Osho's perspective on Humor
When Osho Spoke About Humor
Passages from the discourses where this theme comes alive.
Osho, do you find your jokes funny or are you catering for our sense of humour? P.s. We love them!
To me the whole life is a joke and I find everything funny. It is all so ridiculous. But remember, I am not catering for your sense of humour. I never cater for you in any way. And if I tell a joke it is simply a trick because it is only during the moment when you open your mouth that I can help you swallow something. It is just a device. Your mouth is open and you are unaware. I can throw in something! It really goes in. Your mind is no longer functioning, your thoughts are no longer there. When you laugh, the mind disappears. In laughter, mind cannot exist -- for a moment there is a gap, and I seek that gap. That gap is of tremendous importance because only through that gap can I make a contact with you. The last question:
Osho, you tell us so many jokes -- what is the basic secret of a joke and why do you tell them?
I HAVE TO TELL JOKES TO YOU, otherwise you will fall asleep. A joke shocks you back into awareness. It is a small electric shock. That's the beauty of a joke, and that's the secret of a joke. It is impossible even for the dullest mind to remain unalert when a joke is being told. Even the dullest, the most stupid, will become interested -- even one who is snoring will come out of his snoring and will start listening to what is going on. That's the beauty of a joke. A joke is something that brings in you a subtle awareness. The awareness comes because you have to listen to the joke very alertly, otherwise you will miss the punchline. If you miss a single word in a joke, it is lost. A joke is a very small thing -- a few lines. You cannot afford to be unaware.…
What is the secret of a joke?
The sudden unexpected turn, that is the secret of a joke -- the revelation. You are expecting something and it doesn't happen; what happens is so totally absurd and yet has a logic of its own... it is ridiculous and yet not illogical. That's what suddenly becomes a laughter in you. You see the ridiculousness of it, and also the logic of it. It is unexpected -- if it is expected, then it doesn't bring laughter to you. If you know the joke then it doesn't bring laughter to you, because now you know, everything is expected. Two insects were living in a cemetery. One said to the other: "Want to make love in dead Ernest tonight?" Now, poor dead Ernest...! An Englishman on his first trip to America went to one of those stand-up comic nightclubs for the first time. After he had had a couple of drinks, the…
Beloved Osho, according to you, what is the most hilarious thing in the world?
Niyama, according to me the most hilarious thing in the world is man. Amongst all the animals, trees, mountains, rivers, oceans, stars, clouds, man is the only hilarious animal. I will give you a few examples: Hamish MacTavish became a sergeant with the Scottish Highlanders' regiment. One day he walked into the pharmacy and deposited an old condom on the counter. "How much for a repair job?" he asked. "Well," replied the chemist, "with washing, drying, patching, lubricating, and re-rolling it comes to thirty pence." "My God," said MacTavish, "how much for a new one?" "Fifty pence," replied the chemist. Tucking the condom back in his kilt, MacTavish walked out saying, "I will talk it over with the lads at the barracks and let you know our decision tomorrow." One day, Paddy, who worked in the local brewery, fell into a gigantic barrel of beer and drowned. When his wife…
Are all jokes irrational?
definition"Jokes are not irrational; they are a dance of the mind that momentarily suspends logic, allowing us to glimpse the innocence of our true selves."
Can you share a joke or some sutras?
practice"Laughter is the sutra that reveals the cosmic absurdity of the ego; it invites you to stay present and transforms ordinary observations into profound insights."
Can you tell me some jokes?
practice"Humor is the laughter of the soul, a gentle reminder that our seriousness is but a mask hiding the beauty of our shared folly."
"Life is a cosmic joke, and in the laughter that arises, the mind momentarily suspends, allowing truth to slip past your defenses."
How do I open my sense of humor?
practice"Your sense of humor is not something to be learned; it is your birthright, waiting to blossom as you remove the heavy stones of seriousness that society has placed upon you. Embrace spontaneity and laughter, and watch as your true intelligence and humanity emerge."
How do you know so many jokes?
practice"Humor is the language of the soul, revealing the depth of our intelligence and the flavor of our culture."
"Wakeful awareness dissolves delay; embrace life now, for joy is not meant to be postponed."
"In the dance of life, humor reveals the deepest truths, while seriousness often masks the playfulness of existence. Listen not to the tone, but to the essence hidden beneath laughter and solemnity."
"Fall in love with a joke first, and let the right moment naturally reveal itself; life will always provide the cue if you remain playful and receptive."
"Humanity is the most hilarious animal, for our minds create absurdities that make existence itself laugh; in laughter, we find a purifying gap that transcends thought and leads us to meditation."
Is there a sense of humor beyond the mind?
definition"True humor arises not from the mind, but from the depths of awakening, where laughter becomes a celebration of discovering that the seeker and the sought are one."
Is there any joke that should not be told?
definition"All jokes are beautiful, for they shatter the rigidity of our concepts and awaken the intelligence hidden beneath our conditioning."
What are some Polack jokes?
definition"Humor is the sharpest tool to dissolve the ego; it invites us to laugh at our own foolishness and embrace the lightness of being."
What are some good Italian jokes?
definition"Laughter is a meditation that ripens over time, revealing the punchline of life when we least expect it."
"Laughter blossoms when we can step back and see the absurdity of life; don’t take your identity too seriously, let humor ripen and then let it flow."
"Humor is the laughter of the soul, a way to deflate the ego and embrace the absurdity of existence."
"Laughter is the spiritual solvent that dissolves guilt and dogma, allowing us to meet as humans beyond the confines of belief."
"The soul is never poor; it is our unawareness that creates the illusion of poverty. Nourish the body with humane action, the mind with intelligent doubt, and awaken to the richness of your true essence."
"Drop second-hand certainties and embrace direct experience; truth is discovered through playful exploration, not rigid beliefs."
"Life is a great joke, and if you can sense the joyous spirit, you've understood the essence, regardless of the punchlines you may have missed."
"Laughter is the bridge that connects us, dissolving the barriers of seriousness and guilt, allowing the sacred to become human and meditation to flow effortlessly."
"Stop underlining and calculating; some truths demand an immediate leap from analysis to experience."
"Humor is the bridge that connects us, transcending language and culture, revealing the divine playfulness of existence."
"A good joke is a sudden jolt that awakens the mind, drawing you into the present moment where logic and absurdity dance together, sharpening your awareness."
"Humor dissolves the heavy armor of seriousness, allowing truth to enter through the silent gaps in our thinking. A smiling intelligence not only learns faster but also remembers deeper."
Profound Quotes on Humor
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