In My Own Way

1. Embracing the paradox of self: Both mystic and sensualist

I am a shameless egotist. I like to talk, entertain, and hold the center of the stage, and can congratulate myself that I have done this to a considerable extent—by writing widely read books, by appearing on radio and television, and by speaking before enormous audiences. On the other hand I realize quite clearly that the ego named Alan Watts is an illusion, a social institution, a fabrication of words and symbols without the slightest substantial reality.

Watts embodies contradiction. He embraces both the spiritual and the sensual, recognizing the illusory nature of the ego while still fully engaging with life. This paradoxical approach allows him to explore the depths of mysticism without renouncing the pleasures of the world.

• Key aspects of Watts' philosophy:
  • Rejecting false dichotomies between spiritual and material
  • Embracing both Eastern wisdom and Western intellectual traditions
  • Finding joy in everyday experiences while maintaining a mystical perspective

Watts argues that true spirituality doesn't require asceticism or rejection of the world. Instead, he advocates for a full engagement with life, seeing the divine in the ordinary and finding transcendence in the mundane.

2. The power of cultural mixing and East-West synthesis

Kipling was, as I have said, one of those channels of British colonialism through which Himalayan culture backed up into England, as were also Sir Edwin Arnold, author of The Light of Asia, Sir Francis Younghusband, president of the World Congress of Faiths, Sir Frederick Treves, whose book The Other Side of the Lantern aroused my interest in Japan along with Lafcadio Hearn, and Sir Charles Eliot, who wrote scholarly and sympathetic studies of Hinduism and Buddhism—all knights-errant who plundered Asia of far more valuable gifts than rubber, opium, and tea.

Cultural cross-pollination breeds innovation. Watts recognizes the transformative power of blending Eastern and Western thought, seeing it as a source of renewal and fresh insights. This synthesis allows for a more comprehensive understanding of human experience and spirituality.

• Benefits of East-West synthesis:
  • Challenging ingrained cultural assumptions
  • Expanding philosophical and spiritual horizons
  • Creating new modes of thought and expression

Watts' work exemplifies this synthesis, drawing on Zen Buddhism, Taoism, and Hinduism while engaging with Western philosophy, psychology, and Christianity. He argues that this cross-cultural dialogue is essential for addressing the limitations of both Eastern and Western worldviews.

3. Challenging conventional religion and education

I knew that I could not preach against this rhythm, because the style of preaching is its own bombast, but that I must rather woo it—like Orpheus—with a different music.

Transformation through seduction, not confrontation. Watts advocates for a gentle subversion of conventional wisdom, using humor, metaphor, and engaging storytelling to challenge rigid belief systems. He critiques both traditional religious institutions and formal education for their inability to address fundamental questions of existence.

• Watts' critiques of conventional systems:
  • Religious dogma and moralism
  • Rote learning and academic pedantry
  • Separation of intellect from intuition and experience

Instead of direct opposition, Watts employs a more subtle approach, inviting people to question their assumptions and explore alternative perspectives through personal experience and introspection.

4. The transformative potential of psychedelics and altered states

I had, then, the feeling that from these centers, from these environments in which I felt especially free to be myself, waves were spreading to find response in an enormous number of people; helped by the fact that something similar was coming from other centers as well.

Expanding consciousness, transforming culture. Watts recognizes the profound impact of psychedelic experiences and other altered states of consciousness on individual and collective awareness. He sees these experiences as catalysts for cultural transformation and spiritual awakening.

• Potential benefits of altered states:
  • Dissolving ego boundaries
  • Accessing mystical or transcendent experiences
  • Challenging materialist worldviews

While acknowledging the risks and controversies surrounding psychedelics, Watts argues for their potential to facilitate profound insights and spiritual growth when used responsibly and in supportive contexts.

5. The importance of spontaneity, humor, and non-seriousness in spirituality

I am sincere but not serious, and one of my most sincere convictions is that God is not serious.

Lightness in the face of the profound. Watts emphasizes the importance of humor, playfulness, and spontaneity in spiritual practice and philosophical inquiry. He argues that taking oneself or one's beliefs too seriously can be an obstacle to genuine understanding and growth.

• Elements of Watts' approach:
  • Using humor to disarm ego defenses
  • Embracing paradox and absurdity
  • Cultivating a sense of wonder and joy in existence

By approaching spirituality with a light touch, Watts suggests we can more easily let go of rigid beliefs and open ourselves to deeper truths and experiences.

6. Exploring consciousness beyond ego and social conditioning

To arrive at the simplest truth, as Newton knew and practised, requires years of contemplation. Not activity. Not reasoning. Not calculating. Not busy behaviour of any kind. Not reading. Not talking. Not making an effort. Not thinking. Simply bearing in mind what it is one needs to know.

Silence reveals truth. Watts advocates for exploring consciousness directly, beyond the limitations of ego and social conditioning. He emphasizes the importance of meditation, contemplation, and direct experience in understanding the nature of reality and the self.

• Practices for exploring consciousness:
  • Meditation and mindfulness
  • Sensory awareness exercises
  • Questioning fundamental assumptions about reality and self

By stepping back from constant mental activity and social roles, Watts suggests we can access a more fundamental level of awareness and understanding.

7. The value of unconventional friendships and communities

I found myself among people who were not embarrassed to express their feelings, who were not ashamed to show warmth, exuberance, and earthy joie de vivre, whereas I had been slipping into the emotional constipation peculiarly characteristic of genteel academia—the mock modesty, the studied objectivity, the cautious opinion, and the horror of enthusiasm.

Authentic connections fuel growth. Watts emphasizes the importance of finding and cultivating relationships and communities that allow for genuine self-expression and exploration. He values friendships that challenge conventional norms and encourage personal and spiritual growth.

• Characteristics of Watts' preferred social circles:
  • Openness to unconventional ideas and experiences
  • Emphasis on authentic self-expression
  • Blending of intellectual, artistic, and spiritual pursuits

These relationships and communities provide a supportive environment for exploring alternative ways of thinking, living, and relating to others and the world.

8. Integrating mysticism with everyday life and relationships

I see that nature makes no real errors; that man and his institutions are as natural as anything else; and, furthermore, that my complaints about any situation are as natural as the idea that I have no reason to complain.

Embracing the totality of existence. Watts advocates for integrating mystical insights and experiences into everyday life, rather than seeing spirituality as separate from mundane concerns. He encourages finding the sacred in the ordinary and approaching relationships and daily activities with mindfulness and presence.

• Ways of integrating mysticism and everyday life:
  • Cultivating awareness in routine activities
  • Approaching relationships as opportunities for spiritual growth
  • Seeing the interconnectedness of all aspects of life

By blurring the lines between the spiritual and the mundane, Watts suggests we can live more fully and authentically, recognizing the profound in the seemingly trivial.

9. The limits of language and intellectual understanding in spiritual matters

I am saying all this to suggest the spirit in which I was working at the Academy of Asian Studies to start something which—based primarily on Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu—would counterbalance, out-fox, soften, and allay the martial, mechanically marching, tick-tock, and saw-toothed jagged life-rhythm which has been rattling the world at least since the Caesars' legionnaires stamped out of Rome.

Beyond words lies wisdom. Watts recognizes the limitations of language and intellectual understanding in conveying profound spiritual truths. He emphasizes the importance of direct experience and intuitive knowing over conceptual knowledge.

• Approaches to transcending linguistic limitations:
  • Using paradox and koans to point beyond conceptual thinking
  • Emphasizing experiential practices over intellectual study
  • Cultivating silence and presence

While valuing clear communication, Watts encourages looking beyond words to the direct experience of reality they attempt to describe, recognizing that ultimate truths often defy verbal expression.

Last updated: January 22, 2025