Alan Watts
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Alan Watts
I believe everyone would benefit from listening to some of Alan Watts audio lectures.
He was a truly enlightened man whom I have found very thought provoking, mind opening
and transcending
His audio lectures fully express his material and make his gems of wisdom much easier to digest than his books.
I believe Alan and Joseph had met a few times and they held each other in high esteem.
He was a truly enlightened man whom I have found very thought provoking, mind opening
and transcending
His audio lectures fully express his material and make his gems of wisdom much easier to digest than his books.
I believe Alan and Joseph had met a few times and they held each other in high esteem.
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Hello Grailking,
I could not agree with you more about Alan Watts. Joseph Campbell and Alan Watts were close friends who, as you note, enjoyed each other's company. Chungliang Al Huang, who co-authored Alan Watts' last book - Tao, The Watercourse Way - also collaborated with Joe at Esalen, and is a good friend and supporter of JCF today.
And then Alan's son, Mark Watts, who mixed and released a number of his late father's lectures, also helped produce the first set of lectures in the Joseph Campbell CD series in the 90s.
From what Chungliang relates, when Alan and Joe would get together over a steak dinner and a good Scotch, the conversation sparkled.
I could not agree with you more about Alan Watts. Joseph Campbell and Alan Watts were close friends who, as you note, enjoyed each other's company. Chungliang Al Huang, who co-authored Alan Watts' last book - Tao, The Watercourse Way - also collaborated with Joe at Esalen, and is a good friend and supporter of JCF today.
And then Alan's son, Mark Watts, who mixed and released a number of his late father's lectures, also helped produce the first set of lectures in the Joseph Campbell CD series in the 90s.
From what Chungliang relates, when Alan and Joe would get together over a steak dinner and a good Scotch, the conversation sparkled.
Alan Watts
Thank you for the post. Alan Watts had a TV show on PBS in the early 70s. That is where I discovered him. He was my Pied Piper. I strongly recommend his audio collection, especially one called "images of man." It is a wonderful comparison of Eastern and Western thought.
here is a link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m-2I-Xyzuc
Roncooper
here is a link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m-2I-Xyzuc
Roncooper
Last edited by Roncooper on Tue Feb 26, 2013 1:13 am, edited 1 time in total.
I remember Alam Watts saying that Jesus' statement, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind," was a Zen Koan.
I'm not sure I agree. My feeling is that Jesus' statement is trivial for those who love unconditionally.
I'm confused as usual, and not sure of what he means.
Ron
I'm not sure I agree. My feeling is that Jesus' statement is trivial for those who love unconditionally.
I'm confused as usual, and not sure of what he means.
Ron
I have been thinking about the Feb 22 post in the last month and have some ideas concerning the Zen Koan comment.
Watts had some deep mystical experiences but was an intellectual at the core. He studied Zen and Buddhism in general, but did not practice in a serious way. Instead, he chose to think about and understand the religious landscape. So, when he thought about Jesus, the man, from his intellectual-Buddhist perspective, Watts intrepreted him as a Zen master trying to wake up the people.
I see Jesus as being sincere in his efforts to teach a devotional path to God. I don't think Watts understood the path that has become Bhakti Yoga.
Just some thoughts.
Ron
Watts had some deep mystical experiences but was an intellectual at the core. He studied Zen and Buddhism in general, but did not practice in a serious way. Instead, he chose to think about and understand the religious landscape. So, when he thought about Jesus, the man, from his intellectual-Buddhist perspective, Watts intrepreted him as a Zen master trying to wake up the people.
I see Jesus as being sincere in his efforts to teach a devotional path to God. I don't think Watts understood the path that has become Bhakti Yoga.
Just some thoughts.
Ron
That is an interpretation that likely has some basis. Watts did have a Christian background and tends to color his views on that basis (likely part of his appeal back in the day). And he did approach things intellectually although his enlightened experiences seem real enough and transcendent enough to have put that quote in such a light.
Alan Watts: A Tribute to Carl Gustav Jung (55 mins.)
The title of this excellent video is a bit of a misnomer since Watts explores two major topics. The first half focuses on Jung and the main theme of shadow in its negative aspects (Like Campbell, Watts also met with Jung.), and in the second part Watts offers an intellectual analysis of various Eastern philosophies. Enjoy!
The title of this excellent video is a bit of a misnomer since Watts explores two major topics. The first half focuses on Jung and the main theme of shadow in its negative aspects (Like Campbell, Watts also met with Jung.), and in the second part Watts offers an intellectual analysis of various Eastern philosophies. Enjoy!
If the path before you is clear, you’re probably on someone else’s. --Jung
And here I thought I'd seen most of Alan Watt's videos on YouTube.Cindy B. wrote:Alan Watts: A Tribute to Carl Gustav Jung (55 mins.)
The title of this excellent video is a bit of a misnomer since Watts explores two major topics. The first half focuses on Jung and the main theme of shadow in its negative aspects (Like Campbell, Watts also met with Jung.), and in the second part Watts offers an intellectual analysis of various Eastern philosophies. Enjoy!
Looking forward to watching this one later, sounds like a gem!
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