Laughing Buddha Symbol of Prosperity, Peace & Happiness In the midst of the daily grind, visions of virtue and happiness are the first to go. Most ubiquitous of those visions is the Laughing Buddha — the round, smiling monk who grins from walls, desks, gardens, and storefronts across the country. But who is the smiling monk, and why is he ubiquitous? Who is the Laughing Buddha? Contrary to the...