Alan Watts explores the importance of total sensory awareness, the confusion between symbolic reality and real reality, the uselessness of guilt, the significance of motivation and intention, experiencing life directly, and using all five senses to witness surroundings
42:15
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Quick takeaways
Experience life with total sensory awareness, free of symbolic interpretations.
The importance of motivation and intention in shaping our experiences and perceptions of reality.
Deep dives
Meditation Practices and Teachings
Meditation practices and teachings have the power to transform lives and inspire individuals to guide others on their meditation journey. The idea of sharing the gift of meditation is highlighted, with a focus on mindfulness, training programs, and leading group practice sessions. The discussion emphasizes the significance of becoming certified to teach meditation and work with students, underscoring the benefits and importance of sharing this practice with others.
Understanding Reality and Meditation Techniques
The podcast delves into the concept of reality and the practical applications of meditation techniques. It emphasizes the importance of being fully aware of sensory inputs during meditation, without shutting off senses or engaging in conceptual thinking. By exploring the fusion of sensory awareness with mindfulness, the episode encourages a non-conceptual way of experiencing life directly and without the influence of symbolic or language-based interpretation.
Diverse Approaches to Meditation and Spiritual Growth
The podcast discusses varying approaches to meditation, contrasting intense, disciplined methods with more natural and relaxed practices. It highlights the benefits of letting go and allowing the body and mind to function spontaneously, without the need for excessive control or discipline. The discussion touches on the dichotomy between challenging, strenuous meditation styles and gentler, Taoistic approaches that prioritize inner guidance and natural responses. By exploring these contrasting methods, the episode highlights the diverse paths individuals can take towards spiritual growth and self-realization.
In a lecture on symbolic reality versus real reality, Alan Watts explains the importance of total sensory awareness and looking at our motivations.
"Symbolic Reality vs. Real Reality" is part of Flow, a three-part session in the TAO for NOW series of talks that you can listen to in full over at the Alan Watts Streaming Channel
Today’s episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/alan and get on your way to being your best self.
This time on Being in the Way, Alan Watts discusses:
Being aware of all sensory inputs while meditating
Allowing oneself ‘to be’ in a non-conceptual way
Confusing the world of symbols for reality
The limits to what we can enjoy in a material sense
The uselessness of guilt
Money, tithes, and western religion versus gurus
Why our motivation and intention matters
Experiencing life naked and directly
The Taoist approach to letting go of your body-mind
Using all five of our senses to witness our surroundings
This series is brought to you by the Alan Watts Organization and Ram Dass’ Love Serve Remember Foundation. Visit Alanwatts.org for full talks from Alan Watts.
“The point is to be wide, wide awake and aware of your total sensory input without confusing it with the symbolic world of words and concepts so that you experience life naked and directly. Experience YOU naked and directly, without having in your head the concept of who you are a a role player, as a personality, as an ego.”– Alan Watts