The Essential Lectures of Alan Watts

Season 11972

The Essential Lectures of Alan Watts video series was recorded in 1971 above Muir Woods, California, and in 1972 aboard the ferryboat the SS Vallejo in Sausalito. Produced by his son Mark and directed by long-time archivist Henry Jacobs, the series explores core philosophical themes that spawned over Watts' career.

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12 Episodes

E01 Nothing

Basing his ideas on sensory perception and physical experience, Alan Watts makes a compelling argument that everything actually depends upon nothing for its very existence.

December 31, 1972

E02 Ego

Alan Watts was concerned with the way we trap ourselves in words. He considered it unfortunate that we separate the "I" from reality and think of "I" in terms of how others see us or the image that we want to project. What is the answer?

December 31, 1972

E03 Meditation

As Alan Watts explains, "A person who thinks all the time has nothing to think about except thoughts and loses touch with reality." He covers basic mediation techniques, including listening without naming and mantras or sonic meditations.

December 31, 1972

E04 God

To many of us the image of God as a gray-bearded omnipotent and omnipresent supreme being has become implausible, yet the common sense notions of divine authority surrounding that image persist.

December 31, 1972

E05 Cosmic Drama

Alan Watts further explores the Hindu dramatic view of the universe, in which God plays all of the parts - all the while pretending not to know who he/she/it is!

December 31, 1972

E06 Time

Here Alan Watts points out that our insistence that the past determines the present is nonsensical.

December 31, 1972

E07 Work & Play

Alan Watts swirls an orange on a string and shoots an arrow high into the air before explaining why the art of living is being paid to play - and to the extent that we feel compelled to work and survive, life becomes a drag.

December 31, 1972

E08 Death

Alan Watts comments on the circle of life and our response to the surprising event of being born in the first place.

December 31, 1972

E09 The More It Changes

Alan Watts speaks on our fascination with reproduction through media, and on the far out notion that human beings may just be one star's way of becoming another star!

December 31, 1972

E10 Clothing

After talking about growing up near London, Alan Watts demonstrates a variety of cultural garb and points out how each influences the way we live and feel. His choices of attire include a western business suit and a kimono.

December 31, 1972

E11 Do You Smell?

Alan Watts speaks about our most repressed sense. Here he introduces viewers to the intricacies of incense in front of a small Buddhist altar, while commenting on the types of incense used in Church rituals and all across Asia.

December 31, 1972

E12 Conversation with Myself

While walking in a field above Muir Woods, Alan Watts points to humankind's attempts to straighten out a wiggly world as the root of our ecological crisis.

December 31, 1971

The Essential Lectures of Alan Watts

E01 Nothing

E02 Ego

E03 Meditation

E04 God

E05 Cosmic Drama

E06 Time

E07 Work & Play

E08 Death

E09 The More It Changes

E10 Clothing

E11 Do You Smell?

E12 Conversation with Myself

Sketch History

Al Aghar

Earth's Tropical Islands

The Masked Singer Switzerland

Detective versus Detectives

Beyond Westworld

Mysteries Unearthed with Danny Trejo

Ростов-на-кону

Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)

Punar Vivah - Zindagi Milegi Dobara

Family Massacre

Biarkan Ia Pergi

Шуберт

Mood Indigo

Galactic GYM

Engineering Catastrophes

E01 Nothing

E02 Ego

E03 Meditation

E04 God

E05 Cosmic Drama

E06 Time

E07 Work & Play

E08 Death

E09 The More It Changes

E10 Clothing

E11 Do You Smell?

E12 Conversation with Myself