10 Comments
User's avatar
Rick Lewis's avatar

I was sitting next to a gentleman on a plane flight for a business trip who started talking to me about his hunting hobby. I casually mentioned that I was a vegetarian, and without missing a beat he just looked at me and said “if God didn’t want us to eat animals, he wouldn’t of made em outta meat.” And on the subject of your question, is there any organism more vulnerable than the human infant, I’d suggest the adult human author who pushes the publish button is a close second.

Expand full comment
Tai's avatar

😂😂😂 Touché! Rick, you are an exemplary embodiment of wit. Thanks for the read and laughs!

Expand full comment
Rick Lewis's avatar

ha ha, thanks. this was a deeply eloquent article by the way, and a pleasure to read as you always are. we need to meet up again soon!

Expand full comment
Tai's avatar

Yes! I would greatly appreciate meeting up again.

Expand full comment
Michelle Elisabeth Varghese's avatar

haha I loved this story!

Expand full comment
Michelle Elisabeth Varghese's avatar

I love how when I read one of your pieces Tai, I learn so much about something that otherwise seems so obvious, like humor. I loved them on jokes weaved into the piece, the last one was a perfect end. This idea of a “cosmic jokes” is something I’m definitely going to keep chewing on. “Limitation is at the heart of the cosmic joke.” Gah, amazing!

Expand full comment
Tai's avatar

Thanks so much Michelle! Tears and laughter, like water and fire, feeling alive is the relief we're after!

Expand full comment
Oscar Obregon's avatar

What a ride Tai! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. Your outlook and insights are so useful, and deeply enrich humor, that is such a profound and important part of life. I learned a lot and will explore even deeper with your tips.

Thank you for tackling this subject so masterfully. Also, loved the monk-themed jokes, I laughed a lot!

Expand full comment
Tai's avatar

Thanks to you friend for the suggested prompt and helping shape this piece! I think that underlies the interdependence of this life experience, an essential aspect of the cosmic joke. Although humor is dear to me, it is a non-obvious topic that seems unlikely to have occurred to me to write about. 🙏

Expand full comment
Rachael Tiss's avatar

Excellent piece, Tai! The way your write makes me feel like we're sitting down at a pub totally engaged in a deep conversation. You write with an inviting philosophical richness.

There's something that feels so majestically human about laughter. When I share a good, body shaking laugh with someone, I'm amazed by how out of all the humans in this world, we align on this one specific, little worldview to laugh at together. Laughter makes me feel more connected to people. It makes me feel whole.

Expand full comment