When I was a child, my great uncle would bring me gifts from the Far East. He worked as a waiter on a cruise ship, a job that offered ample opportunity for visiting places all over the world, especially the Orient.

One of his gifts was a pair of Laughing Buddhas, which he explained would bring me luck if I rubbed their bellies. I don't know if doing so ever brought me luck, but it did bring me comfort in the idea that it could. And I still occasionally take part in the folkloric practice, although it does not form part of any Buddhist doctrine. Still, the Laughing Buddha is often admired for his happiness, plenitude, and wisdom of contentment.

There is perhaps a more effective technique within Buddhist tradition for bringing comfort to one's mind and ease stress. Mindfulness plays a central role in the teaching of the Buddha. It involves close examination of inner reality, upon which one finds that happiness is not exclusively a quality brought about by a change in outer circumstances, but rather by realizing happiness often starts with loosening and releasing attachment to thoughts.

The practice has become known as an antidote for various ailments, notably type-A stress and depression. Sounds like great news. And the better news is that one not subscribe to the whole belief system, albeit an attractive one, to borrow part of it as a means of calming the mind.