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Alan Watts: Joyous Cosmology – Being in the Way Podcast Ep. 21 – Hosted by Mark Watts

Be Here Now Network・34 minutes read

The text discusses the concept of a joyous cosmology, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the frivolous and playful aspects of life over material success or achievements. It delves into the idea that the fear or discomfort we feel when interacting with others stems from a lack of understanding and recognition of ourselves in them, highlighting the need to overcome this sense of otherness.

Insights

  • Richard Buck's experience of sudden cosmic consciousness challenged conventional views, emphasizing the universe's living nature, eternal life within individuals, and love as the world's foundational principle.
  • Buck proposed that individuals will everything that happens to them, advocating for the recognition of this self-causation to eliminate fear and suffering, highlighting its accessibility to ordinary people and its transformative potential in understanding the self and world.

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Recent questions

  • What is the concept of a joyous cosmology?

    A joyous cosmology emphasizes recognizing the playful and frivolous aspects of life over material success. It challenges individuals to imagine a better cosmology that explains life's complexities, encouraging a shift in perspective towards joy and playfulness.

  • How does Richard Buck describe sudden cosmic consciousness?

    Richard Buck describes sudden cosmic consciousness as feeling wrapped in a flame-colored cloud, leading to immense joy and intellectual illumination. He realized the universe is alive, not dead matter, and felt eternal life within himself, understanding love as the foundation principle of the world.

  • What does Buck propose about the division between subject and object?

    Buck proposes that the division between subject and object is conventional, with all experiences being a state of one's nervous system. He suggests that life is not an encounter but a reflection of oneself, emphasizing that individuals actually will everything that happens to them.

  • How does Buck suggest individuals can eliminate fear and suffering?

    Buck suggests that individuals can eliminate fear and suffering by recognizing that they will everything that happens to them, whether liked or disliked. This realization can lead to a profound understanding of the self and alleviate fears and challenges by accepting the external world as a hidden aspect of oneself.

  • What is the significance of embracing the concept of a hidden self?

    Embracing the concept of a hidden self can alleviate fears and challenges by recognizing the external world as a reflection of oneself. This perspective challenges individuals to imagine a better cosmology that explains life's complexities, emphasizing the transformative power of accepting the playful aspects of life over material success.

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Summary

00:00

"Imagining Life's Problems: Alan Watts Podcast"

  • Alan Watts podcast hosted by Mark Watts, featuring "Joyous Cosmology" recording in New York.
  • Title refers to Hindu mythology and Vedanta worldview, predating a book by the same name on psychedelic experiences.
  • Co-produced with Ramdas Be Here Now Network, theme music by Zakir Hussain.
  • Experiment proposed to imagine an ideal interpretation of life's problems.
  • Speculation on justifying suffering and problems in life through a creative cosmology.
  • Wishful thinking explored to create an explanation for human life and the universe.
  • Desire for personal responsibility in suffering, preferring self-causation over external cruelty.
  • Concept of life as a dream, with the potential to wake up from it.
  • Ideal existence imagined as lack of obstruction, with challenges and surprises for fulfillment.
  • Universe as a creation for self-surprises, with the ability to regain control when needed.

29:22

"Life's Mysteries: Embracing Inner Self Transformation"

  • Richard Buck described an experience of sudden cosmic consciousness, feeling wrapped in a flame-colored cloud, leading to immense joy and intellectual illumination.
  • He realized the universe is alive, not dead matter, and felt eternal life within himself, understanding all men are immortal and that love is the foundation principle of the world.
  • This vision lasted briefly but left a lasting impact, challenging the conventional view of the world and suggesting an inner self in control of all experiences.
  • Buck proposed that life is an adventure where individuals forget they are in control, experiencing challenges and fears akin to children scaring themselves.
  • He delved into the concept of a deeper self within us, critiquing his own theory for its complexity and suggesting a simpler solution to the conflict between self and experience.
  • Buck explored the idea that the division between subject and object is conventional, with all experiences being a state of one's nervous system, leading to a realization that life is not an encounter but a reflection of oneself.
  • He proposed that individuals actually will everything that happens to them, whether liked or disliked, and that recognizing this could eliminate fear and suffering.
  • Buck highlighted that this realization is not exclusive to saints or sages but can occur to ordinary people in various situations, leading to a profound understanding of the self.
  • He emphasized the transformative power of accepting that the external world is a hidden aspect of oneself, suggesting that embracing this concept could alleviate all fears and challenges.
  • Buck encouraged considering this perspective as a potential answer to life's mysteries, challenging individuals to imagine a better cosmology that could explain the world's complexities.

57:13

Embracing Joy: Uniting Self and World

  • The text discusses the concept of a joyous cosmology, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the frivolous and playful aspects of life over material success or achievements.
  • It delves into the idea that the fear or discomfort we feel when interacting with others stems from a lack of understanding and recognition of ourselves in them, highlighting the need to overcome this sense of otherness.
  • The text explores the notion that behind our everyday self lies a hidden self that plays out the limitations and challenges we face as a game of hide and seek, contrasting it with the idea that there is no distinction between the self and the experiences of the world.
  • It explains how societal conditioning and upbringing contribute to the perception of a divided self, instilling the belief that we are separate agents controlling our actions, leading to a disconnect from our true experiences.
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