Humor is the buffer that saves you from humiliation. If you have a good sense of humour, you can never be humiliated, and if you refuse to be humiliated, you become invincible.
Humour brings people together while humiliation tears them apart. In a society torn with humiliation and insults, humour is a breath of fresh air. A good sense of humour relieves you from fear and anxiety.
Humour should be coupled with care and concern. Mere humour, without care and concern or appropriate action, can irritate those who come to you with serious problems. Humour can keep spirits high, yet if overdone it leaves a bad taste.
Humour with wisdom creates an atmosphere of celebration, but humour without wisdom is shallow. Humour without sensitivity is satire and it comes back to you with more problems.
The wise use humour to bring wisdom and to lighten every situation. The intelligent use humour as a shield against humiliation. The cruel use humour as a sword to insult others. The irresponsible use humour to escape from responsibility. The fool takes humour too seriously. Humour is spontaneous; to make an effort to be humorous makes no sense!
How does one cultivate a sense of humour? Humour is not just words; it is the lightness of your being. You can cultivate your sense of humour in many ways, like:
- Being cordial and lighthearted brings out authentic humour, while reading and repeating jokes will not.
- Do not take life too seriously, because you will never come out of it alive!
- Have a sense of belongingness with everybody, including those who are not friendly.
- Practice yoga and meditation.
- Have unshakable faith in the Divine and in the laws of karma.
- Be in the company of those who live in knowledge and who are humorous.
- Be willing to be a clown.
