Hey, Buddha I’d like to know what’s that smile for? what you smiling about? there’s so much pain and tension and conflict in the world and so much loneliness and so I don’t see cause for a smile
I see you cross-legged in the gardens and on shelves and in the pictures and I see you at the Thai restaurant and always you have that smile so Hey, Mr Buddha - what’s that smile for? is there any reason why you should smile when it’s a struggle down here? I don't mean to be rude but just tell me: what’s there to be smiling about?
given the times maybe an expression of agony like Christ on the Cross might be more apt; or maybe if you were more like the Abstract Prophet - no images allowed - might have been a better way for you, considering indefinable nirvana and all that
instead you smile and perhaps you spawned a tribe of them: like the laughing Chinese Buddha whose bellies people rub for good luck; and all those ancient Chinese sages eccentric and laughing like the world’s a fun camp; and that Kuan Yin, that bodhisattva, who seems a female version of you she’s smiling always too though she hears the cries of all sentient beings
so tell it straight is that smile really necessary do you think or is it just some ancient unknown Leonardo’s chisel cut everyone who makes you just repeats? Hey, Buddha always smiling what’s that smile for? what you smiling about, Mr Buddha?