Alan Watts

Four years ago, nearly to the day, I came in contact with who would become one of my most enriching teachers. I can’t recall why, but while on a family winter trip to Florida I happened to download an Alan Watts audiobook. I wish I could remember which one; I think it may have been Just So. I didn’t know much about him at the time; the name had surely come up, but I had little idea of what he was about.
I set off for a run in the lovely Florida sun and pressed play. I remember thinking, initially, this a quirky Brit, and a very engaging speaker. But it didn’t take long for the profundity of his thought to be revealed. I was captivated by his seamless weaving together of Eastern spiritual traditions, Western religion, and contemporary science. This was clearly a brilliant man with an uncanny ability to capture and integrate the wisdom throughout these ‘disciplines,’ and communicate it with such resonance. What started as a jog through the neighborhood turned into a 13-mile run with little attention on the running itself.
So began a long-term relationship with the self-proclaimed "Philosophical Entertainer." Although, that doesn’t capture the depth of his insight. He was never one to take himself too seriously, particularly later in his life. Without going into detail, his story is rather interesting, and his autobiography is worth a read. He wasn’t a saint and seemingly had his own struggles, but not for me to judge.
Truly remarkable is that at 24 years of age he published The Meaning of Happiness, a profound exploration of the human condition. How someone of that age could produce a work of such depth, maturity, and understanding is beyond me. His output through to his death in 1973 was prolific. More than quantity, however, is the nature of the teachings he left for us across books, lectures, and television. We’re incredibly fortunate that his son, Mark Watts, started traveling with his father and recording his uniquely insightful and engaging lectures.
I’ve been through his library several times and go through phases where I can listen to his lectures for hours. On this most recent drive to Santa Fe from Detroit (22 hours), I’m sure that nearly one third of that was in the company of Alan (we’re on a first name basis).
Do I recommend you rush out and pick up a book? Not necessarily. I’ve tried suggesting his books a few times and each time it’s fallen somewhat flat. I think he’s somebody that needs to be arrived at organically, through innate curiosity. If that curiosity is there, perhaps check out one of his lectures online. I will say, however, that his book, The Wisdom of Insecurity, is more relevant than ever (of course with some missteps of the time in which he was writing). It’s one of the few books I brought with me, and I look forward to re-reading, again.