I was recently listening to Robert Plant sing “Stairway to Heaven,” the iconic song from the early 1970s. (1) In the melody, he asks, “Does anyone remember laughter?” It is a profound question that cannot be answered simplistically.
We listen to the pontifications of politicians (this needs no further clarification) or, on a more humble level, we see the foolish driving skills that are exhibited by many motorists. They seemingly make no effort to take note of other drivers or pedestrians. The classic is “the signal left and then, quite unexpectedly, the turn to the right” – the comedy of the Three Stooges. (2) There is something satirical here.
I would like to focus on this positive, ironic humor. There is a deep lack of laughter in our modern society. I observe people’s eyes and their body expressions when I travel and the common understanding that life is suffering appears to be invariably true — but is it? Does existence have to be nothing but several quick moments of happiness sprinkled amongst a life of mostly pain and sadness? I think not, but with a series of conditions. We are intrinsically four basic components: we are naturally happy; we are intrinsically peaceful; we are overwhelmingly loving, and we are extraordinarily curious – we are seekers. We desire a better understanding of the universe and its wonders, for ourselves and those around us. It is the latter that provides us with the passkey to the other three.
If we opt not to pursue an understanding of the self or of the cosmos around us, we will be virtually guaranteed a life of boredom and pain. We, rather sadly, create our own reality for the most part (given that life is fickle and unfair). “When hit by boredom, let yourself be crushed by it; submerge, hit bottom. In general, with things unpleasant, the rule is: The sooner you hit bottom, the faster you surface. The idea here is to exact a full look at the worst. The reason boredom deserves such scrutiny is that it represents pure, undiluted time in all its repetitive, redundant, monotonous splendor. Boredom is your window on the properties of time that one tends to ignore to the likely peril of one’s mental equilibrium. It is your window on time’s infinity. Once this window opens, don’t try to shut it; on the contrary, throw it wide open. … So, try to stay passionate, leave your cool to constellations. Passion, above all, is a remedy against boredom. Another one, of course, is pain – physical more than psychological, passion’s frequent aftermath; although I wish you neither. Still, when you hurt you know that at least you haven’t been deceived (by your body or by your psyche). By the same token, what’s good about boredom, about anguish and the sense of the meaninglessness of your own, of everything else’s existence, is that it is not a deception.” (3)
Brodsky (1940-1996) is telling us to realize that we have one life, in this reality. Allow this feeling of ennui to propel you forward in creativity and ingenuity and, yes, laughter. Life may be mostly repetitive, but I control its outcome. We therefore must be seekers, adventurers and explorers – mostly of the self. Get out that journal and document your gifts to society. What are the things I am good at? Can they be improved and enhanced? I am not an insignificant gnat on the ocean of time. I am me! There is no one like me. There never has been me and there never will be me. I am unique and I have a contribution to make to the Common Good. However, it is me and only me who can make it.
So, I must learn to laugh at all the foibles and fables of life – and “get on with it!” This will give me the intrinsic energy that I need to move forward in the battle of consciousness. The great writer and thinker Lewis Carroll (1832-1898) leaves us with a thought: While the laughter of joy is in full harmony with our deeper life, the laughter of amusement should be kept apart from it. The danger is too great of thus learning to look at solemn things in a spirit of mockery and to seek in them opportunities for exercising wit. (4)
A closing thought: It is important to look for joy or situation comedy as I call it, in everyday life. Life is hard, this is true — it is also funny. How many times have we been confounded by a situation only to realize that it is just funny? I hate liver, but I once ate liver just to appease the table of my hostess. And, I complimented her on her cuisine, as well. Now, that is funny!
To sum up: This week we spoke about finding joy and laughter in everyday life, as well as in pure comedic situations. We also discussed that boredom is but a tool to remind us of our own finitude and to push us to be industrious and hardworking.
A philosophical question: The answer to last week’s question: who cares?
Just for fun– Imagine Dragons
This week, please ponder when you last had a really good laugh.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful.
Quote: The greatest attribute of a human being is his capacity to see amusement even in a time of utter despair.
Footnotes:
1) Led Zeppelin – Stairway to Heaven