Laugh at Yourself

Laughing often for no reason at all is considered to be madness by others. The mind demands a reason to laugh, for it needs something objective in order to be joyful. In society, if you laugh for no reason too much, you may be locked away in a psychiatric ward.

Jokes are excuses to laugh. They are an acceptable, useful means of unraveling the climate of seriousness and stress. When a joke is told, there’s already a certain expectation that something funny is going to be said. As you listen for it, the tension builds. You are on the alert, waiting for it, anticipating it. This tension is within the mind, an impatience that wants the conclusion of the joke to happen immediately. The mind is in its rational thinking state of logical expectation, which means it sees the whole situation regarding the joke as utterly ridiculous. Consciousness, however, is relaxed, alert, and patiently awaiting the surprise, just for the joy of it. It seems that nothing is happening, and then out of the blue, in an instant, there’s a release of tension. The mind is confused, but consciousness is joyous as it experiences freedom from thought. For a moment, there’s no tension or seriousness as you become the energy of laughter. Your repressed natural One-Self is released.

People laugh at others, but rarely at themselves. Laugh at yourself. You’ll notice the tension from your mind disappearing. To laugh at others is egotistical, whereas to laugh at yourself is conscious, which is a form of humbleness. Laugh for no reason at all, or laugh at every situation your mind is serious about. Laugh at every thought in your mind. Each moment of the now is full of laughter, unconditional happiness, and joy. The mind is a big joke. Can you laugh at it instead of taking it seriously?

All of society’s prohibitions and control tactics are designed to keep you in your serious and tense mind. Can you laugh at society’s structures? The whole of society is a big joke. In fact, the whole of existence is a big joke. Can you laugh at it? Can you laugh with God? Your personality is a big joke. Can you laugh at yourself? Existence is laughing at your identity. Can you join in the joy?

If you are able to see the ridiculousness in everything the mind takes seriously, then you will be able to see its innocence easily. You will be relaxed, like a child again, and the door of infinite joy will be open to you.

Don’t take anything seriously—not your mind, your thoughts, your illness, your problems, your life, or your death. Everything is a big joke.