[ambientambien]

Hello,

Thich Nhat Hanh, in his many books, often recommends smiling as a spiritual or Buddhist practice.

I suppose the method is not original to him, but at the moment I can't think of any other dharma teachers who especially recommend it. I can't think of any sutras that especially recommend it, though there are sutras I have not heard or read. I am more familiar with the Pali Canon, less with the Mahayana sutras.

Personally, I get gloomy sometimes. Sometimes don't smile much during gloomy periods. I'm a bit shy, too, sometimes reserved, and serious-minded. Sometimes I just can't muster a big bright smile when I would like to. During cheerful periods, it's easier. (During my gloomy periods, I'm not depressed, really, just kinda gloomy.)

Typically, I smile much more easily if someone smiles at me first. I would like to give that gift to others, too, and give it first, but genuine warm smiles are basically involuntary. You have to feel it first.

I invent a lot of spontaneous jokes during conversation. These probably make it easier for me to smile. Unfortunately, my sense of humor is so dry that I often have to say, "Uh... That was a joke."

If you're interested in the topic of warm, genuine smiles:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duchenn...chenne_smiling

Buddhism sometimes seems like a gloomy topic, at least to me, particularly when I'm in a gloomy mood. When I'm in a happy mood, it seems more like a happy topic.

I imagine Gautama Buddha as someone who smiled warmly and often. I have a vague notion that some sutras say that, though I'm not certain.

I'd like to know:

--What notable Buddhist teachers or traditions have specifically recommended smiling, or discussed it in detail?

--What are some sutras that specifically mention smiling?

--What tradition or teacher did Thich Nhat Hanh get the idea from?

--Is it reasonable to combine some kind of smiling practice with meditation practice? Any suggestions about how, or how not to do that?

--Any off-hand ideas or personal experiences on this topic would also be welcome on this thread.

[cenRealliat]

Hello and welcome, B

I don't recall reading any suttas about smiling nor do I remember any teachers recommending it - but most of the teachers I've seen giving talks have always smiled or laughed a lot themselves.

I'm not quite sure how one could do smiling practice - because smiling is usually spontaneous, isn't it ?

I find that smiling at other people when one passes them in the street, or on public transport, in a shop, or at work or wherever, usually gets a nice one in response.

with kind wishes,

Aloka

[Suentiend]

Hello B

Be welcome to the forum!

IMO, smiling can happen when we are at peace with things. A natural outcome from a peaceful mood. I don't remember a sutta where smiling is recommended but I remember having read about a meditation where smiling is a part of it. Something like smiling toward yourself and others.

Maybe somebody can recall something about this.

[Kimeoffessyr]

Smiling is mentioned p28 and p29 of 'Metta Bhavana - Loving Kindness Meditation' by Ven Dhammakkhita


http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/scrn_metta.pdf

[buchmausar]

I believe that a Buddhist smile is coming from inner peace and a calm mind I my self are a smiling Buddhist and at work they often ask why i smile all the time then i answer with a bigger smile

[ivandiadser]

--What notable Buddhist teachers or traditions have specifically recommended smiling, or discussed it in detail?

Hi B,

I have remembered where I read about smiling in a meditation process.

It is taught by the Venerable U. Vimalaramsi in his essay The Anapanasati Sutta where he proposes a simple technique for the practice of mindfulness:

The “6R’s” are steps which evolve into one fluid
motion becoming a new wholesome habitual tendency that
relieves any dis-ease in mind and body. This cycle begins when MINDFULNESS recollects the “6R’s” which are:
RECOGNIZE
RELEASE
RELAX
RE-SMILE
RETURN
REPEAT
Development of mindfulness (one’s observation
power) recollects each step of the practice cycle. Once one
understands what the purpose of mindfulness is, keeping it
going all the time is no longer problematic and makes the
meditation easier to understand, plus it is much more fun to
practice. It becomes a part of happy living and this brings up
a smile. Remembering and recollection leads to having a
wholesome up-lifted mind.

p. 39-40
where the "smile" thing goes like this:

Learning to smile with mind and raising slightly the corners
of the mouth helps mind to be observant, alert and agile.
Getting serious, tensing up or frowning causes mind to
become heavy and one’s mindfulness becomes dull and
slow. One’s insights become more difficult to see, thus
slowing down one’s understanding of Dhamma.

p. 42