Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Hotei hands out gifts to children. Detail of print by Kuniyoshi Utagawa, 1798-1861, via Wikimedia Commons The new year brings a ...

DHARAMSHALA, India — The Dalai Lama has often called himself a simple monk, but millions of his Tibetan Buddhist followers have worshipped him for decades as a near deity. They also see him as the ...

Buddha's philosophy offers a way beyond rigid beliefs. He bypassed debates on God's existence, deeming them unproductive. His focus was on practical self-enlightenment. This approach helps individuals ...

In Japan, children look forward to a visit from Hotei, a jolly Japanese god with a rotund frame. Ganref As Christmas approaches, children in many parts of the world look forward to a visit from the ...

(THE CONVERSATION) The new year brings a fresh start, symbolized in some cultures by the cherubic baby New Year who replaces the old year that has come to a close. In Japan, the roly-poly god Hotei, ...

Hotei hands out gifts to children. Detail of print by Kuniyoshi Utagawa, 1798-1861, via Wikimedia Commons The new year brings a fresh start, symbolized in some cultures by the cherubic baby New Year ...

Eds: This story was supplied by The Conversation for AP customers. The Associated Press does not guarantee the content. Megan Bryson, University of Tennessee (THE CONVERSATION) The new year brings a ...