{"id":1922,"date":"2012-12-28T07:08:34","date_gmt":"2012-12-28T07:08:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/americanbuddhist\/?p=1922"},"modified":"2012-12-28T07:08:34","modified_gmt":"2012-12-28T07:08:34","slug":"merry-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/americanbuddhist\/2012\/12\/merry-christmas.html","title":{"rendered":"Merry Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"santa<\/a><\/p>\n

Merry Christmas everyone. Or, if you prefer: Happy Holidays.<\/p>\n

My friend Clarke Scott has a wonderful piece, \u201cWhat does Christmas Mean to a Buddhist Monk?<\/a>\u201d 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 \u201cperfections\u201d or virtues.<\/p>\n

For me this time of year always reminds me of John Lennon\u2019s song, \u201cHappy Christmas.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

Until then, here\u2019s 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\u2019re somewhere warm and peaceful now, and near to those you love. For\u00a0this<\/em> Buddhist, that\u2019s 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\u00a0<\/strong>be<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

So this is Christmas
\nAnd what have you done
\nAnother year over
\nAnd a new one just begun
\nAns so this is Christmas
\nI hope you have fun
\nThe near and the dear one
\nThe old and the young<\/p>\n

A very merry Christmas
\nAnd a happy New Year
\nLet\u2019s hope it\u2019s a good one
\nWithout any fear
\nAnd so this is Christmas
\nFor weak and for strong
\nFor rich and the poor ones
\nThe world is so wrong
\nAnd so happy Christmas
\nFor black and for white
\nFor yellow and red ones
\nLet\u2019s stop all the fight
\nA very merry Christmas
\nAnd a happy New Year
\nLet\u2019s hope it\u2019s a good one
\nWithout any fear
\nAnd so this is Christmas
\nAnd what have we done
\nAnother year over
\nAnd a new one just begun
\nAns so this is Christmas
\nI hope you have fun
\nThe near and the dear one
\nThe old and the young
\nA very merry Christmas
\nAnd a happy New Year
\nLet\u2019s hope it\u2019s a good one
\nWithout any fear
\nWar is over over
\nIf you want it
\nWar is over
\nNow\u2026<\/p>\n