FUNdamentalism, Humor without Hurt, Bullwinkle, Dylan & Elvis: Why Swami Beyondananda is a Guru We Should All Follow

Nationally-known Cosmic Comic and spiritual leader of the non-dominational FUNdamentalist movement, Swami Beyondananda was interviewed by Hannah Doress of San Geronimo Valley Community Center and Earth Day Marin ahead of a rare Marin appearance featuring his brand new show Saturday, June 22nd at 8pm.

Hannah: What prompted Steve to come out from behind the turban?

Steve:  For years, I've been doing Sunday morning talks on the Healing Power of Humor, and people laugh just as hard as they do at the Swami.  Besides, having seen the larger-than-life character of the Swami, they're curious about the life-sized person behind the Swami.  So this is a chance to share more of me … and still be funny.

Swami:  Steve has been channeling me for years, so I figured I'd turn the turban on him and channel him for a change. 

Hannah: Is there a sibling rivalry between Swami and Steve?

Steve:  Well, if Swami were my brother there might be … but we grew up in parallel universes and I didn't even know about him until I was 30 … I got struck by enlightening during a brainstorm, and there he was.

Swami:  That's right.  I communicated with Steve from a parallel universe.  I sent him a parallelogram.  And, no.  No rivalry on my part.  I have transcended my ego, and take great pride in my humility. 

Hannah: In addition to comedy you’ve authored some serious books such as Spontaneous Evolution… how did that come about?    

Steve:  About 8 years ago, I was introduced to cellular biologist Bruce Lipton, and we quickly became friends.  He had just published his best-selling book, The Biology of Belief, and we began a conversation about how society's programs -- and quite often mistaken or obsolete beliefs -- determine our collective reality.  The good news is that evolutionary science is pointing in the same direction as ancient spiritual wisdom -- that we are each and all cells in the body of a super-organism called Humanity.

Swami:  That's right.  We are all one with the same One … if I'm One, you're One too …and now it's time for all of Humanity to gather under one big intent -- thrival for all.  It's time for us to re-grow the Garden together, and have a heaven of a time doing it.

Hannah: Tell us about your other current projects.

Steve:  I'm currently teaching an online teleclass for the Shift Network on The Alchemy of Laughter, and I'm expanding my Spontaneous Evolution platform through a new blog, Evolutionary Upwising.  And continuing to perform as the Swami, of course.

Swami:  And that's a good thing.  I mean, where would I be without you?  As for me, I am working on a book with water expert Jim Lauria called Swami Loves Water, to educate the world about how to protect and preserve our most precious liquid asset.

Hannah:  What are Swami’s favorites of the books that he’s written?

Steve:  Favorites?  Are you kidding?  You want my books to get jealous of one another?

Swami:  Well, I love Swami for Precedent, first because it's still in print, and second because even though we imagined we might have had political climate change four or five years ago, the book is still pertinent.  And impertinent as well.

Hannah:  Does the Swami have a religion? 

Steve:  Not exactly, but he does promote a new non-religion called "FUN-damentalism, accent on the fun …

Swami:  Not to be confused with fundaMENTALism, accent on the mental. FUN-damentalists believe life is a joke, but God is laughing WITH us, not AT us.  The Creator is watching the Comedy Channel, and we are what's on.

Hannah: Why is this Swami different from other comedians?

Steve:  I believe comedy can be hilariously funny without hurting people, and without being toxically cynical.  As my website "Wake Up Laughing" would indicate, the purpose of my comedy is to awaken, to deconstruct obsolete beliefs and concepts … and leave people standing.

Swami:  And let's not forget that I am the only cosmic comic guru to channel Bullwinkle channeling Elvis and Dylan -- at the same time. 

Hannah: What’s different about this show?

Steve:  In addition to Swami's new topical material -- after all we are in the material world to get more material -- and Swami's Q-A segment, which is always improv, I will be performing in my non-Swami persona as well.  And when the turban comes off …

Swami:  … people will see my bald spot.  Which comes, incidentally, from years of meditation.  Intensive meditation over time will actually fry hair follicles from the inside out.  That's why they called those monks with bald spots "friers."

Hannah: Is Swami channeled? Is he a real personality?

Steve:  Well, it certainly would be convenient to say Swami is channeled.  If a joke didn't go over, I could say, "Hey, sorry.  That was channeled.  Not my fault."  But actually, I undergo none of the gyrations that channels do to get into the Swami persona.  I simply attune into his farce field.

Swami:  Hey, whoa … am I real?  Why just this morning I pinched myself and it hurt, so of course I'm real.

Hannah: Anything special you want to say to your fans?

Steve:  Well, over the years I've learned there are two kinds of people in the world.  The ones who love to laugh, and the ones who need to.  If you have friends who fit either of these categories, round 'em up and bring them to the show because when it comes to laughter, the more the merrier.

Swami:  Yes, and tell them this is our FIRST APPEARANCE in San Geronimo since the last time we were here.  And it will be the LAST ONE until we return!

Hannah: Where are the most exciting and rarified places you have performed?

Steve:  Well, let's see … there was -- no kidding -- the Holistic Lawyers Conference in the Florida Keys a number of years ago.  And then two years ago, the Swami and I joined Bruce Lipton at the Opera House in Oslo, Norway and performed in front of Princess Martha.  Full house and we spent a couple of hours with the Princess after the show.

Swami:  I always look forward to being at the Ascended Masters Golf Tournament every year.  This past year, Buddha got a Wholeness-in-Oneness. 

Hannah: When was the last time you performed in San Geronimo? Any highlights from that show?

Steve:  It was two years ago January, and I was joined by my good friend musician Scott Grace … I channeled Richie Valens and Sam Cooke, and may very well do that again … but probably a capella.

Swami:  Oh, there were most definitely highlights.  As I remember, the lights were too high and it caused a glare to emanate from the jewel in my turban.  Hopefully the lights will be a bit lower this time.

Hannah: Are you on a mission? What are you hoping to achieve?

Steve:  The original reason I began doing comedy was to amuse myself.  In fact, my mother caught me amusing myself at a very young age.  When I noticed my musings amused others as well, I found my calling.  When I do a show, I want to not just leave 'em laughing, but leave them smiling as well … awakened, enlivened and inspired.  Swami?

Swami:  Me?  I want to leave them laughing till the sacred cows come home … and transform the world through cosmic comic consciousness and fool realization. 

Hannah: People are always asking you questions – what questions do you want to ask people?

Steve:  Maybe, why do we seem to accept so much without questioning?

Swami:  My question is more of an invitation … it's, why don't we go for heaven on earth, just for the hell of it?

In the course of nearly twenty-five years of purveying cosmic comedy and healing laughter, Swami has had a successful, long-running monthly column, Ask The Swami, has written four books (Driving Your Own Karma ... When You See A Sacred Cow, Milk It for All It's Worth ... Duck Soup for the Soul ... Swami for Precedent: A Seven-Step Plan to Heal the Body Politic and Cure Electile Dysfunction), and produced a half a dozen comedy cassettes (sorry, not available on 8-track) and CDs.

He has been on stage with the great sages of the past quarter century, and even performed for Swami Satchidananda's 80th birthday party along with Hollywood celebs and international recording artists. He has gained a reputation for being both pointed and compassionate (his comedy has been called "irreverently uplifting"), and over the past decade, his comedy has become more political. He will also be launching his radio feature, Karma Talk this year -- to give folks from all over the world to ask the Swami answerable questions, and receive his questionable answers.

Past Swami Beyondananda shows at SGVCC have sold out. Seating is limited, get your discounted advance tickets today.

For more information about Swami Beyondananda and Steve Bhaerman visit Wake Up Laughing.

Visit WaccoBB.net: connecting conscious community to read Innana LeFevre’s interview with and review of Swami Beyondananda.

For more information about the show or the San Geronimo Valley Community Center please visit their website or call 415-488-8888. Like them on Facebook.