“May Johnny be well, may Johnny be happy, may Johnny be free from suffering.”

What could be more Buddhist than a holiday that celebrates giving, compassion, human warmth, peace on Earth, and goodwill to all!  In fact, the Buddhist concept of ‘metta’ may be translated as ‘goodwill.’  The sentiment of goodwill to all is part of the Buddha’s Eightfold Path and the key to liberation of the heart, as exemplified in loving kindness meditation. Of course, peace is an objective of all Buddhists on a personal, as well as interpersonal, and international level.

Furthermore, the Christmas tradition of giving is considered very worthy throughout the year in Buddhism where it is known as “dana.”  The Dalai Lama has suggested that Jesus was a bodhisattva who “dedicated his life to the welfare of human beings” and that religions based on compassion and love are worthwhile religious traditions.  Both Christ and Buddha traveled widely preaching love, compassion, and nonviolence.

Though many non-Christian religions have reservations about celebrating Christmas, Mahayana Buddhism encourages coexistence among the various spiritual paths.  Since Buddhism is a philosophy free of dogma, it easily accommodates many religious traditions.  So as Buddhists, we may celebrate many holidays this time of year from the Day of the Buddha’s Enlightenment, all the way through Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the Solstice and New Year!

Of course, there are negative aspects of Christmas such as rampant materialism and so on, but these are the same excesses that many spiritual Christians also denounce. Unfortunately, the burden of unmitigated consumerism and keeping up with the Joneses may be a factor in making Christmas the most likely time in America to have a heart attack.  It seems Christmas time can express the best and worst of the human spirit depending on our attitudes.

Hotei with his fat belly and big bag of gifts for children seems exceedingly similar to Santa Claus.

There are also many parallels between the Christmas story and the story of Buddha’s birth. (See Parallels between Buddha and Jesus.) Buddhists in East Asia recognize a fat monk similar to Santa Claus named Budai or Hotei. This fat laughing monk (whose name means “cloth sack”) is said to be a reincarnation of the Buddha Maitreya. His unfailing bag of gifts are also for children who play with him joyously. In China and Japan he is a symbol of happiness, good luck, prosperity and even excess.

Christmas is also a time for charity.  As Americans we are truly blessed to be able to be in a position to give. Unfortunately, all too often we assume the only way to make people happy is to succumb to the credit card orgy and give everyone exactly the material things they have asked for, as if our love is being judged by the quality of our gifts.  As with everything else, it is our attitude that makes all the difference.  The Christmas spirit is not necessarily what we buy.  After all, it is what is in the heart that matters most.  That is what remains long after the presents are forgotten.

Special thanks to the excellent articles Buddhism and Christmas by Tony Flanagan and A Buddhist Problem With Christmas by Jess Row

(For more on giving and materialism, see A Hearse Doesn’t Need A Luggage Rack.)