Alan Watts

two lives · Post by **two lives** » Fri May 09, 2008 12:25 pm

He's a diamond. Listen to his free podcasts, you can get them via itunes. For those who haven't heard of him, he studied zen buddhism, hinduism and other eastern philosophies, as well as psychology and social issues, so it's all backed up with a range of viewpoints and put it in inspiring plain english and introduced these viewpoints to westerners.

He was an Englishman from Kent but moved to America and taught at universities in California in the 60s/70s. How I would like to have been in SF circa 1968. He has a grand voice and a beautiful eloquent accent.

turquoise70 · Post by **turquoise70** » Fri May 09, 2008 2:39 pm

Alan Watts is a pretty cool dude. My ex was really into him so I got sent more of his stuff than i even had time to listen to.

jonnyjj74 · Post by **jonnyjj74** » Fri May 09, 2008 4:52 pm

He has had a huge impact on the way I experience life. I discovered him about a year ago, but since then i've heard around 100 hours of his lectures, and read a number of his books.
Highly recommended!

bleak. · Post by **bleak.** » Mon May 12, 2008 11:20 am

http://deoxy.org/watts.htm

turquoise70 · Post by **turquoise70** » Mon May 12, 2008 4:27 pm

bleak. wrote:http://deoxy.org/watts.htm

yes

Post by **Aesthetics** » Thu May 15, 2008 10:07 pm

Although I really am fascinated by the way he preceives live and me having a lot of corresponding thoughts I can't listen to it for a long time. I might be trying to put this on my iPod for moments when I can close my eyes during daytime so I can check out more of his thoughts.

Post by **Aesthetics** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 8:50 am

While making a desk in the garage which takes some time to finish I heard a lot of his lectures. (It's great noisereduction while I mill and saw)
The man is a genius to throw light on a certain subject by using metaphors. If he didn't it would've been way more difficult to understand his way of thinking. Because I have to translate the stuff he is saying and because he uses a lot of words I've never heard of I need to relisten to most of his lectures to understand him fully.
It's amazing how often he makes me laugh with his great sense of humor, afterall its plain philosophic waffling. This combination makes it somehow also enteraining to listen to.. I bet this is why he gained popularity?

jonnyjj74 · Post by **jonnyjj74** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 2:22 am

He often referred to himself as a "philosophical entertainer", which a perfect description.

jonnyjj74 · Post by **jonnyjj74** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 1:41 am

Ok, so my friend and I emailed Mark Watts (Alan Watt's son) who owns the Alan Watts collection and runs alanwatts.com and alanwatts.org. We wanted to talk to him about the way he approaches his business model, because Alan Watts has so much wisdom to offer people, but almost nobody is going to pay upwards of $600 for his collection. I was initially a little shocked with his response. What do you guys think?

HERE IS THE EMAIL WE SENT HIM:

"My question is the following:

Why can't I access all of Alan Watts's lectures for free?

I believe that the purpose of his teachings was to reach all of mankind. I understand that there is a need for money by the owners of the rights in order to develop the Mountain Center. I also understand that hard work has been put into organizing his works. If money is the issue, there are newer and better designed ways of generating returns by giving things for free. This is an era of new economics, where we can't follow old commercial values to increase our earnings.
Issue: The Alan Watts site is not being marketed properly. I haven't met anyone that knew it existed.
Solutions: Place more videos on Youtube that display the site's address at the end of the video.
Better Solution: Release all audio and video files for free to download on iTunes. If marketed properly, you will have a instant boom through the media and through word of mouth. Alan Watts material would begin a new renaisance around the globe. I believe that the ultimate goal of the recordings was to have them as a free library for anyone to access it instantly. Ex: Ted Talks
Issue: Confussion between alanwatts.com and alawatts.org
Solutions: Re-design the site for better flow. Also, alanwatts.com and alanwatts.org should merge into one single site.
Issue: Mountain Center experience
Solutions: The beautiful Mountan Center should be an ultimate experience for the evolution of the mind. Interactive instalations, Video, Audio, Meditation Spaces, basically everything in it should elevate the human spirit and mind to the universal consciousness. People from all over the world will go here to have their minds expanded. The Center can sustain itself buy asking for an entrance fee, and even leave enough money to sustain the alanwatts.com site and all other related ventures. Ex: DisneyLand (magical place for experiences)

I am definetely not telling anybody how to run their business, I'm just reaching out with a friendly hand. The only thing that can save this world is by people understanding Alan Watts's teachings, esentially the teaching that there is nothing we can do to fix this mess, rather, we stop and to let nature take over.

The South Park developed videos are amazing, as well as the youtube video incentives! That is truly the way to go!"

HERE IS HIS RESPONSE:

"The South Park video project was stillborn because they could figure out how to make millions on it, so the attorneys shelved the deal because they work only on percentage.

We give tons of stuff away for free every month, and so far 1 (one) person has said , "Wow, these are great, I'd like to actually buy a set to support the effort. "

That was today, after five years of freebies and 4 million podcast listeners later.

So I have come to a different conclusion.

The upcoming generation does not value even the best things in life, so they will inevitably lose what is most precious, first their ideals, then their homes, and finally their families.

They do not know the difference between source and hypocrite, friend and enemy, and treat both with the same lack of respect.

If in your life you give away your craft for free, you dishonor it. Your life is like a Watchtower magazine peddled on a street corner for spare change.

Respect what is of value, and exchange what you produce for what produces the best in you.

This is not a business, it is an old tradition. It came about long before the current wave, and will still be recognized when this culture is no more than foam prints on the sand.

Mark

PS "Issue: Confussion between alanwatts.com and alawatts.org"

And there are two web sites because there are two generations, one who still believes in reciprocal relationships, and one who sucks endlessly on the breast of the Mother with no thought of offering anything in return. "

isawdrones · Post by **isawdrones** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 2:18 am

HAHA, what an unenlightened twat!

Its funny how he hides his greed and ignorance behind such meditative words. lol. these are the people that stunt social evolution.

Skytree · Post by **Skytree** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:17 pm

I have about 10 hours worth of Alan Watts' lectures and presentations on mp3, if anyone wants them for free (sorry Matt, but giving away work for free is, I believe, a virtue of true craftsmanship).

My older brother (a theologian) always disregarded Watts' work on the grounds that Watts himself led a fairly chaotic and dishormonious life (IE: he was a lifelong alcoholic, and never acheived long-term sobriety). Reading about Watts' life does somewhat reinforce this observation, frankly.

Personally, his work has had a strong positive impact on me. I believe he was on a very beneficial spiritual track, and probably encourage(d/s) countless others to find their own way. That's definitely laudable. However, if the man himself couldn't follow his own teachings, what does that say about them, or him?

P.S. ...and what does the response from his son above say about his effectiveness in passing on spiritual enlightenment as a father? Food for thought.

turquoise70 · Post by **turquoise70** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:24 am

sheesh!

isawdrones · Post by **isawdrones** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 3:01 am

Skytree wrote:I have about 10 hours worth of Alan Watts' lectures and presentations on mp3, if anyone wants them for free (sorry Matt, but giving away work for free is, I believe, a virtue of true craftsmanship).

My older brother (a theologian) always disregarded Watts' work on the grounds that Watts himself led a fairly chaotic and dishormonious life (IE: he was a lifelong alcoholic, and never acheived long-term sobriety). Reading about Watts' life does somewhat reinforce this observation, frankly.

Personally, his work has had a strong positive impact on me. I believe he was on a very beneficial spiritual track, and probably encourage(d/s) countless others to find their own way. That's definitely laudable. However, if the man himself couldn't follow his own teachings, what does that say about them, or him?

P.S. ...and what does the response from his son above say about his effectiveness in passing on spiritual enlightenment as a father? Food for thought.

I like Krishnamurti more, its more absolute and timeless; less worldy and more universal.

http://www.katinkahesselink.net/kr/
http://www.katinkahesselink.net/kr/core.htm

Krishnamurti, Osho, Watts, etc. were all basically saying the same thing I think. Watts was just more "intellectual" where as the other guys were "actual".

john fonda · Post by **john fonda** » Fri Jun 26, 2009 10:36 pm

this must be explored fully

people unite

powershoes · Post by **powershoes** » Thu Apr 11, 2013 8:15 pm

alan watts lived like a rock star and challenged the traditional ideology of zen and other eastern philosophies. he had a string of wives and children, as well as fixations with alcohol and tobacco. big deal. he has offered his wisdom to us and we are free to accept it or not.

TaoTapeTao · Post by **TaoTapeTao** » Fri Apr 12, 2013 12:46 pm

turquoise70 wrote:
bleak. wrote:http://deoxy.org/watts.htm
yes

yes. has been my resource for years. I discovered Watts right around when I started doing acid, and noticed a strange correlation to his lectures and my epiphanies. Truly changed the way I think about life.