Celebrating Laughter

 

3 November 2020

Ho, ho, ho, ha, ha, ha,

What makes a noise like that?

I hear it only rarely,

Could it be a sick rat?


But wait – it isn’t a rodent,

It is the man over there,

And I don’t think he is suffering,

Or crying, or full of despair,


His eyes sparkle bright,

And he has a big smile

As if he has found a treasure

That he’s not seen for awhile.


I asked him – what are you doing?

And he answers with a happy grin

I am laughing with joy and happiness,

Can that be said to be a sin?


Why do we fear to laugh out loud

And let our fears fly away,

How long will it take to learn

That being grim and serious doesn’t pay?


For every day is a time to appreciate

All the wonders that life can bring,

Laughter is certainly my response

To the magic of hearing a bird sing.


Not only the bird proclaims the magic of life

We can find joy with everything we see

If we look with open eyes

And want to be truly free.



5 November 2020

Laughter’s Gifts - and Dangers


Laughter is one of our most powerful tools for self-transformation. We live trapped in a world of value judgements – right or wrong, more or less, worthless or valuable, ugly or beautiful, love or hate, as we constantly evaluate everything we encounter. These judgements create for us a world where everything has a better or worse. Schools, in particular, emphasise that we should always strive for the ‘higher’ values. When we fail to meet these inflated, biased, and limited standards, we can develop a sense of failure, and separation from ourselves and from our world. Our world becomes grey and filled with fears of failure, and disappointment.

Part of the magic of laughter is that it is a disruptor of these negative, soul-destroying thoughts, fears and energies. We laugh whenever when we touch on or recognise something outside our usual personal limits of perception. Often this includes the recognition of the ridiculous and absurd in ourselves or others – as in jokes. Laughter is thus able to let us leap over long- held barriers, and to see the ridiculousness of what is often considered ‘normal’. In this way, laughter is a powerful clearing agent for our negative bliks – beliefs that harm rather than enhance us. Laughter can be a reminder to ourselves that ‘I can see things differently now’ and that it is safe to think outside the box, and expand our horizons.

Laughter has another, though very related function, as an expression of joy and a way of confirming our connections. As such, it has a very important function in community building, and in connecting ourselves with nature, and with our deeper selves. A word of caution though – laughter can also be interpreted as indicating separation or derision. When we laugh at someone (including ourselves) instead of with them, laughter can hurt. It is therefore very important that we view this magical part of us with the awe and respect that it deserves, and to use it with joy and gratitude for the transformation it can bring to our lives.

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