5 Profound Alan Watt’s Ideas About Life

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5 min read

Alan Watts is an English writer, speaker, and philosopher, who shared some interesting and profound insights and ideas about life, many of which were inspired by Zen Buddhism teachings.

Below are 5 of his ideas and insights that caught my attention and can help us live more fully and authentically if understood and applied successfully:

1. Our Self is Just an Illusion

Watts posited that our sense of self is an illusion. He said, “We suffer from a hallucination, from a false and distorted sensation of our own existence as living organisms. Most of us have the sensation that 'I myself' is a separate center of feeling and action, living inside and bounded by the physical body.” This perceived separateness creates a barrier between 'us' and 'everything else,' leading to feelings of isolation and disconnection. Moreover, believing that we are separate from others often leads to a relentless pursuit of validation, success, and material wealth, driven by a need to fortify this isolated identity, leading to anxiety and dissatisfaction because it is based on a fundamentally flawed perception.

Instead, we should view ourselves as part of the Cosmic Being that has always existed, and that each of us is taking different forms and playing pretend in different roles to express this Being in a particular time and place.

To understand this better, we can think of a drop of water in the ocean. While it may seem like a separate entity, it is actually part of the entire ocean. Similarly, we are not isolated beings but integral parts of a larger whole. Embracing this idea can help us foster deeper connections with others and the world around us, dissolving barriers created by the illusion of separation.

This understanding of our interconnectedness can give us a sense of responsibility and compassion toward all living things, and prompt us to consider the impact of our actions, encouraging more mindful and compassionate behaviour. Moreover, this sense of connection with the planet and others diminishes the sense of separateness and creates a web of relationships that enrich our lives, giving us a sense of belonging and meaning.

2. Happiness is in the Present Moment

A cornerstone of Watts' philosophy is the importance of living in the present. He stated, “This is the real secret of life—to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.”

If we imagine playing a game, for example, and constantly thinking about the score or the next play, we miss the joy of the game itself. By fully immersing ourselves in the present, we can experience life more richly.

This shift in focus from past regrets and future anxieties to the here and now allows us to savour the simple pleasures of life, such as enjoying a meal, listening to music, or spending time with our loved ones. All of these seemingly small moments become richer and more fulfilling when we are fully present.

Watts also suggested that we should measure life by presence, not productivity: “Stop measuring days by degree of productivity and start experiencing them by degree of presence.” And of course, it's no surprise here that laughter, deep conversations, and shared moments with loved ones matter far more than any to-do list. By focusing on being present in each moment, we can build deeper and more meaningful connections, leading to a more fulfilling and balanced life.

Meditation can be a powerful tool for practising presence, and it is as simple as sitting in a quiet room, focusing on your breath and letting go of all distractions. Through meditation, we learn to live more fully in the now, quieting the mind and cultivating awareness. This practice enables us to feel inner peace and clarity, helping us navigate life’s challenges easier. By integrating meditation into our daily routine, we develop a deeper connection with ourselves and the world around us, enhancing our overall well-being and sense of fulfilment.

3. Everyone and Everything is Connected

Watts believed in the interconnectedness of all life. He said, “Through our eyes, the universe is perceiving itself. Through our ears, the universe is listening to its harmonies. We are the witnesses through which the universe becomes conscious of its glory, of its magnificence.”

This interconnectedness means that our actions have far-reaching impacts, no matter how minor. For example, you may be aware of the butterfly effect—the idea that a butterfly flapping its wings in one part of the world can cause a hurricane in another. Similarly, our actions can have significant effects on the world and the people around us. When we understand this, it can inspire us to act more thoughtfully and compassionately, knowing that we are part of a larger whole and our actions can lead to positive or negative consequences, even if we're not purposely planning it. As such, it should inspire us to live more harmoniously with nature and with each other, recognising our role in the greater scheme of things.

By acknowledging and embracing our interconnectedness, we can foster a sense of unity and collective responsibility, encouraging us to work together to address global challenges, such as climate change and social injustice, recognizing that we are all interconnected and interdependent.

4. Playfulness is the Key to Happiness

Watts viewed life as fundamentally playful, stating, “The meaning of life is just to be alive. It is so plain and so obvious and so simple. And yet, everybody rushes around in a great panic as if it were necessary to achieve something beyond themselves.” Embracing the idea that life is playful can lead us to a more joyous existence, reminding us to find delight in simple everyday things. By approaching life with a sense of fun and curiosity, we can rediscover the simple pleasures and wonder that we often overlook in our pursuit of goals and achievements.

Life should be viewed as an experience to be lived, not a problem to be solved. For example, if we imagine ourselves dancing at a concert, we're likely to see ourselves enjoying the music and the moment, not worrying about steps or outcomes. Life, too, should be embraced in all its complexity, rather than us constantly trying to fix or improve it. By seeing life as an experience, we can find joy and meaning in the journey itself, appreciating the beauty and richness of each moment.

Watts further emphasised that playfulness in life can help us deal with challenges and stress better and that approaching problems with a playful attitude can also allow us to be more flexible and creative in finding solutions, reducing the pressure we feel to be perfect.

5. We Are Not What We Think We Are

Watts advised against clinging to the ego—a fixed sense of identity—as it creates a false sense of separation between ourselves and the world: “Ego is nothing other than the focus of conscious attention.” By identifying too strongly with the ego, we lose sight of our deeper, interconnected nature, as described earlier.

Watts argued that our sense of identity is not static but ever-changing, challenging the traditional Western notion of the self as a permanent, unchanging core. Instead, Watts viewed identity as dynamic, constantly influenced by our experiences and interactions with the world around us.

If we reflect on our personal growth journey we can see that our interests, beliefs, and behaviours were likely different in the past compared to today. Each experience, whether positive or negative, shaped and reshaped us many times into the people we are. Moreover, our identity has also been hugely shaped and influenced by our cultural experiences. Even such things as travelling and engaging with diverse cultures could have moulded a unique and multifaceted identity.

Various diverse influences enrich our understanding of ourselves and the world, making us more adaptable and open-minded. This, in turn, shapes and changes our identity as years go by. proving that we do not have a fixed sense of identity, but a fluid nature. For instance, a person who once identified strongly with their career might, over time, find their identity shifting towards prioritising family or creative pursuits.