Alan Watts: Psychology of Mystical Experience - Being in the Way Ep. 13 - Hosted by Mark Watts

Binding contrast into paradox, Alan takes us on a journey through the psychology of mystical experience in relation to life and death, followed by a jaunt through the power of nothingness.
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.
Psychology of Mystical Experience (0:00)
The Paradox of Life & Death // Nature & the Anxiety to Survive (13:00)
Nothingness // Contrast as Oneness (33:00)
“I’m now 57 years old, and a lot of people are dead at 57. I look at this problem with complete fascination. You all have to face it. We’re all going to evaporate and turn into bones and dust. Instead of avoiding that, instead of looking the other way, instead of saying, ‘Oh, well, later…’ Let’s look at it! What would it be like to go to sleep and never wake up?” - Alan Watts
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[@questionMark4443]

I expanded my mind on LSD in the service of my country and realized that I didn’t want to be in the Navy and my desire to be anti war and to be my true nature a loving human being not consumed with hate. My point some drugs in the proper use are very effective in straightening out your mental state. Thanks be to God for this great man, I am in his debt for the wisdom he has given me.

[@AlienTrees]

word.

[@jamesbees2936]

Great stuff mate Good on you 👏

[@hongxingbao]

AA

[@HANZELVANDERLAAY]

Yupperz well done

[@alanbryer6234]

Hey brother. Once you’ve seen you’ve seen and there’s no way you can forget🙏🏽

[@mord0]

What a gift to have these talks available to us for free… what a wonderful being.

[@RDd188]

It's nothing new, everything is mentioned in deeper details in Hindu & Buddhists texts. Those are experienced by Yogis & Budhha for thousands of years. You just have to look.

[@christinawilson7312]

@R.D. I think 🤔 GOD came before B4 Buddha & Yogi 🧘‍♀️ 🧘🏿‍♂️ 🧘🏿’s 🙌🎶✝️🤩🐲

[@ronamain8689]

We know these ideas have been around a long time. However we did not have access to so many and varied approaches. KZbin etc has made it possible to reach many,many more people.

[@fuckgoogleandyou8779]

Who jack or the jacker or the deliverer? And who jacked who. Freedom??? Salty peters put all three at bay. What!!!

[@s.v.s.6926]

​@@christinawilson7312 i think you completely missed the essence and message in Alan Watts's talks about what we Humans call God. There is no actual God as a person/being/creature or what so ever. What we call God is actually nature and we are Nature (God) because we are part of it. The higher power allot of people are talking about is Nature. Toaism. God is just a word we made up.

[@lulusp1023]

Iam addicted to listening to Alan Watts.....he has changed my life already.....thanks for the video!

[@shirleylincoln4406]

Alan Watts is a one of a kind teacher. He has changed my life. Namaste and ty

[@chinajoe2008]

Thanks Mark! I miss your father. .. listened to his lectures for years. I recently came back to Australia after 20 years living, working - and studying the Dao - in China. The Dao de Jing, though very simple in meaning, can be very difficult to truly understand. As you would know, "the Dao that can be told, is not the eternal Dao" Yet, your father managed to navigate a course around and through it in a manner that helped me understand 'my meaniing' through understanding the Way. And he did so in his uniquely light, concise, amusing and infinitely insightful way.

[@juanmanuelventura8203]

Allen Watts has impacted my life in Elegant & soothing therapeutic way to the ultimate truth= We are spirit having a human experience.Thank you, Mr Watts.

[@kellyw1850]

This is fantastic! I always feel uplifted when I listen to Alan Watts. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

[@wadeeagles4241]

Allan has changed the way I think on all things. I appreciate the availability of these lectures so much. We are so fortunate to have them all these years later. He was a man ahead of his time. Thank you Mark.

[@joeblack7660]

Thank you Mark. Years ago I was at the houseboat when your father hosted a meeting with Krishnamurti. What struck me most was the childlike/maturity , awe and understanding of your father. You are doing important work. Thank you.

[@dharanacounsellingmeditati5062]

Incredible Jnana Yoga! Not, to me, for the intellect to muddle over, but the heart to feel its way through. What I'm ready to integrate will stay with me and guide my next steps as my Soul dictates. Thanks to those who share these 😎💝🙏

[@sazennonumber]

It's not that this is IT. Words are words and IT is IT, including the words. But words can point to and inspire. Alan's way... his comparisons, descriptions and surprises inspire me like only a very few can. I'm feeling gratitude and thank you for making it possible to hear these words.

[@zkatv5771]

I remember being in a psych ward almost catatonic… and then i suddenly realized where I was and I started to remember some of Alans commentary and then I just laughed a little and started to behave myself until I was released a few days later. Its funny how inflated my ego got before getting commited.. I wanted to change the world and was lost in magical thinking, at times time would sort of speed up and slow down at the same time (i realize now i was standing still on the side of the road for hours) or id make up stories and go on quests 😂 cleaning up the house or the hiking trails near the house and performing funny little rituals getting rid of my belongings or organizing tables outside of the house so that things would be balanced (pingpong tables full of typical garrage stuff but to me everything meant something different like ferrilizers and sheer’s were opposite so i had them on the same table 😅. At one point my friends convinced me to go to a hospital and get help and I remember surrendering and although I was convinced they were witches or something like that and I would be sacrificed or something, I accepted it and went along with it. The time at the hospital to the psych ward was probably the most intense visual and audible hallucinations and to be honest alot of them are kinda funny now and my attitude the entire time was sort of between terrified and exited. I went through several ups and downs for a few years trying to process everything that happened that lead up to that but looking back on it… im so happy that that happened to me and I was able to come out of it I was weak overweight stuttered and had an inferiority complex and my mind was foggy beforehand and afterwards although i was a bit traumatized and depressed that most of my fantasies were just that. I slowly started to accept reality and my shadow (before I refused to accept that I was capable of being bad although I was really just afraid to be) started to become myself and yeah

[@zkatv5771]

Ah. Afraid to be like my parents I realize now. The so called bad or weak parts… my dad would beat my mom sometimes and was bad with money and was a drunk.. and my mom fell into depression when my uncle passed away at the age of 33 from a car accident when i was about 10 I love my parents though and I thinkk that helping them is helping me so much…. My mom is on a path to become a nun 😂 and my dad and I garden and are working on our house together now

[@wormemc]

I wish you well. Understanding your mind will help and hopefully give you peace.

[@zaboravnidon]

Something similar happened to me. I was manic for months before being hospitalized and for a month after being released even. I went into a long period of depression and self-pity which lasted a couple years. I couldn't understand or get over the horrible things I'd done while manic/psychotic. Then, one day, while doing manual lab, hungover with a terrible headache, momentarily it struck me. I started laughing about everything as if all of my prior suffering was the best joke in history. It lasted for a few weeks and it faded. I had so much energy for those 2-3 weeks. I was sleeping like a baby, 7-8 hrs, so I knew it wasn't mania. It felt nothing like mania. It was profound peace and joy that took over me. It's gone at the moment. I'm sure it's in me and will come back again. My approach to life today is not to force anything. Forcing caused most of my problems and anxieties.

[@alonzovillarreal4666]

I can’t begin to tell you how much these lectures mean to me, thank you.

[@Adubz84]

Mark I can't tell you the impact your father has had on my understanding of spiritual experience. he was the first ever spiritual philosopher I discovered. He's so articulate. I listen to him every day. I do believe that his purpose and legacy will impact humanity for all the days and years that remain ♥️

[@teeniequeenie8369]

I think we’re all wondering how long after this talk did Alan die?!?!

[@larsfrojd]

@@teeniequeenie8369 Well, this recording was made in March 1972. Nearly 20 months prior to his death on November 16, 1973.

[@TheImmortalDivine]

YES, he's incredible and I listen to him every day as well. It's so strange to think he's been gone so long, because every time I listen to him he feels like a contemporary; a living presence. Of course in a very real way, as a facet of the Divine he's always a living presence in whatever form! I'm just so glad he existed as he did in a time where we could hear his voice and wonderful wit. He's one of the most charming speakers I've ever heard, with Neville Goddard coming in as a close second.

[@lesliehigh6679]

Jeez, all that for low level awareness consciousness state rhetoric? He didn't liberate anyone with these talks. Lines to hear himself pondering in loops about faults of mankind (illusion deception). Useless. 😂😂😂

[@lesliehigh6679]

He's really clueless to reality... only perceived by him is the 3rd density only, still entrapped. Waist of time, filling these types will keep all entrapped still... I have the golden key.

[@LynnetteAllen]

Thank Nothingness for Alan Watts who has helped me have more awareness and peace of mind throughout my adult life. And thank you, Mark, for keeping his talks continually available to everyone.

[@foreveryactionthereisacons1683]

Alan Watts,Ram Dass, Terrance McKenna are all great to listen to. The story of the astronaut who met God is great one.

[@lesliehigh6679]

Still entrapped though... ha

[@regisbritto2607]

❤😂❤ MAHALO 🙏 NAMASTHE 🙏 Lynnette, I pray and hope you WELLNESS in all realms! Appreciate thine GODDESS SOUL SPIRIT ENERGY 🔥🔥🔥

[@lesliehigh6679]

Still entrapped though...

[@lesliehigh6679]

@@foreveryactionthereisacons1683 what of your soul group member's?

[@abeiswaykooler]

Alan has given me so much peace.

[@tarakekaha2065]

I loved this today. Alan is a treasure to all seekers, all beings. Thank you!

[@captiinahab8118]

Im so glad you have brought your fathers talks to us Mark. I could not ask for more. Thank you.

[@babonnell]

Uuuuyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

[@captiinahab8118]

@@babonnell uyy indeed

[@revsararobin]

I loved this!!! I love Alan!! Thank you Mark!!

[@jetssimeone4086]

The fear of death and search for an answer has brought me to discover Alan Watts

[@aug.jam.1]

I hope you are now at peace with the idea❤

[@fuckgoogleandyou8779]

Another great in the midst of navigating the way to preservation.

[@berthacheese8924]

I hang out with Alan Watts on a daily! I love that you are sharing his words! Thank you so much 🙏.

[@SkyEvrBlu]

I came across Alan Watts about a year or two ago. I absolutely love all his wisdom(s)!! I can relate to him and he brings me the answers I seek when in need. Thank you for putting all his works together. ❤

[@christophercollins9933]

Thank you Mark.. Comment for algorithm.

[@Myshelisgold]

Recently (at 54) discovered this brilliant man. So grateful his voice from the past brings me so present. The timing was sublime. Like finding that another piece to the puzzle in this game.. Thank you Alan, Mark.. Eckhart, Ram Dass ❤ Jeaus ❤ God ❤

[@user-cr5ng5zv6w]

Mark grateful you sharing! Your father was amazing man

[@aliced.3719]

Thank you very much, I'm always on the search for new recordings of your father and never came across this one. I wish you and your family all the best! :)

[@alycewarr5332]

I’m just discovering this and am so very mesmerized. Thank you 💜

[@PompousPicard1]

Oh man, I kind of envy you, getting to discover Alan Watts for the first time. Enjoy! There’s a lot more where this came from! 🤗

[@foreveryactionthereisacons1683]

​@@PompousPicard1He had the best laugh. I wonder if the man who played Gandalf the grey in Lord of the rings, listening to Alan Watts and decided to work that laugh into Gandalfs character.

[@carenkurdjinian5413]

What an amazing lecture …. Masterpiece Interpretation …. Thank you for playing this lecture …..🌞

[@billsheilaeasley8469]

I Love Your Dad, a Truly Magnificent Light * I Love You Mark, for sharing him with generations, yet unborn! Thank You! ❤️

[@keylamaria4072]

Psychedelic are just an amazing discovery. Is quite fascinating how effective they are for depression and stress disorder. Really saved my life.

[@AnjeloValeriano]

Please does anyone know where I can get them ? I put so much on my plate and it really affects my stress and anxiety levels , I would love to try shrooms

[@kimcamiliamingang1813]

​@@AnjeloValeriano Yes Dr Mile

[@georgewilliams-xo7hz]

Psychedelics saved me from years of uncontrollable depression , anxiety and illicit pill addiction . Imagine carrying heavy chains for over a decade and then all of a sudden that burden is gone . Believe it or not in a couple years they'll be all over for treatment of mental health related issues . ⠀

[@BernarditaBuenaventura]

The Trips I've been having have really helped me a lot,I finally feel in control of my emotions and my future and things that used to be mundane to me now seem incredible and full of nuance on top of that I'm way less driven by my ego and I have alot more empathy as well

[@Gladyspete]

​@@kimcamiliamingang1813Please how do I contact him?

[@jimcameron8014]

This is brilliant. Thank you for sharing this.

[@minivijay5757]

what a wonderful talk indeed.

[@paradoxxjones7851]

I have been following Alan Watts for years. Huge fan. 24 months ago, began a deep-dive into Kabbalah (Chassidut, not KZbin Kabbalah), and the similarities are so beautiful. Thank you for making all of this available!

[@creatorsgarage7911]

«Nothing is what brings something into focus. And this nothingness symbolized by the crystal, is your own eyeball, your own consciousness and the clear space in which all the stars have freedom to be seen.»

[@wallardb]

Mark was there ever a lecture where your dad made good on his threat to subject the audience to an extended silence? Always thought that would be funny and profound.

[@robmitchell9475]

Press pause

[@PaviTorus]

Right after the poooiiinggg~g~g~g

[@bryanarnaud5454]

​@@robmitchell9475 that's so.e funny shit. Much love

[@tomato1040]

It's rest that brings US back to LIFE=mc2 🧬, but sleep 💤 can be disturbed😧in a dream or night🌃mare🐎. Rest is the Sabbath of all👣Hu-man activity or karma. Rest brings bliss😊!

[@WakingReality]

@@tomato1040 Then there is the 8th day, cut from the flesh. “8” is the infinity symbol 7th is “death” or “sleep” and the 8th is “resurrection”

[@pickle9753]

A brilliant mind, and beautiful laugh. Very attractive human. Can’t stop listening. ❤️ Thank you for sharing

[@adamwhite7540]

Ur dad is LEGENDARY

[@mohammad4110]

Best Mentor Ever. For Sure.

[@bordercollie1140]

Strange to think that Alan died shortly after the first lecture as he mentioned that he was 57 at the time and that was arouhd the age that he passed away. He was so full of verve and so full of life.

[@anthonyrios4003]

He's awesome! I was -5 month when this was produce

[@jermainroberts361]

thnank you mark may god bless you and your family

[@hoy6705]

Oh wow the original recording I’m seated and fastened thanks for the original upload

[@dadedowuh]

Thank You, Allen, thanks for preserving and sharing this material. Michael Jeremy Leavitt

[@jamesofallthings3684]

Alan Watts is always good when I need to feel some existential dread.

[@01110011011001010111]

his words always cure mine

[@jimywebb23]

@@01110011011001010111 same lol

[@PompousPicard1]

My son told me that listening to Alan provokes anxiety, and he has to be in the right frame of mind for it. I asked why, and he said, “because he’s right about almost everything.” 😂 I told him that, for much the same reason, listening to Alan soothes my anxieties.

[@foreveryactionthereisacons1683]

Same, Ram Dass and Terrance McKenna are top three to listen to.

[@MarkMasters...]

Excellent. Thank you.🙏

[@TomVernonUAP]

brilliant thank you.

[@nwsanagnwsths]

I just realized that i heard it again. Kind of important to me

[@keithhart3212]

Thank you Alan, miss you...

[@theshitygambino3318]

You rock WATTS ! !

[@blueXrain]

I liked the part when he was asking the question: can the observer observe themselves during the act of observing? I found that I was able to do so

[@dylanevartt3219]

"There was a young man who said 'Though, it seems that I know that I know, what I would like to see Is the 'I' that knows 'me' when I know that I know that I know'" -Alan Watts

[@raulsimon2218]

Very good. Thanks for speaking your mind about the military (not only those in the so-called West, but all of them).

[@TheImmortalDivine]

Who else shared a moment with Alan Watts across the gulf of half a century by humming with him at 31:05? 🤚

[@axien3159]

✋🏽

[@SteelersNationAustralia]

ThIs IA an excellent talk by Mr Watts

[@pinkifloyd7867]

Thank you

[@johnmitchell8925]

Loved it. Screwing the plastic doll🤣

[@thiuniverse]

Thank you❤

[@josephpercy1558]

26:20 - Wow. How pertinent this comment is to the American, Russian, Chinese debacle right now!

[@mvann5]

That photo... He is so young there!

[@thedarkmoonman]

wow thank you

[@VenusLover17]

Watts is a master

[@slimpeezy]

Give thanks 🤲🏽

[@davidmireles9774]

26:33 - so relevant now with the war with Russia and focus on defensive technology. ❤

[@Csio12]

Wish i could find a genuine teacher who has not used psychadelics to get insight mystical experience etc. Im not in a position to cheat or fastrack myself into such wondrous realms.

[@paradoxxjones7851]

Curious... from where did you learn of these "wondrous realms"? and what do you hope to achieve by visiting them? Have you explored Kabbalah?

[@hhosin]

Without contrast there is nothing.

[@hhosin]

And without nothingness there is no contrast. ☯️

[@BeataPriore]

❤A BIG FAN HERE!

[@BeataPriore]

I’m psychedelic enough Holographic universe is my game, no time, place just creations. I have addenda beyond your imagination. Stay awake my friend.

[@briansmithenergy248]

Love respect and gratitude 🙏 unlimited #Weareguildford

[@Nickidine]

At the end before thunder a light flashed behind me so bright like a flash on a camera….twice, even my dog looked back💯

[@SethRicord]

Ty Alan Watts* my middle name is Alan. 0:48

[@peachsncream5808]

7:41 what would it be like to go to sleep and never wake up . Damed peaceful . It can’t be any more exhausting than waking up every day .

[@jesseroggio7260]

I believe we're asleep now, but when we die then we become truly awake. We will never need sleep again, free from our physical bodies.

[@kellyryanobrien1]

No comments??

[@SolRachel2404]

and yet here we are 😊

[@mynde-fuchefoundation2254]

Silence conveys the deepest insight. (Shit, did I comment that out loud?)

[@RAYGERVATO]

"Watts" is profound and "enlightening"...

[@carenkurdjinian5413]

Sooooo Trueeeeee -Why …?…..The Mind Works That Way ………?……Where Are The Errors - To Look ..?…..🌞

[@annedodgson8677]

Are there CD’s available

[@kobrabushcraft536]

☁ Puff Puff Pass ☁ Namaste all

[@raviranjanchaudhary7031]

What is that word he says at around 11:45 about ancient world passing something onto you on the "QT"(autogenereated subtitles say that abbreviated letters). He keeps using the word multiples times....however I cannot seem to make sense out of it. Thanks in advance!!

[@devonr.554]

Hey friend! When I looked this up, I read that the abbreviation "QT" means "quiet", so I believe he is saying "on the QT" meaning "on the quiet", or "on the down low".

[@codedlAnguage]

Pleasure and the Pain are the same 💝💝💝💝💝🍌💝💝💝💝💝🎵. My Uncle Karoly passed away yesterday morning in Hungary. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏. Safe Journey Uncle Charlie. 🍌💝🍌💝🍌💝🍌💝🍌💝💝

[@mingtoiisaac4623]

❤❤

[@dimasdelpablo]

The most original thinker in these days (and thisahere country) of talent impoverishment

[@vijaypalsingh4083]

❤❤❤❤

[@srdjansergej7907]

❤

[@judydrake86]

So that's why we want to know about nothingness, the beyond, because that's us, nothingness is that right?

[@craigivison2951]

OM

[@Earthangel63]

7sharp..listen to it✌️

[@jeffreycollins7297]

The last section seems as if it were a part of a video…is this true? Would have dug to see where he chose to live. I too have always been called strange by people who loved their boring lives. Heheheh.

[@coldpotatoes2556]

Mark? Yr dad thought alot.,...do you feel the same imposition or has his thinking brought you around to a place where you don't have to think so much?

[@justinmus2896]

World Peace. One Piece at a time.

[@pauljackman8589]

Life by exposure, Alan - how else CAN WE know of any other than that which we are exposed to?

[@arawiri]

He makes a nice coffee ☕

[@mohammad4110]

Psychedelic Coffee?!

[@KevKash-vl3dy]

Thank you young My Buddha always bless you and Abide with you and yours.

[@lukestefanik606]

🤝🙏🧘‍♂️

[@joegardens1973]

It's like he knew he only had a few months to live😢

[@arawiri]

Thought I'd been born before

[@Per_se]

How come is he talking about computer ????

[@Joel-yi8gb]

I am having a spontaneous illumination now. 3rd eye opening, visit from the holy Spirit, Christ consciouness, the Dau, Nirvana, oh, I am turning off now 😵‍💫...now it sucks again 🙃

[@DavidCraig-go1zv]

@ 38:10 He mentioned there is no single pole magnet. He is wrong. Proof? Can't see the forest for the trees. The negative can be replaced by the neutral for the same reaction. The same is true of the positive. Great stuff. Thank you for showing science and spiritual to be the same.

[@user-js9dc2yl9m]

The big bang?

[@msbones2725]

😇 you got that right they get their helmets to blow up is there soldiers try to escape

[@user-js9dc2yl9m]

While plyin piano Very fast In far part of room An object topple over

[@ronjohnstone1766]

The unborn

[@bealreadyhappy]

02:20 only the ego experiences. What the ego claims to be God as an experience is only more body-mind stuff, possibly more advanced bodly stuff, but still bodily stuff. God can only be Realised as ones Inherent Condition and State. Realise this and be free of bodily experiences! 😊 see Adi Da

[@cosmonology]

O enlightened reply guy