The Laughing Sutra Summary

The Laughing Sutra The Laughing Sutra, written by Mark Salzman, integrates ideas from Confucianism, Buddhism, and Hinduism to help narrate Hsun-ching and Colonel Sun’s journey to America and back. These three religions were the dominant religions during the 1960’ s-1970, which was the time period of the novel. Hsun-ching, the "seeker of sutras" and the main character, was sent on a mission by his foster parent Wei-Ching to find “The Laughing Sutra”; a scroll that is supposed to free oneself from all want and desire, including the desire for enlightenment. Hsun-ching is accompanied on his mission to America by Colonel Sun, an immortal who spent his early life as a soldier and rescued Hsun-ching as a child. Hsun-ching, who’s name literally
Over its long history Buddhist has developed into a wide variety of forms, ranging from an emphasis on religious rituals and worship of deities to a complete rejection of both rituals and deities in favor of pure meditation. But all share in common a great respect for the teachings of the Buddha, ‘The Enlightened One’”(Religion Facts). Originally Buddhism was centered on the individuals who lived in moderation to decrease their suffering, but evolved into monks and nuns who worshipped Buddha as their god. One of the main beliefs of Buddhism is true enlightenment, also known as nirvana. In this novel the main reason Hsun-ching tried to get the sutra was so Wei-ching could achieve enlightenment but he soon realizes, “It is as Buddha said all along: Enlightenment cannot be found in books. It must be experienced directly! Foolish as I was, I did not take him at his word” (260). Another example of Buddhism in the novel is when Wei-ching talks about how the must temporarily soil themselves to help someone else perform a good deed, “Wei-ching picked his teeth for a moment, then said ‘It is true that one should not eat meat or dink liquor. But it is even more true that Buddhist must be compassionate. That man needed to prepare us a good meal, to redeem himself for ignoring religion during his life. If we had refused, we would have prevented him carrying
Most Hindus worship one or more deities, believe in reincarnation and value the practice of meditation” (Religion Facts). Hinduism believes in dharma, which are the religious and moral duties of an individual. Hsun-ching demonstrates loyalty and feels that is his moral duty to make Wei-ching happy, "Maybe you think I am just a stupid boy. But I want to make my father happy..." (153). Hsun-ching arrived home from being a red guard and he had started renovating Wei-ching's house, “ . . .Wei-ching’s home looked better than ever. One day, Hsun-ching wrapped Wei-ching in some blankets, carried him outdoors, and propped him up in a chair so that he could watch as Hsun-ching worked. ‘Can you grow kumquats here?’ Wei-ching asked . . . ‘I can grow just about anything you like!’ Hsun-ching boasted” (39). Hsun-ching wants to please and make his father happy, so he plants a garden, fixes up the house, and then heads off on his journey to America to find the desired