Course Short Version

• Use comedy exercises to learn and practice Buddhism's noble eight fold path - the path to end suffering

• View your improvisation, writing, acting, life through the lens of the eightfold path

Sublimate your ego

Allow yourself to fail and begin again

Course Longer Version

The course begins with a basic introduction of the noble eightfold path. It then dives into each of the eight specific practices and correlating comedic principles.

After each practice, there are few comedic exercises which underscore the principles of the specific practice. These are exercises I have been teaching for years to help students create and enhance comedy scenes.

I have focused on a small number of exercises which exemplify as many of the eightfold path practices as possible. Many of the exercises will be repeated, illustrating different aspects of the eightfold path, like adding layers to a cake or like Daniel Larusso (Karate Kid) learning that painting a fence is also a technique to block punches.

This course is meant to bring a new perspective on how to follow the noble eightfold path based on the principles of what makes a good comedy scene.

Humor is the affectionate communication of insight
- Leo Rosten

If fate doesn't make you laugh, you just don't get the joke
- Gregory David Roberts

What you’ll get out of this course

Performers, writers, and comedy students

The parallels between the practices of the eightfold path and what makes a good scene hold an eerie correlation. Exploring this correlation will enhance the scenes you create.

This course provides a new lens through which to approach your work. The lens of a centuries old understanding of the human experience… It also so happens that this lens is the path outlined by the Buddha to end suffering… so, there’s also that.

Self

The correlation between the eightfold path and what makes a good scene will help:

Turn down the volume on your distracting thoughts,

Better understand yourself, and

Bring you into closer alignment with your intentions

Alignment

When something is out of alignment the fix is to right the misalignment. This course provides a method to right our misalignment using Buddhism’s noble eightfold path. For centuries the eightfold path has been considered the path to correct our misalignment, our discord, our pervasive un-satisfactoriness.

Each practice of the path is preceded with the term “right” – right view, right intention, right effort etc… Using these practices helps to right our misalignment.

Hope

While performing and teaching comedy I’ve noticed a set of principles which hold an eerie correlation to this fundamental Buddhist practice first preached over twenty five hundred years ago.

Comedy and Mindfulness have been two of the greatest salvations I’ve known. They are responsible for the greatest advancements in my clarity, equanimity, as well as providing immense joy and funnies.

I wish that for everyone.

By exploring the relationship between comedy and mindfulness I hope to help bring clarity, equanimity, joy and laughter to as many as possible, like it or not.