Hello there, from my desktop. This page is about clown. The word 'clown' opens up a wide spectrum of the human experience, and diverse cultural vantage points. The word has an overall general meaning most often connected to humour and laughter. However as you examine it in further detail,the river widens to become more like a delta leading to the sea. One way to look at it is that there are many lineages of clown.

This page intends to offer perspectives on clown from numerous angles. It is by no means meant to be a complete picture as much as an investigation of some of the possibilities. Over the course of the next few months (it's nov 2007) I will be posting a series of conversations about clown with numerous contemporary performers . I will also post conversations about clown and zen. Towards the bottom of the page, there is a section of investigations about
sacred clown. Each topic on this page links to the article, which are all posted on my 'sacred mischief' blog at yoowho.wordpress.com

conversations about clown with performers:

Conversation with Utah Phillips about Vaudeville, Clown and Performing. recorded in June 2002. Posted 5.08

An extract from a Conversation with Leris Colombiani, posted April 16th, 2008
Conversation with Zaza and Josep(France/Cataluna) of the Excentricos. from Nov 5th, 2007.
Conversation with Marceline (Catalan/French), of the Excentricos. from Nov 5th, 2007.
Conversation with Shirley (Brazil)of Teatro Do Anonimo, recorded Dec. 2006
Conversation with Sotigue Kouyaté (Mali/Paris), at Ajos Do Picadeiro Festival, recorded in Dec, 2006
Conversation with Tortell Poltrona (Catalan), recorded November 29, 2007
Conversation with Aziz (Mexico), recorded Dec, 2006.

Soon Coming: conversations about clown with quite a few people including Utah Phillips, Bernie Glassman, Leo Bassi, and Patch Adams....

clown and zen

In 1999, Wavy Gravy called me up. He asked me to come over (Berkeley) to meet someone who needed a clown teacher. This person turned out to be Roshi Bernie Glassman, a pioneer in American Zen, who then took a series of workshops with me. In 2001 he participated, as a schleper ( and wonderful performer) in a Clowns Without Borders expedition to Chiapas, Mexico. Soon after that we taught a series of workshops together entitled "Clown Your Zen" (Omega Institute, NY; Le Forum, Paris; Villa Unspunnen, Ch...)

Conversation w. Roshi Bernie Glassman about Clown & Zen,posted April 8th,2008
Zen/Taoist/Clown Sayings by Marc Jondall, posted April 11th, 2008
Buddha's Birthday Performance Notes. From LooneyTune,posted April 14, 2008
A quick look at Clown and Zen, by Moshe, posted April 20, 2008
Clown, Spirituality and Nogaku theatre, by Moshe, posted June 28, 2008

I have continued teaching in Zen centers and retreat centers, most extensively at the Zen Center of Los Angeles. In 2006, the abott there, Roshi Egyoku, invited me to start a school there. Hence was born i.smacc (Institute of Sacred Mischief and Contemplative Clowning. In January and February (2007) during the second year session, I had the opportunity to have a series of conversations with Egyoku. We discussed the parallels between zen and the art of clowning. Of course, my lack of profound understanding of zen and buddhism prompted related questions.

Conversations about Clown and Zen with Roshi Egyoku
Joy and Zen. posted nov 13, 2007
Clown at the Zen Center, posted nov 23, 2007
Listening, Connection, posted Nov 26th, 2007
Language of the Heart? Kokoro,posted Nov 27,2007
the-whole-interconnected, posted Nov 30th, 2007
the three tenets, posted dec 4th, 2007

About Sacred Clown

There are clown figures going back throughout written history. These clowns play roles in the community, which vary greatly according to the culture. There is a not a great deal of written history about these traditions, most of what I have discovered relates to Native American traditions. So here are some web links to articles, bits and pieces that I discovered this way. There is also a number of books to investigate. One has to be a little discerning though, as a fair number of these articles are written by people studying the subject, either from direct observation, or from an academic perspective. According to Pete, a Lakota man, whom I met at ZCLA's 40th anniversary celebration, most (90% he said) of what is written by non-natives about natives is innacurate or downright wrong. Perhaps it is a matter of perspective. So please take that into consideration.

Investigating the role of clown and laughter beyond that of entertainer, the role that clown plays in community; which is part of this world of sacred clown....one encounter I have had was in November 2006, at the Brazilian 'Anjos Do Picadeiro' festival, I was fortunate enough to spend time with certain members of the Kraho tribe of the Amazon, their sacred clowns, known as the Hotxua, whom (as i understand) once a year do a series of dances. Their visit to Rio was the first time in a big city for many of the 23 who traveled, they had not seen the ocean nor had they seen a western style theater performance. Indeed they had never 'performed' before, and were thrilled by what they saw at the festival. The last evening of the festival, they recreated their rituals in a transformed parking lot. After that, they invited all the participants to come and join them for what turned out to be a kind of hopping dance.

'Wavy Gravy discusses Sacred Clown' A Converation with Wavy about sacred clowning in the modern context
"A zen master's perspective on sacred clown" Conversations about the Hotxua with Roshi Egyoku. posted september, 2007

articles on the internet about sacred clown...

Emory Sekaquaptewa One more smile from a Hopi Clown
The Clown's Way by Barbara Tedlock
The Thunderbird Myth
Laughter Keepers
Exploring The Medicine Clown Tradition of the Wampanoag

Video:

the laying down and pulling legs dance (yoowhotube)



moshe and liberto kraho trade hats

About Laughter Yoga.

Conversation about the relationship of humor and joy to laughter.
Following a drop-in visit to Dr Kataria's Laughter Yoga Teacher Training, Moshe had this conversation with Dr Kataria.

Dr. Kataria has a very informative website about Laughter Yoga and Laughter Clubs:www.laughteryoga.org