Alan Watts

cardboard adolescent · 08-11-2009, 12:20 AM

oh my lord, the man is a genius. his books should be called 'enlightenment for dummies.' he ties together hinduism, buddhism, christianity and makes it look absolutely effortless and obvious. in one sentence he can give logical positivism a pat on the back and make it fall to pieces. seriously, read him. i want to go door to door with his books and convert people. brilliant, funny, direct and concise... i don't understand why he hasn't replaced the bible.

just look at that mysterious mystic smile. you know he's looked behind the veil, oh yeah.

~~hiu~~ · 08-11-2009, 12:41 AM

I agree, a great man.

SATCHMO · 08-11-2009, 07:47 AM

He is really one of my favorite persons.My favorite of His has always been Behold the Spirit. There are podcasts of his lectures at the itunes store as well that I've dug into. Great thread idea.

Inuzuka Skysword · 08-11-2009, 09:07 AM

If there was one book of his that I should read, what would it be? Based on that podcast, I wasn't really impressed with his thoughts, but I really liked how he explained them and the metaphors he used.

cardboard adolescent · 08-11-2009, 11:46 AM

none of the recordings i found on youtube are quite as direct or insightful as what i've read... i have Become What You Are which is a collection of essays and it's really great.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayfarer

That's really bloody weird. I was just using this StumbleUpon add-on just a couple of hours ago, and it took me to a YouTube video of Alan Watts (who I'd never heard of beforehand), and after listening to a twenty-minute or so speech of his, the first thing I thought was, "This guy reminds me of cardboard adolescent." LOL.

synchronicity!

anticipation · 08-11-2009, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watts sample from a giraffes? giraffes! song

Let's suppose that you were able every night to dream any dream that you wanted to dream, and that you could, for example, have the power within one night to dream 75 years of dreams, or any length of time you wanted to have. And you would, naturally as you began on this adventure of dreams, you would fufill all your wishes. You would have every kind of pleasure you could concieve. And after several nights, of 75 years of total pleasure each, you would say "Well, that was pretty great. But now let's have a surprise. Let's have a dream which isn't under control. Where something is gonna happen to me that I don't know what it's gonna be." And you would dig that and come out of that and say "Wow, that was a close shave, wasn't it?". And then you would get more and more adventurous, and you would make further and further out gambles as to what you would dream. And finally, you would dream where you are now. You would dream the dream of living the life that you are actually living today.

yeah, i dig it.

333 · 08-11-2009, 12:37 PM

I've yet to read one whole book by him, but have heard things here and there. Will someone suggest a good starter?

dollarsandcents · 08-11-2009, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 333

I've yet to read one whole book by him, but have heard things here and there. Will someone suggest a good starter?

I'm also keen from what I've heard to dip into a book. Recommendations?

Neapolitan · 08-12-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cardboard adolescent

i don't understand why he hasn't replaced the bible.

Why do you feel Alan Watts needs to replace The Bible?

cardboard adolescent · 08-12-2009, 09:14 PM

because he's a lot more straightforward and you can't twist his words to commit atrocities. most of the wisdom contained in the bible is contained in alan watts in a much easier to digest form.

08-11-2009, 12:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
cardboard adolescent ;) Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CA Posts: 3,503	Alan Watts oh my lord, the man is a genius. his books should be called 'enlightenment for dummies.' he ties together hinduism, buddhism, christianity and makes it look absolutely effortless and obvious. in one sentence he can give logical positivism a pat on the back and make it fall to pieces. seriously, read him. i want to go door to door with his books and convert people. brilliant, funny, direct and concise... i don't understand why he hasn't replaced the bible. just look at that mysterious mystic smile. you know he's looked behind the veil, oh yeah.

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08-11-2009, 12:41 AM	#2 (permalink)
~~hiu~~ Account Disabled Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,174	I agree, a great man.

08-11-2009, 07:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
SATCHMO Al Dente Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 4,708	He is really one of my favorite persons.My favorite of His has always been Behold the Spirit. There are podcasts of his lectures at the itunes store as well that I've dug into. Great thread idea.

08-11-2009, 09:07 AM	#4 (permalink)
Inuzuka Skysword Existential Egoist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,468	If there was one book of his that I should read, what would it be? Based on that podcast, I wasn't really impressed with his thoughts, but I really liked how he explained them and the metaphors he used.

08-11-2009, 12:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
333 Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 965	I've yet to read one whole book by him, but have heard things here and there. Will someone suggest a good starter?

08-12-2009, 09:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
cardboard adolescent ;) Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CA Posts: 3,503	because he's a lot more straightforward and you can't twist his words to commit atrocities. most of the wisdom contained in the bible is contained in alan watts in a much easier to digest form.