Holiness or sanctity without joy and laughter is no holiness or sanctity at all

Aboru Aboye.

Holiness or sanctity without joy and laughter is no holiness or sanctity at all. Are not the Orisa always full of joy and laughter? Don't they live with a light touch and are free of extremes. They do not take life or themselves excessively too seriously. They know how to laugh and enjoy even in tough times. Aren't there numerous stories in Odu Ifa filled with humorous and joyful anecdotes of the Orisa, Babalawo, Olorisa, Initiates, Kings, Servants and everyday common people. Even about the animals there are funny and joyful stories. Olodumare is a God of joy and contagious laughter. To hear Him laugh with delight and joy is to experience life, satisfaction, contentment and inner peace (security). It is not good for anyone to take themselves too seriously. 

Sometimes the best and easiest remedy is to laugh with joy and without derision at oneself and certain life occurrences. Laughter and joy are divine messengers (Orisa) of healing and renewal. 

There is not always a need to do something to improve ones lot. Sometimes doing nothing is the answer. We have to sometimes just lovingly, kindly, compassionately and with understanding accept our human foibles and the foibles of others and just let go of anger, irritation and/or stress though joy, laughter and through letting go of the emotional-mental burden or weight we allows ourselves to build up and carry around  to our own detriment. The perfection that Olodumare asks and expects from us is not the idealistic perfection that many imagine or hammer out with their own intellects. It is enough to be human. It is enough to have respectful joyful acceptance of oneself and others.

Why do we love the Orisas? We see in them strength and weakness. Good decision and bad decisions. Periods of joy and periods of grief? So why do we love them? Because they were perfect in this sense: They were sincere. They were kind and did their best wholeheartedly to benefit and help others within their honest means and resources. They were lovable and endearing with the complement of their strengths and weaknesses. They were who they were. They did not pretend or need to pretend to be other than who and how they were. They were genuine and authentic.  They lived life not with self-consciousness or a mentality of self preoccupation, but they were in love with life, community, adventure, nature, each other and Olodumare. The Orisa did not live with a negative worldview of life neither did they live with an attitude of self disparagement or an attitude of unworthiness or guilt. They lived life with a healthy, positive and optimistic world view. They saw the world with a child like sense of magic, awe, mystery and wonder. They saw their lives in the light of the Great Mystery of beauty, harmony and order that surrounded them. They sensed and felt their connection with all things through the universal energy, creative intelligence and vital power called ase. They loved their lives and the people they lived and associated with. They were in many ways child like, innocent and straightforward in their ways.

Do we love our children, friends, companions, asociares and spouse because they are perfect? Then why do we love them? 

Do our children, family, friends and spouse love us because we are perfect?

They love us and we love them because in spite of our acknowledged limitations, flaws and defects, we care, cherish and look out for each other with consideration, deep feeling, sympathy, understanding and care. 

Does not Ifa teach us that true perfection, iwa, sanctity, serenity, suuru, and beauty are truly seen and magnified in the midst of our weaknesses, flaws and limitations and not in their absence? Is not Iwa perfected through the humble acknowlegment of our actual limitations and peculiar conditionings? 

This is the real (actual) perfection (maturity) that Olodumare expects us to understand and exhibit. There may be a time in the future where we will enjoy and attain the summit of perfection which is free from flaws, defects and weaknesses. 

But for right now in this present life the perfection (degree of actual present attainment) that Olodumare and Orisa expect from you, me and all our brothers and sisters of humanity is the one reflected in the midst of our present weaknesses, flaws and defects. This path is free from strain, extremes, hypocrisy, artificial contrivances and wearisome (useless) and (fruitless) practices. 

The way of Olodumare is natural, dignifying, ennobling and accessible  (attainable by one and all): Humility, kind heartedness, sincerity, good will and honest efforts according to our own abilities and possibilities are what Olodumare, the divine master Ela Iwori and Orisa ask and expect from us. 

All of these joyful qualities and traits including (joy) laughter, acceptance, knowing how to let go and not live life with a tight white knuckled grip, can be had in fulness and brought to maturity, precisely because of our own weaknesses, flaws and defects and the weaknesses, flaws and defects of others. These temporary flaws, weaknesses and imperfections are ours by the workings of divine intelligence and design. There is a purpose for this in the compassionate and all wise workings of the Divine Mind - Enitolodu (source and repository of all virtues, energies and powers). 

Through the right understanding and relating to our personal flaws and shortcomings is how we grow and become honestly spiritually strong, intelligent and mature. The more we see and understand these things, the more humble, forgiving, understanding and accepting we become. Through this divine training and instruction it becomes easier and satisfying to let go of extremes and unrealistic expectations of others and ourselves, that Olodumare has never placed upon us neither does He intend we carry about. We can live with joy, laughter and sympathetic understanding by understanding these things and applying gentleness and kindness towards ourselves first, then others. Genuine growth cannot be forced and cannot be enjoyed by entertaining (cultivating) false expectations, distorted, imaginary and/or inaccurate perceptions of things. 

We have to be real and we have to proceed honestly from where we are, how we are and who we truly are. What Olodumare and the divine exemplary leader Ela Iwori consider as perfection and completeness is not what we esteem or think it to be. 

The way of Olodumare is with resolute effort, but an effort marked by ease, smoothness, inner calm and naturalness. Be real. Be authentic. Be kind and gentle towards yourself and others. Enjoy yourself, have kindness and love for yourself. See and delight in the mystery and beauty that is you just as you presently are and not as you hope or expect to be in the future.  An authentic, self-confident and self-respectful person is a powerful and blessed person. Be that. Be comfortable with yourself. Follow your dreams, ideals and noble affinities without fear, worry or self limitation. There is nothing more beautiful and powerful than a person who is at home with him or herself. Be at peace with yourself. Make peace with yourself and all others will be at peace with you. They will cherish, respect, love and defend you. 

Ogbo Ato Asure Iworiwofun. 

Aboru Aboye.