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Humor and the Dhamma

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 11:12 pm
by Paribbajaka
Hello everyone!

I was watching this video by Bhante Yuttadhammo http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Emw57HsFCDQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and was a little surprised by his answer.

I understand the view that humor might distract someone from their dukkha, but in my experience I have seen many teachers use humor: Bhikkhu Bodhi has a great sense of humor in his talks whenever I have the opportunity to see or hear him, my own primary teacher Ajahn Bounlieng is nearly always laughing, and the suttas sometimes even indicate a dry wit the Buddha had. What are people's thoughts? At least in my experience a little humor nearly always adds a personal feel to the teachings. Thank you for your help!

Re: Humor and the Dhamma

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 2:04 am
by Buckwheat
Categorizing humor as skillful or unskillful seems beside the point. Shouldn't we really be examining the intentions behind the joke? Are we clinging to pleasure? Are we trying to cope with dukkha? Are we trying to use the power of emotional response to make a dhamma point stick?

Re: Humor and the Dhamma

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 2:18 am
by tiltbillings
http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.ph ... 9007&p9007" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Humor and the Dhamma

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 3:04 am
by alan
In MN 78 The Buddha used some humor--perhaps sarcastically, to make a point.

Re: Humor and the Dhamma

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 3:43 am
by Paribbajaka
by tiltbillings » Mon Nov 26, 2012 2:18 am
viewtopic.php?f=13&t=737&p=9007&p9007
Well, that about settles it.

Re: Humor and the Dhamma

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 4:10 am
by alan
Not for me.

Re: Humor and the Dhamma

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 9:15 am
by DAWN
When you feel free you laught a lot, and about everything.

It's like jump from airplain.
In the begining you are afraid. But if you take a time to find that beyond your back there is parachute, this experiance of jumping become plesant, beyond fear. :rofl:

When your morality is pure, you feel your self very light, and this lightly feeling make smile arise on your face. :smile: There is no any enemy for you, no any attachement.

When attached beings are sad, freed beings are happy.

Re: Humor and the Dhamma

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 9:21 am
by tiltbillings
alan wrote:Not for me.
That's nice, but it does not tell us anything about what you hold as being not settled. In other words, it does not further discussion at all.

Re: Humor and the Dhamma

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 11:00 am
by Ben
I think I'll stick to being a humourless and cranky bastard.
Its so much more fun.

Re: Humor and the Dhamma

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 11:39 am
by Kim OHara
Ben wrote:I think I'll stick to being a humourless and cranky bastard.
Its so much more fun.
If you stick to it long enough you can be a humourless and cranky old bastard.
That's even more fun. :tongue:

:popcorn:
Kim

Re: Humor and the Dhamma

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 11:46 am
by Ben
That's right, Kim.
To most of my fellow-members here, I already am a cranky old bastard.
I do it so well its almost a comedy act in its own right.

Re: Humor and the Dhamma

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 11:47 am
by tiltbillings
Kim O'Hara wrote:
Ben wrote:I think I'll stick to being a humourless and cranky bastard.
Its so much more fun.
If you stick to it long enough you can be a humourless and cranky old bastard.
That's even more fun.
Like Senator McCain:

Image

Except when he is not being a piss-ant, he can be rather funny.

Re: Humor and the Dhamma

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 10:51 am
by Kim OHara
Ahem ...
getting back to topic ...
A sense of humour is a sense of proportion.
~ Gibran
One of the reasons we should value humour is that it cuts the ground from under pretentiousness and helps us to see the truth about people and their words - an 'emperor's new clothes' effect.

:namaste:
Kim

Re: Humor and the Dhamma

Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 1:39 am
by tattoogunman
Kim O'Hara wrote:Ahem ...
getting back to topic ...
A sense of humour is a sense of proportion.
~ Gibran
One of the reasons we should value humour is that it cuts the ground from under pretentiousness and helps us to see the truth about people and their words - an 'emperor's new clothes' effect.

:namaste:
Kim
I'm in the very beginning phases of Buddhism and have been trying to absorb everything that I can. I've found two particular podcasts on iTunes that inject humor (one significantly more than the other) and levity in order to get the material/teachings across. If it works and helps bring someone towards Buddhism, I don't see the problem. I see no problem with modifying or altering someone's teaching method based on their audience :meditate:

Re: Humor and the Dhamma

Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2012 2:53 am
by Kusala
There's a sutta where a monk(or was it a nun) pokes fun at a Brahmin for bathing in the river Ganges.