Or, as alan watts suggests, is the universe doing you manifesting the grandeur and wonder of the cosmos through the astonishing phenomenon known as you. Since his passing in 1973, nearly 40 additional books have been published to date, including writings from his early years and. Comprised of over 200 lecture and seminar recordings of alan watts, the entire published body of audio works is known as the works. Blyths zen in english literature and oriental classics is one. Alan watts the book, chapter 1 lyrics genius lyrics. Alan wilson watts january 6, 1915 november 16, 1973 was a philosopher, writer, speaker, and expert in comparative religion. What alan watts book is the best one to read first.
One might say that if religion is the opium of the people, the hindus have the inside dope. In this classic book, watts provides a lucid and simple presentation of an alternative view based on hindu and vedantic. Having most vividly introduced the complexities of eastern wisdom to the contemporary ideas of the west. The book on the taboo against knowing who you are pdf watts.
His other works are studies of special aspects of zen, all of which require general background and historical perspective. The term is used in mahayana buddhism to suggest how things look to a buddha, to one who has experienced enlightenment or liberation and is, therefore, called a tathagata one who comes and goes thus. Standing apart, however, from sectarian membership. To those who loves listening to alan may you find the power of your is will to attain enlightened life. Read or listen to alan watts books and audiobooks scribd. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. On the taboo against knowing who you are alan watts alan watts, who died in 1974, held both a masters degree in theology and a doctorate of divinity, and was best known as an interpreter of zen buddhism in particular, and of indian and chinese philosophy in general. He also wrote more than a dozen booklets, and contributed chapters to a plethora of books. Alan watts has a fantastic wry sense of humor and wonderful insights about religion, psychology, history and life in general. It then goes on to paint a broad but insightful picture of zen as it was and is practiced, both as a religion and as an element of diverse east asian arts and disciplines. His many publications include the joyous cosmology, the way of zen and the wisdom of insecurity. He wrote over twentyfive books and numerous articles on subjects such as personal identity, the true nature of reality, consciousness and the pursuit of happiness, relating his experience to scientific knowledge and to the teachings of eastern and western religions.
A collection of speeches by the british philosopher, writer, and speaker alan watts who passed away november 16, 1973. In this mindopening and revelatory work, watts has crafted a primer on what it means. Alan watts learning the human game full wisdom duration. Alan watts has become known as the wests foremost interpreter of eastern thought, and one of the most original.
Watts, was instrumental in introducing eastern thought to western civilization. The history of zen, the principles and practice of zen, the tradition of zazen. Alan wilson watts strona poswiecona osobie i naukom tego wyjatkowego filozofa. Born in 1915, alan watts is known all over the world as a philosopher, writer, speaker and authority on comparative religion. Alan watts, who held both a masters degree in theology and a doctorate of divinity, is best known as an interpreter of zen buddhism in particular, and of indian and chinese philosophy in general. And one might say that if disneyland were to offer a course in quickie theology, alan watts, the author of the above quotation, with his waring blender of farflung mysticism, his bouncy knowingness, his glib garrulity, his suntanned appeal as a sausalito guru, would be the ideal candidate.
Discover how the understanding and practice of zen can bring peace and enlightenment into your daily life in this classic work. Alan watts audio collections comprised of over 200 lecture and seminar recordings of alan watts, the entire published body of audio works is known as the works. Curated by alans son, mark watts, this compilation features the three collections containing a total of 19 albums. Alan watts had the rare gift of writing beautifully the unwritable. Various techniques in the arts are used to illustrate the delicate and vibrational character of the material world, and to suggest a new approach to the old philosophy that the universe is mind only. The book referred to in the title is the book you, as a parent, might give your child to teach them of the world. Out of your mind essential lectures by alan watts audio. Audible audiobook next page books by alan watts all formats. Insight meditation center is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Watts shares the sense of this nonsense in buddhist philosophy, and its practical.
Born in chislehurst, england, he moved to the united states in 1938 and began zen training in new york. Alan watts free audio downloads cutting through the matrix. Alan wilson watts 6 january 1915 16 november 1973 was a british writer and speaker known for interpreting and popularising buddhism, taoism, and hinduism for a western audience. He wrote over twenty books on the philosophy and psychology of religion, on hinduism, buddhism, taoism and zen. Zen to chinese taoism and indian buddhism, and is in some respects rather more mystifying than it need be.
Beginning at age 16, when he wrote an article for the jo. If you would like to hear him more often, you will have to request the major talk show hosts to have him back. Alan watts 19151973for spiritual seekers of many generations, alan watts earned a reputation as one of the most accessibleand entertaininginterpreters of eastern philosophy in the west. Alan watts audiobook online downloads, search for free unabridged audio book torrent.
The book on the taboo against knowing who you are explores an unrecognised but mighty taboo our tacit conspiracy to ignore who, or what, we really are. Modern western culture and technology is inextricably tied to the belief in the existence of a self as a separate ego, separated from and in conflict with the rest of the world. Alan wilson watts 6 january 1915 16 november 1973 was a britishborn american philosopher, writer, and speaker, best known as an interpreter. He is now considered one of the most popular modern philosophers and his bibliography is considered by many to be some of the most important texts on the tao, zen and eastern religion in general. An exceptional book from alan watts and highly recommended. Alan watts, key thinker of western zen buddhism, explains how to reconsider our relationship with the world. He was the author of many books on the philosophy and psychology of religion. He held both a masters degree in theology and a doctorate of divinity, and is best known as an interpreter of indian and chinese philosophy and zen buddhism. Audiobook bay abb download unabridged audiobook for free or share your audio books, safe, fast and high quality. It is a pleasure listening to him and i am sad every time one disc ends knowing i am closer to running out of new watts recordings. Alan watts discusses the indian philosophy of the world as maya under its multiple meanings as illusion, art, magic, creative power, measure, etc. He was a specialist in zen buddhism and other eastern philosophies and religions. Do you do it that is, are you really in charge of your intentions, emotions, and actions.
Topics alan watts, philosophy, monologue language english. Briefly, the thesis is that the prevalent sensation of oneself as a separate ego enclosed in a bag of skin is a hallucination which accords neither with western science nor with the experimental philosophy. The content is sprinkled throughout with actual clips of alan dispensing his ideas in his own voice, giving watts fans like myself a satisfying fix. Alan watts 1915 1973 alan wilson watts january 6, 1915 november 16, 1973 was a british philosopher, writer, and speaker, best known as an interpreter and popularizer of eastern philosophy for a western audience. Alan watts audiobook download, free online audio books. Alan watts 19151973 for spiritual seekers of many generations, alan watts earned a reputation as one of the most accessibleand entertaininginterpreters of e. Stream out of your mind essential lectures, a playlist by alan watts audio archives from desktop or your mobile device. He received a masters degree in theology from seaburywestern theological seminary and became an. Narrated by sean runnette, this audio program presents alan wattss classic bestseller, introducing western listeners to zen buddhism and elaborating on the key concepts including.
A fascinating entry into the deepest ways of knowing. This book is separated into 8, roughly 10 minute chapter titles, so it can be listened to in one sitting, or you can choose to listen to any individual chapter. Because alan is perfectly genuine he has no agent or manager to arrange radio interviews. Alan is a master of the art of communication and this is even more apparent in his spoken words on this audio tape. Alan watts was an alternative theologian and newage philosopher who died in 1973. Watts begins with scholarship and intellect and proceeds with art and eloquence to the frontiers of the spirit. Both are good but the former is watts actual lectures, with his distinct delivery and voice, which to me at least, adds something more. As opposed to simply giving your child the bible or other book based on the region the child was born in. The way of zen begins as a succinct guide through the histories of buddhism and taoism leading up to the development of zen buddhism, which drew deeply from both traditions. During his lifetime, alan watts wrote 25 books on the topics of philosophy, the psychology of religion, and mystical experience. At the root of human conflict is our fundamental misunderstanding of who we are.
The first chapter of the book on the taboo against knowing who you are by alan watts. The way of zen is still great but the fact that its not. A message for an age of anxiety, and the way of zen, and more on. On the taboo against knowing who you are paperback august 28, 1989. The book on the taboo against knowing who you are by allan watts is a radical piece about the unrecognised but mighty tabooour tacit conspiracy to ignore who, or what, we really are. In the book, philosopher alan watts provides us with a muchneeded answer to the problem of personal identity, distilling and adapting the ancient hindu philosophy of vedanta to help us understand that the self is in fact the root and ground of the universe. A mind with knowledge is a terrible thing to waste.