"Trying to define yourself is like trying to bite your own teeth."

I have liked Alan Watts for years. but I was excited to find his lectures on Youtube. They calm me, enlighten me, and make me feel less alone. Maybe some of you would be interested?



http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC848b72MStS_1twAV97p0yQ

:bigsmile: Sorry, just laughin' because I have some of Alan's lectures on my iPod. I listen to them when I can't be arsed with listening to music.

Like you, they calm me and enlighten me but actually make me feel more relaxed than alone.

Haven't visited the YouTube channel in a while. But I do remember that great lecture he did about being a hermit, which made me glad I'm not the yin who feel tha same way.

Ooh- thanks for linking this- : )

I listen to Pema Chodron on my ipod- she calms me right down with her insights - especially on mindfulness and her humour too.

I have read over 10 of his books. I think he can speak very well and has a nice voice. Nevertheless, I find that some of his ideas destructive and not very helpful to people like us.

I have an old book of his ("The Wisdom Of Insecurity"). It's an ok read, with a few useful insights here & there, but there also are some quite antiquated ideas & concepts also. One such idea runs in direct opposition to an idea by eckhart tolle in another book i have ("The Power of Now"). Watts talks of how man is trying to separate himself from his environment & experiences (ie experiences & experiencier of those experiences), and that peace of mind will never be reached whilst striving for that. What he's saying is that we are our experiences, and that's all we are; there is no consciousness or "i" experiencing the world around us. But tolle says that you are not your mind (ie that there's a separate real "i" to the surface "me" (the mind & its perceptions of experiences)). In summary then, watts says that there is no observing consciousness, while tolle says there is. Personally, i believe in tolle's version. But watt's stuff is around 50 years old now, so its no wonder it seems outdated & innaccurate in parts.

arjuna said:

I have read over 10 of his books. I think he can speak very well and has a nice voice. Nevertheless, I find that some of his ideas destructive and not very helpful to people like us.

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Which ideas do you find destructive for people with SA? Curious of your thoughts. I do think that people should always tread lightly when trying to learn anything, particularly with philosophy, because nothing will necessarily be complete truth, agree with oneself or be helpful

theslowesthand said:

I have an old book of his ("The Wisdom Of Insecurity"). It's an ok read, with a few useful insights here & there, but there also are some quite antiquated ideas & concepts also. One such idea runs in direct opposition to an idea by eckhart tolle in another book i have ("The Power of Now"). Watts talks of how man is trying to separate himself from his environment & experiences (ie experiences & experiencier of those experiences), and that peace of mind will never be reached whilst striving for that. What he's saying is that we are our experiences, and that's all we are; there is no consciousness or "i" experiencing the world around us. But tolle says that you are not your mind (ie that there's a separate real "i" to the surface "me" (the mind & its perceptions of experiences)). In summary then, watts says that there is no observing consciousness, while tolle says there is. Personally, i believe in tolle's version. But watt's stuff is around 50 years old now, so its no wonder it seems outdated & innaccurate in parts.

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I think that a lot can be learned from various paths and experiences in life. To say that either Tolle or Watts are completely correct in anything, as with any other philosopher or philosophy, would be jumping the gun. I'm not saying that you are implying that by any means. I do, however, believe that both Watts and Tolle have their strengths and weaknesses and aren't exactly diametrically opposed.

For me, I can see the connection that they are both trying to reach the same point- a clear, aware essence that is not shrouded by selfishness or destruction. I do not think that the idea of everything being connected or one necessarily means that one is passive and victims to their circumstances. I think Watts was trying to get at the fact that people try to exert too much control for personal gain, rather than seeing the ways in which all of us can come together and for the better. To me, both show two ways of reaching the same or similar conclusion. The difference in what a "self" is or whether or not one exists seems to be where they diverge to me.

Something-Vague said:

Which ideas do you find destructive for people with SA? Curious of your thoughts. I do think that people should always tread lightly when trying to learn anything, particularly with philosophy, because nothing will necessarily be complete truth, agree with oneself or be helpful

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In one of his books, he says that children who get their heads crushed are doing it to themselves.