A Frank Appraisal of Alan Watts

The work of Alan Watts has helped countless people take the first step on their spiritual journey. In this critical appraisal, I hope to encourage you to take the next step by sharing with you in 20 minutes a bit about Alan Watts the man, the philosophy he developed, and some interpretive and practical limitations to the vision he preached. Overall, while Watts has done immeasurable good for the world in terms of opening people's eyes to new spiritual and personal possibilities through his own unique approaches, while also serving as a much needed window into Eastern traditions as well, it's best to exercise caution when enjoying his lectures, and attempt to tease out the distinction between Watts' own views and the traditions he draws upon, and carefully scrutinize the practical upshot of his program of action. This is the first in what may be a new series of "Frank Appraisals", and I hope you enjoy. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:40 Who was Alan Watts? 02:18 Watts' Philosophy 09:53 "Lazy Mysticism"? 18:16 Wrap-up Sources: Alan Watts. (1957). The Way of Zen, Pantheon Books. Alan Watts. (1973). The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are, Sphere Books. Alan Watts. (1972). In My Own Way: an Autobiography (1915-1965), Pantheon Books. Monica Furlong (2001). Zen Effects: The Life of Alan Watts, Skylight Paths. Review of In My Own Way by Kate Lila Wheeler, Dharma Jewels. https://inquiringmind.com/article/240... Jules Evans (2018). "The Lazy Mysticism of Alan Watts". Philosophy for Life: The Website of Jules Evans. Louis Nordstrom and Richard Pilgrim (1980). "The Wayward Mysticism of Alan Watts" Philosophy East and West, Jul., 1980, Vol. 30, No. 3 (Jul., 1980), pp. 381-401. Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/1399195 Official Alan Watts Org YouTube Page:    / @alanwattsorg   Disclaimer: This video is an independent work of commentary, criticism, and education. It is not affiliated with, authorized by, sponsored by, or endorsed by the Alan Watts Organization, the Electronic University, the Estate of Alan Watts, or any related entity or rights-holder. All views and opinions expressed are solely my own. Any references to, or recommendations of, the official Alan Watts Organization and its materials are made in my own editorial capacity and do not imply any partnership, affiliation, or endorsement in either direction. All trademarks, names, and copyrighted works referenced remain the property of their respective owners and are used here for purposes of commentary and criticism. All works or references that may be used on this channel are for fair use commentary, criticism, and educational purposes. See Hughes v. Benjamin, 437 F. Supp. 3d 382 (S.D.N.Y. 2020); Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015). #alanwatts #philosophy #religion #spirituality