Free Downloads This Is It: And Other Essays On Zen And Spiritual Experience
In six revolutionary essays, philosopher Alan Watts explores the relationship between spiritual experience and ordinary life—and the need for them to coexist within each of us. With essays on “cosmic consciousness” (including Watts’ account of his own ventures into this inward realm); the paradoxes of self-consciousness; LSD and consciousness; and the false opposition of spirit and matter, This Is It and Other Essays on Zen and Spiritual Experience is a truly mind-opening collection.
Mass Market Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: Vintage (March 12, 1973)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0394719042
ISBN-13: 978-0394719047
Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.4 x 6.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #38,972 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #50 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Eastern > Buddhism > Zen > Spirituality #72 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Eastern Religions & Sacred Texts #292 in Books > Self-Help > Spiritual
The apparent simplicity of a statement like "This is it" is beautiful, and at the same time it is clear and equivocal. Why would we be dissatisfied with "This is it" as an explanation, proclamation, or celebration? Perhaps because we have been conditioned to expect more before ever being given the chance to appreciate the immanent.Aside from theology, no field is more guilty of overlooking the "here and now" than philosophy - overlooking it, or simply missing it. But Alan Watts believes in a philosophy that is true to its spirit, the love of wisdom. "Such philosophy will not preach or advocate practices leading to improvement." As he understands it "the work of the philosopher as artist is to reveal and celebrate the eternal and purposeless background of human life." It may seem presumptuous for Watts to use the word purposeless, but if fact it's the opposite. To begin with, in relationships that involve observation, appreciation, celebration, or interaction with the "here and now," (life) there should be no assumptions made regarding a purpose. Assuming a purpose is already removing oneself from the "here and now" by imposing an impression that only could have been established through time, in the past. In truth, the purpose or lack thereof is not important.We don't realize how many of these assumptions form the base for all that we experience. Watts pulls a wonderful line from Dostoyevsky: "Man is unhappy because he doesn't know he's happy. It's only that...If anyone finds out he'll become happy at once, that minute." Watts isn't trying to imply that happiness is easy. But we don't make things easier on ourselves by entangling ourselves in webs of assumption, dogma, and rigidity.
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