The Philosophy Of Alan Watts

Watt's interest in Eastern philosophy comes from enjoying Chinese and Japanese storybooks in his childhood as well as his attraction to Eastern aesthetics.

He was raised a Christian but found that Christianity's methods of understanding and dealing with life left him unfulfilled and often with more problems than solutions, such as the true nature of the universe, the self, the meaning of life and how to deal with it. He rejected the idea of an authority figure controlling the universe.

Watts was drawn further into Buddhism because there is a universal consciousness in Buddhism, where everything is interconnected and interdependent of a singular essence to life that follows its own nature with no boss.

Every object and person is just an expression of this universal nature and follows its nature for the mere sake of itself. Watts wanted to share his peace and connection with the Westerners.

Watts found that the Western world was often obsessed with status, wealth, consumption and success. Yet, even when they achieved success, they still appeared to remain lost and disconnected from themselves, their fellow humans and nature.

Watts thought that the Western religious idea of an absolute morality and authoritative God did not help the westerner and their ability to resolve these behaviours or help any spiritual essence in themselves.