"If you haven't any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble."
--Bob Hope
Whether Santa is real or not really doesn't matter, as he has been endowed with some remarkable qualities that we can all learn from. In fact, in many ways, he is better able to show us true spirituality than even the average guru.
This is significant considering many of us so often act selfishly and greedily. By being good he means being kind, generous, considerate and thoughtful.
He gives to everyone, whoever and wherever they are, all at pretty much the same time. And he does it without asking for anything in return (except for the odd glass of milk and cookies). This indicates he has a truly generous heart, one that takes great joy in giving without needing to receive, which is a very important lesson, as giving with no expectation of getting is the quickest route to happiness. Through giving to others, à la Santa, we get away from selfishness and neediness.
Rather, he considers what the most appropriate gift for each person is. This shows great discernment. Too often we give without thinking (like giving candy to a starving child when what they need is food), so here Santa shows us how giving needs wisdom in order to be of most benefit.
In other words, he takes the time to hear and pay attention, which we could all do a lot more of. How often do we really listen to someone without judging them, or without imposing our own thoughts on them or telling them what we think is right for them?
He seems to have psychic abilities, flies in the sky with reindeer, descends chimneys without getting covered in soot and goes by many names and forms, all while remaining extraordinarily elusive. Has anyone actually ever seen him? The lesson here is that we can all do more than we think we can, and we don't need to be applauded. We can practice random acts of kindness quietly, simply, without bringing attention to ourselves.
We can do the same for each other. There's no need to spread doom and gloom or focus on what is wrong with ourselves or the world. By focusing on what is good we not only bring a lightness of spirit to others, but we also get to feel a lot better, too.
In other words, he is inside every one of us. Santa is our true, authentic self that is there when we can let go of our ego-centered needs.
As Winston Churchill said, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
What does Santa mean to you? Do comment below.
Happy holidays and happy giving!
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John Shore: Get Thee Behind Me, Santa!
Santa Claus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Santa Claus — History.com Articles, Video, Pictures and Facts
Still christians point at caste system in India when many wealthy capitalists of florida look down upon those who are homeless.
Still the giving comes for all those war victims as carpet bombs in 'precision operation'.
Still the govt. is not implementing any free medical policy which could do away with the menace of the medical insurance.
Santa seems to be failing in his promise for even a warmer roof over head for the millions of homeless in america!!!!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/22/homeless-families-increase_n_800040.html
never give up!
let us have a positive outlook on life and do what we can
Ok this one os OK
Santa was and is such a great guru. "He knows where we live." That sure is a good thing. We live in our hearts and soul. Having taken a leap into living in 3 cities and a town in Hawaii in the last few months this really speaks to me.
I am having a direct experience of "home is where the heart is." What a great joy to know that Santa is always welcome in my home-regardless of the location.
Bless you, my wonderful friends!!!
Let me know if you'll be in Hawaii in the near future!
Eli
You are my sanity Santas. I still get myself worked up and let my monkey mind take over. But not as often as I used to and not for as long as I used to when I do. I owe that in large part to you Deb and you Ed. Thanks.
5. He's filled with joy and lifts our spirits at the darkest time.
This will be my focus for the next week. The only way to make it work is to make sure my spirit isn't in darkness itself. Then I'll have energy to bring lightness with me where ever I go.
Peace and Happy Holidays,
little brother
just that the monkey mind can create all sorts of trouble
makes us believe all sorts of nonsense - anything as long as we are obedient and slaves to our monkey mind
but when the monkey becomes quiet the wonder begins!
Just a comment:
"1. He asks us to be good." The point that he gives to everyone without asking anything in return is not true, since he is asking us to be "good" however he defines "good." I would like a written contract, but Santa doesn't play that ...
Many people give presents expecting that their gifts could influence the other persons' behavior. That connection is a source of much misery ...
that's a business deal
if we give with expectation we are not giving - we are looking to get!
for sanata, its easy to be everything when your not real. lamas, well they have to work on their own progress while taking care of others needs. ill stick to lamas. they give me dharma, santa brings stuff.
christmas has turned to santa instead of jesus. santa is one illusion, (yes i was like this as a child).
the world would be better without. santa hits our greed button. you can doll him up but he is still the man with a sleigh of presents.
the whole world will be - this world is the phenomenal world
there are no monks doing austerities, no santas and reindeer, it is fruitless in samsara - but we can
Wake-up
to this and see the monks are santa & there is one consciousness - there is radiant emptiness!
Seems to me, the Santa traits you detail also describe those of a good neighbor, a good friend, and particularly, a good parent.
Maybe that is why so many see in him, qualities desired and treasured, even when they are unsure of why. The examples he sets, the attitude he adopts, and his even-handed behavior toward all are lessons of character, consideration, and compassion.
Excellent article! Have a fine Christmas and Namaste.
Lawson Meadows
PS: We won't get into that breaking into people's houses thing; after all, he leaves more than he takes and cleans up after himself and the reindeer... -|;o}
lovely!
FUN blog!
My jewish husband never really got the Santa gig.....but he is a jolly good time!! :)
Merry Merry and enjoy all that Rocky Mountain snow!
Most jealous!
with love,
k
I have been up skiing & it was hot!!! :-))
Ed, you must have donned a Santa suit? If not, I still envision you decked out spreading love, gifting us with treasures all year long with your wonderful wisdom (shared with Deb.) Happy Holidays in Peace and Love, Merrie Lynn
Dana is generosity & Karuna compassion (or compassionate giving)
Absolutely Brilliant...I had not ever thought of Santa with such a depth of meaning. Thank you, and I'll now be holding our dearly beloved Santa in a totally different light!!!
So...HO! HO! HO! and "Happy Holidays" to you, and all, filled with loving kindness and lots of joy!
Love,
AndiG
Santa is actually working for the NSA!! The most dangerous fact of all!
Santa is much smarter about not making a scandal, avoiding trouble and not calling too much attention to himself. No "religion of Santa" with this guy.
Which is also why he is better than any guru.
Also.. Santa does not charge money for everything. He does not sleep with his students... or his elves.. he has not trademarked Christmas or Christmas trees or Xmas or Christmas carols or flying reindeer. He does not wear fancy watches.. or sit on a throne ..or support and live off a cult of Santa Claus. He does not in any way encourage people to worship him ..or his picture..
...and he is not petty and vengeful and reactive behind your back.
He just encourages us to do real good..( not just the good we think is good.. )
-good for others..
and to rise up (think "chimney/kundalini") to sit on the top of the world ("North Pole/Sahasrāra") and laugh ..and breathe and love... with him and all of humanity..
Ho Ho Ho.