One Hand Clapping

Topics

Other posts

Not-Knowing-Where the Magic Happens

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...

Meditation, Resilience and Clowns

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...

Mr. YooWho at the Gate of Sweet Nectar (circa ZCLA 2006)

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...

Is Ridiculous a Bad Word???

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...

Constructive/Destructive Humor

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...

Clown + Zen. Listening and Connection. Conversations with Egyoku

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...

On Clown, Zen and Sponaneity

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”...

Nosing the Buddha. disrespectful???

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...

Discussing Mindfulness with Wavy Gravy

Yesterday I dropped by my clown guru Wavy Gravy’s house for a visit. Our conversation at one point opened up the topic of mindfulness and it’s current top position in the moving and grooving place to be Now category…I was musing about how contrary the word mindful can...

Clown + Zen. “There is no room for ego!”

During a photo session at a Clown-Zen workshop this spring, Heinz-Jürgen Metzger in Zen robes, myself in Mr Miniscule outfit, a comment offered up by Jawoo 10 days earlier floated to the surface. Jawoo is a Korean nun who participated in this year’s Buddha’s...

Blog