Ep. 35 – Dreaming the World

46 snips

May 15, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Alan Watts, a renowned British philosopher, explores the universe as a playful divine dream. He delves into the complexities of identity, questioning the tension between acting and simply being. The conversation revolves around seeing life not as a serious task but as a beautiful, artistic expression. Watts invites listeners to embrace paradoxes, highlighting the interconnectedness of existence and the essence of love. He encourages a playful appreciation of life's dualities, all while addressing the importance of mental health awareness.

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INSIGHT

Life's Serious Cosmic Drama

Life is often seen as a serious, non-play game with obligations to survive and shame in dying.
Alan Watts describes this seriousness as a paradox and part of the cosmic drama we are caught in.

ANECDOTE

Fear of Funeral, Not Death

A woman was afraid of dying not for herself, but for what others might say at her funeral.
This illustrates how societal obligations amplify fear around death beyond the physical experience.

INSIGHT

Universe as Divine Play

The universe is seen as a divine play (Leela) where God hides by becoming many beings.
This play involves God pretending not to be himself, only to eventually wake up and realize his true nature.

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Diving into the cosmic drama of reality, Alan Watts describes the world as a divine dream which is poetic, playful, and only sometimes serious.

Being in the Way 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.

On this episode of Being in the Way, Alan Watts:

Exploring how we get caught in the cosmic game and drama of life
Seeing the universe as the playful expression of divine energy
Questioning identity: the tension between acting and simply being.
Confronting the spiritual taboo of realizing the self as God—tat tvam asi.
Indirect awareness of the networks and systems in the physical world
Music and the pure delight in complex orders of sound
Embracing the paradox of existence as poetic, musical, and playful, while still being serious.
Considering all of the senses as forms of one, larger sense of touch
The oneness of up and down, black and white, being and non-being
Complexities of human culture that arise out of duality

Today's podcast is sponsored by Betterhelp & Dharma Seed:

Being in the Way 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.

Join Krishna Das, the most well-known voice of Bhakti chanting (Kirtan) in the West, and David Nichtern - a senior Buddhist teacher, founder of Dharma Moon, guitarist in Krishna Das’ band, and producer of several of his albums - for a warm and engaging conversation about these two paths, their shared roots, and how they intersect in contemporary spiritual practice. Learn more about this FREE online gathering - THE HEART & MIND OF PRACTICE: BUDDHISM & BHAKTI

"The real taboo is 'that art thou'. You, lurking behind the mask of being an impermanent human person, are really responsible for the whole thing. If anybody claims that in our culture, we put them straight away into an asylum. That is the very hallmark of insanity. But, in India, if someone suddenly wakes up one morning and says 'My goodness, I'm God', everybody says, instead of you're crazy or blasphemous, they say 'Congratulations, at last you've found out'". – Alan Watts

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