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write them down. If there are too many, simply start with the most serious ones and save the rest for later. Ask yourself the following question: Does taking this seriously—this thing, event, person— contribute or add anything of value? If not then decide that from now on you will pretend to take that one thing less seriously whenever it comes up for you. Remember you don’t have to change anything but simply be willing to take it less seriously every day. If you simply are not willing, then move to the next on the list. As you get better, life can begin to become lighter and more joyful as you see that seriousness is only a bad habit. All it takes is a willingness to play. What many do not realise is that not


taking things seriously—and waking up to our true nature—is exactly the same thing. The question is: how do I do that? It’s worth finding out how! Find out for the joy of it. You can make a game of it! You can try to wear purple underwear on your head, though I am not familiar with the success rate of that particular practice. Can you imagine a life where joy is the


foundation and all of the events—good or bad—come and go without the usual drama? This is the beginning of real life. In the world it is believed that


seriousness is unavoidable and necessary, but this is simply not true. By discovering the Silence we start to see that we are wrong about this. Thank God, Buddha and Baby Jesus that we are wrong and have it all backwards. Can you imagine if enlightenment was serious? Why would you want it? In fact, the seriousness with which we have approached freedom is seen to be completely unnecessary and even harmful to our overall well-being. It is far better for you to smoke cigarettes than to be serious! Simply put ‘not taking things


seriously’ or (NTTS) is both the goal and the path of true spirituality. There


is no peace, joy, or fulfillment with seriousness. Enlightenment is absolutely impossible with seriousness. I am being completely serious here. A little exploration of the Silence will


reveal this fact. Awareness of stillness, which is our true Self, is already allowing everything, all the time. This is true now even as you read these words. This sitting back and allowing-ness of the Silence used to make me angry when I was self- absorbed in ‘my’ drama. I would shout out (in my mind); “Hello. Do you not care that I am suffering here?” No answer, damn it! It just sits there not caring about me or doing anything to help. The question is; why do I take


everything so seriously when the source of life does not? Why not learn to live like the source of life? Our Being is already having all the fun and we are missing out because we ‘think’ we are a separate and serious person. This is the cosmic joke. By being aware of just how serious we


are, we can start to break free from this nasty habit. If we start to approach our path with awareness and the intention to take things lightly, we open up to the infinite that is always available. Any time we notice this seriousness we can use that as an invitation to laugh and enjoy the Silence instead of thinking. Seriously! With a joyful practice this choice gets easier to make. Once we see how wonderful it is not


take our thoughts, emotions and even our self seriously, the momentum of the joy of exploration builds. Life gets easier and easier, and as a result, clarity and commitment to the Silence become absolute and effortless. Our being has never been serious,


even when we were. All things that move us away from what we are—such as self-absorbed thinking—are because of this habit. Being aware of this habit of thinking can be very liberating. Now that


I have shared with you the secret, there is no reason for you to take it seriously any longer … ever. If you notice that life is hard after reading this, then guess what you have done? That is right—you have taken something seriously. Just stop it and learn to laugh at yourself and remember: Seriousness is not a commitment! Commitment leads to freedom; seriousness leads away from it. Thinking and seriousness are two


sides of the same coin. By seeing this pattern we can start to enjoy all of the benefits of a path of joy.


Paramananda first learned how to meditate in 1999. Since then he has dedicated his life to sharing a path to freedom based on a joyful practice called Bright Path meditation. He is based in Vancouver, Canada. His book, “A Path of Joy”, has just been published by O Books.


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