I know the sound of two hand clapping. What is the sound of one hand clapping?
Mr. YooWho decided yesterday to do his best to answer one of the more famous of Zen koans.
by moshe cohen | Jan 24, 2010 | Clown + Zen
I know the sound of two hand clapping. What is the sound of one hand clapping?
Mr. YooWho decided yesterday to do his best to answer one of the more famous of Zen koans.
Summer Evening Light coming in my window on Harrison street softens as the evening grows. Every day the light hits different spots on my Southern wall, and I've been creating a little series of photos. Yesterday I took this one, and then as I looked to title the...
https://youtu.be/5KYsaBoKoBg The Dance of Life The Dance of Life is a ritual dance to the 4 directions was taught to me at Camp Winnarainbow by Txi Whiz in 1984. The essence of the dance is to face each direction, starting first with the East, then South, then West,...
A while back I saw a graphic on the back of a sweatshirt that really caught my attention. It was very simple, two circles, a big one, with a smaller one hovering above as if in orbit around the mother ship. Inside the big circle were the words “Your comfort zone“ and...
This is a reprint of a blog post written for the Clowns Without Borders project in March, 2019Posted on: March 15, 2019 by Moshe Cohen | Project: Guatemala Workshop Tour Clowns Without Borders USA founder Moshe Cohen is in Guatemala leading workshops for social...
This is a story I've told this story many a time, yet never in writing. I dedicate it to Ensho's memory, who is missed by many. This photo was taken 4 weeks after this story, at Buddha's birthday celebration. Ensho is the one with the bowl on his head and hands...
This post was originally published in 2017, 5 years after a post about Ja Woo's participation in the annual Buddha's Birthday celebration at the Zen Center of Los Angeles. Ja Woo: “There is no room for ego in clowning, no way for one’s ego to be present when one is in...
You wish to share a joke, a remark, expecting/hoping for laughter. Sometimes though your intent backfires, and you find yourself in a bit of a pickle....How to know when is the right time? When is the joke a good joke? “As long as the humor is not destructive” the...
This conversation with Roshi Egyoku took place during my six weeks (Jan-Feb 2007) as an artist in residence at the Zen center of Los Angeles. A few times a week, we would sit down for a half hour chat to examine the relationship of Clowning and Zen. Listening, a...
Perhaps you are already aware that 15 years ago, Roshi Bernie Glassman, Zen master, started studying clown with me. Up to that point, all my students were performers. Bernie’s intent was not to become a clown, rather he wished to use “tools of tricksterdom and humor”...
Holy Moley it’s already the 1st of May. Revolutionary workers day, almost everywhere except good ol’ US of A. It’s been a great day for online discussions about putting clown noses on buddha statues and whether that is disrespectful. The point of reference is the...