by Swami
Beyondanda

As anyone who switches on the 6:00 p.m. news can see, the world is in a grave state. That is the bad news. The good news is, the best way to overcome all this gravity is with levity. It is not surprising then, that in these times of great upheaval - not to mention downheaval -- more and more people are turning to FUNdamentalism - accent on "fun."

We FUNdamentalists believe that life is a joke, but God is laughing with us, not at us. We believe that fun is fundamental, that beneath all of the stress, distress and negativity we see around us, there is a deep well of joy that is the source of deep wellness. We believe that by surrendering to the Farce and by playing to God every day, we can open our clown chakra and actually hear the laugh track. We embrace the material world as a source of great material which will keep us and God laughing long after the final credits roll. And we play for Nonjudgment Day, the glorious moment when the laugh track becomes audible to all and we finally get the joke.

Yes, a FUNdamentalist revival is in full swing as weary seekers return to the real old time religion where the fun comes before the mental and celebration outweighs cerebration. We FUNdamentalists realize that Nonjudgment Day is at hand, and the best way to illuminate the darkness is to make light of it. And miracles are occurring daily! Not only are practicing FUNdamentalists finding their laugh-force revitalized, but they are reporting that chronic jestive disorders such as irregularhilarity, irony deficiency, humorrhoids and even truth decay are clearing up as if by magic.

Unlike other religions which designate a specific day of the week for devotion and worship, FUNdamentalists say that any day two or more gather together to laugh in God's name is a Ho-Ho-Holy Day. And when it comes to laughter, truly the more the merrier. There's nothing like a good old fashioned FUNdamentalist revival to revive the fun in your community.

Here's the recipe:

1. Find a wide open space where anyone you know who shares your laugh-affirming values can gather under one big intent -- to have fun.

2. Ask people to dress in their Funday finery -- either in formal attire (red noses, rubber ties and oversized shoes) or casual, disguised as normal people.

3. The ceremony generally begins with a reading from the Funday Sunnies --any book of jokes, quips, limericks or puns will do - and then a rousing FUNdamentalist hymn like "Meet The Flintstones" to get everyone in the proper mood.

4. Our Golden Rule of Ho-ho-holy Hee-hee-healing is "Laugh thy neighbor as thyself," so spend the next part of the Revival looking at each other and laughing. Since so many of the great geniuses and innovators in our world were laughed at before they proved successful, it's only logical, then, that facing laughter prepares us for success. And what better way to face laughter than to have others laugh in your face? To get the jestive juices flowing, many people will make funny faces. Others don't have to, since God has already done the job for them. Since we are all mirrors for each other, it doesn't matter whose face you are facing. When you reach the point where you realize you are laughing in your own face, you have achieved fool-realization.

5. When the laughter dies down to a few snickers, giggles and an occasional chuckle, and you have laughed yourself into a peaceful bliss, it is time to pass the plate. FUNdamentalists often bring items to share from their own laughingstock -- jokes, comedy CDs and videos, cartoons, books and various jestive aids. The items are all put in one pile in the middle of the room, and everyone takes home a new fun item. Anything left over is donated to the humorless. The Revival ends with the FUNdamentalist pledge: "All for fun and fun for all!" And everyone runs out to play until fundown.

Exerpted from Duck Soup for the Soul, copyright 1999 by Steve Bhaerman. All rights reserved.

NOW AVAILABLE!

Swami's new book, Duck Soup for the Soul, is hot off the presses. Let the Guru of Ho-ho-holy Hee-hee-healing offer his unique recipe for living louder and laughing longer! Autographed copies now available for $10 plus $3 shipping. To order by mail and get a catalogue of Swami's products write to Lite Headed Productions, P.O. Box 69, Burnet, TX 78611. To place a credit card order, call Swami's special product ordering line at 1-800-SWAMI-BE. Or, ask for it at bookstores. Remember, laughter is physically healing because it causes the blood vessels to dilate, which beats having them die early! Visit Swami's new website at beyondananda.com