British philosopher Alan Watts fell in love with the Far East at an early age, in such a way that Taoism, Buddhism and Vedanta philosophy had a strong influence on him. At the age of 14 he was already writing articles in a London Buddhist journal and at 17 he published his first book on Zen Buddhism. Later he would publish 25 more books and his ideas would cause millions of people in the world to reflect on time, changes, spirituality, the meaning of life and how to live it. You too can be inspired by Watts’ ideas through the following quotes:
1. “The best way to clear up cloudy water is to leave it alone.”
2. «The only way to understand change is to surrender to it, move with it and join the dance.»
3. “This is the real secret of life: being totally involved in whatever you are doing in the here and now. Instead of calling it work, realize it’s a game.»
4. «I have realized that the past and the future are the true illusions and exist in the present, which is all there really is.»
5. «Problems that remain unresolved must always be considered as questions that have been asked the wrong way.»
6. “The meaning of life is simply being alive. It’s so basic, so obvious, so simple. Yet everyone rushes and panics as if it is necessary to achieve something beyond them.»
7. «Technology is only destructive in the hands of people who do not realize that they are one and the same process as the universe.»
8. “What I’m really saying is that you don’t need anything, because if you see yourself correctly, you are as extraordinary a freak of nature as the trees, the clouds, the patterns in the running water, the flickering of fire, the distribution of stars and the shape of a galaxy. You are just like all of that and there is nothing wrong with you.»
9. «We cannot be more sensitive to pleasure without being more sensitive to pain.»
10. «Without birth, without death and without the perpetual transmutation of all forms of life, the world would be static, without rhythm, without dance, mummified.»
11. “Trying to define yourself is like trying to bite your own teeth.”
With information from The Power of Ideas