057 – Myq Kaplan – The Universe and Laughter

An atheist transforms into a standup comedian after a chance encounter at a music festival leads to a fifteen-year spiritual journey…

Myq Kaplan, 2010 Last Comic Standing Finalist and a standup comedian who has appeared on the Late Night with David Letterman, the The Tonight Show, and Louie, and his CD “Vegan Mind Meld” was one of iTunes top ten best-selling comedy albums in 2010, joins guest host Jessica Brodkin (Episode 11) in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser.In this episode:
Myq Kaplan on growing up without spiritual practices, despite his parents being Jewish
Both parents were music teachers, and he was made to participate in music which was almost like a religious education
How music led him to comedy, and then to spirituality with a chance encounter
Meditation, and feeling it is between science and magic
Drinking Ayahuasca, and the DMT in it
Being everything and nothing, and being the center of the universe and being but dust, and how elements are little when alone and have color when in mass
Our world has lost touch with mysticism, imagine a planet without laughter
Coming to an understanding of enlightenment with mushrooms
Mushrooms vs. Ayahuasca
The book “Ishmael” about a psychic gorilla who teaches someone about history of society and agriculture
How we are a part of everything else
On a spiritual journey, how does this inform rest of life, including as a comedian
How his spiritual journey has changed him, and what he talks about on stage
Course in Miracles
How religions are about doing good deeds for others and the Universe
Love is the only thing that is real that makes sense, that doing that is better for the world and oneself

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