Music and Life - Alan Watts

[@mebenllo]

"It was a musical thing, and you were suppose to sing or dance as the music was being played". The beautiful part is that; after 2 minutes of build up, that one sentence was the clarity. So simple, yet obvious. This man is helping me!

[@maggiehatton6881]

My dad showed this to me when I was 10 and now I live by it.

[@thejuicemedia]

+Maggie Hatton - good dad!

[@omatzyo7]

+thejuicemedia funny to see you here! You guys need to start making videos again! If anyone sees this check out their channel :)

[@danarmstrong1025]

How old are you now and what do you do for a living?

[@rajeshjsl]

"It was a musical thing, and you were supposed to sing and dance the whole time"

[@savvageorge]

This video really makes me want to quit my job and go travelling but then I remember I need money to survive.

[@mrgomelonsolaris]

Then what we need to do is to balance our time between acquiring necessities and doing the "musical thing".

[@OliverBenson2024]

You could always do it in a practical way, because what would be the point in travelling for months at a time? See if you can do it well first. Go abroad somewhere, just for a couple of days and see what it's like. If you like it then keep going :)

[@Gl00ten]

only idiots think traveling is a thing.

[@OliverBenson2024]

***** What do you mean?

[@Gl00ten]

Oliver Benson oh, you want reference points? Very well, go from that infinite in a grain of sand bit. Instead of pretending the world changes a lot when you move about it (spoiler, it doesn't), just realize that changing yourself a bit changes the world immensely.

[@NoGodsNoMasters1885]

Ten years later and I still think it's a great message to send out there.

[@ElLotdog]

This is so powerful! no matter how many times I watch it, the message never loses its poignancy.

[@RobRoane]

One of my favorite excerpts from Watts' lectures. He's always very straight forward and honest with a little touch of humor.

[@Hambxne]

"In music, one doesn't make the end of the composition the point of the composition." What a profound opening.

[@sg04f]

"As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters." - Seneca

[@dumpstyle]

you can find so much material of Alan Watts on the internet, it's ridiculous.. and it's all definetly worth listening to!!! such an inspiring man

[@medicalhockey]

its not all sunshine and rainbows when you reach your career goal. The whole point of life is to enjoy every part of the journey.

[@rwtig]

this is one of the most amazing things ive ever watched. i remember seeing it around 6 months ago and thinking how good it was and i have searched for it again and again to show ppl, but only now have i found again and it gone straight in my favourites so it can never be lost again

[@BobCrawford1]

Alan Watts is often credited with being one of the first westerners to really bring an understanding of eastern philosophies like Zen and Buddhism. I never get tired of listening to him.

[@ElLotdog]

No matter how many times I watch this video, it never loses its poignancy...

[@coedlan]

I saw this for the first time a long time ago; it inspired me to do A level philosophy and, along with the appreciation of a few psyche-expanding tools, has turned my life into something that is far more fulfilled than anything I was 'aiming' for before.

[@Johnnybeak]

Brilliantly composed by some of the most genius satiric minds of our time and in perfect harmony with the very best of Alan's life philosophies!

[@SlyFox616]

Listening to Alan Watts is like awakening from a black-and-white slumber to view the world in hi-definition.

[@RichardStrong86]

I remember saying to someone a few years ago that life just seems to be a series of endless goals. You put them up in front of yourself and when you achieve them you create another one to replace it. If you NEED goals to keep living then that is no life at all.

[@athee569]

Brilliant! Such truth to his words. 'It was a musical thing, and you were supposed to sing and dance the whole time.' Great analogy.

[@carlaitken1546]

Only just recently i have realised this to be true. Now i understand and i am much happier in life because of it.

[@mfhashmi991]

If you disliked this video you did not hear the music and will look back at this when your 40 and feel "a slight let down"

[@hometown555]

Is there anybody else like Alan Watts??? because iv been wanting to lisen to more people like this guy.

[@mycal64]

I'm 48. In the 8 years since I turned 40 I've been to and/or lived in the UK, Australia, Japan, China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Spain and Vietnam. All I have is a Japanese girlfriend, a backpack and an ipod. Couldn't be happier! Oh, and a love of Alan Watts.

[@Ariehuisje]

The purpose in life is indeed not the result, but the journey. The people you meet, the experiences and memories you get, but most of all I think the skills you learn. We're purposely being lured into this caged life from kindergarten to the staff room. If you really want to be living, don't try to find a purpose, but just live. If you do what you want and try to do everything you desire, life is so much more intense.

[@podtrashnetwork]

This chokes me up every time.....

[@YouSpamTard]

WoW. Just what I needed to hear right now. Just perfect. Everything that seemed so wrong before seems just fine now. I got some peace in me. Bliss even. Relief.

[@orin734]

So beautiful that I'm gonna type those words, print and put it on my wall so I can always read and remember to sing and dance the life

[@Komanderkyle3466]

"Your supposed to sing and dance while the music is being played" What a great line

[@FistFullOfDan]

I must have more of this Alan Watts.

[@Xdizzle2000]

Alan Watts.. brilliant brilliant man.

[@mfhashmi991]

I think this is the greatest video I've ever seen on KZbin

[@kimberlymehrer104]

Love you guys, lived in Evergreen Colorado for 17 years and knew friends of friends of yours...love your take on Alan Watts! Hope you keep creating! I have complete collection of Southpark from season 1. You are always so aware of current world, and Colorado events, and keep my core toned, through consistent belly laughs! Thank you for your humor and sarcasm, dosed with reality! Blessings!

[@mammyoriordan]

"Oh Lord you made us for Yourself and hour hearts are restless until they rest in You" - St. Augustine

[@CairoArabic]

Whenever I'm depressed I watch this video. I love it with all my heart :)

[@transientdreams]

Alan Watts....Brilliant to the extreme!

[@tonytg9099]

Alan Watts,Terence Mckenna and Kiddu Kristnamurti have got to be the greatest thinkers for the last 100 years.

[@DivaDeb1234]

I love Alan Watts. I have heard this excerpt many times.

[@Maggie-hm7dc]

My professor just sent this to her whole class before finals. #yaaaas

[@willingnesstofeel1753]

I love her

[@Pasashok]

"For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin -real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me these obstetrical were my life."

[@TonyFA]

we need more animations like these. people need to stop living a lie its begining to aggrevate me.

[@Greg763]

I've been listening to Watts for years and really enjoyed this cartoon. Thanks.

[@ArtbyNubia]

I told my son forget the AP classes- enjoy your skateboarding. after all they are going to make you work all your life. He got into Purdue..no AP's. Happiness come from the little things, loving others and being of service. Not the houses the cars..It took me many decades to learn it.

[@theogofguitar]

I feel the utmost desire to use this speech as a breakdown in one of my songs More people need to hear this

[@tomtom90]

who..... who dislikes this? How can one disagree with a life lesson so true as this?

[@sjinn13]

Gotta love Alan Watts - always brilliant and always makes you smile. :-)

[@leafsoup]

YEAH. I love Alan, and the way he explains things.

[@alrolu3388]

My physics teacher showed me this and it's easily one of the best things I've ever learned in school

[@blinchik3549]

Did your physics teacher work on lazers?

[@bluesman27606]

"its not the destination that brings happiness but the journey itself"

[@jennabeanski]

I am so favouriting this and watching it every year at least- it's good to keep this in mind. Very good film, and I love how it was done in a very un-cliche way. Thank you!

[@kimcooper87]

That's sort of what I did. I worked part time for almost my entire career, and spent a lot of time reading, and going to parties, and being creative, and doing other fun things. I was lucky to have a profession where I could do that, but I did pick it partly for that reason.

[@drewvy0313]

I hit the mystery link to get here

[@mikezimmer999]

Wonderful! I have a LOT of Alan Watts lectures on CD and listen to them all the time. Your two minutes and twenty-one second video sums up most of the non-technical stuff in a perfectly delightful way. Thanks for making such a marvelous clip. I think if he was alive today and saw it, he'd love it. mz

[@AvangionQ]

Life is the journey ... all that schooling is just to help you figure out what you want to do with your life and to prepare you to do it, and prepare you for a few other options just in case that first choice doesn't work out the way you hoped ... its what you do with the time that you have before you die that makes the difference ... and try not to rush yourself to the end so quickly ... they say life is short - bull - life is long, take your time and try to make the most out of it ...

[@showstopas]

I totally agree. These are words to LIVE by!

[@rossplaysbass]

Imagine if every person watched this video. It would be so chill.

[@MrSquooze]

This is great .. when someone we are close to dies the common reaction is we wish we had appreciated the time we had with them more and in better ways ... this is because we don't really know how to live in the here and now; we're always rushing to the next stage or end; Watts's brief but profound reflection here is beautifully-put, and funny too, especially with the animation; it illustrates the importance of the moment - it's all we ever have. Thanks.

[@crispypotato9380]

Now You Happy Always Maybe

[@kazamakooza]

this has broken my mind and will change my life as soon as my mind manages to decipher it's answer to the meaning of life

[@HamOnCan]

right on. . love living in the hear and now it the only momend we'll ever have and best, when we make music where ever so much as a hint of trouble brew as well as for the sheer joy of it

[@globalomrevolution6081]

In a very simple, yet powerful way, Alan Watts explain perhaps one of the biggest pitfalls of being overly concerned with goals: that we fail to enjoy the present moment. By only focusing on the future, we miss the opportunity to be present in this moment.

[@Vihara2]

amazing speech, i have had these thoughts before, but the true mark of intellect is being able to tell a story and engage you while imparting wisdom. Genius.

[@grouchypus]

the purpose of life is not the destination; its the experience of the path to the goal.

[@bubblerings]

I felt like this at ten... so, it was all downhill. Had little to look forward to, thought I was the happiest I would ever be (at ten years old). I then hated school; it was bad, and I really did not know better. Glad I started over in my forties!

[@anthonya13]

yes! life is like music: we dont listen to music to experience some reward at the END, life/music IS the reward WHILE its being played!

[@busterbrot]

Amen to that brother, its a shame more people don't understand that.

[@seansezz]

those walking the tightrope of life find his words to be too out there, even though we know it is them, ego driven body, that is truly out there. Still, we must not try to break them down, but rather try to appreciate their steadfastness in how they really try to be good people or whatever. great show!

[@coloradosurfer]

He he....What's the ultimate goal? Who are we? Setting goals does help us have hope for tomorrow but essentially we should not forget the main point. Being here in this moment, NOW:)

[@sovietgunnernapkin]

one man who changed my life. finnally some enlightenment.

[@quicksite]

I'd never seen this or its source material before, until now. Thankfully someone on another KZbin channel featured it on their channel page... otherwise odds are i would have missed it for a long long time. Great presentation of timeline reward vs continual participation and engagement. And this animation is simple but succinct. thanks for posting it.

[@faux0pas]

This is beautiful.

[@twizzledizzle88]

Very inspiring, brief, clear and concise. Gives the rest of the day a moment-ish flavour. Thanks for the nice animation!

[@MissCMCDJ1]

I LOVE THIS vid! It speaks VOLUMES and importance and in such a beautiful way

[@dailydogoo9000]

Literally the most influential thing I’ve ever seen

[@whatever]

Amazingly true!

[@edymasta]

+whatever does it make your nipples tingle

[@crispypotato9380]

whatever surprised to see you here

[@matter0ni]

Oh thank for pointing that out, its nice to see a mighty individual who gets the point and is the winner

[@themaklakproject]

this is the best marriage ever! Alan Watts and the South Park boys! YES!!!

[@JordanDinstrumentals]

this is beautiful, absolutely beautiful.

[@sam51092]

Life is a musical, not a job- lovin it.

[@3six5]

[@ecstatica23]

ahhh Music... it is LIFE! what a great analogy, Alan Watts is cool in my books.

[@potentperson]

Then start today - look for something to enjoy every step. Hanging around in that pissed off feeling can be difficult to resist, but the point is not to deny yourself any more happiness

[@thedawg826]

The present moment is all there is. Whenever you think of the future or past, you are imagining these things in the present. Acceptance of this fact is the first step. Expectation is denial of the present, a tension created in this moment when your ego believes something "should" be. To accept and work toward a goal proactively is the path to change without creating suffering for yourself. The American dream diverges from this, focusing on acquisition of material wealth and social status.

[@chris_1337]

Wise words.. Take heed and start living your life right now!

[@urgulp1554]

Sums it up really. Genius.

[@Sacredfiremusic]

Thank you so much for posting this! Such truth!

[@porie101]

their is a universal truth. it speaks when not spoken and is in silence while we blather about it (in any language). he speaks about how great it is getting their. i'm sorry people are giving you thumbs down. you just seemed to have missed the message.

[@iceman352007]

You don't have a soul, you are a soul, you have a body.

[@ArtbyNubia]

It is the truth. Everyone is pretending they are successful but they are unhappy. Success or a good life is empty if you just go after money and the things it can buy. trust me.

[@caveatemp]

Dang! This is one of my favorite Watts bits. How cool that someone put this to a video. Bravo!

[@lxvlx]

I had facebook for a month in 2005. Deleted it for a number of reasons. Very happy I did so. Don't miss it at all.

[@NROS2012]

His album "Do you do it or does it do you". I highly commend it. It should be made compulsory study in schools.

[@hilary2k]

ab-so-lute-ly BRILLIANT and true...thx Seandulac and Alan Watts!!!!!!!!

[@9288Savior]

1:22 "huhuhuhuhuh" I love that description

[@EquestrianPride16]

this is what i need every day as a junior in a competitive highschool where it seems like the only important thing in life is getting into an ivy league.. there's more in life.

[@NaNdgate]

i decided to watch alan watts today because i'm having trouble caring about anything, everything seems so futile. i have a huge paper tomorrow due tommorrow in english and a lot of geometry to do, and i just can't care. yes i'd like to be successful, but i'd rather just live in peace, not worrying about tomorrow, just living for today, i'd like to sing and dance, i don't want to chase the cheese like a mouse. i want to enjoy what i have. probably not go to college AndJustWorkAtAComputerHelpDesk

[@thelastshadeofgrey]

If you dont know what happiness means to you, only then it is out of reach. I strongly believe every individual should find the answer for him/her self.

[@gemwebb]

This video helps people quit jobs that have no music.

[@benthejrporter]

That is so true! Very perceptive. That's exactly what modern society is like: Linear, goal-orientated (Always a materialistic goal too like money, power, propety, status etc). They use the Orwellian word "abitious" to compliment anyone who harnesses themselves to that life model. Those who see through it and refuse to comply with it are called "losers".

[@hermanessences]

Very good way of pointing this out, this guy was a genius, he has such a great way of expressing things in a powerful, and sort of funny way.

[@isismelting]

this is wonderful. another weapon in the battle to expand the alan watts fan base. thanks for posting.