Tag: cosmic joke

The Hidden Genius Behind Laughing Yoga

When I first heard about laughing yoga, a practice where you deliberately laugh or even laugh silently within, it struck me as absurd. I dismissed it as theatrical, maybe even frivolous. Then I learned that OSHO had introduced it, and my skepticism deepened. What could possibly be the purpose of such a practice?

I come from a stand-up comedy background, having worked as a comedian for 12 years, 10 of those before I began meditating. One thing I know about laughter is that when someone hears a joke and laughs at the punchline, they must momentarily surrender a part of themselves. The ego’s protective shell, the facet of self concerned with judgment, insecurity, shame, and embarrassment, drops away in that instant. To truly laugh, one has to release these defences and embrace the moment without resistance.

This same mechanism operates on a far greater scale during a spiritual awakening. When the “cosmic joke” lands, it demands the complete surrender of all defences, along with the entire sense of self. The one who hears the punchline is the same one telling it, and in the moment of hysterical laughter, the separation between “comedian” and “audience” dissolves entirely. Sometimes, that laughter is so overwhelming it flows with unstoppable tears of joy, as if the heart itself is laughing through the eyes.

It’s in that context that OSHO’s laughing yoga makes profound sense. Perhaps it was never just about forcing a laugh, but about training the body and mind to tolerate joy without flinching, to let go of identity without panic. By practicing laughter, you prepare the psyche for the day it encounters the greatest punchline ever told.

Morgan O. Smith

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The Cosmic Joke

Finding Humour Beyond the Ego

In the grand play of the cosmos, a joke exists so profound that it eludes the grasp of our everyday consciousness, veiled beneath the layers of our egoic identity. Imagine momentarily that the essence of your being—the “I” that you refer to so confidently—is the punchline to the most elaborate joke ever conceived. It isn’t a cruel joke, but rather an invitation to step beyond the boundaries of self-imposed seriousness and to laugh with the wisdom of understanding.

The joke begins with the ego, a masterful illusionist, convincing us that we are nothing more than the sum of our thoughts, emotions, and experiences. We invest deeply in this narrative, playing the role scripted by societal norms and personal expectations. Yet, this is the point where the cosmos smiles, for the joke is on the ego. The reality, hidden in plain sight, is that we are far more expansive than this limited self.

To see beyond the ego is to appreciate the cosmic humour. When you realize that what you took so seriously—the angst of being right, the weight of personal grievances, the chains of past and future—was never the essence of who you truly are, a lightness pervades your being. This revelation is akin to an audience realizing the absurdity of a magician’s trick; the spell breaks, and laughter bubbles forth.


This laughter is not derisive or dismissive. It is the laughter of liberation, of seeing the strings that bind the marionette and choosing no longer to dance at their pull. It’s recognizing that the cosmos plays with us, urging us to discover that behind the facade of individuality lies the vast expanse of consciousness, unbounded and magnificent.

As you navigate the perceived trials and tribulations of life, invite this perspective: view each challenge as a scene in this divine comedy. Each struggle, each joy, each moment of confusion or clarity is part of this intricate joke where the punchline is your awakening. When you finally get the joke, you won’t just chuckle; you’ll laugh hysterically, understanding that all along, you were both the audience and the performer in the cosmic spectacle.

This humour is not about negating the reality of pain or struggle; rather, it’s about shifting the perspective from which you view these experiences. When embraced, this humour heals, enlightens, and transforms, offering a transcendent glimpse into the true nature of existence where everything is interconnected, and nothing is as serious as it seems.


So next time you feel weighed down by the persona of who you think you are, pause and listen carefully—perhaps the echoes of cosmic laughter are inviting you to join in, to step beyond the ego, and to experience the freedom that comes with the greatest revelation of all: that you are not merely a part in this cosmic play, but its very essence, endlessly expansive and eternally joyful.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

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