Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone. Or, if you prefer: Happy Holidays.

My friend Clarke Scott has a wonderful piece, “What does Christmas Mean to a Buddhist Monk?” well worth a read. Clarke discusses his own experiences in returning home, enjoying the beach, and giving gifts, along with the opportunities presented for the practice of patience and other Buddhist “perfections” or virtues.

For me this time of year always reminds me of John Lennon’s song, “Happy Christmas.” This is one of the many songs played in my home each year, and it is to home and family and friends that my mind rests now. Thus another short post. More in the new year, as always.

Until then, here’s wishing you all a (belated) very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thanks to all who have read this little blog over the years and to those who are new. I hope you’re somewhere warm and peaceful now, and near to those you love. For this Buddhist, that’s what Christmas is: a time to relax and reflect on the year, to be grateful for all that has passed and for the coming of longer days, and to just simply be.

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
Ans so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The world is so wrong
And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let’s stop all the fight
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
And what have we done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
Ans so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear
War is over over
If you want it
War is over
Now…