Angry Buddha

Today is Chinese New Year!

 

I have only ever taken a passing interest in the Chinese New Year. I have always understood the New Year to be on January 1^st and celebrated with over drinking, over eating and American football games. To have New Years celebrated a week or so into February is contrary to everything I know. I just don’t know how to even celebrate the Chinese version. I know that they dance around in a dragon costume and I would hope they let off fireworks. There is no doubt over eating involved, but whether they drink themselves senseless or play some sport I just don’t know.

When you consider how many people in the world celebrate Chinese New Year, you would think that the western world would at the very least be aware. Maybe everyone else is and I am one of the few ignorant humans left in the world. They certainly seem to be having a lot of fun, so maybe there is a lot of alcohol involved. I can’t help but notice that it is not a stat holiday in Canada or the USA. It probably should be, we can’t have too much time off of work.

 

This year is the year of the Monkey and I think I heard that it will be a year of good fortune, emphasis on the “fortune” part. I sure hope so; I could do with some good luck. I was born in the year of the Dragon and I have no idea what that means. Perhaps just that I have been dragin’ my ass for most of my life.

Louise and I were at a restaurant the other day and they had one of those smiling Buddha’s on the counter. Every nook and cranny had coins and they were overflowing onto the base. In times past I have dropped a coin on Buddha for good luck and perhaps happiness. It can’t hurt to have a God like figure on your side.

 

I wondered what happens to the money at the end of the day. The cynic in me figured that the hard working owner just pockets the coins and uses the money to reinvest in the business. However, that might bring you some pretty nasty Karma, stealing from Buddha. I know I wouldn’t want that kind of mojo working against me. I don’t remember ever seeing a Smiling Buddha temple anywhere in the city. They could be in Chinatown, not being able to read Chinese I may have walked by the church many times. Maybe they just give the money to worthy charities or the church of their choice.

Whatever they do with it seems to work because I have never seen an angry Buddha and pray that I never do.