Alan Watts – Being in the Way Ep. 26 – Relevance of Eastern Philosophy

Using wisdom from Eastern philosophies, Alan Watts explains why Westerners should let go of any preconceived notions of God.

This series is brought to you by the Alan Watts Organization and Ram Dass’ Love Serve Remember Foundation. Visit Alanwatts.org for full talks from Alan Watts.

“It must be understood that the crux of the Hindu and Buddhist disciplines is an experience, not a theory, not a belief.” – Alan Watts

This Alan Watts lecture features a discussion on:
  • Comparative studies on religion
  • The absurdity of Christian imperialism
  • Superiority and lack of faith
  • The difference between faith and belief
  • Blasphemy and those who claim to be God
  • The political image of God in the west
  • The ceramic model of the universe (material and form)
  • Hindu mythology and drama
  • Self-discovery of supreme reality
  • The meaning of Maya
  • Punitive reasons why people say that God is dead
  • Fixed notions of God as idolatry
  • Contemplative prayer and letting go of our ideas of God
  • Existence as relationship
  • Buddhist vows versus western obedience
  • Looking beyond the skin-encapsulated ego

“Behind a vital religious life for the West, there has to be faith which is not expressed in things to which you cling, in ideas, opinions to which you cling in a kind of desperation. Faith is the act of letting go and that must begin with letting go of God. Let God go.” – Alan Watts

Listen to more Alan Watts talks:
Being in the Way Ep. 1: Alan shares a dharma talk on Taoism, the interdependence of nature, and dropping out of karma
Alan Watt’s son, Mark, shares background on Alan’s early life, before introducing two of his father’s specially curated dharma talks focused on karma, in Being in the Way Ep. 2
Therapy, religion, mystical experiences, & Jesus: Being in the Way Ep. 6
The connections between Taoism and relativity, technology and human evolution, culture and separation: Being in the Way Ep. 3
Our place in the universe and how very natural it is to be human, in Being in the Way Ep. 4
The joyous cosmology that we are God playing the roles of ordinary people: Being in the Way Ep. 21
Alan Watts