Keeping a Sense of Humor with Noah Levine

“Lighten up Francis” What are some of the funny things that your mind does that often don't feel that funny? Things that you take personally and you suffer about, but in a wise moment you realize, “It's so ridiculous that my mind...” There can be an urgency in the beginning of our practice. It’s not funny. At times it's one of life or death. I know if I heard somebody saying this **** when I was brand new I would think, “what the **** are you talking about? I'm trying to stay out of prison, not trying to laugh. I'm not trying to go to comedy. I just want to stop smoking crack.” But eventually, I assure you, it becomes a necessity if we're seeking the third noble truth, what we call ‘Nirvana’, which often is called ‘enlightenment’. Some have reflected that part of this is just lightening up you know? It's like the quote from ‘Stripes’, “lighten up Francis”. If you're just too uptight, trying too hard to be good, trying too hard to be spiritual, and you become uptight about it, then you suffer about it and you create an expectation that you can't live up to. I'm not trying to give a free pass on just like being a complete ****** *** all of the time and saying, “I was just joking.” We talk a lot about intention and the importance of trying to be careful with our speech and our actions, but I’m also talking about keeping a sense of humor.