In a captivating discussion, Alan Watts, a renowned spiritual teacher, contrasts the structured nature of Confucianism with the fluid philosophy of Taoism. He emphasizes the concept of mutual arising as central to Taoist thought, advocating a spontaneous harmony with nature. Watts critiques rigid societal norms, promoting a more natural way of living instead. He explores how Taoism transcends karma without dismissing it and delves into the illusory nature of time, urging listeners to embrace the flow of the present and align with the effortless essence of the Tao.
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insights INSIGHT
Taoism vs. Confucianism
Taoism and Confucianism are two major currents in Chinese thought.
Confucianism, concerned with formality, suits those engaged with the world, while Taoism offers a path for those seeking disentanglement.
insights INSIGHT
Taoism as Disentanglement
Taoism is a way of life for those who disengage from societal norms, similar to bohemians or beatniks.
It's often seen as a path for older people, after fulfilling social roles, to explore their true selves.
insights INSIGHT
Understanding the Tao
The Tao, meaning "the way", isn't a creator or governor like the Western concept of God.
It's the natural, effortless flow of everything, best understood through experience, not instructions.
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Shobo Genzo, meaning 'Treasury of the Eye of the True Dharma,' is a collection of writings by Dogen, a pivotal figure in the development of Zen Buddhism in Japan. The work delves into the core principles of Zen practice, emphasizing the importance of direct experience and the inherent Buddha-nature within all beings. Dogen's unique perspective on time, emphasizing the present moment, is a key theme explored in the book. His teachings challenge conventional notions of linear progression, highlighting the interconnectedness of all things. Shobo Genzo remains a profound and influential text for Zen practitioners and scholars alike.
Tao te ching
Laozi
The Tao Te Ching is a central text in Taoist philosophy and religion. It consists of 81 brief chapters or sections that discuss the nature of the Tao, which is described as the source and ideal of all existence. The text emphasizes living in harmony with nature, the importance of simplicity, humility, and the interconnectedness of all things. It critiques unnatural actions and social activism based on abstract moralism, advocating for a life of 'nonaction' (wu wei) and spontaneity. The text has been highly influential in Chinese philosophy and has been translated numerous times, making it one of the most translated texts in world literature[2][3][4].
Zen and the art of archery
Eugen Herrigel
Four quartets
T. S. Eliot
Four Quartets is a cycle of four poems by T.S. Eliot, each titled with a place name: 'Burnt Norton,' 'East Coker,' 'The Dry Salvages,' and 'Little Gidding.' The poems are meditations on time, redemption, and eternity, blending Eliot's Anglo-Catholicism with mystical, philosophical, and poetic elements from various traditions. Each quartet has five sections and explores themes such as the conflict between individual mortality and the endless span of human existence, the nature of spirituality, and the relationship between the present and the past. The work is considered Eliot's masterpiece and his clearest exposition of his Christian beliefs[2][4][5].
Breaking free from cause-and-effect and the formal ideas of Confucianism, Alan Watts describes mutual arising as the key idea of the Tao.
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 describes:
Chinese philosophies of Taoism and Confucianism
Our roles in social life and Confucianism as the way for people involved in the world
Taoism as the way for those who do not prescribe to formal patterns
How the Taoist goes with nature rather than against nature
Ideologies of God as a ruler or a lord versus the Taoist perspective
Experiences in terms of their polar experience (loud vs. soft)
Mutual arising as they key idea of the Tao
Man as being within nature rather than dominating it
How Taoism gets rid of karma without challenging it
The Chinese philosophy of time
Sensing the flow of the present and flow of the Tao
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.
Alan Watts Being in the Way 
