World Smile Day: A Path to Happiness

Buddhism's Seinfeld: funny Ajahn Brahm

The first Friday of October is World Smile Day (Oct. 3, 2025), a relatively new holiday with a fascinating story. Created by a commercial artist named Harvey Ball, this day came about as a response to his creation of the smiley face. Harvey worried that the commercialization of the symbol would lessen its impact. We can hardly blame him for his estimation; the symbol has been used in many different ways including clothing, comic books, coffee mugs, pins, and more. These little yellow faces are more than just a symbol, they’re a statement about the power of smiling.

History of World Smile Day

Has this symbol always existed?

In 1963, Harvey Ball, a graphic artist and ad man from Worcester, Massachusetts, created the smiley face symbol [the yellow emoji icon] we’ve all come to know.

Popularity for this symbol exploded into the world of popular culture. It’s every artists’ dream for their work to be respected and recreated and few symbols have had quite the legacy that Harvey’s creation has had. More: nationaltoday.com

Smiling animals brighten our day

If looking for something to brighten an otherwise dreary winter day, look no further than these adorable animals. Looking at their cheery grins will no doubt put a smile on the face that watches them, too. These smiling animals will brighten the day

Buddhism: There is no way to happiness. Why? Happiness is the way

I let go, surrendered, and blissed out on the mat.

This is a tricky truth no one talks about, at least not in the West. We are forever searching and seeking, scheming and striving to get happy, to FIND a way to happiness. But this message turns that sort of thinking on its head.

When at a Buddhist monastery or on a Buddhist retreat, it's not uncommon to ask, "How do I attain meditative absorption (jhana)?" Another word for it is "zen" or dhyana and dharana on a yoga retreat. But there's no answer. One is taught a technique but no way to achieve the thing one strives for. Why?

I have a theory. - What is it? - Do the GOOD.

It is reached by letting go, dropping the striving, surrendering up the muscling, giving up the go-getter attitude. It just happens. And teachers will say, "There's no way to [scheme and use force to] do it. Meditators just do it."

I went to the room of the greatest jhana teacher in the world, and I pressed him, "What's the secret?"

He didn't know what I meant, he said. He didn't even know what I was talking about, he claimed. Then I thought, he's given me an opening. Here's my chance. I better ask very carefully:

"How does one meditate...successfully? What I mean is, how does one attain absorption? How does one get to..." He looked at me like I was kidding and when he saw that I was not, as if by rote, he gave me the basic instructions:

• Sit up straight, but not too straight, relax, bring your attention under your nose to the breath, remain aware of each and every in-breath and out-breath that is happening. Don't do anything but give your undivided attention to that breath (composed of an in-portion and out-portion). Just that. [Then what? - Then nothing, just that. - No, but there has to be something more; it can't be just that. - Just do that (in addition to keeping silent, following the Eight Precepts, and always keeping the breath in mind except when asleep) and then report to me what happens during the daily interview sessions. Try it. It's very simple, but there's nothing easy about it. So keep at it.]

Bare awareness (mindfulness/sati) is a start.

"No," I said, "not how does one sit; how does one succeed? How does one get to that state of one-pointedness, samadhi, stillness, rapture, unbroken focus...?"

"Oh, that," he said. "I don't know that." I thought he was joking, a real effort to make an American-style joke, and I didn't know why he wasn't telling me. He knew I was sincere. He knew I had been striving all month long. Then I applied more pressure than probably anyone would ever dare to apply.

I wasn't leaving without an answer: "What do you mean you don't know? Who better than you? If you don't know, who could possibly know?"

Then he stunned me, as he often did with the directness of his insight and his willingness to share his knowledge with me? "I don't know because I do not read minds. People come to me. I give them the instructions. And some of them come tell me what is happening, and I guide them from there."

You asked him what?! Did he throw you out?

"But WHY do some of them have something start happening since not everyone does?"

"That I do not know. I just know they do. And when they do, I can help them, guide them to go deeper. But how they get to it in the first place, that I do not know." [These aren't exact quotes, just the gist of the conversation, which only lasted a few desperate minutes as I pushed and pushed.]

As he said this, I realized I had asked him this before, after sitting with him in Asia at his massive monastery, where it seemed everyone was succeeding and attaining. I asked him and pushed him a little on the matter with someone sitting by me to catch what I might be missing, two Americans sincerely wanting to experience what Buddhist texts write about, what the Buddha taught, what sutras say happens.

At that time he looked at us and perceiving our sincerity said one strange word, his guess as to what it was distilled down to ONE thing as if it could ever be just one thing distinguishing success from just sitting. That word was parami. She smiled next to me, but I grimaced, perplexed. "'Parami?' The Sanskrit word paramita?"

"Yes," he answered, but he was actually talking about the Pali (and therefore Theravada Buddhist) form of the word parami. In either case, it means "perfection," but the Sanskrit is a diluted Mahayana term of six factors, whereas the historical Buddha always taught TEN intentional actions (deeds, karma).

My teacher clarified. What he imagined (from what he heard from many of his successful students reporting to him) was that they remembered doing skillful deeds in the past, and he concluded that those past skillful deeds were coming to fruition as they sat. And that's why some succeeded and not others.

What kinds of questions are these? You are silly.

(What I was really getting at was, WHAT ACTIONS CAN SOMEONE DO NOW OR WHILE ONE IS SITTING IN MEDITATION, ANXIOUS FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN, TO MAKE IT HAPPEN?)

That he didn't know, so I had to undertake a lifelong journey of trying to figure it out. Of course, it will have something to do with the Factors of Absorption (jhananga, "limbs of jhana"). Leigh Brasington figured this much out, having had the insight that happiness is the way:

Right Concentration: Practical Guide to the Jhanas

Brasington teaches a technique of focusing on one of these factors, happiness (piti, joy, pleasure, rapture, bliss) as it arises in the body in serenity meditation. By focusing on it, it increases based on the principle that, "Where attention goes, energy flows." This is true enough, but how does one get the initial happiness/bliss to pay attention to and make increase?

Now it makes sense that what I had always been looking for was a carrot or apple in front of the horse (mule, donkey, jackass). I could only neigh in realizing it: THE GOAL is not this happiness because THIS HAPPINESS is the way to relaxing, letting go, unstriving, surrendering, unclutching, dropping hangups, persisting without grasping or clinging, shikantaza ("just sitting"), not setting up a goal and striving for it. Why? It's because those blissful states of meditation and their attendant stillness, mindfulness, and progress towards insight are NATURAL. They arise. We don't "do" them. We can't do them. We don't know how and do not have that power.

But if we relax and just watch with vigilance, stillness, steadiness, persistence, we are cultivating the Factors of Absorption and other factors of the 37 Requisites of Enlightenment, which are categorized into seven groupings.

• One is reminded of a very important thing the Buddha once explained to someone. When talking about the Bodhisatta, himself at the stage of still being a seeker of enlightenment, he once realized that he could neither strive too hard or be negligent. Doing either, he sank as if in a great ocean (samsara), but not striving and not being negligent, he made progress. What could this mean either than the Middle Way of avoiding extremes, of persisting but not pushing, of cultivating but not disturbing the peace or giving in to apathy, listlessness, or despair?
• Thai Forest Tradition arahant Ajahn Maha Boowa seems to be suggesting the same thing here (translated by the American intellect Ven. Thanissaro): "The tactics [techniques] given by each of the Buddhas to the world are called the Dhamma [Truth] of the doctrine. These aren't the genuine Dhamma. They're tactics [methods] — different offshoots — actions and modes displayed by the genuine Dhamma, means for letting go and striving, teaching us to let go, teaching us to strive using various methods, saying that the results will be like this or that. As for the genuine Dhamma of results in the principles of nature, that's something to be known exclusively in the heart of the person who practices. This Dhamma can't really be described correctly in line with its truth. We can only talk around it. And particularly with release [nirvana, liberation, freedom]: This can't be correctly described at all, because it's beyond all conventions and speculations. It can't be described. Even though we may know it with our full heart, we can't describe it. Like describing the flavor [of a soup using only words to someone who has yet to simply taste it]." From Things As They Are.

Smile, be happy. Don't overdo it; just let it be.

So happiness IS the way. Be happy. Right now. Choose it. It's a choice. Smile. After all, it's World Smile Day. Reflect, "Why is the Buddha ALWAYS smiling slightly?" There are no statues of him yelling or throwing things, losing his temper or his poise. Why? It's because once one uproots the defilements, there is nothing more tat can upset. One knows-and-sees directly.

Like that, Lisa, just like that. Hold it.

And to the extent that that knowing-and-seeing is the goal, one has reached it. Things have become clear, and nothing can any longer upset us. What was in the way, aside from the defilements (of which there are many subtle ones) and lack of parami-karma (ten skillful deeds performed with the ambition of nirvana being the result)? What is the direct path to bodhi (enlightenment, awakening, realization, liberating-insight)?

What is the way to bodhi? The Seven Factors of Enlightenment. What is the way to those factors? The preceding factors of the 37 Requisites of Enlightenment. How does one do any factor? It's probably a good idea to be happy. How does one even begin to dream to do that? Smile.

Harvard U's free course on Happiness

I took Harvard's free 6-week course on happiness—and here's what I learned

After six weeks of reading articles, watching videos, and contributing to class discussion boards, I've officially completed Harvard University's "Managing Happiness" course, led by social scientist and Harvard Professor Arthur Brooks.

The online class is completely free for audit only (not class credit), and anyone can take it up until March 27, 2024, which is past, so forget about becoming happy (j/k).

The course is self-paced, but after six weeks, one will lose access to its materials and one's progress.

Now that I've finished the course, my biggest takeaway is that I feel a lot more in control of my own happiness.

I left with an understanding that the things beyond my control can, and will, affect my happiness, but my reactions to these outcomes are more important (more important than what happens to me).

When I first started the Harvard course about happiness, I had several questions that I hoped to have answered. Here are some insights that I've gained.

Here's what I learned from Harvard's free happiness course

You make me smile, Buddha. And I get happy.

1. How often should we experience happiness? Though there isn't a set frequency for how often we should feel happy, we can experience happiness very often, especially by doing things that will make us genuinely smile.

The first thing that we were asked to do for the class was to grip a pencil between our molars for 60 to 90 seconds to mimic the act of smiling. [If the tail wags the dog, the dog will get happy, however counterintuitive that may seem. Try it.]

Though the activity felt silly, it did make me laugh, which [kickstarts deep breathing and] is associated with happiness.

Duchenne smile engages muscles of mouth and eyes

Guillaume Duchenne de Boulogne, a French neurologist who studied facial expressions, was particularly interested in what some call the "Duchenne smile," a smile that engages the muscles around our mouth and eyes.

"If we force a Duchenne smile, we start to feel happier," Prof. Brooks says in one of the course's videos.

And research from 2022 seems to support that theory. The Duchenne smile teaches us that "you can stimulate your happiness and improve it," sometimes by just genuinely smiling, Prof. Brooks adds.

2. Is it realistic to expect to feel happy all of the time?

Why was the Buddha always happy? Nirvana

 

As often as we can cultivate happiness in our own lives, it's not possible to feel happy 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"Modern research shows us that our emotions are under our control — but only partly," Prof. Brooks says during the course.

Our genetic makeup and outside factors, like other people's actions, can also affect our emotions, he explains.

It requires effort and discipline to better manage our feelings. It's also important to remember that "happiness requires some amount of unhappiness," Prof. Brooks says.

Instead of avoiding unhappiness, we should embrace it and try to see what it is teaching us that can lead to growth.

3. If happiness is connected to our experiences, especially with those around us, how can we protect it when dealing with difficult people? Relationships greatly impact our happiness, but how to handle interactions with difficult people was not something we covered in depth.

However, one of the seven practices that Harvard researchers believe leads to happiness and good health is having good conflict-resolution skills.

• Google Zen expert on the number one skill for dealing with difficult people

I'm not really smiling, just mellow and content.

To be happier, researchers interviewed for the course also encourage people to form and strengthen relationships with people they can count on.

An 85-year Harvard study found that the Number One thing that makes us happier in life is positive relationships.

Prof. Brooks recommends developing great relationships and achieving healthy friendship balance by:

• Having check-ins with our friends
• Asking deep questions to gauge people's true opinions on important topics to build upon friendships with acquaintances
• Making more friends that "you don't need"

"In order to have a friend, you must be a friend," Prof. Brooks says, so you should practice the behaviors that you'd want a friend to have.

Be supportive, give people the capacity to be themselves, and provide advice without judgment, he recommends for those looking to become better friends.

4. How can we cultivate happiness during tough times in our lives? We typically feel like we're having a tough time during major transitions in our lives, but writer Bruce Feiler, who was mentioned and interviewed for the course, believes that life is found in the transitions.

Sometimes transitions are ones that we choose like moving to a new city or starting a new job. Other times, we can't anticipate them like the pandemic or the loss of a loved one.

But after interviewing hundreds of people and asking them about the transitions in their lives, Feiler learned that 90% of people were able to get through their tough times. For this reason, he suggests accepting our emotions and going through the process of recovery, instead of not acknowledging that things have changed.

Psychologists have also discovered that many people experience post-traumatic growth, a transformation after life-changing experiences and trauma.

According to the American Psychological Association, signs of post-traumatic growth can include:

• Appreciation of life
• New possibilities in life
• Personal strength
• Relationships with others
• Spiritual change.

And if you're struggling to find happiness during a tough time, Prof. Brooks offers this piece of encouragement:

"Remember that bad things don't last."

• I’m taking Harvard’s free 6-week course on happiness—here’s what I hope to learn
• CNBC's Make It, the new newsletter
• An 85-year Harvard study found the No. 1 thing that makes us happy in life: It helps us ‘live longer'

• Renée Onque, CNBC.com, 8/2/23, I took Harvard's free 6-week course on happiness—here's what I learned (msn.com); Dhr. Seven, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Moving with Joy: Laughter Yoga demo

Meetup L. (Meetup); Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation), CC Liu (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly

There’s a great way to boost spirits: a hearty laugh. In this Meetup Live event, we’re combining joy and exercise with a beginner-friendly demonstration of Laughter Yoga.

Join Meetup Live for a lively session of movement and fun with Celeste Greene, a certified laughter yoga teacher and US laughter ambassador.

During this demonstration, you'll enjoy a series of exercises designed to get you moving, breathing, and laughing. You will learn about the history and health benefits of this practice. No equipment is necessary. Be sure to stay for the Q&A.

• Moving with Joy: Laughter Yoga Demo, Tue, Mar 14, 2023, 3:00 PM | Meetup

AGENDA

• Introduction (5 mins)
• Laughter Yoga demo (40 mins)
• Q&A session (15 mins)

ABOUT: Celeste Greene is the director of Celeste Greene Laughs. She is a certified laughter yoga teacher and US laughter ambassador. For over a decade, she has facilitated interactive presentations that get groups on their feet laughing and connecting. She has presented at TEDx Centennial Park Women and to numerous clients in a variety of industries. Her work has been featured in a variety of media outlets including Forbes.com, CNN, and Psychology Today. She leads a free public Laughter Yoga class on Zoom twice a week. She also trains others to facilitate Laughter Yoga in her in-person and online Certified Laughter Yoga Leader Training program. Check out the Community Matters blog for the recording, the latest updates, and stories from the Meetup community.

The Laughing Jesus

This event is online. Install Zoom: zoom.us/download. Space is limited, so reserve a seat. The dial in link will become available after RSVP to the event. Also, don’t worry about a password; it’s embedded in the link. Sign in if logged on to the same email address as the RSVP.

Have a question for our Community Support team? Contact them from the Help Center: meetup.com/lp/community-support.

Members participating in Meetup Live events must be respectful in interactions with people and in content posted on the platform. Meetup monitors and restricts behaviors that are inappropriate or disruptive, undermine the integrity of the platform, violate personal boundaries, or serve to intentionally upset people. Meetup reserves the right to remove members content from the site that violates Terms of Service, including Usage and content policies.

• Eighteen female guards at 'Britain's cushiest jail' fired for having illicit affairs with inmates | Daily Mail Online

How to make a cool 3D printed mask

Thingiverse.com/thing:4245665 (imgur); Crystal Quintero, CC Liu (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Need masks, anyone -- no? Yes? B.S. CDC.

I came up with a mask that can be 3D printed in minutes and uses cloth as a filter. I took a lot of flack for it being told, "Nobody needs a mask."

I was told I was doing more harm than good for making cheap masks available to everyone because people would go out more. That's like saying, "Don't make birth control available because people are going to want to have sex."

Oh no, it's Corona! Stay back!

People are going to go out. Some of us even have to go out in public because we're deemed "essential." So it makes sense to be protected from aerosol exposure.

Terrycloth is now supposed to be the best filter material. Print frame from this link: thingiverse.com/thing:4245665

Salt for sinuses: new "neti" pot

Face Yoga

Funny Face Yoga