The Sense of Humor

The Criterion that Evolution Has Become Conscious

By: OSHO

Narrated by: OSHO

Responding to a question about why there are not many women comediennes or jokes which do not have a male chauvinistic ring to them, Osho dives into the context and history of women in societies and the sense of humor coming into existence at a late stage of evolution.

No animal other than humans have a sense of humor. The sense of humor can be called the criterion whether evolution has become conscious or not.

From the series: The New Dawn, Chapter #31

OSHO TALKS – from original recordings of live events with Osho and his audience of seekers and friends from around the world. Recorded at the Osho International Meditation Resort, Pune, India.

©1987 OSHO International Foundation (P)2021 OSHO International Foundation

Osho talks about why women have no sense of humor.

The irony is this speech had very little to do with humor and was actually all about women. Osho places women on a pedestal in this speech and mentions how things could be better if they were different: if women were empowered and liberated. I am aware this talk happened in the 70's and while women have more rights I don't see any of the things Osho was mentioning. In fact some of the worst people I have met on earth: the most viscous, the most hateful, the most dominating have been women. He believes women are more likely to be enlightened and I just disagree. I live in a western country so that colors my viewpoint but the point still goes like this: women are no better than men, we are both prone to being hateful and angry. Putting them on a pedestal and pretending like they are better than men is a disservice to men. I believe both the male and female energies are beautiful and both are necessary and one is no better than the other. It's unfortunate because out of the hundreds of Osho talks I have listened to this is one where I just disagree with his viewpoint.