Buddhists were not supposed to laugh.
That is what the monastic code of Buddhism ( The Binayapitak ) prescribes. Buddhism is about moderation- the middle path and restraint.
Why Indian Buddhism did not have a laughing Buddha ?
(In China, the pot bellied, LOL Buddha is omnipresent and brings in good luck.)
In India, the monk at best can smile without showing his teeth. This is called Sita. Buddhism is all about moderation and restraint. Therefore all the statues of buddha in South Asia put up a Graceful, Sombre, Slim Buddha but without a smile. In contrast, the Laughing Buddha is a bald, jovial, pot bellied wandering monk carrying a cloth sack. He brings in abundance, prosperity and joy.
By the time Buddhism walked around the Himalayas ( Bamiyan Buddha), crossed the Pamirs and reached *Emperor Wu of China*, the Buddha has learnt to laugh. ( Emperor Wu is considered to be the Ashoka of China in spreading Buddhism.) Finally in the *Chan* Buddhism (China) and *Zen* Buddhism (Japan), the Buddha became fat with a pot belly, raised hand and often laughed out loud and brought good luck to its believers.
I always believe religion is like a human being. It takes birth in its purest form, pure truth without any rituals. Then it toddles, stands upright and by the time it has grown up, it has lost all its simplicity and is laden with bags of rituals that its followers seldom understand. It becomes completely changed.
Take the example of Buddhism. The Buddha has rejected all gods. In early years, statue of Buddha was prohibited. Buddha would be represented by *aniconic* symbols such as an *absence*. Empty throne, Bodhi tree, the wheel or a footprint.
( Kanaganhalli showing an empty chair and footprint of Buddha.)
Ashoka has created 84,000 stupas. But not a single statue of buddha would be found. 400 years passed before a buddha statue appeared.
In India, the statues of Buddha are slim and graceful with luxurious curls and a central bulge, long earlobes but no smile. ( the Greek god features are a hellenistic influence.) Around 12th century, In China, Vietnam, Korea and Japan, *Budai*came to represent *Maitreya -the future Buddha*. He is a bald, pot bellied wondering monk and always carried a cloth sack. He presents a wish fulfilling Santa Clause like figure who brings abundance, fortune and Joy.
So the laughing Buddha again came back to India and now sits in the drawing rooms of the birthplace of the Buddha . Buddha had come a full circle to his birth place. But what a change. Now we have the laughing Buddha and his cloth sack everywhere but the Pali cannons of buddhism ( the Tripitaka ) are forgotten.
Dr Ramakanta's Ideas 