Shri Jagat Singh Bisht
(Master Teacher: Happiness & Well-Being, Laughter Yoga Master Trainer, Author, Blogger, Educator, and Speaker.)
☆😊 A Life Well-Laughed: A Journey of Joy, Duty, and Awakening 😊☆ Shri Jagat Singh Bisht ☆
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A Life Well-Laughed: A Journey of Joy, Duty, and Awakening
By Someone Who Still Thinks He’s a Schoolboy in Disguise
*****
All the joy the world contains,
Has come through wishing happiness for others…
– Shantideva
*****
If life is indeed a stage, as the Bard declared, I suppose I’ve played my share of roles – a son, a student, a cricketer, a banker, a teacher, a laughter yogi, and, most importantly, a human being striving to become a little better each day. Sometimes, I’ve been Rama, bound by duty; sometimes Krishna, dancing through the lanes of joy. And now, in the golden evening of life, I find myself gently chuckling backstage, watching the drama unfold with a heart full of gratitude.
Act One: Of Frolic and Friendships
I was born in Jabalpur – a charming town nestled in the heart of India, known more for its marble rocks and misty mornings than for making headlines. But for me, it was the centre of the universe – the land of my first friendships, first bruises, and first cricket innings played with a stick and a rubber ball.
Childhood, as it is for many, was a simple affair. Studies and play held equal sway, and the thrill of winning a school quiz or hitting a six in the last over was unmatched. I now realise how much those tiny triumphs mattered, not just to me but to my parents – their eyes lit up with every certificate I brought home. Life, then, was an endless game of collecting stars, and I must say, I had quite the constellation.
But the most precious thing I earned wasn’t medals. It was friends. The kind you walk to school with, trade tiffins with, and swear lifelong brotherhood over shared comic books. Little did I know, these bonds would outlast report cards and cricket seasons.
Act Two: The Bat, the Book, and the Bank
My romance with cricket deserves a paragraph of its own. Blame it on Don Bradman’s The Art of Cricket, which I devoured like scripture. I learned early on that cricket wasn’t just a sport – it was a way to learn grace, discipline, humility, and yes, the art of laughing off a duck on the scoreboard.
While cricket gave wings to my spirit, academics grounded me. I was a diligent student, not particularly brilliant but deeply engaged. That sincere engagement, I believe, was the key to whatever little success I eventually found.
And then came youth – that dazzling, demanding phase of one’s life when the heart beats louder and dreams stretch higher. I joined the State Bank of India, not with a grand plan, but with the quiet resolve to serve honestly, support my family, and earn my keep. Thirty-five years passed like a well-paced test match. Each innings brought new learnings, new cities, and new people.
Life, in its mysterious wisdom, added another twist to my journey. I was chosen to be a faculty member in behavioural science at the bank’s learning centre. This was no ordinary training post – it was a portal to my deeper self. The Human Process Lab I underwent turned my question from “What do I do?” to “Who am I?” The answers were layered, tender, and sometimes delightfully confusing.
Act Three: Krishna in a Tie, Rama with a Smile
In truth, I lived a life of duality. There was the Krishna in me – playful, poetic, passionate about life. But life asked me to show up like Rama – responsible, measured, reliable. And that, in a way, was the beauty of it all. Life never lets you get too comfortable in one role.
It was during this phase that I also led the Citizen-SBI initiative, inspired by the powerful, luminous teachings of Swami Ranganathananda. Here, I discovered something profound – that duty is not a burden, but a privilege. That contribution isn’t an obligation, but a path to expansion. The more I gave, the more I grew.
Act Four: Of Laughter, Light, and Little Awakenings
Once our beloved son set out on his own path, my wife and I found ourselves asking – what now?
The answer came, appropriately, with a giggle. We embraced Laughter Yoga – not as a hobby but as a calling. Bringing smiles to faces, uplifting weary souls, and sharing joy with strangers became a shared mission. There is something disarmingly powerful about laughing with abandon. It melts away differences, dissolves stress, and makes you feel connected to every living being.
This newfound energy led me to dive deeper into Positive Psychology, Yoga, and Spirituality. These were not mere interests – they were soul-companions. They whispered to me truths I had sensed all along: that happiness is not out there, but within; that mindfulness is not an escape but a coming home.
Epilogue: Contentment – The Final Frontier
Now retired, I live what I call my ‘second innings’ – one where the scoreboard doesn’t matter. I walk more. I sing more (sometimes off-key, but joyfully). I read, reflect, and try to share whatever little wisdom I’ve gathered along the way.
I don’t harbour regrets. Life has been generous. My school nurtured my roots. My bank gave me wings. My family – oh, my family – they’ve been the sunshine on my path. Friends have stayed loyal, and even those who drifted left behind warm footprints in memory.
And while I haven’t attained enlightenment like the great Buddha, I have had my “little awakening.” I’ve realised that giving, laughing, serving, loving – these are the real treasures. And the best part? There’s no end to them.
So here I am – a lad in a retired man’s body – grinning like a child who just stole a mango. If I have one wish now, it is this:
May all be happy.
May all be peaceful.
May all be free of worry.
And may we all – in our own sweet time – find our own little awakening.
“Life’s a stage,” they said.
Well, I’ve danced a little, cried a little, laughed a lot –
And now, I sit in the wings, humming my song,
Waiting for the curtain to fall – with contentment in my heart
And a twinkle in my eye.
♥ ♥
© Jagat Singh Bisht
Master Teacher: Happiness & Well-Being, Laughter Yoga Master Trainer, Author, Blogger, Educator, and Speaker
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≈ Editor – Shri Hemant Bawankar/Editor (English) – Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi, NM