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Laughter. Not only is it a fine medicine, but it also is growing as a spiritual practice. Laughter sits grinning at the crossroads of body/mind/spirit as a potential remedy for what ails us in many aspects of our lives.
We've all seen pictures of the Laughing Buddha (also called Hotei).
Feng Wang states:
To enjoy the Buddha’s blessings, they say, you should stroke his big belly each day and so this has become a daily habit of many Chinese businessmen. Many others maintain that the Laughing Buddha is the Buddha of Happiness because nothing gives him greater pleasure than gathering all the world’s unhappiness into his bag. This is also the reason for his laughter; that he is able to pick up what he loves most — other people’s problems! I love this version of the story of the Laughing Buddha because it seems very authentic and is accordance with so many other Buddhist teachings.
There is even a World Laughter Day! (May 3rd, 2009)
You can click here to see events in your area and country that will occur on World Laughter Day.
Laughter has long been suspected to be good for the health. From the old Reader's Digest section "Laughter is the Best Medicine" to the story of Norman Cousins who, according to Wikipedia, when "told that he had little chance of surviving, Cousins developed a recovery program incorporating megadoses of Vitamin C, along with a positive attitude, love, faith, hope, and laughter induced by Marx Brothers films. "I made the joyous discovery that ten minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anesthetic effect and would give me at least two hours of pain-free sleep," he reported. "When the pain-killing effect of the laughter wore off, we would switch on the motion picture projector again and not infrequently, it would lead to another pain-free interval."
The University of Maryland completed a study that found laughter could reduce the risk of heart attack.
Helpguide.org reminds us that laughter:
1. lowers blood pressure
2. decreases stress hormones
3. increases infection fighting antibodies.
4. benefits digestion and absorption functioning as well. It is estimated that hearty laughter can burn calories equivalent to several minutes on the rowing machine or the exercise bike.
5.stimulates both sides of the brain to enhance learning. It eases muscle tension and psychological stress, which keeps the brain alert and allows people to retain more information.
The health benefits abound, and that influences our emotions as well.
Renee who has been homebound for some time with chronic illness speaks of the benefits of laughter as a healer, and ends by her post by saying "Make an effort to ACTIVATE YOUR JOY!"
Snowlite tells us that after sharing laughter with friends:
It was like the shared laughter opened up my veins and arteries, cleared my head and put little smile faces on all the cells in my body.
These good vibes felt as though they could've been palpable... it was that much of a physiologic change coursing through my body... like night and day difference.
It also tells me that I must more than ever work on putting laughter (sounds funny to say work), joy and all the things that cause good vibes into my body.
Susan suggests, "See how long you can laugh and what makes you laugh. What are the benefits? Did you notice an uplift in energy and mood? Try it again. This time force yourself to laugh. Just the thought of it can be funny. How did you do? Do it in the morning to start off your day with a LAUGH."
The Blemished Rose speaks of healing physical abuse with laughter.
Yet there are spiritual implications and impact as well.
I remember being surprised when I saw my first picture of a Laughing Jesus. Such images are rare, as we tend to make Jesus so serious, so focused. Yet here was a man traveling with 12 male friends across his country. Surely cause for laughter occurred. It must have felt so wonderful to have that relief. And it was a stunning commentary on my faith to that point that the idea of Jesus laughing surprised me on some level. Why not laugh? The earth is full of joy!
Yet, LaughterHeals.org tells us that a child laughs 400 times/day, an adult only
