I couldn't understand why my mom always left Buddha cooked rice and a small bowl of fruit on the altar all the time. So, I would eat the fruit sometimes (give me a break, I was 6). When I finally got in trouble, I said, "Mommy, he really doesn't care if I eat them, 'cause see, nothing happened when I did." I had been inspecting the rice and fruit for weeks, each time she left a fresh offering, looking for the tangerines peeled, or the rice to be less than the day before. But, nothing. So, I said very consolingly, like I didn't want the shock of this revelation to hurt her feelings, "Mommy, I don't think Buddha ever eats the stuff you leave for him. I've watched this altar for a long time. I check the fruit and stuff, and he never eats it, Mom," like I had done this serious scientific study, and had to break the findings to her gently.
I often wondered if Buddha was friends with Santa Claus, since they both visited the house, but no one saw them. Who knows, maybe they are buds. Yeah, "Multi-cultural, Multi-spiritual, Multi-crazy" times, haha.
That was just had. xD
Also, thanks for posting this! I always wondered myself :woot: now I have lots of ideas.