The Wisdom of Foolishness
and vice versa ....
Happy April Fools’ Day everyone,
Have you been fooled yet? I have not, as far as I know, but I figure it is coming.
I’ve always been a little, well, gullible. I tend to believe people are being sincere and honest. I even won the “Most Sincere” award at the end of junior high school (along with my brother Ray). I’ve always been vaguely embarrassed by this.
My teenage stepkids are working on a project to train me in being sarcastic. It’s not going well. When I try to be sarcastic, apparently I end up sounding mean. I guess, as with all humor, timing and tone are all-important.
I’m seriously trying to get better at this. Not being so serious, that is.
Zen places a great value on the wisdom of foolishness. The monk Ryokan called himself a “great fool” and lived a life of simplicity, mostly as a hermit, although he would join the town festivities, play with children, and often stumble home drunk.
One of his poems celebrates the traditional Japanese toy called "Daruma," which was a kind of roly-poly doll that bounces back up when it’s knocked down. We’ve all seen these. As a kid, I had my own Bozo the Clown Daruma.
Ryokan’s poem goes:
Just being tossed around or laughed at.
Not being bothered by this at all.
In my opinion, if my life were like yours (Daruma),
then I would be able to live without any cares.
Ryokan expressed this attitude in prose as: "When encountering disaster, just let it come. When facing death, just accept it."
It is the temperament of a “fool” to not overreact to circumstances. How about not reacting at all? Just brushing yourself off and moving on?
The Fool is also the very first card in many Tarot decks. I’m no Tarot expert but I find the archetypal symbolism of the major arcana very powerful. There is a lot to ponder in the fact that we all start our journeys as fools and are well-advised maintain our openness, innocence and wonder in the face of life’s tribulations.
Here is a summary explication of this card from ChatGPT:
“In tarot, the Fool card represents new beginnings, spontaneity, innocence, and a leap of faith. It is often depicted as a young person setting out on a journey, accompanied by a small dog. The Fool is symbolic of someone who is on the verge of an adventure, unburdened by past experiences or preconceived notions. This card encourages you to embrace the unknown, trust in the universe, and take risks with a sense of optimism and openness to whatever may come your way. It can also signify a need to let go of fear and embrace the present moment fully.”
Lacking the constitution (or apparently the skill) to play an April’s Fool joke on anyone, instead I offer this celebration of innocence, in the hopes we can all channel our inner Bozos and just bounce back smiling, every moment, every day.
Finally, here are a few photos of me and Aria in Muir Woods last week. We had a rare getaway from our home in Colorado, and boy did the forest air smell great.
take care, everyone,
Paul
Fool Image: By Pamela Colman Smith - Public Domain