It's Christmas Time!

[Brian]

I've been asked about a thousand times in the last few weeks, by friends, family, and acquaintances, the million dollar question:

"Do Buddhists celebrate Christmas?"


I love this question. Most people just assume that we don't. Let me explain my viewpoint, as an american buddhist:

My family celebrates Christmas. Let's look at Christmas for what it really is: It is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. While the actual date may be highly doubtful (in fact, the entire season is probably doubtful - scholars claim that Jesus was probably born in the spring sometime), the point of the celebration is timeless. Jesus Christ was a bodhisattiva of high regard. He did a great many works in the latter part of his lifetime which were of great value to humanity. Therefore, of course we would celebrate his life and his birth.

Now, add to that the cultural aspect of the Christmas holiday. In the west, Christmas is a time to reflect on the past year, reflect on our families and loved ones, and generally bring good cheer to those around us. This fits perfectly within the realm of Buddhism, so it is very logical for us to celebrate the holiday.

So, with all that in mind, I say "Merry Christmas" to you and yours.

[Gnome]

some scholars believe he was born in the fall not winter. I celebrate evertime i go to church about jesus birth but Christmas is a speacial time. ITs a time not only to elebrate the birth of Jesus but to celebrate Life and Familly also.

[Brian]

I thought this, one year later, would be an appropriate time to bump this thread :)

Merry Christmas, everyone!

[Camman]

Merry Christmas from me as well!

Man, I didnt even know this site has been online for a year!

[tycho]

Yes sirrie... Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you all enjoy your holiday!

[Camman]

Let's look at Christmas for what it really is: It is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. While the actual date may be highly doubtful (in fact, the entire season is probably doubtful - scholars claim that Jesus was probably born in the spring sometime), the point of the celebration is timeless. Jesus Christ was a bodhisattiva of high regard. He did a great many works in the latter part of his lifetime which were of great value to humanity. Therefore, of course we would celebrate his life and his birth.



Now, not to be the kill-joy here, but, I have a question about this. Wouldn't the 'celebration' of Christmas be a contradiction for a Buddhist? I understand you're saying that celebrating the life of Jesus Christ makes sense, but, we celebrate Christmas by giving gifts, material things, and wouldn't this fall under that whole attachment thing?

[Brian]

The buddhist path is not as dire as all that. It's the middle path - celebration mixed with somber realization of the ultimate impermenance of all things. Joy mixed with sadness, pain mixed with pleasure, all the various shades and spectrum of life's experiences all taken in with wisdom and tolerance :)

[Justin]

If material possessions were out, then we would all be naked, homeless, and hungry. The materialism thing is based on the idea that the human condition tends to never be satisfied. Sure you want something from time to time but when you just get the plastic off of your new copy of Halo 2 only to start wanting GTA: San Andreas, you are at a point where there is no level of satisfaction. I, and most, are EXTREMLY guilty of this. The idea is to be satisfied with what you have, and at a time of giving and receiving like Christmas, to be satisfied with what you get, and what you give. Taking part in traditions of all religeons is, I feel, a responsibility of every balanced life. Experience the miracle of (C)haunnakah, enjoy the togetherness of Kwanzaa, celebrate the night of the winter solstice. There is no reason that you can't take part in the culture of others. In fact, you should. How else can you begin to feel compassion for something you have no understanding of?

[Private_Snoball]

some scholars believe he was born in the fall not winter. I celebrate evertime i go to church about jesus birth but Christmas is a speacial time. ITs a time not only to elebrate the birth of Jesus but to celebrate Life and Familly also.

Since when do people need a specific date to celebrate Life and Family? Are people so unthankful that they can't say thanks mom/brother/dad whatever for what they have done. I am 16 years old and the last thing I say to my Mom every night is "I love you, and thanks for everything." I don't need Christmas to tell me to do that, and neither should you. People should want to be with their family, and if they can only get off work or school during the Christmas season then that's good that they see their family, but if they go see their family because they have to, well then you are better off not going, you'll be happier, and no one needs someone mopeing around during Christmas. :bawling:

:birthday: Jesus, whenever the hell you were born

[amoz02]

one interesting snippet of info. the date that we consider the birthdate was already taken by an older roman religion called the cult of mithra (spelling is wrong most likely). so, the christians in an attempt not to be killed worshipped that day, but somewhere down the line it has become his birth day. so, here's off to the birth date of jesus, the spring.

[Elohim]

Yes, and Dec. 25 is also the time of Nordic Yule, along with the Finnish festival celebrating the solstice. Practically all pagans have a holiday on the solstices. The Christians easily replaced local deities with Christ. A funny note, the Fins have there own pre-christianized version of Santa called Joulupukki . It means "Yule goat". Hahaha there Santa is a goat. The northern European countries were very individualized and pagan. The church had to incorporate their customs to fit with Christianity. The locals didn't care if a name was changed from whoever to Jesus as long as they were still able to do what they always had been. Many pagans were used to having a god with more than one name anyway. Christianity is paganism with another face. There sure as hell weren't any yule logs or pine trees in the holy land of the jews. And the Easter bunny has nothing to do with resurrections, that was pure fertility. The Catholics couldn't keep anything original. Jesus was real but what the Holy Romans did to the faith doesn't resemble the o.g. version at all. Poor Jesus. He died for a good cause and we end up making money off of selling chocolates and christmas trees. Way to celerate the Saviour!

[federica]

Well, having carefully studied the few previous posts, this subject has obviously engendred a lot of feeling.... Justin had a point when he said that we should be sharing in the cultures of others, by way of trying to compassionately get to grips with what makes them tick. I have seen repeated threads on how structured religion (Roman Catholicism specifically!) really seems to get peoples' backs up, and yet we all make a point of explaining to newbies that no matter what their provenance, they're welcome, we're such a nice bunch of guys, with compassion, humour, good fun to be with.... "some things have I perceived to glare with double features".... We have to, once and for all - and I really think this is important guys - learn to differentiate between the True Doctrine of the basic Religion itself, and that which is peddled as strict dogma and ethics by the guys wearing the purple robes, big rings and gold chest jewellery.... We all know religions hijacked ancient pagan customs.... we all know current christian festivals are an absolute mish-mash of traditions.... we all know the resurrection of Christ is marked by Eggs and roast lamb.... Cutting through all this fog with diamond vision is what we have to do....
Accept that people will continue doing this, because they a) believe it is the way it's done b) don't realise the origins and combinations of different practises , c) don't realise that there is another way of perceiving it all and d) - they enjoy it! It brings them fun!
WE at least have a structured, intelligent means of discussing this here in the forum. instead of shredding things like this to bits (complete with universal compassion & unconditional love, of course! ;) we have to make a concerted EFFORT to join in their gladness, fun and sense of celebration, but never lose an opportunity - if asked - to offer what we feel.... then 'LET IT GO.' Be centred, and know that it's all transitory anyway...things will evolve and change as needs they must. Be still. Accept. And pass the chocolates. Thank you.

[Elohim]

No, I don't think somethings have to be let go of. I think it's alright for people to know what they are believeing in and accepting. I'm not shredding anything. I don't mind if people are Catholic or any other religion, but I enjoy letting the people who don't know some things they might want to. Not everyone is Finnish and knows of their Yule goat present-giver. Not every Christian knows how the pagans accpeted Jesus into their own beliefs. If more people didn't just believe in things because they heard they were true or grew up thinking it's all fact, maybe we would have more underdstanding of life and other cultures. Most Christians don't know any of this. I know my uncle swears to me that it's all made up. He swears homosexuals are evil and should all be killed, and the church is the only law!!! People these days don't even know history. Greed is a defilement and it ruins many things. Christmas presents are nice but do they help lessen attachments? I doubt it. The world today is just a mess. Too fast, too busy, too intent on wanting more. Compassion for me makes seeing the world like this hurt deep inside. It makes me see people worried about gifts, about what else they can buy or eat or put on their table in the living room to look nice, seeing people lost in delussion and they won't stop for just a moment to hear another idea. People letting their children litter, swear at elders, using drugs....it's insane. I have used drugs before. I didn't learn it from school though. My family got me into that. My nice Christian family. I respect them but I do not have to join in. If it's unskillful then it's not part of my path. If the Buddha just let things evolve on their own with out teaching the Dhamma, we wouldn't have it today. He thought he shouldn't, thought to just keep quiet and let people do as they always have, but then compassion set in and he decided to teach the few that might listen. Sometimes you have to speak. You have to let people know your side and then let them decide what's right for them. I'm just giving them something to ponder. I myself like Jesus and I wish more people knew what he really was all about. The bottom line is that I'm not enlightened yet and I still have feelings, opinions, and ideas that I believe strongly in. I don't mind sharing those either ;)