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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Morgan O. Smith 