Clown & The Art of Mindfulness

The image most people have when the term ‘clown’ is used is that of a luridly painted face, big shoes, squirting flowers and generally fast-paced slapstick humour.

There are, however, other clown styles, one of which, Nose to Nose: https://www.nosetonose.info has been a valuable source for me, of not only developing increased self-awareness and self-confidence but also in offering much joy, along with of course, some pain!  

You might already recognise in the above qualities parallels with our mindfulness practice!

Some 20 years ago, I was working as a general dogsbody on a storytelling symposium at Emerson College in exchange for free workshops.  I signed up for a weekend workshop offered by Vivian Gladwell, founder of Nose to Nose (NtN).

On the first morning I was instructed to sit on a chair in front of the group and ‘do nothing’.  Doing nothing is more difficult than it sounds, especially when there are 11 other people watching.  As the seconds passed I was aware of a need in me to ‘entertain’ the audience, but, having already had some years experience of Plum Village practice, and wishing to join fully in what was offered, I acknowledged this, brought my awareness to my breath and simply followed my breathing for the time I was sitting there, even when, inexplicably, people began to laugh – I must have been transmitting something by simply ‘being’ and not ‘doing’! [read more below..]

After years of training with Nose to Nose and for several years being a member of ‘The Fool Effect’ an improvising performance group formed from NtN students I have found many more ways in which the practice of mindfulness, and the particular style of clowning offered by NtN run in parallel and inform and support each other.

That first experience taught me that ‘less is more’ (in early training NtN practice is to use little or no words) and also that there is a part of my nature that has a deep need to entertain people, probably nurtured by a great deal of approval during early childhood for singing, dancing, reciting poetry and generally showing off, which attributes can be wonderful in the right place, but is generally not the best behaviour during dull lessons at school.

The next experience that woke me up to the possibilities of where the PV practice supported NtN work was in the beginning of my training when, feeling deep fear and anxiety about stepping into the unknown without the safety net of a script (all NtN work is improvised) I found that remembering to be fully present to what is happening in the present moment and not allowing thoughts on what might happen next went a long way towards calming those feelings.

Can you imagine how difficult that is?!  Especially if you are not the first one to step out, and have watched others.  However, I soon learned that being aware of my body, thoughts and feelings, and what is happening in the here and the now, if practised diligently before walking onto the ‘stage’ meant that preconceived scenarios were impossible.

Another fine example of my own experience of how NtN training and PV practice go hand in hand happened many years later, when I had progressed to advanced NtN training towards performance.

I have a horribly critical, judgemental mind, and watching others engage in improvised sketches on given themes, or simply more complicated abstract exercises, I became practised at, once my critical mind had emerged with thoughts such as, “That was so good, I couldn’t do that as well . . “ or, “I would have done that so much better . . “ I would redirect my thoughts to compassion and support for their feelings of anxiety, insecurity etc. that, as I knew well, generally accompany stepping out into the unknown in front of others with a wish to do well.  In other words, I learned to let go of the three complexes (inferiority, superiority and equality) and direct myself towards love for and understanding of my fellow clowns.

There is so much more that I could say about parallels between NtN clowning and PV practice, and how the NtN training can inform our mindfulness practice, but the only way to truly know about such an  interaction is through direct experience, and I am so happy to let you know that our February workshop in London in February is now full, and that Carol Thompson and I will be leading a course in East Sussex from 20-25 July this year.  For details please visit https://www.nosetonose.info/uk/events/clown-and-the-art-of-mindfulness-peredur-centre-east-grinstead-uk

It is my deep wish that at the Being Peace Practice Centre retreats with the theme Clown & the Art of Mindfulness will be on offer at least once a year, and if anyone wishes to organise a workshop or weekend retreat locally for their sangha, please contact me, Teri West on teriwest@plumvillage.uk