Alan Wilson Watts
Alan Wilson Watts
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Alan Wilson Watts was a philosopher, writer, and speaker who is best known as an interpreter of Zen Buddhism for the Western world.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on January 6, 1915, in Chislehurst, England, Alan Watts passed away on November 16, 1973, at the age of 58, in California, USA.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Watts held dual British-American nationality. His career spanned multiple fields: he was a philosopher, writer, speaker, and artist.
Early Life and Background
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Growing up in England, Watts developed an interest in philosophy at the age of 16. He attended Wadham College, Oxford, but left without completing his degree to pursue a life of bohemianism. In the late 1930s, he moved to California, where he became involved with various spiritual and philosophical communities.
Major Accomplishments
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Watts' work as an interpreter of Eastern philosophy for Western audiences earned him significant recognition. He was instrumental in introducing Zen Buddhism to the United States through his writings and lectures.
Notable Works or Actions
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Some of Watts' notable works include:
_The Book on the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are_ (1966)
_The Joyous Cosmology: Adventures in the Chemistry of the Mind_ (1962)
Watts was also a prolific speaker and writer. He delivered numerous lectures and wrote many articles, contributing to various magazines and journals.
Impact and Legacy
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Alan Watts' influence on Western culture is undeniable. His writings and teachings have inspired countless individuals interested in Eastern philosophy and spirituality. Watts' unique approach, which blended the study of Zen Buddhism with an appreciation for Western culture, helped popularize Eastern thought in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Alan Watts is widely quoted and remembered due to his ability to convey complex philosophical concepts in simple, accessible language. His writings continue to resonate with readers seeking a deeper understanding of themselves and their place within the world.
Watts' legacy extends beyond his written works; he also left behind a significant collection of audio recordings, which provide insight into his lectures and discussions on various topics. These recordings serve as a valuable resource for those interested in exploring Eastern philosophy through Watts' lens.
Through his groundbreaking work, Alan Wilson Watts helped pave the way for future generations of thinkers, writers, and spiritual seekers. His influence continues to be felt today, making him one of the most important and enduring figures of 20th-century spirituality and philosophy.
Quotes by Alan Wilson Watts
Alan Wilson Watts's insights on:
Hospitals should be arranged in such a way as to make being sick an interesting experience. One learns a great deal sometimes from being sick.
To practice with an end in view is to have one eye on the practice and the other on the end, which is lack of concentration, lack of sincerity.
No work or love will flourish out of guilt, fear, or hollowness of heart, just as no valid plans for the future can be made by those who have no capacity for living now.
Problems that remain persistently insoluble should always be suspected as questions asked in the wrong way
For eternally and always there is only now, one and the same now; the present is the only thing that has no end.
We do not "come into" this world; we come out of it, as leaves from a tree. As the ocean "waves," the universe "peoples." Every individual is an expression of the whole realm of nature, a unique action of the total universe.
It is fundamental to both Taoist and Confucian thought that the natural man is to be trusted, and from their standpoint it appears that the Western mistrust of human nature-whether theological or technological-is a kind of schizophrenia. It would be impossible, in their view, to believe oneself innately evil without discrediting the very belief, since all the notions of a perverted mind would be perverted notions.
The brush must draw by itself. This cannot happen if one does not practice constantly. But neither can it happen if one makes an effort.
There was a young man who said though, it seems that I know that I know, but what I would like to see is the I that knows me when I know that I know that I know.