The Zen Joke: Puhua's Bell Song (Original Staging Nonfiction‪)‬

People think of Zen as a humorless religion, but like Christianity, Judaism, and other faiths, Zen has a long tradition of clowns and pranksters. In this enjoyable and thought-provoking talk, Zen master John Daido Loori Roshi tells anecdotes about various ancient and modern Zen teachers who were known for playing the fool. Daido Roshi explores the role of clowns in the Zen tradition, and shows how something deeply profound lies below the surface of a fool's antics. The fool uses mischief to bring one's attention to something more vital, namely the freedom that comes from tapping into one's inner wisdom. He also talks about the importance of having a sense of humor, and the surprising connection between realizing one's true nature and getting a joke. This talk finds Daido Roshi in his best story-telling mode, and offers an enjoyable entry to Zen.