I used to be surprised that many spiritual teachers were quite jovial. Their light-heartedness was a shock for spiritual seeking was an intensely serious business to me. I thought reverence, nobility, and solemnity were the proper attitudes to hold—by both teacher and student. Yet I’ve found the teachers who touched my heart in lasting ways were those who laughed a lot. Their gaiety was not forced, rehearsed or polished. Instead it was a natural, spontaneous response to whatever was arising in the moment. It was a way they had of teasing out the sparkle in the sometimes scorching glare of human existence.

Of course, when I first witnessed this humor I was taken aback. I judged their reactions as insulting of vulnerable students with serious questions. For then I believed that spiritual maturity implied transcendence of base human nature. So questions with a “holy” intent deserved approval and careful reflection, not humor. I had a lot of learning before me.

Recently I saw a cartoon of Buddha sitting in classic meditative repose. Above his head was a bubble that said: “I hate my thighs!” I shook with raw laughter, mixed with relief, identification and mischief. But without a trace of disdain. I used to look down at such silliness, as if it was sacrilegious. Today, I sense spiritual wisdom is not an above-it-all holiness that frowns on anything less than profound and learned.

Yes, the spiritual journey can be a sobering path. There are countless approaches, road maps, and myths about the intensely dynamic quest for the Holy Grail. Yet, in the stories spiritual masters pass on, there are also many examples of folly encountered along the way. These tales introduce elements of humanity and humility that bring spiritual principles down to earth. Lofty ideals of transcendence are worthy to reach for yet too easily can slip from our grasp when not secured to the ground. Finding and enjoying the humor in our spiritual lives is where heaven and earth can meet.

This understanding continually reveals itself to me in two distinct ways. One is through study of the spiritual dimensions of healing the hurts and afflictions of living. Through The Healing Bridge Project, Inc., http://www.thehealingbridge.org a diverse group of people share their experience of healing and how it spiritually transforms them. The initial goal of research was to highlight how personal struggle and pain leads to deep inner change. Surprisingly as I interviewed individuals in the US and Great Britain it was evident that a crucial “healing bridge” was humor, celebration and laughter. As one 73 year old woman described it: “You know how I would define true healing? My acting teacher would put some music on and we'd do abstract poses with each other. I would say, "It's a celebration and then a little bit back; and another celebration and a little bit back; and then roll all over with humor!” For AletaLyle (you can read her full story on The Healing Bridge Project website) her healing and spiritual path were full of song, acting, delightedly dressing in outrageous costumes and ever present laughter.

Another lesson about the spirit of humor has come through a guru, my 12-year-old dog. He has an uncanny knack of detecting when my spiritual practice is too arduous. At times I seem to instinctively look up from a meditation on the back porch to catch him tossing his mangled stuffed animal in the air with wild abandon. He leaps up to grab and fiercely shake it, and then acts as if this inert little bear is dragging him along the ground. After two or three rounds, suddenly he’ll become transfixed (with the silliness of it all?), look up, spin around and settle down into a contented curl. By that time I’m overtaken with side-splitting laughter (every time) and reconnected to the in-the-moment knowing of just how perfectly I’ve been instructed to “lighten up”.

Respected spiritual teachers do not usually use razor sharp wit or comedic repartee. Rather, they express a blend of spontaneity, irony and unreserved appreciation. Their humor gently affirms the foibles and idiosyncrasies of human nature as discovered through their own experiences and observations.

Next time the tenor of your spiritual practice grows dim, spend some time with a child or pet, play with full abandon, and let yourself belly laugh at the absurdity of it all. There you will find an earthy, in the body spiritual fullness. There you will experience the bridge between human and divine.