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Tao: The Watercourse Way
A lucid discussion of Taoism and the Chinese language . . . profound, reflective, and enlightening. --Boston Globe
According to Deepak Chopra, Watts was a spiritual polymatch, the first and possibly greatest. Drawing on ancient and modern sources, Watts treats the Chinese philosophy of Tao in much the same way as he did Zen Buddhism in his classic The Way of Zen. Critics agree that this last work stands as a perfect monument to the life and literature of Alan Watts.
Perhaps the foremost interpreter of Eastern disciplines for the contemporary West, . . . Watts begins with scholarship and intellect and proceeds with art and eloquence to the frontiers of the spirit.--Los Angeles Times
According to Deepak Chopra, Watts was a spiritual polymatch, the first and possibly greatest. Drawing on ancient and modern sources, Watts treats the Chinese philosophy of Tao in much the same way as he did Zen Buddhism in his classic The Way of Zen. Critics agree that this last work stands as a perfect monument to the life and literature of Alan Watts.
Perhaps the foremost interpreter of Eastern disciplines for the contemporary West, . . . Watts begins with scholarship and intellect and proceeds with art and eloquence to the frontiers of the spirit.--Los Angeles Times
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
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About the author
Alan W. Watts
254?books7,663?followersAlan Wilson Watts was a British philosopher, writer and speaker, who held both a Master's in Theology and a Doctorate of Divinity. Famous for his research on comparative religion, he was best known as an interpreter and popularizer of Asian philosophies for a Western audience. He wrote over 25 books and numerous articles on subjects such as personal identity, the true nature of reality, higher consciousness, the meaning of life, concepts and images of God and the non-material pursuit of happiness. In his books he relates his experience to scientific knowledge and to the teachings of Eastern and Western religion and philosophy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 275 reviews
December 23, 2008
While I most enjoy the hundreds of hours of lectures by this, my favorite thinker of all time, I do treasure this book which was his last - and was a gift to me from his son Mark. After I received it, I noticed the musty smell of a fine old book. Watts died in the 70's while in his late 50's and he lived on a houseboat in Sausalito harbor near San Francisco (he also had a cabin in the forests just 30 minutes north where he would go for solitude). When I asked Mark about the smell of the book he told me that it had come from a box of the books which were on his boat.....and so it is a treasure to me.
His audio is widely available online and I am happy to share incredible lectures I have of him speaking to impressive audiences (IBM Systems Engineers, Southern Methodist University, and countless other churches, and other places of spiritual focus - always without notes and his velvet voice and classic English accent - not only with sense of humor always intact, but his speaking is never tainted with any verbal crutch nor do I recall him ever repeating the same words - even rarely articulating the same concept. He is/was deeply knowledgeable about most subjects but especially theology, comparative religions, psychiatry/psychology, art, music , languages, literature, education, ecology, mythology, mysticism, consciousness (in all it's seemingly infinite states), logic and so much more. His friends were Carl Jung, Bertrand Russell, Alan Ginsberg, D.T. Suzuki, G.K. Chesterton and countless other authors, artists, musicians, spiritual leaders and intellectuals of both the east and west. He is a singular master in his ability to bring truth to especially Christianity, Buddhism, psychiatry and 'common perceptions and mis-perceptions' His ultimate love of life and lighthearted view of it, along with his incredible knowledge and admission to his own "inherent rascality" (we all are rascals at times!) endears him to me and I suspect to any open minded thinking person! If you would llke to talk or receive audio, please call me! Marc: 760.633.0004
His audio is widely available online and I am happy to share incredible lectures I have of him speaking to impressive audiences (IBM Systems Engineers, Southern Methodist University, and countless other churches, and other places of spiritual focus - always without notes and his velvet voice and classic English accent - not only with sense of humor always intact, but his speaking is never tainted with any verbal crutch nor do I recall him ever repeating the same words - even rarely articulating the same concept. He is/was deeply knowledgeable about most subjects but especially theology, comparative religions, psychiatry/psychology, art, music , languages, literature, education, ecology, mythology, mysticism, consciousness (in all it's seemingly infinite states), logic and so much more. His friends were Carl Jung, Bertrand Russell, Alan Ginsberg, D.T. Suzuki, G.K. Chesterton and countless other authors, artists, musicians, spiritual leaders and intellectuals of both the east and west. He is a singular master in his ability to bring truth to especially Christianity, Buddhism, psychiatry and 'common perceptions and mis-perceptions' His ultimate love of life and lighthearted view of it, along with his incredible knowledge and admission to his own "inherent rascality" (we all are rascals at times!) endears him to me and I suspect to any open minded thinking person! If you would llke to talk or receive audio, please call me! Marc: 760.633.0004
May 17, 2012
Ha Ha Ha Ho Ho Ho !
December 11, 2014
I read this book, Watts' last, immediately after reading The Spirit of Zen, his first. What I got from The Spirit of Zen was to what great extent early Zen Buddhism was influenced by Taoism. What I got from The Watercourse Way was how utterly fucking cool Taoism is. A fitting swan song from the ever-lucid Watts.
June 8, 2020
"Let your ears hear whatever they want to hear; let your eyes see whatever they want to see; let your mind think whatever it wants to think; let your lungs breathe in their own rhythm. Do not expect any special result, for in this wordless and idealess state, where can there be past or future, and where any motion of purpose? Stop, look, and listen...and stay there awhile before you go on reading."
We are unimaginably conditioned by our cultures. We may repress all the things that we don't want to be a part of and pretend we're all here on our own yet the question arises one day if not the answers.
Do yourself a favour and learn it on your own for what it is. Nothing could help you, not even this book or by any means, nothing but yourself. No deliberate or conscious but spontaneous efforts.?Verbal comprehensions have long been limited by our language. Occidental cultures and the impact of the same in the Oriental cultures (the very language i use here) control the way I question things and things that I take for granted in nature.
Ursula Le Guin, Philip K Dick were some of the people who brought me here a while back. I remember last year around this time, I read Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching.?It was very contemplative and meditating. But?for the first time, I feel like understanding the essence of Tao and that's making me a bit fearful whether I'm deluding myself with the idea of understanding. .
This book has notions only upon the contemplative Taoism from the interpretations of various individuals (some Lao Tzu, Chung Tzu, Lieh Tzu) oral and survived ideographic scriptures. This is the lucid, highly contemplative?Swan Song of the writer.
There's a world order that is possible, nevertheless nothing new, which had been?dreamt by individuals for millennia. Yet I know I can't be hopeful. With the learnings we all can try not to, yet guess that's where all the problem lies. Don't try.
We are unimaginably conditioned by our cultures. We may repress all the things that we don't want to be a part of and pretend we're all here on our own yet the question arises one day if not the answers.
Do yourself a favour and learn it on your own for what it is. Nothing could help you, not even this book or by any means, nothing but yourself. No deliberate or conscious but spontaneous efforts.?Verbal comprehensions have long been limited by our language. Occidental cultures and the impact of the same in the Oriental cultures (the very language i use here) control the way I question things and things that I take for granted in nature.
Ursula Le Guin, Philip K Dick were some of the people who brought me here a while back. I remember last year around this time, I read Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching.?It was very contemplative and meditating. But?for the first time, I feel like understanding the essence of Tao and that's making me a bit fearful whether I'm deluding myself with the idea of understanding. .
This book has notions only upon the contemplative Taoism from the interpretations of various individuals (some Lao Tzu, Chung Tzu, Lieh Tzu) oral and survived ideographic scriptures. This is the lucid, highly contemplative?Swan Song of the writer.
There's a world order that is possible, nevertheless nothing new, which had been?dreamt by individuals for millennia. Yet I know I can't be hopeful. With the learnings we all can try not to, yet guess that's where all the problem lies. Don't try.
July 27, 2018
It is very difficult to for me to write this review because, like water, Tao seems to be something so pervasive yet so elusive. It is the source of everything but it is not their Creator. It permeates everything but it cannot be seen and cannot be grasp. It reigns but does not rule. Tao has order but it is not law. Because we are part of Tao, and Tao flows through us, we are part of the stream and it is difficult for us to see, understand or describe it objectively.
"The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao..." goes the first line of Lao Tzu's Tao De Jing. Alan Watts acknowledged the irony of him talking and writing about Tao but explained that it was his way of trying to grasp what it is.
Lao Tzu said "It could be the mother of everything, I don't know its name, and call it Tao."
Perhaps it is akin to the universal ways and energetic flows of the universe. Just as grass grows just because..., and a flower blooms just because...
According to Tao, man too should try to follow the natural way of things and the path of least resistence. But this path is not to be associated with inertia, passivity or a laissez faire way but needs to be approached with intelligence and alertness. It is a path of non forcing but flowing with the natural way of things. Like the soft branches of a tree that is able to survive the strong winds compared to the hard branches that resist and break. Or using your opponent's aggressiveness to fall him as in judo or aikido. Or using our innate wisdom, being true to ourselves, being devoid of artifice. A philosophical approach called wu wei £¨Ÿo‚Σ©¡£
My only wonder is how this path of least resistence works in the "real" man-made world of language, concept, rules, laws and judgements of right and wrong - which is completely opposite to Tao. For instance, the Tao approach advocates fewer laws and less intrusion by government. That people, in their small villages and towns will be able to sort things out. I could not understand it. But apparently, close to the the times of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu, Chin Shi Huang Di (the first Chin emperor) ruled with an iron first and wanted his empire to last a thousand years. But it only lasted 10 years, and broke up upon his death. However, Emperor Han Kao Tsu that came next ruled with a light touch (only making clear that harsh punishment will be meted out of manslaughter, assault and thievery) and the Han Empire lasted 400 years.
I will resist writing more than I should on the subject. I am just beginning to grasp a little of a beautiful and mysterious thing and will let nature, my kammic call or my destiny to lead me to those ah-ha moments when I can experience Tao in my heart and my being, without words to describe it. *
I end by adding how impressed I was with Alan Watts' understanding of the Chinese language and ideograms. Alan has written this subject, which is as difficult as water to grasp, beautifully and he has kept me entertained throughout.
This is the first Alan Watts book I read. It was the last one he wrote before he died in 1973 and it was eventually completed by his good friend Al Huang.
*postscript -After reading this, I came across Thomas Merton's comment while reading "On Eastern Meditation": "When the right moment arrives, even one who seems incapable of any instruction whatever will become mysteriously aware of the Tao."
"The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao..." goes the first line of Lao Tzu's Tao De Jing. Alan Watts acknowledged the irony of him talking and writing about Tao but explained that it was his way of trying to grasp what it is.
Lao Tzu said "It could be the mother of everything, I don't know its name, and call it Tao."
Perhaps it is akin to the universal ways and energetic flows of the universe. Just as grass grows just because..., and a flower blooms just because...
According to Tao, man too should try to follow the natural way of things and the path of least resistence. But this path is not to be associated with inertia, passivity or a laissez faire way but needs to be approached with intelligence and alertness. It is a path of non forcing but flowing with the natural way of things. Like the soft branches of a tree that is able to survive the strong winds compared to the hard branches that resist and break. Or using your opponent's aggressiveness to fall him as in judo or aikido. Or using our innate wisdom, being true to ourselves, being devoid of artifice. A philosophical approach called wu wei £¨Ÿo‚Σ©¡£
My only wonder is how this path of least resistence works in the "real" man-made world of language, concept, rules, laws and judgements of right and wrong - which is completely opposite to Tao. For instance, the Tao approach advocates fewer laws and less intrusion by government. That people, in their small villages and towns will be able to sort things out. I could not understand it. But apparently, close to the the times of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu, Chin Shi Huang Di (the first Chin emperor) ruled with an iron first and wanted his empire to last a thousand years. But it only lasted 10 years, and broke up upon his death. However, Emperor Han Kao Tsu that came next ruled with a light touch (only making clear that harsh punishment will be meted out of manslaughter, assault and thievery) and the Han Empire lasted 400 years.
I will resist writing more than I should on the subject. I am just beginning to grasp a little of a beautiful and mysterious thing and will let nature, my kammic call or my destiny to lead me to those ah-ha moments when I can experience Tao in my heart and my being, without words to describe it. *
I end by adding how impressed I was with Alan Watts' understanding of the Chinese language and ideograms. Alan has written this subject, which is as difficult as water to grasp, beautifully and he has kept me entertained throughout.
This is the first Alan Watts book I read. It was the last one he wrote before he died in 1973 and it was eventually completed by his good friend Al Huang.
*postscript -After reading this, I came across Thomas Merton's comment while reading "On Eastern Meditation": "When the right moment arrives, even one who seems incapable of any instruction whatever will become mysteriously aware of the Tao."
December 12, 2019
Alan Watts (1915 -73) was an English philosopher who specialized in making Eastern religions accessible to Western readers. His books and lectures (YouTube) focus mostly, but not exclusively, on Zen Buddhism, Hinduism and related philosophies. Generally speaking, his books are quite readable, though not necessarily the best starting place for those exploring these topics for the first time.
This is the trickiest of Watts¡¯ books that I¡¯ve read, perhaps because I had little prior knowledge of Taoism. It is a short but scholarly work where Watts has, unusually, given priority to scholasticism over the needs of his Western readers. The book includes a chapter on the Chinese written language and several pages of Chinese calligraphy which few Western readers will be able to understand (including me).
I focused on the central chapters covering the Yin-Yang Polarity, Tao (broadly, going with the flow), Wu-Wei (non-action) and Te (virtue) ¨C in total only around 80 pages of the book ¨C and found them to be a profound and well-organised exposition of this important Chinese philosophy. Taoism, like Buddhism, is deeply spiritual yet it is not a religion; there is no god or afterlife. Neither is it mere rational humanism or existentialism for it is not anthropocentric in any way. It is, therefore, rather alien to traditional Western thinking and, for me at any rate, will need a second reading.
Alan Watts died before completing this book, though he had written most of it. It was finished by his collaborator, Al Chung-liang Huang, whose writing in the final chapter rather jars with Watts¡¯ fluid and egalitarian style. I am glad the book was eventually published because there is much of value here. Interestingly, Watts notes in the book that more and more Chinese were eschewing Taoism in favour of Western lifestyles. One can only imagine what he might have thought today, forty-five years later.
This is the trickiest of Watts¡¯ books that I¡¯ve read, perhaps because I had little prior knowledge of Taoism. It is a short but scholarly work where Watts has, unusually, given priority to scholasticism over the needs of his Western readers. The book includes a chapter on the Chinese written language and several pages of Chinese calligraphy which few Western readers will be able to understand (including me).
I focused on the central chapters covering the Yin-Yang Polarity, Tao (broadly, going with the flow), Wu-Wei (non-action) and Te (virtue) ¨C in total only around 80 pages of the book ¨C and found them to be a profound and well-organised exposition of this important Chinese philosophy. Taoism, like Buddhism, is deeply spiritual yet it is not a religion; there is no god or afterlife. Neither is it mere rational humanism or existentialism for it is not anthropocentric in any way. It is, therefore, rather alien to traditional Western thinking and, for me at any rate, will need a second reading.
Alan Watts died before completing this book, though he had written most of it. It was finished by his collaborator, Al Chung-liang Huang, whose writing in the final chapter rather jars with Watts¡¯ fluid and egalitarian style. I am glad the book was eventually published because there is much of value here. Interestingly, Watts notes in the book that more and more Chinese were eschewing Taoism in favour of Western lifestyles. One can only imagine what he might have thought today, forty-five years later.
June 2, 2021
Here's a nice train of thought that I particularly liked, as Alan Watts seemed to share my own view of Taoism. Indeed, he was more concerned with its contemplative aspect than by what he refers to as 'Hsien Taoism' that is, all the metaphysical and religious stuff later added and uselessly burdening it. In fact, I agree with him to say that all these asides (alchemy and other exercises to reach 'immortality'...) even contradict the basic teaching of its classical roots, found for instance in the 'Tao Te Ching'.
This short book is also interesting because it contains some nice reflections about the nature of the Tao. Can it be seen as a form of pantheism? What about the value each can give to the 'I Ching'? What about the yin-yang harmony and its meaning? Here are some nice questioning.
Having said that, I would certainly not recommend it to discover Taoism. Watts' style of writing is a confusing and random rumbling, and, I don't think readers not having already a good understanding of the key notions (wu wei, te...) will be able to understand most of his discussions. Well, as far as I am concerned, I found my background knowledge of the topic very useful and handy while reading him! I don't know what I would have made out of it all without it...
Not easily accessible for beginners, then, but still thought provoking for others.
This short book is also interesting because it contains some nice reflections about the nature of the Tao. Can it be seen as a form of pantheism? What about the value each can give to the 'I Ching'? What about the yin-yang harmony and its meaning? Here are some nice questioning.
Having said that, I would certainly not recommend it to discover Taoism. Watts' style of writing is a confusing and random rumbling, and, I don't think readers not having already a good understanding of the key notions (wu wei, te...) will be able to understand most of his discussions. Well, as far as I am concerned, I found my background knowledge of the topic very useful and handy while reading him! I don't know what I would have made out of it all without it...
Not easily accessible for beginners, then, but still thought provoking for others.
November 12, 2016
This is the book which explaines why it is impossible to foollow the requets like " You have to relax" or "You need to love God with all your heart".
There are things in life which are natural like loving, relaxing, gettinng inspiration. Fortunately, noone can hurry them or postpone them as noone can smooth out the waves on the sea (and one`s thoughts , to tell the truth). One can only attune to them and follow the course much like the coursewater.
Alan Watts tells that living is turned to such a process by wise men of the East who eat when they are hungry, urinate when they need to pee, and go to bed when they are sleepy.
Watts tells the most simple things with the help of the brightest metaphors. And reading this book liberated my mind from working too hard on the things that must not come hard.
There are things in life which are natural like loving, relaxing, gettinng inspiration. Fortunately, noone can hurry them or postpone them as noone can smooth out the waves on the sea (and one`s thoughts , to tell the truth). One can only attune to them and follow the course much like the coursewater.
Alan Watts tells that living is turned to such a process by wise men of the East who eat when they are hungry, urinate when they need to pee, and go to bed when they are sleepy.
Watts tells the most simple things with the help of the brightest metaphors. And reading this book liberated my mind from working too hard on the things that must not come hard.
October 16, 2014
This was my first brush with the work of Alan Watts, and I have to say it was very intriguing. Not so much because of the content, I read quite some classical Chinese in university and there were no real surprises, but more because of the magnetic personality of the writer that radiates of each page. In the afterword there's an account from the coauthor about the great joy as well as the tragedy in Watts' life, which I found very moving.
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March 3, 2023things are moving and i am things
September 21, 2022
Really really good, simple and short introduction to Taoism.
4.5
4.5
August 1, 2009
"Just as Chinese writing is at least one step closer to nature than ours, so the ancient philosophy of the Tao is of a skillful and intelligent following of the course, current, and grain of natural phenomena¡ª seeing human life as an integral feature of the world process, and not as something alien and opposed to it. Looking at this philosophy with the needs and problems of modern civilization in mind, it suggests an attitude to the world which must underlie all our efforts towards an ecological technology. For the development of such a technology is not just a matter of the techniques themselves, but of the psychological attitude of the technician.
Hitherto, Western science has stressed the attitude of objectivity¡ª a cold, calculating, and detached attitude through which it appears that natural phenomena, including the human organism, are nothing but mechanisms. But, as the world itself implies, a universe of mere objects is objectionable. We feel justified in exploiting it ruthlessly, but now we are belatedly realizing that the ill-treatment of the environment is damage to ourselves¡ª for the simple reason that subject and object cannot be separated, and that we and our surroundings are the process of a unified field, which is what the Chinese call Tao. In the long run, we simply have no other alternative than to work along with this process by attitudes and methods which could be as effective technically as judo, the ¡°gentle Tao,¡± is effective athletically. As human beings have to make the gamble of trusting one another in order to have any kind of workable community, we must also take the risk of trimming our sails to the winds of nature. For our ¡°selves¡± are inseparable from this kind of universe, and there is nowhere else to be."
"The fountain of creative work is an intelligent questioning of the rules"
Lancelot Whyte: "Thought is born of failure. When action satisfies there is no residue to hold the attention; to think is to confess a lack of adjustment which we must stop to consider. Only when the human organism fails to achieve an adequate response to its situation is there material for the processes of thought, and the greater the failure the more searching they become... Confucius is the first clear example of a man in this situation. Concerned at the disintegration of primitive Chinese civilization, he sought to restore order by relying on the power of ideas to organize behavior. He was aware of what he was trying to do: society was to be set right by calling everything by its right name, or as he put it, the "rectification of names"."
Hitherto, Western science has stressed the attitude of objectivity¡ª a cold, calculating, and detached attitude through which it appears that natural phenomena, including the human organism, are nothing but mechanisms. But, as the world itself implies, a universe of mere objects is objectionable. We feel justified in exploiting it ruthlessly, but now we are belatedly realizing that the ill-treatment of the environment is damage to ourselves¡ª for the simple reason that subject and object cannot be separated, and that we and our surroundings are the process of a unified field, which is what the Chinese call Tao. In the long run, we simply have no other alternative than to work along with this process by attitudes and methods which could be as effective technically as judo, the ¡°gentle Tao,¡± is effective athletically. As human beings have to make the gamble of trusting one another in order to have any kind of workable community, we must also take the risk of trimming our sails to the winds of nature. For our ¡°selves¡± are inseparable from this kind of universe, and there is nowhere else to be."
"The fountain of creative work is an intelligent questioning of the rules"
Lancelot Whyte: "Thought is born of failure. When action satisfies there is no residue to hold the attention; to think is to confess a lack of adjustment which we must stop to consider. Only when the human organism fails to achieve an adequate response to its situation is there material for the processes of thought, and the greater the failure the more searching they become... Confucius is the first clear example of a man in this situation. Concerned at the disintegration of primitive Chinese civilization, he sought to restore order by relying on the power of ideas to organize behavior. He was aware of what he was trying to do: society was to be set right by calling everything by its right name, or as he put it, the "rectification of names"."
August 21, 2016
Awesome, mind-blowing, effectively powerful and over all a magnificent piece of work. Watt's final books adjusts the ideas of ancient Chinese traditional philosophically-religious movements such as Taoism, Zen Buddhism, and Confucianism while briefly mentioning some of the most important principles of Christianity, points from Hinduism et. c Watts also presents his thought concerning traditional Chinese calligraphy. He also gives a brief info about historical foundations of the research of Buddhism in Europe, USA and western hemisphere. Watts arguments are clear. I particularly liked the end of chapter II where he asks reader to put away all his expectations, clear mind, and then proceed to the the next chapter. Watts respectfully stays competent, lightly-gentle, interesting, brief, and what is most important - original. I think that this book is a profound and thorough summary of the examination of Buddhism and Taoism in the west. Recommended to all interested in Buddhism.
"¡°This may be illustrated by the Taoist story of a farmer whose horse ran away. That evening the neighbors gathered to commiserate with him since this was such bad luck. He said, ¡°May be.¡± The next day the horse returned, but brought with it six wild horses, and the neighbors came exclaiming at his good fortune. He said, ¡°May be.¡± And then, the following day, his son tried to saddle and ride one of the wild horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. Again the neighbors came to offer their sympathy for the misfortune. He said, ¡°May be.¡± The day after that, conscription officers came to the village to seize young men for the army, but because of the broken leg the farmer¡¯s son was rejected. When the neighbors came in to say how fortunately everything had turned out, he said, ¡°May be.¡±14¡± "
"¡°This may be illustrated by the Taoist story of a farmer whose horse ran away. That evening the neighbors gathered to commiserate with him since this was such bad luck. He said, ¡°May be.¡± The next day the horse returned, but brought with it six wild horses, and the neighbors came exclaiming at his good fortune. He said, ¡°May be.¡± And then, the following day, his son tried to saddle and ride one of the wild horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. Again the neighbors came to offer their sympathy for the misfortune. He said, ¡°May be.¡± The day after that, conscription officers came to the village to seize young men for the army, but because of the broken leg the farmer¡¯s son was rejected. When the neighbors came in to say how fortunately everything had turned out, he said, ¡°May be.¡±14¡± "
May 1, 2011
This is an excellent treatise on contemplative Taoism, that is the way based in meditation and oneness with nature rather than that involved in Chinese alchemical and quasi-magical practices. Watts elegatly explains the Tao as the watercourse way, showing how it is both life-philosophy and a deep expression of Chinese culture.
The only difficulty I had had with Watts's approach was that it seemed a little disjointed. This is probably less a reflection on Alan Watts than a reflection of the sheer scope of the subject. If one produces a succinct, logically organized explanation of Tao, one has failed to explain the Tao. The Tao, as its great sages remind us, cannot be explained. I liken it to the difference between a beautiful butterfly in a meadow of flowers compared to a dead specimin pinned to board next to some faded pressed flowers.
If this is your introduction to the subject, you should probably read a decent encyclopedia entry first. Some of the chapters, such as the one on Chinese writing will probably lose the neophyte. If you wish to read more than one book on Taoism, however, this one should definitely be on your list.
The only difficulty I had had with Watts's approach was that it seemed a little disjointed. This is probably less a reflection on Alan Watts than a reflection of the sheer scope of the subject. If one produces a succinct, logically organized explanation of Tao, one has failed to explain the Tao. The Tao, as its great sages remind us, cannot be explained. I liken it to the difference between a beautiful butterfly in a meadow of flowers compared to a dead specimin pinned to board next to some faded pressed flowers.
If this is your introduction to the subject, you should probably read a decent encyclopedia entry first. Some of the chapters, such as the one on Chinese writing will probably lose the neophyte. If you wish to read more than one book on Taoism, however, this one should definitely be on your list.
September 5, 2014
The finger pointing to the moon is not the moon, and the Way that can be named is not the eternal Way. Watts knows this well, but points and names for fun anyway (more effectively than anyone else I've come across so far.)
May 21, 2023
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May 8, 2011
This is the book with which to start if you would like to explore philosophical Taoism--or Zen Buddhism, for that matter--as opposed to later religious Taoism.
Alan Watts studied with Christmas Humphreys in England (founder of The Buddhist Society and author of an influential early edition on Buddhism entitled, Buddhism: An Introduction and Guide) before moving to the United States in the late thirties, and was largely responsible for the rapid spread of the writings of his teacher, D. T. Suzuki, in the U.S.
This was the last book Alan Watts would write, and, in fact, he died before it was widely released. Alan Watts in, The Watercourse Way, has fully hit his stride as a disseminator of eastern thought to western minds--after a lifetime of struggling with the apparent contradictions inherent in this endeavor.
The Watercourse Way is a must read for anyone interested in ancient eastern thought and/or eastern religion. If you have always struggled to reconcile the attractiveness of an ancient eastern world view with the impossibility of applying its tenets in this place and this time, this is probably your best hope for progress.
But beyond that, this book is just an interesting and engaging read by a brilliantly unrutted philosopher at the peak of his life, as well as the peak of his craft.
CP
5/7/2011
Alan Watts studied with Christmas Humphreys in England (founder of The Buddhist Society and author of an influential early edition on Buddhism entitled, Buddhism: An Introduction and Guide) before moving to the United States in the late thirties, and was largely responsible for the rapid spread of the writings of his teacher, D. T. Suzuki, in the U.S.
This was the last book Alan Watts would write, and, in fact, he died before it was widely released. Alan Watts in, The Watercourse Way, has fully hit his stride as a disseminator of eastern thought to western minds--after a lifetime of struggling with the apparent contradictions inherent in this endeavor.
The Watercourse Way is a must read for anyone interested in ancient eastern thought and/or eastern religion. If you have always struggled to reconcile the attractiveness of an ancient eastern world view with the impossibility of applying its tenets in this place and this time, this is probably your best hope for progress.
But beyond that, this book is just an interesting and engaging read by a brilliantly unrutted philosopher at the peak of his life, as well as the peak of his craft.
CP
5/7/2011
September 20, 2015
I wish I could give this book (Alan's final and unfinished book [yet perfect in its way]) a thousand stars. I've wanted this book for quite some time, but it isn't sold in the local bookstores. My incredible wife gave it to me on my birthday.
I love the concept of "Li", like flowing water or grains in the wood. "...the only single event is the universe itself. Li, not causality, is the rationale of the world." Pg 54. This discussion is having a huge impact on me.
"...people would be much better off if they would curb ambition, slow down the tempo of life, and not despise working with their hands." Pg 79.
In other words, just go with the flow. Ahh...refreshing.
I love the concept of "Li", like flowing water or grains in the wood. "...the only single event is the universe itself. Li, not causality, is the rationale of the world." Pg 54. This discussion is having a huge impact on me.
"...people would be much better off if they would curb ambition, slow down the tempo of life, and not despise working with their hands." Pg 79.
In other words, just go with the flow. Ahh...refreshing.
January 15, 2017
"The Tao is that from which one cannot deviate; that from which one can deviate is not the Tao".
"You may imagine that you are outside, or separate, from the Tao and thus able to follow it or not follow; but this very imagination is itself within the stream (Tao), for there is no other way than the Way (Tao)."
"For the game of Western philosophy and science is to trap the universe in networks of words and numbers, so that there is always a temptation to confuse the rules, or laws, of grammar and mathematics with the actual operations of nature."
Plenty of Chinese writing in the book makes me want to learn to read Chinese.
"You may imagine that you are outside, or separate, from the Tao and thus able to follow it or not follow; but this very imagination is itself within the stream (Tao), for there is no other way than the Way (Tao)."
"For the game of Western philosophy and science is to trap the universe in networks of words and numbers, so that there is always a temptation to confuse the rules, or laws, of grammar and mathematics with the actual operations of nature."
Plenty of Chinese writing in the book makes me want to learn to read Chinese.
January 21, 2022
It was a really beautiful book and beautifully written!!! I learned a lot from it and a lot of mysteries from tao te ching and chuang tzu became clear to me! I highly recommend this book to every tao enthusiast!!!
November 16, 2023
¡°to teach the fish that water is physically compounded of two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen, the fish will laugh its head off.¡± (Foreword)
The way of tao is simple
Being intelligent enough to live in fools paradise with vigor (yang) and free flowing (yin), whilst also being conscious of it. Coined as unconscious intelligence.
The Taoists call it Wu-wei, which means taking least resistance in ones actions, described as ¡°the innate wisdom of the nervous system¡± (pg76)
Very enlightening
The way of tao is simple
Being intelligent enough to live in fools paradise with vigor (yang) and free flowing (yin), whilst also being conscious of it. Coined as unconscious intelligence.
The Taoists call it Wu-wei, which means taking least resistance in ones actions, described as ¡°the innate wisdom of the nervous system¡± (pg76)
Very enlightening
January 17, 2018
Still a solid, breezy introduction to Taoism. My criticisms that stop this being higher rated are threefold:
1. The first chapter on Chinese language is interesting, but kind of suspect. I don't know enough about Chinese linguistics to unilaterally say he's wrong, it's just one of those things that strikes me oddly.
2. Although a generally very engaging personality, Watt's nature as a 70s "guru" is sometimes detrimental to the text. Some of his decrying of modernity, technology, etc. can't help but feel more of the time than of the tao.
3 (actually this is sort of just 2 again). The last chapter shifts partway through from talking about te to talking about how much other religions and belief systems totally miss the point and how their followers are unintelligent. Which is a) not much fun to read and b) doesn't seem very in line with the taoist style of teaching expounded upon in this very chapter.
That all said, this is still a very accessible introduction to a really fascinating spiritual system. I'd definitely recommend this to westerners looking to dip their toes in.
1. The first chapter on Chinese language is interesting, but kind of suspect. I don't know enough about Chinese linguistics to unilaterally say he's wrong, it's just one of those things that strikes me oddly.
2. Although a generally very engaging personality, Watt's nature as a 70s "guru" is sometimes detrimental to the text. Some of his decrying of modernity, technology, etc. can't help but feel more of the time than of the tao.
3 (actually this is sort of just 2 again). The last chapter shifts partway through from talking about te to talking about how much other religions and belief systems totally miss the point and how their followers are unintelligent. Which is a) not much fun to read and b) doesn't seem very in line with the taoist style of teaching expounded upon in this very chapter.
That all said, this is still a very accessible introduction to a really fascinating spiritual system. I'd definitely recommend this to westerners looking to dip their toes in.
September 5, 2011
Tao: The Watercourse Way, the final work by philosopher Alan Watts, was published posthumously in 1975. This is the first book I've read that was penned by Watts himself and I was so pleasantly surprised. The first chapter is devoted to Chinese ideograms, which made perfect sense to me. How better to understand such an abstract worldview as Taoism without also trying to understand a bit of the language in which it developed? And even without the intellectual reasons, the ideograms themselves are beautiful to see. They are the book's only illustrations.
Following the chapter on Chinese ideograms Watts covers four basic principles of Taoism: The Yin-Yang Polarity, Tao, Wu-wei, and Te. It's the most frank and light-hearted approach to the subject I've yet to run across. I read a borrowed copy, but this is definitely one I'd like to add to my personal collection and will probably re-read throughout the years.
Following the chapter on Chinese ideograms Watts covers four basic principles of Taoism: The Yin-Yang Polarity, Tao, Wu-wei, and Te. It's the most frank and light-hearted approach to the subject I've yet to run across. I read a borrowed copy, but this is definitely one I'd like to add to my personal collection and will probably re-read throughout the years.
August 3, 2013
Wow--that went quickly. I didn't realize when I started reading Tao: The Watercourse Way that Watts passed on before he could finish it. I wish he could have held out a little longer and gotten it done. Of course, it's not as if he didn't write anything else, and there are a mess o' his talks on YouTube to keep me going.
There's no way that I'm going to be presumptuous enough to review Alan Watts, but I will mention that one thing (among many) that he helped me understand was the nature of "wu wei"--that's it's not so much about some kind of limp passivity as it is about the wisdom of simply not forcing things. It's a simple difference (I wonder why it wasn't obvious to me before), but an important one. I'm grateful for it. I'd give a lot to have been able to spend an hour or two with the man.
There's no way that I'm going to be presumptuous enough to review Alan Watts, but I will mention that one thing (among many) that he helped me understand was the nature of "wu wei"--that's it's not so much about some kind of limp passivity as it is about the wisdom of simply not forcing things. It's a simple difference (I wonder why it wasn't obvious to me before), but an important one. I'm grateful for it. I'd give a lot to have been able to spend an hour or two with the man.
Read
May 6, 2008Wow. A fitting capstone to Watts' catalog.
A topic that necessarily defies linguistic elucidation is necessarily the most ambitious topic a writer can take on. The fact that Lao Tzu did it once should be enough to deter all other interpreters. Far beyond scholarship, this is nearly as essential as the Tao Te Ching itself.
I will take some issue with Watts' dismissal of pranayama (and the bulk of yogic practice) toward the end, but I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt on this one and say he died before concluding that train of thought (that rightfully distinguished between the pursuit of powerful siddhis and contemplative prajna).
Absorb this through your skin if you can.
A topic that necessarily defies linguistic elucidation is necessarily the most ambitious topic a writer can take on. The fact that Lao Tzu did it once should be enough to deter all other interpreters. Far beyond scholarship, this is nearly as essential as the Tao Te Ching itself.
I will take some issue with Watts' dismissal of pranayama (and the bulk of yogic practice) toward the end, but I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt on this one and say he died before concluding that train of thought (that rightfully distinguished between the pursuit of powerful siddhis and contemplative prajna).
Absorb this through your skin if you can.
June 15, 2016
Out of the multitude of books on Taoism, I found this book to give the most clarity on the philosophy of all the mystery that makes up the Way which cannot be told. This was Watts last book and it may be his best work. His understanding of Chinese ideograms are second to none. These explanations give the reader a profound depth of how to perceive the reality we all experience. The essential principle of Taoism is wu wei, (non-forcing/non-doing), but the biggest problem with this principle is it remains as a mere concept without putting it into practice. This book will show you the reality and truth of living wu wei.
June 21, 2020
This is a nice introduction to Tao. Alan Watts was probably totally bonkers, and the hippy-style life he lived was one of those chaotic lives you don't know whether to envy or be thankful you've avoided. Insofar as he wrote about the Tao, he did not know Tao (Lao Zu, 56) - there's the paradox and dilemma. He left the book unfinished at his death... and you have the same question in mind: Would it have been improved if he had finished and/or revised it at all? Or is it 'perfect' (i.e. imperfect) just the way it is?
July 15, 2022
A drunken man who falls out of a cart, though he may suffer, does not die. ?His bones are the same as other people¡¯s; but he meets his accident in a different way. ?His spirit is in a condition of security. ?He is not conscious of riding in the cart; neither is he conscious of falling out of it. ?Ideas of life, death, fear and the like cannot penetrate his breast; and so he does not suffer from contact with objective existence. ?If such security is to be got from wine, how much more is to be got from Spontaneity?
- Chung Tzu
- Chung Tzu
August 20, 2021
Somehow I didn¡¯t find this book as enlightening as I was expecting. Maybe my expectations were the problem or maybe I read it too fast. I will reread it some day. Anyway, it would be great to also read The Way of Zen to compare the ideas in both books.
It¡¯s a short read, so that¡¯s nice.
It¡¯s a short read, so that¡¯s nice.
March 2, 2024
Een interessant maar ook lastig boek. Het vereist een hele andere manier van denken. Op het begin wordt ook gevraagd om je denkpatronen achter te laten:
¡°You are asked-temporarily, of course-to lay aside all your philosophical, religious, and political opinions, and to become almost like an infant, knowing nothing. Nothing, that is, except what you actually hear, see, feel, and smell.¡±
Lastig, blijkt, maar geeft ook de mogelijkheid om vanuit nieuw perspectief te kijken. Door alles voor waar aan te nemen en pas op het einde je mening erover te vormen.
¡ª¡ª
Taoism is not a philosophy of compelling oneself to be calm and dignified under all circumstances. The real and astonishing calm of people like Lao-tzu comes from the fact that they are ready and willing, without shame, to do whatever comes naturally in all circumstances. The unbelievable result is that they are far more sociable and civilized than those who try to live rigorously by laws and watchwords.
¡°You are asked-temporarily, of course-to lay aside all your philosophical, religious, and political opinions, and to become almost like an infant, knowing nothing. Nothing, that is, except what you actually hear, see, feel, and smell.¡±
Lastig, blijkt, maar geeft ook de mogelijkheid om vanuit nieuw perspectief te kijken. Door alles voor waar aan te nemen en pas op het einde je mening erover te vormen.
¡ª¡ª
Taoism is not a philosophy of compelling oneself to be calm and dignified under all circumstances. The real and astonishing calm of people like Lao-tzu comes from the fact that they are ready and willing, without shame, to do whatever comes naturally in all circumstances. The unbelievable result is that they are far more sociable and civilized than those who try to live rigorously by laws and watchwords.
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