I have digested a lot of Alan Watts over the years and I would like to share.
So, my opinion of a flawed teacher:
I consider Alan Watts only a conduit of information, and one that suits me very well. I can receive the data without judging the medium. Although I think this has A LOT to do with the fact that we will never shake hands.
I find his flippant attitude towards his own teachings endearing - to me, at least. I like to imagine the Buddha overindulging in local delicacies now and then!
As far as his inability to manifest his profound intellectual knowledge into personal peace is a difficult question. My guess is that he suffered from multiple traumas that fundamentally re-wired his brain at an early age, after which, no amount of cognitive power would reverse the damage.
Hey Chris - thanks for this. I too like the idea of Buddha overindulging now and again! Makes me smile. There are elements of the strict non attachment practice that I've always found too far - I do want to enjoy moments, to be more attached to loved ones etc. so some human wiggle room is something I look to, and I know a lot of teachers and practices do also.
And yes also - I've always found him endearing! You may well be right - I've always held hope that there is a way through all the tough times though. I wonder with the updated knowledge of psychedelics in the therapeutic setting whether he would have explored that even more today from a healing perspective, and less from an inquisitive one? Just speculating. But thanks for your comments! Lots of food for thought!
Thanks for posting this. I think you raise a really interesting point, not so much about the lifestyle of Alan Watts, but rather about the notion that is so prevalent today, that those we learn form, or those who we follow, or those who we admire in some way, must live up to our own or one culturally prescribed morality. Alan Watts never advertised that he lived a moral life, or that the morally perfect life was somehow part of the eastern traditions that he taught about.
We are all partially, at least, constructs of our cultural environment. This is a debatable point, of course, but from everything I have read, seen, heard and experienced in this life, it seems more or less accurate. And, therefore, when we view or judge Alan Watts or anyone else, it really helps to have a pretty clear understanding of the period in which they live. This is not a rationalization of all immoral behavior, but it does provide a general sense of conditionality when we are looking at the lives of other people.
And if you look at the Post War period and the communities that Watts was engaged with you will see generations of people pushing the boundaries of traditional morality. And if there was one person in this world who was at the center of that pushing it was Alan Watts.
Now, is he a model for how to live a life? Personally, I would not choose to live my life in that way, but who am I to judge his life? I have no connection to his life, except through the stories you referenced and that I have read too. But when I am reading or listening to Alan Watts, I am interested in the ideas he is sharing, not the fact that he was a drunkard, did not treat his children well, or slept with lots of women. Honestly, I think its tragic that he was not a good father and that he drank so much, but I still think that he is an amazing communicator and he has changed my, and many other people's, lives of the better, both in the past, and still to this very day.
One of the things that we all need to remember of about living in the USA is that this nation was founded by radicals, and we still have a strong sense of puritanical thought running through our culture and our institutions. Our media reinforces this with a moment by moment game of gotcha journalism, moralizing and the constant churning up of moral panic, cultural cancelations for one wrong word being uttered, or other misstep that gives one group, or another, a reason to crucify another person, and thereby show their own moral superiority. If this is how you or anyone else wants to think, behave and live their lives, then go for it.
But if you want to open yourself up to new ways of seeing the world and understanding what this life is about... read Watts, and let his words sing in your head. If those words are clouded by your fear that they do not come from a teacher who has lead a perfect, sanitized , idealized life, then that's ok too.
Hi Steve - fair points and very well put. I think I have come to a similar conclusion and am just taking the teachings for what they are, whilst still prioritising other teachers. And yes I think trying to view him from the lens of the culture that produced him is useful and I certainly don't want to demonise him. I agree on the radical point but I guess there are lines we all have and I'm sure he entered into his marriages with the idea of them being monogamous (though I am speculating here) so violating that would have been bad even in his own time? But again I don't want to try and demonise him as he was a beautifully flawed human who clearly meant very well in so many ways and helped so many people. And I do accept that a lot of this comes from myself, and my own fear that 'if Alan Watts couldn't find inner peace, what chance have I got?' I don't believe this thought but it does emerge. Thanks for the comments - really interesting.
He didn’t meditate. He didn’t apply the tools that he knew so much about. A beautiful mind and one of my heros. I’d give almost anything to have an evening out with Watts and Anthony Bourdain.
I wouldn’t let his personal life influence what I’ve taken from his talks. They are two very separate things. I’d never thought of his talks as self help or how to live a better life. His talks simply inspire me to be in awe of the universe and existence. Why are you connecting his talks to his personal life? Mindfulness practice compliments his talks nicely. If you don’t already practice, I highly recommend the Waking Up app.
I am a new subscriber!
I have digested a lot of Alan Watts over the years and I would like to share.
So, my opinion of a flawed teacher:
I consider Alan Watts only a conduit of information, and one that suits me very well. I can receive the data without judging the medium. Although I think this has A LOT to do with the fact that we will never shake hands.
I find his flippant attitude towards his own teachings endearing - to me, at least. I like to imagine the Buddha overindulging in local delicacies now and then!
As far as his inability to manifest his profound intellectual knowledge into personal peace is a difficult question. My guess is that he suffered from multiple traumas that fundamentally re-wired his brain at an early age, after which, no amount of cognitive power would reverse the damage.
Hey Chris - thanks for this. I too like the idea of Buddha overindulging now and again! Makes me smile. There are elements of the strict non attachment practice that I've always found too far - I do want to enjoy moments, to be more attached to loved ones etc. so some human wiggle room is something I look to, and I know a lot of teachers and practices do also.
And yes also - I've always found him endearing! You may well be right - I've always held hope that there is a way through all the tough times though. I wonder with the updated knowledge of psychedelics in the therapeutic setting whether he would have explored that even more today from a healing perspective, and less from an inquisitive one? Just speculating. But thanks for your comments! Lots of food for thought!
Hi Chris,
Thanks for posting this. I think you raise a really interesting point, not so much about the lifestyle of Alan Watts, but rather about the notion that is so prevalent today, that those we learn form, or those who we follow, or those who we admire in some way, must live up to our own or one culturally prescribed morality. Alan Watts never advertised that he lived a moral life, or that the morally perfect life was somehow part of the eastern traditions that he taught about.
We are all partially, at least, constructs of our cultural environment. This is a debatable point, of course, but from everything I have read, seen, heard and experienced in this life, it seems more or less accurate. And, therefore, when we view or judge Alan Watts or anyone else, it really helps to have a pretty clear understanding of the period in which they live. This is not a rationalization of all immoral behavior, but it does provide a general sense of conditionality when we are looking at the lives of other people.
And if you look at the Post War period and the communities that Watts was engaged with you will see generations of people pushing the boundaries of traditional morality. And if there was one person in this world who was at the center of that pushing it was Alan Watts.
Now, is he a model for how to live a life? Personally, I would not choose to live my life in that way, but who am I to judge his life? I have no connection to his life, except through the stories you referenced and that I have read too. But when I am reading or listening to Alan Watts, I am interested in the ideas he is sharing, not the fact that he was a drunkard, did not treat his children well, or slept with lots of women. Honestly, I think its tragic that he was not a good father and that he drank so much, but I still think that he is an amazing communicator and he has changed my, and many other people's, lives of the better, both in the past, and still to this very day.
One of the things that we all need to remember of about living in the USA is that this nation was founded by radicals, and we still have a strong sense of puritanical thought running through our culture and our institutions. Our media reinforces this with a moment by moment game of gotcha journalism, moralizing and the constant churning up of moral panic, cultural cancelations for one wrong word being uttered, or other misstep that gives one group, or another, a reason to crucify another person, and thereby show their own moral superiority. If this is how you or anyone else wants to think, behave and live their lives, then go for it.
But if you want to open yourself up to new ways of seeing the world and understanding what this life is about... read Watts, and let his words sing in your head. If those words are clouded by your fear that they do not come from a teacher who has lead a perfect, sanitized , idealized life, then that's ok too.
Hi Steve - fair points and very well put. I think I have come to a similar conclusion and am just taking the teachings for what they are, whilst still prioritising other teachers. And yes I think trying to view him from the lens of the culture that produced him is useful and I certainly don't want to demonise him. I agree on the radical point but I guess there are lines we all have and I'm sure he entered into his marriages with the idea of them being monogamous (though I am speculating here) so violating that would have been bad even in his own time? But again I don't want to try and demonise him as he was a beautifully flawed human who clearly meant very well in so many ways and helped so many people. And I do accept that a lot of this comes from myself, and my own fear that 'if Alan Watts couldn't find inner peace, what chance have I got?' I don't believe this thought but it does emerge. Thanks for the comments - really interesting.
Great article. I enjoyed reading this.
Thank you Dianne!
He didn’t meditate. He didn’t apply the tools that he knew so much about. A beautiful mind and one of my heros. I’d give almost anything to have an evening out with Watts and Anthony Bourdain.
I wouldn’t let his personal life influence what I’ve taken from his talks. They are two very separate things. I’d never thought of his talks as self help or how to live a better life. His talks simply inspire me to be in awe of the universe and existence. Why are you connecting his talks to his personal life? Mindfulness practice compliments his talks nicely. If you don’t already practice, I highly recommend the Waking Up app.