How laughter meditation can bring you peace and joy
-by Dhyan Sutorius, M.D.
THE TRANSFORMING FORCE OF THE LAUGHING MEDITATION
by Dhyan Sutorius, M.D.
http://home.kpn.nl/dhyansutorius/index_bestanden/LM_art_11_46_UK_27-6-06.pdf
THE TRANSFORMING FORCE OF THE LAUGHING MEDITATION
by Dhyan Sutorius, M.D.
INTRODUCTION
Laughter is a very special phenomenon. Unfortunately its (psycho) therapeutic value
is underestimated and the incredible transforming force, hidden in laughter, is not
used to its full extent. Laughter is a very good anti-stressor and gives a profound
relaxation. I like to draw your attention to the laughing meditation, a structured
exercise of 15 minutes with 3 stages: 1. stretching all the muscles, 2. laughing
(and/or crying or laughing with the tears), 3. silence.
The laughing meditation is no therapy, but it can be - as laughter is so healthy –
sometimes very therapeutic! It can be used as adjuvans in all kinds of therapy and
also in other situations it can enhance the coping with all of life's woes.
In 1976 I learned from Osho - among other things - this laughing meditation, which I
conduct since 1978 at all kinds of medical or other congresses and meetings,
sometimes with more than 800 laughers, several times partly broadcasted on radio
and television in different countries. In 1985 I founded the CENTRE IN FAVOUR OF
LAUGHTER, and since then I conduct also "laughshops" = laughing meditation
workshops. Laughter brings you in no time in the moment, in the here and now. It
gives a deep relaxation at all levels. The "laughing muscles" are in general rather
rigid, but will get better trained if you laugh more often. And every day you will feel : it
is easier and easier to do! Meditation can be described as "awareness without
thinking" or to be in the NO-MIND. That is possible in many situations when you do
something totally with awareness. This can also happen when you are running,
dancing, or working in the garden.
INSTRUCTIONS
The laughing meditation is a morning meditation, but it is also possible to do it later,
before lunch or dinner. Bladder and stomach should be almost empty. It can be done
alone or with "the other" in the mirror, or with any group of participants. Stay all the
time in the moment and be total in every second of this short meditation, without
forcing.
Allow yourself to laugh without a reason. You may use any reason or situation, which
let you laugh and – if you wish, as a third point - use a first class trigger : make a top
ten of your favorite problems in such a way, that the heaviest problem you have right
now, is your favorite problem number 1, and so on so forth. Suddenly you look at it
from a totally different angle and more in perspective with all other things in life.
Laughter transforms and makes things lighter. Sometimes I feel it myself as if I dive
from the "hell" in my head, into the "paradise" in my belly!
It is better to "laugh with" than to "laugh about" someone or something, placing
yourself on the pedestal. To "laugh at" or to "laugh about” is cold and unpleasant, to
"laugh with" is warm and accepting. That is why it is so pleasant to laugh with your
partner, with children, with friends, with colleagues or with grandma. It is all heart
energy!
As laughter and crying are very close, it is possible that in the second stage your
laughter suddenly turns into crying. If that happens, enjoy the crying, cry with all your
energy from your belly, until the crying finishes by itself, and then start actively
laughing again. So you may also laugh with your tears or cry with your laughter.
STAGES OF THE LAUGHING MEDITATION
1. Stretching, total stretching (5 minutes)
Use all your energy to stretch your muscles and, if possible, start yawning. While
stretching it is good to breathe out, without stretching inhale and continue the
stretching breathing out. In the last minute of this first stage stretch your fingers
backwards with your other hand and stretch your face muscles - without laughing –
by making strange faces, while putting out your tongue in different directions and
looking in the eyes of others.
2. Laughing and/or crying (5 minutes)
Smile and slowly, with a relaxed throat, start laughing without any force, until you
have a really heartfelt belly laugh. Focus all the time your awareness on what there
is for you in the moment, and whatever that is or whatever you feel in that very
moment laugh with that. It is more a matter of allowing and of letting go. Let-go is
the secret of meditation. Especially in the first minute let it built up slowly, just let it
happen. Without forcing at all, just laugh "allegro ma non troppo", without
screaming or yelling, only laughing and/or crying. Instead from the throat, relaxed
laughing from the belly. Just let bubble your belly, let it be a belly ballet!
If you have an other feeling or emotion, for instance when you get angry, then use
the total energy of that other emotion to laugh or to cry with it. In the last minute of
this stage close your eyes and continue laughing or crying.
3. Silence (5 minutes)
Suddenly stop laughing and keep your eyes closed. Let your whole body be still
without any movements. The slightest movement will change your state of
consciousness. Breathe in total silence without controlling the rhythm of your
breathing. Just let it happen. Every time when you find yourself thinking, feel a
"good bye!" for those thoughts and focus all your awareness on your body, on the
contact with Mother Earth and also on the feelings you have in that very moment,
whatever you feel, whatever it is, feel a "YES!" to that!
If you can cry and allow your total being to go into if and dissolve into it, you will have a totally
different quality of laughter arising in you Allow it. . It is beautiful!
Osho
A FEW REMARKS
One remark about the giggles and hysterical laughter (le fou rire, schlapp lachen).
Only if you totally, for 100 %, want to stop laughing, then you can. This sudden silence
in the third stage of the laughing meditation is the big difference with all the other
laughter. Your whole awareness is needed to be totally present in the moment.
THERE IS NOTHING TO BE REACHED and respect your limits !
The key of this meditation is always to focus your awareness on what there is for you
in that very moment. Whatever it is, stretch, laugh (or cry) with it of be silent!
Laughter has everything to do with ACCEPTANCE: the moment you accept totally the
situation, the other(s) or yourself you can laugh. If someone gets some insights in a
certain - sometimes difficult - situation, then quite often a roaring laughter emerges
from the belly. It is also possible to do this the other way around: starting with laughter,
......... and the insights follow as shadows!
SOME RESPONSES OF PARTICIPANTS
Some responses of participants after having done a laughing meditation: a deep
relaxation / a feeling of being "whole" / a feeling of being unburdened / a feeling of
peace / the pain is gone or the pain is less / I feel my tears or I feel sad / I feel as if I
took a shower inside myself / a feeling of ACCEPTANCE: a huge "YES"' for what
there is NOW, what I have NOW, for what I am NOW!
CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS
With Dr. Wouter van der Schaar, a medical psychologist from the University of
Amsterdam, I did in 1985 a research about the effects of this laughing meditation done
by chronic pain patients, who could do this, after 3 weeks having done a daily
laughing meditation, they felt in general better , they laughed more during the day,
(their laughing muscles were more trained), the pain was often less, sometimes not,
but they could always handle their pain better. So in the process of accepting they
were more advanced.
Also people with high-pitch voices will get a voice coming more from a natural level.
Speaking, singing, crying and laughing come from the same centre in your belly.
When a child falls on the floor, anyone can hear if the crying comes straight from the
centre in the belly or a little bit higher, a little bit harder to let know the parents or the
caretaker to give a hand to help. Also with laughter, you can hear if the laughter is
forced, if the laughter is harder than the person feels it. The sound or the timbre of
the laughter or the crying reveals clearly if it is forced or not.
When you have a heartfelt belly laugh, all parts of your being - the physiological, the psychological,
the spiritual - they all vibrate in one single tune, they all vibrate in harmony!
Osho
SUGGESTIONS
Postpone your opinion about the effects of the laughing meditation on yourself until
you have done this every day for at least 3 weeks (or even better 6 weeks). And
every day as if it is for the very first time, be open to something new. To me - even
after many laughing meditations - it is every time new, fresh and mind-blowing!
Make your own LAUGHING MEDITATION DIARY: before and after the meditation it
is good to find one or two words, which are the closest to the feelings you have in
that moment. And if no words are coming up then perhaps you see – with closed
eyes - an image or a picture, that shows your feelings of that moment the best, keep
that in mind.
After the laughing meditation you can write down those words or images or pictures
and also - as a personal sharing or feedback -how the laughing meditation was that
time. Do it the next day again as if you have never done it before, and so on so forth.
After several weeks you will have a very interesting laughing meditation diary.
I can recommend this laughing meditation at all kinds of congresses or meetings, or
at work just in the first 15 minutes of the lunchbreak, only for those who want to do
this. It is a first class energizer.
As you have noticed, I am very fascinated by this phenomenon of laughter and I like
to collect as many different experiences with laughter. If you like to share with me
your experiences with laughter in general and with the laughing meditation in
particular, I invite you to write this down and to send it to me in a letter,
I wish you many good laughs,
DHYAN SUTORIUS, M.D.
CENTRUM TER BEVORDERING
VAN HET LACHEN
(CENTRE IN FAVOUR OF LAUGHTER)
SECRETARIATE: JUPITER 1007
NL-1115 TX DUIVENDRECHT
THE NETHERLANDS
TELEPHONE: +31 20 69 00 289
www.lachmeditatie.info
Dhyan Sutorius, M.D., has worked as a family doctor (G.P.) and as a ship’s
doctor and later as a dermatologist in his private practice in one of the
hospitals in Amsterdam. He conducts - since 1978 - this laughing meditation
at all kinds of medical or other congresses and meetings, sometimes with
more than 800 laughers, several times partly broadcasted on radio and
television.
In 1985 he founded in Duivendrecht (NL) the CENTRE IN FAVOUR OF
LAUGHTER and is still conducting “LAUGHSHOPS “ = LAUGHING
MEDITATIONS WORKSHOPS for different groups and companies. When
people can laugh together, they can better work together!
-by Dhyan Sutorius, M.D.
THE TRANSFORMING FORCE OF THE LAUGHING MEDITATION
by Dhyan Sutorius, M.D.
http://home.kpn.nl/dhyansutorius/index_bestanden/LM_art_11_46_UK_27-6-06.pdf
THE TRANSFORMING FORCE OF THE LAUGHING MEDITATION
by Dhyan Sutorius, M.D.
INTRODUCTION
Laughter is a very special phenomenon. Unfortunately its (psycho) therapeutic value
is underestimated and the incredible transforming force, hidden in laughter, is not
used to its full extent. Laughter is a very good anti-stressor and gives a profound
relaxation. I like to draw your attention to the laughing meditation, a structured
exercise of 15 minutes with 3 stages: 1. stretching all the muscles, 2. laughing
(and/or crying or laughing with the tears), 3. silence.
The laughing meditation is no therapy, but it can be - as laughter is so healthy –
sometimes very therapeutic! It can be used as adjuvans in all kinds of therapy and
also in other situations it can enhance the coping with all of life's woes.
In 1976 I learned from Osho - among other things - this laughing meditation, which I
conduct since 1978 at all kinds of medical or other congresses and meetings,
sometimes with more than 800 laughers, several times partly broadcasted on radio
and television in different countries. In 1985 I founded the CENTRE IN FAVOUR OF
LAUGHTER, and since then I conduct also "laughshops" = laughing meditation
workshops. Laughter brings you in no time in the moment, in the here and now. It
gives a deep relaxation at all levels. The "laughing muscles" are in general rather
rigid, but will get better trained if you laugh more often. And every day you will feel : it
is easier and easier to do! Meditation can be described as "awareness without
thinking" or to be in the NO-MIND. That is possible in many situations when you do
something totally with awareness. This can also happen when you are running,
dancing, or working in the garden.
INSTRUCTIONS
The laughing meditation is a morning meditation, but it is also possible to do it later,
before lunch or dinner. Bladder and stomach should be almost empty. It can be done
alone or with "the other" in the mirror, or with any group of participants. Stay all the
time in the moment and be total in every second of this short meditation, without
forcing.
Allow yourself to laugh without a reason. You may use any reason or situation, which
let you laugh and – if you wish, as a third point - use a first class trigger : make a top
ten of your favorite problems in such a way, that the heaviest problem you have right
now, is your favorite problem number 1, and so on so forth. Suddenly you look at it
from a totally different angle and more in perspective with all other things in life.
Laughter transforms and makes things lighter. Sometimes I feel it myself as if I dive
from the "hell" in my head, into the "paradise" in my belly!
It is better to "laugh with" than to "laugh about" someone or something, placing
yourself on the pedestal. To "laugh at" or to "laugh about” is cold and unpleasant, to
"laugh with" is warm and accepting. That is why it is so pleasant to laugh with your
partner, with children, with friends, with colleagues or with grandma. It is all heart
energy!
As laughter and crying are very close, it is possible that in the second stage your
laughter suddenly turns into crying. If that happens, enjoy the crying, cry with all your
energy from your belly, until the crying finishes by itself, and then start actively
laughing again. So you may also laugh with your tears or cry with your laughter.
STAGES OF THE LAUGHING MEDITATION
1. Stretching, total stretching (5 minutes)
Use all your energy to stretch your muscles and, if possible, start yawning. While
stretching it is good to breathe out, without stretching inhale and continue the
stretching breathing out. In the last minute of this first stage stretch your fingers
backwards with your other hand and stretch your face muscles - without laughing –
by making strange faces, while putting out your tongue in different directions and
looking in the eyes of others.
2. Laughing and/or crying (5 minutes)
Smile and slowly, with a relaxed throat, start laughing without any force, until you
have a really heartfelt belly laugh. Focus all the time your awareness on what there
is for you in the moment, and whatever that is or whatever you feel in that very
moment laugh with that. It is more a matter of allowing and of letting go. Let-go is
the secret of meditation. Especially in the first minute let it built up slowly, just let it
happen. Without forcing at all, just laugh "allegro ma non troppo", without
screaming or yelling, only laughing and/or crying. Instead from the throat, relaxed
laughing from the belly. Just let bubble your belly, let it be a belly ballet!
If you have an other feeling or emotion, for instance when you get angry, then use
the total energy of that other emotion to laugh or to cry with it. In the last minute of
this stage close your eyes and continue laughing or crying.
3. Silence (5 minutes)
Suddenly stop laughing and keep your eyes closed. Let your whole body be still
without any movements. The slightest movement will change your state of
consciousness. Breathe in total silence without controlling the rhythm of your
breathing. Just let it happen. Every time when you find yourself thinking, feel a
"good bye!" for those thoughts and focus all your awareness on your body, on the
contact with Mother Earth and also on the feelings you have in that very moment,
whatever you feel, whatever it is, feel a "YES!" to that!
If you can cry and allow your total being to go into if and dissolve into it, you will have a totally
different quality of laughter arising in you Allow it. . It is beautiful!
Osho
A FEW REMARKS
One remark about the giggles and hysterical laughter (le fou rire, schlapp lachen).
Only if you totally, for 100 %, want to stop laughing, then you can. This sudden silence
in the third stage of the laughing meditation is the big difference with all the other
laughter. Your whole awareness is needed to be totally present in the moment.
THERE IS NOTHING TO BE REACHED and respect your limits !
The key of this meditation is always to focus your awareness on what there is for you
in that very moment. Whatever it is, stretch, laugh (or cry) with it of be silent!
Laughter has everything to do with ACCEPTANCE: the moment you accept totally the
situation, the other(s) or yourself you can laugh. If someone gets some insights in a
certain - sometimes difficult - situation, then quite often a roaring laughter emerges
from the belly. It is also possible to do this the other way around: starting with laughter,
......... and the insights follow as shadows!
SOME RESPONSES OF PARTICIPANTS
Some responses of participants after having done a laughing meditation: a deep
relaxation / a feeling of being "whole" / a feeling of being unburdened / a feeling of
peace / the pain is gone or the pain is less / I feel my tears or I feel sad / I feel as if I
took a shower inside myself / a feeling of ACCEPTANCE: a huge "YES"' for what
there is NOW, what I have NOW, for what I am NOW!
CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS
With Dr. Wouter van der Schaar, a medical psychologist from the University of
Amsterdam, I did in 1985 a research about the effects of this laughing meditation done
by chronic pain patients, who could do this, after 3 weeks having done a daily
laughing meditation, they felt in general better , they laughed more during the day,
(their laughing muscles were more trained), the pain was often less, sometimes not,
but they could always handle their pain better. So in the process of accepting they
were more advanced.
Also people with high-pitch voices will get a voice coming more from a natural level.
Speaking, singing, crying and laughing come from the same centre in your belly.
When a child falls on the floor, anyone can hear if the crying comes straight from the
centre in the belly or a little bit higher, a little bit harder to let know the parents or the
caretaker to give a hand to help. Also with laughter, you can hear if the laughter is
forced, if the laughter is harder than the person feels it. The sound or the timbre of
the laughter or the crying reveals clearly if it is forced or not.
When you have a heartfelt belly laugh, all parts of your being - the physiological, the psychological,
the spiritual - they all vibrate in one single tune, they all vibrate in harmony!
Osho
SUGGESTIONS
Postpone your opinion about the effects of the laughing meditation on yourself until
you have done this every day for at least 3 weeks (or even better 6 weeks). And
every day as if it is for the very first time, be open to something new. To me - even
after many laughing meditations - it is every time new, fresh and mind-blowing!
Make your own LAUGHING MEDITATION DIARY: before and after the meditation it
is good to find one or two words, which are the closest to the feelings you have in
that moment. And if no words are coming up then perhaps you see – with closed
eyes - an image or a picture, that shows your feelings of that moment the best, keep
that in mind.
After the laughing meditation you can write down those words or images or pictures
and also - as a personal sharing or feedback -how the laughing meditation was that
time. Do it the next day again as if you have never done it before, and so on so forth.
After several weeks you will have a very interesting laughing meditation diary.
I can recommend this laughing meditation at all kinds of congresses or meetings, or
at work just in the first 15 minutes of the lunchbreak, only for those who want to do
this. It is a first class energizer.
As you have noticed, I am very fascinated by this phenomenon of laughter and I like
to collect as many different experiences with laughter. If you like to share with me
your experiences with laughter in general and with the laughing meditation in
particular, I invite you to write this down and to send it to me in a letter,
I wish you many good laughs,
DHYAN SUTORIUS, M.D.
CENTRUM TER BEVORDERING
VAN HET LACHEN
(CENTRE IN FAVOUR OF LAUGHTER)
SECRETARIATE: JUPITER 1007
NL-1115 TX DUIVENDRECHT
THE NETHERLANDS
TELEPHONE: +31 20 69 00 289
www.lachmeditatie.info
Dhyan Sutorius, M.D., has worked as a family doctor (G.P.) and as a ship’s
doctor and later as a dermatologist in his private practice in one of the
hospitals in Amsterdam. He conducts - since 1978 - this laughing meditation
at all kinds of medical or other congresses and meetings, sometimes with
more than 800 laughers, several times partly broadcasted on radio and
television.
In 1985 he founded in Duivendrecht (NL) the CENTRE IN FAVOUR OF
LAUGHTER and is still conducting “LAUGHSHOPS “ = LAUGHING
MEDITATIONS WORKSHOPS for different groups and companies. When
people can laugh together, they can better work together!
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