Laughter and Learning

Jos Houben celebrates the humanizing, educational, spiritual, and transformative powers of laughter in this sprightly article in Ode Magazine. He points out that "an infant's smile is the universe's seal of approval. 'Being' goes with 'laughing' from the start." Children learn best when they are playing or having fun. Even adults follow this pattern when they experience joy on a vacation or when they are having a great time.

We see the world afresh through laughter. All the world's religions have individuals (tricksters, fools, shamans) who reveal to us the human condition of impermanence and vulnerability through humor. Houben concludes that comedians are popular when they connect us with our humanity.