Chan Meditation Series - Seeing a True Smile

Chan Meditation Series

Seeing a True Smile

According to Venerable Guo Xing of Dharma Drum Mountain, for most people, meditation is a practice of returning the mind to a blank slate.
When you can sit in meditation free from distracting thoughts, your mind becomes as pure as white paper. From this purity, a calm and gentle smile—like that on a Buddha's face—naturally arises.
■ Xu Huijuan (徐慧娟)

"If we are not able to smile, then the world will not have peace."
—Thich Nhat Hanh, Being Peace

"Facial expressions are a direct reflection of our inner state—and a smile is a reflection of inner joy," said Venerable Guo Xing, the abbot at Dharma Drum Retreat Center in New York. Speaking in a warm, gentle voice during a transcontinental interview with Humanity Magazine, he shared the benefits of smiling and how it helps Chan practice.
He explained that although facial expressions are controlled by nerves and muscles, what truly directs them are thoughts. When positive thoughts arise, the facial muscles naturally relax, bringing a genuine smile to the face. On the other hand, negative thoughts such as anger or resentment  create tension—so even if we force a smile, it appears fake, like a cold or insincere grin. A genuine smile comes from within. Venerable Guo Xing explained, "Think of the pure and spontaneous smile of a baby or young child—that's a reflection of their innocent heart. The smiles of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, similarly, are expressions of compassion and wisdom."

Using Smiles to Uplift the Mind

Smiling should be simple—it only takes a slight movement of the facial muscles. But sometimes, due to stress and life's challenges, even that can feel impossible. Venerable Guo Xing shares from his own life: "I've always been an optimistic and cheerful person. As a child, I smiled so much that people called me Smiley." But later, overwhelmed by the pressures of adulthood, he lost his sense of joy—and his smile. It was only after encountering Buddhism, becoming a monk, and practicing Chan meditation that he gradually reconnected with his true, joyful nature. The calmness and freedom cultivated through meditation revived his naturally upbeat spirit. "Now, I've rediscovered my childhood smile. I can smile naturally and freely, every day.”

Beyond psychological factors, Venerable Guo Xing noted that physiological imbalances can also hinder one's ability to smile. He recalled a student in his Chan meditation class who suffered from severe depression and always looked deeply troubled. During class, Venerable encouraged him to gently practice smiling. At first, the student found it awkward and unnatural. So Venerable advised him to combine smiling practice with meditation at home. "Three months later, I was amazed—his whole demeanor had transformed." The student's smile became like sunshine—bright and genuine, uplifting everyone around him. Even his psychiatrist was stunned. The student went on to become a role model for mental health recovery, offering psychiatrists a valuable reference for treatment. Venerable Guo Xing remarked how this proved two things: first, a smile can be learned; second, a smile can truly promote physical and mental well-being. He illustrated: "Imagine the body as a company, the mind as the CEO, and the organs as department heads. If the CEO's mindset is positive, the department heads carry out their duties with confidence, and the company runs smoothly. But if the CEO is overwhelmed by negativity, the departments lose direction." He explained that a negative mindset can lead to problems such as endocrine or neuromuscular disorders. In short, our thoughts shape our attitudes, and our attitudes affect the body's systems. "Practicing a smile is a reminder of our thoughts and attitudes," Venerable concluded. By smiling, we become more aware of our inner state, and this awareness naturally boosts our positive energy.

Smiling and Meditation: A Reciprocal Cause

Smiling plays a beneficial role in Chan meditation. First, it helps the body relax—not just the face, but also the neck and shoulders. The Venerable likened it to this: "Smiling creates a ripple effect throughout the body, allowing deep relaxation to take place." Once relaxed, it becomes easier to enter deep states of meditation—and from that peaceful stillness, a genuine smile naturally arises. In this way, smiling and meditation are reciprocal causes: you can begin meditating with a smile, and end with a deeper smile that arises from inner peace.

The complementary relationship between smiling and meditation has been emphasized by many modern Chan masters, including the renowned peace advocate Thich Nhat Hanh. In The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation, he wrote: "If you want to relax the worry-tightened muscles in your face, let the half smile come to your face. As the half smile appears, all the facial muscles begin to relax." In many of his books, Thich Nhat Hanh highlighted the power of a simple smile in relaxing both body and mind. He saw smiling, together with following the breath, as a way to relax the body while becoming clearly aware of the inner movements of the mind. During a visit to Thich Nhat Hanh's meditation center in the U.S., Venerable Guo Xing observed how he used everyday cues—such as the sound of a bell or even a phone ringing—to remind practitioners to return to their breath and smile, thereby keeping them grounded in the present moment.

A Genuine Smile Arises from Joy

Venerable Guo Xing noted that, like Thich Nhat Hanh, Master Sheng Yen's Chan meditation also emphasizes relaxing the facial muscles. However, he cautioned against forcing a smile, stressing that the focus is on releasing—not on grasping at a smile or chasing the idea of one. Instead of inducing relaxation, a forced smile only creates tension.

As mentioned earlier, facial expressions reflect the mind. Most people are caught in the shifting currents of their thoughts and emotions, experiencing all kinds of feelings—both joyful and sorrowful. Venerable Guo Xing explained: "The mind is like a sheet of white paper—it will show whatever color is painted on it." When people's minds are constantly painted with colors like red and green—representing changing emotions—these colors blend together, forming new shades. Layer by layer, this mixing creates complex and unpredictable emotions, whereupon facial expressions become a mixture of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. This is why, for many people, it's difficult to express a simple, pure smile.

The difference between an ordinary person and a Buddha is that, although a Buddha's mind may be painted with any color, that color can be erased at any time. Venerable Guo Xing used painting as a metaphor: "A Buddha can paint landscapes, abstracts, or even Cubist pieces like Picasso in his mind. But whatever is painted doesn't linger on the canvas of the Buddha's mind. His mind remains as pure as a child's, and his smile as innocent."

Venerable Guo Xing believes this is the true aim of Chan meditation: to return the mind to a blank slate. When you can sit in meditation free of distracting thoughts, the mind becomes as pure as white paper. From this purity, a calm and gentle smile—like that on a Buddha's face—naturally arises. Recalling his time practicing in Thailand, he said: "I saw so many meditators with expressions of deep peace and joy. These smiles came from meditation practice. They weren't forced—they simply appeared, like the Buddha's smile." He concluded: "A genuine smile is born from joy and contentment. When you know how to be content, you discover the true source of your smile." From the other side of the world, Venerable Guo Xing's hearty, joyful laughter echoed through the phone line—sharing that joy with us.




Related articles:

Smile – Chan

Possessing a Smile Like the Buddha

[Story] Golden Flower Rain and Smiling Chan

[Image and Meaning] The Charm of the Buddha's Smile

Chan Meditation Series - Seeing a True Smile





Resource: Issue 304 of Humanity Magazine, Dharma Drum Publishing Corporation
Photo: 橘子
Translation: 姚麗萍(Anne Yeow)
Editing: Keith Brown, 演香法師 (Venerable Yan Hsiang)