How And Why This Buddhist Celebrates Christmas

[camerata]

How and why this Buddhist celebrates Christmas

I’ve been a practising Buddhist for almost 30 years now, and I often get asked if I celebrate Christmas. I do. I love Christmas.

I just don’t celebrate it the same way a devout Christian would. I was raised Christian, and there are some traditions I just won’t give up and Christmas is one of them. So how does a previous Christian and now Buddhist celebrate Christmas? First of all, let me get some things straight. Buddhism is not a religion that believes in a God. Buddha is not regarded as a God or a deity. Buddha was a human being, so there is no theistic God belief in Buddhism. Which means that I am an atheist as well as a Buddhist.

Full story.

[Thaddeus]

Good sentiments......

[lungmi]

For me it goes the same way. I only don't like Santa Claus, a symbol of black pedagogy (may be not everywhere in the Christian world). First the rod and threats, and then the reward.

[GrahamR]

Good sentiments......

Personaly we take the non religious aspects of Christmas. It's a time for fun, not worship.

Graham

[camerata]

For me, the generosity of heart that's associated with Christmas is what it's all about. It's Buddhist-style dana in action.

[GrahamR]

For me, the generosity of heart that's associated with Christmas is what it's all about. It's Buddhist-style dana in action.

If it brings something positive out in you, then it's worthwhile. I do it mainly for my kids. Personally, I don't like many Christmas so much

Graham

[Xangsamhua]

I like Dickens' view and think A Christmas Carol is timeless. The Buddhist sentiments hadn't struck me before, and yet they seem so clear once they're pointed out.

I don't really like Christmas itself though, and for many years, even when a regular attender at Mass, would not attend Christmas Mass. The propagation of a blatantly fabricated nativity myth and the medieval theology of the hymns (God had to have a superhuman victim to atone for our sins, so he sent Jesus to earth and certain crucifixion to be that sacrificial victim for us) was just a bit too much for me, no matter how it was sanitized into family reunion and peace to the world themes.

It can also be a time of considerable tension. Family get-togethers don't always turn out to be harmonious, especially when there's so much expectation that they should be. Apart from the stress Christmas puts on some people's finances, there's also a lot of depression in the immediate post-Christmas period. And, for a Buddhist, there's a benefit in the realization that most gifts that are given are either disappointing or would be acquired in the course of time anyway (does a shirt given as a Christmas gift differ from one you buy in August, for example). But most people don't see it that way and may find Christmas a bit of a let-down.

Having said all that, I must admit Christmas morning was nice, around the tree with the children, and Christmas Lunch was nice, too. (I used to cook it myself - the only time in the year I'd cook for the whole family and guests as well.)

When I was a poor young teacher with four children, a stay-at-home wife and a big mortgage I used to drive a cab to boost our income, and drove it on Christmas Day (and night). Takings were good at Christmas and my boss let me keep it all (a really helpful Christmas gift). During that three years or so, our family celebrated Christmas on Boxing day, and it seemed really special. Everyone had had to wait an extra day and it seemed like we had our own special Christmas Day. Well, my children and their partners and children all live close to each other in an Australian city, and they all come together on Boxing Day. If we return to Oz I think that's when we'll join them, too. Others can have the 25th, with its dubious sentiments and pressure to get into the "Christmas spirit". If that spirit was of the kind that Dickens brings to bear on Scrooge, it would be fine, but the spirit of mendacity and emotional manipulation practised by the churches on that day, and the relentless pressure to buy and consume exercised by the temples of commerce scattered about the suburbs is not what I'm looking for.

I don't see any reason for Buddhists to pay any attention to Christmas. If you want to spoil the kids a bit and have a family get-together, just do it. No need to wait until Christmas. And if Christmas is a time for generosity, what time is not a time to be generous?

Still, Christmas isn't all bad and I don't want to be a Scrooge, so Merry Christmas everyone and a Happy New Year in 2011. If you're getting together with loved ones, may the occasion be one of real warmth and pleasure, and whatever your circumstances, may peace and joy be yours in the Christmas season (it ends at Epiphany, on January 6th, so you've got plenty of time to enjoy it).

[healthcaretaker]

In Asia, it's the decorations that make this occasion celebrative and merry.

We don't see it as a religious event and nothing about birthday of anyone being refered or involved.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone.

Hope my reply is not considered off-topic since it's actually nothing to do with Buddhism.

[monkfish]

Don't Buddhists have something similar to Christmas?

I notice they have a time of the year when they decorate banana trees with tinsel just like a Christmas and go around offering gifts and presents.

[camerata]

Buddhists celebrate the birth of the Buddha (and other events of his life) just as Christians celebrate Xmas, but it hasn't become commercialized. The sale of alcohol is banned on the Buddha's birthday in Thailand in keeping with the 5 Precepts.

[phetaroi]

Christmas can mean many different things to different people.

For me, it is a remembrance of childhood when my family got together and typically had a wonderful celebration that had little or nothing to do with religion. We didn't go to church or mass. We didn't pray. We enjoyed being together, decorating the houses, sharing a special breakfast and dinner.

In America, Christmas is also a national holiday.

It's not much different than my Thai friends back in Falls Church who attended the 4th Of July celebration. It was cultural.

Long before I began accepting aspects of Buddhism into my life, I happened to visit War Boworn in Bangkok on the day they were inducting monks. They invited me in the wiharn to sit with the monks during the ceremony. The attitude was -- as is often the case in Thailand -- come in and be a part of our celebration. They didn't ask if I was Buddhist.

Last year on the King's birthday I went down to Thanon Ratchadamnoen and walked the entire length of the street. So many groups of Thais invited me to join them for their food and drink. They didn't say, "Go away, you're not Thai and this is a Thai celebration."

Culture. Period.

[rockyysdt]

With awarenesss of physical & mental imbalance (frenetic pace of work) time off at Christmas is always welcome.

I love spending time watching my children and my sisters children interacting. A glimpse of the next generation.

Where l live XMas falls in summer. Largely a country built by immigrants, the traditions of winter fare at this time was brought with them. Memories as a child, feasting on roast lamb & potatoes with gravy, christmas pudding served with piping hot custard, and other inappropriate dishes eaten in sweltering hot 38C days. These days we favor cold dishes of seafood, hams and salads.

I also remember the frightening experience of an electrical storm during one Christmas as a child. The lightening flashes quickly followed by dramatic thunder claps. I was convinced God was expressing his displeasure of our sins.

I enjoy listening to carols, often not for the lyrics, but the emotional feelings they impart.

My favorite is "Little Drummer Boy", of which l have several youtube versions.

Perhaps its a reminder of the beauty in us all, and the work which lies before us crying out for loving kindness.