, any way I put you on my blogroll, that's the best I can do LOL
hahaha... i hope we can also rub our own belly for good luck and free massage.
ReplyDeleteGlad that Jaymes is well now.
ReplyDeletehaha.. i agree with "the dong"...hope we can rub our own stomach for good luck.
i'm a chinese buddhist, but i think i never rub LB's stomach before. i so no luck one, may be i should go rub rub it next time :-)
however, when i was young, i rubbed Mary and Joseph's(Jesus's parents) leg followed by a cross over my face and chest... followed the crowd ma.
i'm a confused Buddhist but i do respect other ppl's God. What wud u do if ur boyfriend said Buddhism is a cult, deities are evil spirits and if u 2 were to get married, he will tell the children : dont listen to mummy, mummy is practising cult.
eastcoast, I just told Roger to rub the Laughing Buddha's belly for luck - he had a picture of a laughing Buddha on his blog... I can see why your son would be upset by those trolls... :(
ReplyDeletei can see him, i want to rub his belly too..
ReplyDeletenice shots!
I will surely gonna try that!! hehehhe.. maybe thats why he is laughing because a lot of people are rubbing him. lol. kuchi kuchi ku!!
ReplyDeleteeastcoast, I just gave this advice to Roger who had a picture of a laughing Buddha... rub his belly for luck! Ha! I don't blame
ReplyDeleteglad your son is doing much better now...
ReplyDeletemine is up. hope you can check it out.
Standing Tall
Hi ECL,
ReplyDeleteI am just so very happy to see you and your family very happy!!
This is a great celebration indeed. Thanks for sharing it with us!!
hugs:-)))))
can you rub the laughing buddha for me?
ReplyDeletei think that is fun...but make sure to wash hands right after touching...you know just to make sure... lol... :D
ReplyDeleteThat is so smart. LB = Laughing Buddha. I knew there’s something weird about him .. or them. LOL. Love the shots! I am very into Buddhist Deities myself
ReplyDeleteGood to hear your son is doing fine now!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was young, we had a large image of a smiling Buddha in our living room. I asked her why, she said it was for good luck!
So the tradition goes on.
I have one small and one large Buddha head in our living room. And another tiny one replica in our bedroom.
Yes, for feng shui purposes :-)
Cheers!
hi ECL! his big smiley face is enough to cheer ppl up! :)
ReplyDeleteLaughing Buddha? hhhmmmm :)
ReplyDelete