An ode to Alan Watts
Visionary and a leader in the leading edge of thought
"The meaning of life is just to be alive," and "The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance" -Alan Watt.
I’m wrapping up my monthly mentor session in my women’s sisterhood, and we chose Alan to represent what it means to truly surrender to joy and bliss this month. And when you think about happiness and bliss, there are a few things that may come to mind: the sound of the wind, the color changing of the leaves, the changing of the season, the child, or the smiles on a stranger’s face. Gratitude is a meaningful act of faith, whether it's the warm embrace of a loved one or the miracle of allowing trust to be your guide. Either way you look at it, feel it, sense it, or experience Joy and bliss, there’s this expression of unfiltered, unrequited, and unconditional love.
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I must give much respect to his son, Mark, who has done an amazing job of preserving his father‘s work and presenting it to the public in a way that’s not only respectable but also honoring his lineage and legacy.
There is much to be said, but it’s better to listen, as sometimes when we talk, we can get in the way. The beauty about Alan is his timelessness, his way of expressing and articulating things that even a third grader could understand. It’s not that it was simple. It was the complexity, made into art, music, and poetry, that had to be heard to be understood. It has to be felt, it has to be experienced, and that’s what writing is. It’s an art form that storytelling has been a tradition passed down for generations.
What makes Alan so Inspiring?
Alan Watts is best known for making Eastern philosophy accessible to Western audiences, especially during the mid-20th century. His teachings, writings, and lectures continue to inspire spiritual seekers, philosophers, and creatives worldwide.
Thank you for reading
Here’s a deeper breakdown of what he’s most known for:
🧘♂️ 1. Translating Eastern Philosophy for the West
Watts played a key role in popularizing Zen Buddhism, Taoism, and Hindu philosophy in the West.
He drew upon abstract or esoteric spiritual ideas from the East and explained them in simple, poetic, and often humorous terms.
He emphasized the interconnectedness of all things, the illusory nature of the ego, and the present moment as the only reality.
🎙️ 2. Iconic Lectures and Talks
His spoken-word lectures, now widely distributed on YouTube, Spotify, and other platforms, are legendary.
His voice, tone, and phrasing made complex spiritual insights feel inviting and revelatory.
Topics included: consciousness, death, the self, the universe, dreams, and spiritual awakening.
📚 3. Seminal Books
Watts authored more than 25 books, with the most famous being:
The Wisdom of Insecurity – Emphasizes embracing the present rather than resisting uncertainty.
The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are – Explores the illusion of the separate self.
Tao: The Watercourse Way – Introduces Taoist philosophy through metaphor and nature.
🌀 4. Challenging the Ego and Identity
He challenged the Western ideas of selfhood, control, and linear time, stating:
“Trying to define yourself is like trying to bite your own teeth.”
He helped people let go of rigid beliefs about who they are, encouraging them to experience life directly rather than through filters of judgment or identity.
🔄 5. Bridging Science, Psychology, and Spirit
Watts often spoke about the need to integrate science, psychology, and spirituality, rather than pitting them against each other. He suggested that the cosmos, nature, and our consciousness were not separate—but rather, expressions of the same whole.
It’s truly inspiring to know that a platform like Substack can help us return to a direction of love and inclusivity, and yes, it's a little challenging, because who doesn’t love a challenge?
It’s great to be in a space where we can debate without tearing each other down; if we don’t like it, we can simply keep scrolling and not feel the urge to spoil the experience.
As I write this post with my son on my arm, there will always be a sense of separation, but just like Buddha said, to let us suffer is not the only thing we have loosely quoted. How can we nurture ourselves when we don’t know how to embrace our true nature how can we become better versions of ourselves when we suppress the one thing we need the most love that’s why the following month here coming up is September and I’m excited to continue a seven year long tradition of self love where we reflect on more than just the word, but we expand our understanding of purpose.
Alan wants to bring a sense of understanding, timelessly, yet it’s as if sometimes he’s sitting right next to me as I listen to some of his work, and maybe that was the gift of the gab, the laugh, and his presence. While listening to Alan Watts, I noticed that his talks are always so full of life, with the recordings being present in a room full of students or wherever he was speaking at the time, you could hear the hustle and the bustle of the world around hi,m not only capturing the present moment, but understanding that we all will have a meeting later on.
Some things are better unexplained and must be experienced to be understood. Like when we touch the surface of the water, it ripples, and when we try to cling tightly to something, it ends up falling through our hands like tiny grains of sand!
This reminds me of the process of writing my poetry book, Misunderstood. There were moments of rising and falling, stopping, building, and collapsing. Sometimes we heal loudly, although this is not an excuse to hurt others. I am sure there have been times when I have disappointed some people on this journey, and that’s the thing we don’t always see: what goes beyond what the eyes can see. Sometimes our pain is so loud that we don’t see the people wanting to support us and love us.
All we needed to do was stop and see the truth was always within. Being misunderstood is not a curse, it’s a gift!
What’s the common occurrence here in social land?
We meet, dance, and kinda feel each other out. There’s no need for competition because, as you become secure, when you release your own insecurities as you heal on your journey, you’ll learn that you are merely the paint and God, the creator, is the canvas. We are divinely reflected in our fellow humans, and sometimes that reflection stirs up wounds within you and them.
“When two Zen masters meet each other on the road, they need no introduction; thieves recognize each other instantly.” -Alan Watts
SO, what does one truly know?
Are we truly stumbling through space, or are we finally syncing with our true nature?
Oneness and wholeness.
If we are like an old movie reel replaying what we have heard before, what makes us unique?
When you're trapped in the illusion is separateness, your archetypes will play any game to keep you on the hamster wheel of fate, karma, and fear.
For years, I spiraled into self-sabotage, the people pleaser, the savior, and yes, the healer.
What archetype is the version that you had to become to fill the void or an unmet need?
What’s on the other side?
Ask the questions I am sure we have all had and may still have.
What’s past all of that?
Depends!
Since it’s all created to increase chaos and to continue to fuel the machine.
Ask yourself, do I want to be a part of it?
Am I willing to let it all work out? No matter if it’s good or bad, without pushing, pulling, and meddling
It’s not just a decision!
It’s a way of life, like Zen, to move with the natural progression of the universe.
So are you ready?
BREATHE IN AND OUT
Citations and resources:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alan-Watts
“Alan Watts, philosopher of Eastern wisdom in Western language. Source: Britannica”
Join the official Youtube channel for Alan Watts run by his son Mark https://youtube.com/@alanwattsorg?si=cO_KxmM6cu4ed22u