Humor and the Dhamma

[Paribbajaka]

Hello everyone!

I was watching this video by Bhante Yuttadhammo http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Emw57HsFCDQ 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!

[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?

[tiltbillings]

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=737&p=9007&p9007

[alan]

In MN 78 The Buddha used some humor--perhaps sarcastically, to make a point.

[Paribbajaka]

by tiltbillings » Mon Nov 26, 2012 2:18 am
viewtopic.php?f=13&t=737&p=9007&p9007

Well, that about settles it.

[alan]

Not for me.

[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.

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

When attached beings are sad, freed beings are happy.

[tiltbillings]

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.

[Ben]

I think I'll stick to being a humourless and cranky bastard.
Its so much more fun.

[Kim O'Hara]

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.


Kim

[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.

[tiltbillings]

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:



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

[Kim O'Hara]

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.


Kim

[tattoogunman]

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.


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

[Kusala]

There's a sutta where a monk(or was it a nun) pokes fun at a Brahmin for bathing in the river Ganges.

[tattoogunman]

There's a sutta where a monk(or was it a nun) pokes fun at a Brahmin for bathing in the river Ganges.

Why? The water is so clean and pure

[Kusala]

There's a sutta where a monk(or was it a nun) pokes fun at a Brahmin for bathing in the river Ganges.

Why? The water is so clean and pure

Here's the actual sutta http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html