Laughter

It is said laughter is the best medicine of life.It increases longevity, improves relationships ,and makes one feel and look good. A child's laughter always brings heavenly joy to all. It reflects children's inner purity, unconditional love and complete trust to all. As we grow old, we loose that precious magnetic smile, which bridges the gap between all adversities. Our mechanical smile becomes sometimes commercial, calculating or even sarcastic to inflict pain to others. As we are all aware of the health benefit factors of a good laugh, we do not want to loose it either. Medical research proves, many serious ailments are caused by our bottled up emotions.So to release such emotions, often people join laughing clubs, where they practice loud belly laughter every morning. Though I am not very sure about it's positive effect, but surely such hilarious laughter can cause much damage to the eardrums of a passerby. I remember, my dog used to protest it vehemently with his equally louder barking every morning. Narrating the method of how to retain our sunshine smile, Paramhansa Yogananda said, the remedy lies in reforming our own attitude. He said, harbor no anger, or malice of any form in your mind. Others meanness should not affect our resolution to be kind. We do not need others certificate to be cheerful.He said, the best way to be ever happy is to seek God,s love through meditation.Then all enmity dissolves, we can love every body and can have a sincere smile always on our face. It reminds me of a king,s story,who had all the wealth, but had no smile on his face. When no medicine or funny story could cure him, an advice came from an old man. He said, A King must wear a shirt of a happy man, to charge his depleted energy, and then only his smile will be back on his face. So immediately the kings men were active in searching for a truly happy man. They saw some people were interacting with others very cheerfully in a busy market. They stopped and asked them the cause of their cheerful smile, they truthfully said,their smile is commercial, which helps to catch customers , and they can make good money. Being disappointed when the kings men were about to return, suddenly they noticed a strange looking, bare bodied sadhu with a beaming smile, sitting on a rock and was resting. With much hesitation, the kings men stopped, and asked, sir, you look a very happy soul. Our sad King has been asked to put on a happy man,s shirt to be cured from his melancholic nature.So will you please lend him one of your shirts? The sadhu had a good laugh, and said, I wish I could give one, but sorry, I do not have any shirt. The story ends, but puts us in a dilemma. The dilemma is how to retain our million dollar smile, which nobody can rob.The answer is very simple. Paramhansa Yogananda said,resurrect yourself from the littleness of life. Let your mind wonder in the pure and simple thoughts and be with the infinite. Then the magnetic smile will be ever with you, and will bring sparks of joy in every heart.