The Serene Fool’s Paradoxical Wisdom

There was once a fool who lived in a palace. He was the jester of the king, and he entertained him and his court with his jokes and antics. He had no worries and no cares, and he enjoyed every moment of his life.

One day, a sage came to the palace. He was a renowned philosopher and teacher, and he had many disciples and admirers. He had traveled the world and studied many scriptures and doctrines. He had attained great knowledge and insight.

The sage decided to challenge the fool and to expose his ignorance and folly. He approached him in the hall and said, “Greetings, fool. I have heard of your reputation as a jester, but I wonder if you have any wisdom at all. Tell me, what is the meaning of life?”

The fool smiled and said, “The meaning of life is to live.”

The sage frowned and said, “That is a very vague and simplistic answer. How can you live without knowing the purpose and the goal of your existence? How can you live without following any principles or values? How can you live without seeking any truth or enlightenment?”

The fool said, “I live without knowing, without following, without seeking. I live without attachment, without expectation, without judgment. I live without fear, without sorrow, without regret. I live with joy, with gratitude, with wonder. I live with love.”

The sage said, “That is a very foolish and naive answer. How can you live without attachment when everything in this world is impermanent and…