Zen: The Best of Alan Watts
A person who thinks all the time has nothing to think about except faults, so he loses touch with reality and lives in a world of illusions.
By thought I mean the chattering inside the skull; perpetual and compulsive repetition of words, of calculations, and symbols going on inside the head.
For as a result of confusing the real world of nature with mere signs, such as money, stocks and bonds, title deeds, and so forth. This is a disaster. Time to wake up.
Alan Watts (1915-1973) who held both a master's degree in theology and a doctorate of divinity, is best known as an interpreter of Zen Buddhism in particular, and Indian and Chinese philosophy in general.
He authored more than 20 excellent books on the philosophy and psychology of religion, and lectured extensively, leaving behind a vast audio archive. With characteristic lucidity and humor Watts unravels the most obscure ontological and epistemological knots with the greatest of ease.
He did have a masters in theology, but nothing in his Wiki page or other biographies stating that Alan Watts had a doctorate in divinity or any other discipline. Just mentioning.
I would think listening / reading to more than one film about someone’s research and personal theories of thought and life would give a clearer idea on what it is
they were trying to offer. Mr Watts has many many videos and readings . We do not have to agree with every word he speaks, only accept what we “get” in the form of our beliefs. No right or wrong , just the right fit for the place we are presently in ...in our journey . He makes you think !!!
I’ve heard a lot of people in youtube comments talk about his shortened life alcoholism, however I’ve never specifically heard him suggest abstinence of drugs or alcohol, what he did was conduct a critical and allegorical comparison of western and eastern ideologies. It’s a bias on the part of the Listener to think that spirituality has anything to do with flawlessness or abstinence, and to assume Allan watts was a hypocrite for being neither.
closed it when I heard "the word of god"....cognitive dissonance ain't for me...he made some valid points in his life, but I'm looking for something to learn...not to trap me...cheers
From the description: "A person who thinks all the time has nothing to think about except faults, so he loses touch with reality and lives in a world of illusions." Some commenters say that is a misquote and state that it should be "thoughts" instead of "faults". Referring to "mental chatter"
Either way, it demonstrates a choice of choosing not to control what you think about. Focus on something you think worthwhile. It is possible to direct your thoughts away from mulling things over and over again or other chatter and onto constructing something worthwhile. The choice is yours, to let yourself be controlled or to control yourself.
Some people decide they need meditation. Others, like Tesla, honed his mind to the point he didn't need paper to work out the details of constructing his inventions. Fortunately many of them were documented for the purpose of obtaining patents. His assistants stated that his motors and such worked the very first time being built.
Maybe meditation could be a path to honing one's mind rather than only a means to remove the mental chatter.
People choose to drown out their conscience and conscious via chemicals when they could direct their mind to very interesting journeys without the need or expense of such chemicals. The most beneficial observation of all is to observe one's ego at work and gently observe it back into its proper place of being a clear pane of glass through which which things are observed, rather than a pain or splinter of glass in everyone's ass. Being in control of your ego and emotions rather than them controlling you is the worthwhile journey.
Unfortunately the evil in control of the world do much to make that journey harder than ever; for you are the easiest to control and inspire to do the wrong things they desire when your ego and/or emotions are in control of you.
I discovered Alan Watts many years ago by picking up one of his books at he local Buddist temple in Perth, Australia. This was before you tube.
Since I've discovered that he was a natural speaker having 'Gift of the Gab' but he never travelled to Japan or China, or any Asian country for that matter. I thought this was strange as he often cites examples of Japanese life as though he lived there. I was also disappointed to learn he was an alcoholic and died from cirrhosis of the liver at only 58
Only rational minded people can participate in this. Youre only disrespecting
So ok , God was so concerned about your pimple, meanwhile he cant save millions of murders and accidents in daily basis. Youre too unintuitive for zen you wont get it so plss dont try cause its disresectful.
His forever , dont be a dick plsssss, you can believe wat you want but plss do not share your dogma and necro destination.
Check out Alan Watts all over Youtube, Amazon, and Piratebay. Very inspiring and REAL.
This is an outstanding documentary. I have listened to it and viewed it many times. I meditate to this documentary. I give it 10 out of 10.
I have seen this documentary many times, and it always new to me. I thoroughly doing a meditation while listening and watching it. I highly recommend it.
the opening quote is a misquote. should read "A person who thinks all the time has nothing to think about except THOUGHTS."
Yet there is not much interest around staying in the here-and-now from what I see on a daily basis. People both young and old recur continously to all sort of tricks so not to be in the here-and-now.
Sex, drugs, alcohol, tv, sports, shows are the most favourite ones. I wonder why...? They costs a lot of money, time and energy and yet the majority chooses those tricks rather than " be in the present moment" as E. Tolle says.
Why so many chooses "silly distractions"" other "blissful here-and-now" ?
This here-and-now phenomenon is nothing new btw. Jesus and Buddha, for example, thaught it long long time ago. Then many others in our times like Osho or Krishnamurti. And yet, and yet...
What the heck, I see movies that get a bad rating, that end up interesting. This movie I thought would be good from over the top ratings and I am in awe because this is so stupid, is is amazing. I need to make a movie. I am done watching this and not even going to finish it.
Alan Watts has become the father I never had
If you skip to 1:52 you can go striaght? to the Alan Watts material and skip all the producer's self aggrandizement.
I have stumble upon gold. Truely grateful of him sharing his insight. And opening my mind. Truely grateful. May krama bless this man for his selfless thought and love that will breed so much positivity
living is not surviving! which he tried to say.amazing,I love him!
first time in my life practised meditation through a film , and I liked it !! :-D
Simply put, too much talk goes on....this is a disaster..... time to shut up!!!!!!!!!!
i thought this was going to be funny :(
Please correct the brief of this documentary.
"A person who thinks all the time has nothing to think about except faults,"
THOUGHTS, not FAULTS.
Thank you!
Everything comes from nothing. Modern Cosmology has just discovered this. Heisenbergs uncertainty principle says this. The energy of the Vacumn. The Eternal now. All is change. What can I say. This not it.
camping in the tao .......................my choice called DAO