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Alan Watts: Inevitable Ecstasy – Being in the Way Podcast Ep. 9 – Hosted by Mark Watts

Be Here Now Network・33 minutes read

The podcast features Alan Watts' seminar "Inevitable Ecstasy," focusing on suffering, attachment, and the ego, encouraging listeners to let go and embrace the present as part of the universe's cosmic game. It explores the nature of consciousness, perception, and meaning, challenging traditional beliefs and highlighting the transformative power of embracing the unknown with childlike wonder.

Insights

  • Alan Watts stresses the significance of background noises like crackling fire and gas heater bongs, which add depth and character to the seminar recording, enhancing the overall experience for listeners.
  • The seminar "Inevitable Ecstasy" explores the concepts of attachment and the ego, urging individuals to let go of the ego by being aware of experiences without attempting to control or label them. This practice enables a profound understanding of the self and the universe, emphasizing the futility of actively seeking enlightenment or a true self, as we are already Buddhas from the beginning.

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Recent questions

  • What is the seminar "Inevitable Ecstasy" about?

    Attachment, ego, suffering, and enlightenment.

  • Where can I listen to the podcast featuring the seminar?

    Alan Watts organization website.

  • Who is the host of the podcast?

    Mark Watts.

  • What is the significance of background noises in the recording?

    Adds character to the seminar.

  • What is the theme music of the podcast?

    By Zakir Hussein.

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Summary

00:00

"Inevitable Ecstasy" Seminar by Alan Watts

  • The podcast is hosted by Mark Watts and features a seminar titled "Inevitable Ecstasy" by Alan Watts, recorded in 1969 on the ferry boat Vallejo.
  • Alan Watts emphasized the importance of background noises like a crackling fire and the bongs of the gas heater in the recording, adding character to the seminar.
  • The seminar is divided into four sessions, with session one and an excerpt from session three being featured in the podcast.
  • The podcast is available on the Alan Watts organization website, along with numerous other talks.
  • The theme music is by Zakir Hussein, courtesy of Moment Records, and additional support is from Eaton Hemp, providing products to keep everyone relaxed during the podcast.
  • The seminar "Inevitable Ecstasy" delves into the issue of suffering, focusing on the concept of attachment and the ego.
  • Attachment is described as a kind of stickiness or blocking, hindering the flow of life and causing confusion.
  • The ego is explained as an abstract concept composed of our image of ourselves, which is incomplete and inaccurate.
  • The feeling of the ego is linked to chronic muscular strain, a habitual sense of tightness that we develop from a young age.
  • Alan Watts encourages listeners to let go of the ego by being aware of the happening without trying to control or name it, allowing for a deeper understanding of the self and the universe.

24:18

"Universe's Hide and Seek: Chasing Itself"

  • The universe is a game of Hide and Seek, with the universe chasing its own tail, expanding as it runs away from itself.
  • The concept of a doer behind every action is a grammatical convention, not a law of nature, as verbs can exist without a subject.
  • Stuff in the universe is merely patterns seen out of focus, described as stuff due to its fuzziness.
  • The search for a self or Atman is futile as we are already Buddhas from the beginning, confusing our true nature with images.
  • Understanding that you can't actively find enlightenment or God is crucial, as the search is like looking for your own head that you can't see.
  • The present doesn't come from the past, as sounds come out of silence and fade away, not originating from past events.
  • Learning is hindered by the belief that new knowledge must be translated into existing knowledge, leading to a library-like accumulation of information.
  • The feeling of The Happening, where you are not in control but part of the happening, is essential to explore without distractions.
  • The dilemma of not being able to do anything or not do anything signifies the absence of a true self or ego, challenging conventional beliefs.
  • The contrast between the undifferentiated baby consciousness and the selective adult consciousness is necessary for balance, with the ego being a fictitious symbol that cannot truly control anything.

49:00

Perceiving Vibrations: Unveiling Mystical Realities

  • Understanding the spectrum of sounds is crucial, as it allows us to differentiate between soft and loud sounds, enabling us to perceive the variety in vibrations.
  • The comparison of watching television to seeing a moving point of light emphasizes how our perception constructs the reality we experience, highlighting the arbitrary nature of the values we assign to vibrations.
  • Exploring the meditative potential of music and repetitive actions like chanting or mudras reveals how meaninglessness can lead to profound insights, especially when observing vibrations or simple phenomena with childlike wonder.
  • The text delves into the ineffable nature of mystical experiences, where consciousness aligns with the energy of existence, challenging conventional perceptions of meaning and reality, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of the world beyond organic or mechanical distinctions.
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