We see what we believe rather than what we see. Alan Watts More Quotes by Alan Watts More Quotes From Alan Watts The point, which can hardly be repeated too often, is that differentiation is not separation. The head and the feet are different, but not separate, and though man is not connected to the universe by exactly the same physical relation as branch to tree or feet to head, he is nonetheless connected - and by physical relations of fascinating complexity. Alan Watts feet motivational men Cows scream louder than carrots. Alan Watts vegan scream cows We accepted a definition of ourselves which confined the self to the source and to the limitations of conscious attention. This definition is miserably insufficient, for in fact we know how to grow brains and eyes, ears and fingers, hearts and bones, in just the same way that we know how to walk and breathe, talk and think - only we can't put it into words. Words are too slow and too clumsy for describing such things, and conscious attention is too narrow for keeping track of all their details. Alan Watts eye heart thinking "It is essential to understand this point thoroughly: that the thing-in-itself, whether animal, vegetable, or mineral, is not only unknowable-it does not exist. This is important not only for sanity and peace of mind, but also for the most "practical" reasons of economics, politics, and technology.. This is not to say only that things exist in relation to one another, but that what we call "things" are no more than glimpses of a unified process. Certainly, this process has distinct features which catch our attention, but we must remember that distinction is not separation." Alan Watts technology vegetables animal When we dance, the journey itself is the point, as when we play music the playing itself is the point. Alan Watts dance journey play You can't figure out the Universe, especially if you're using figures to figure it. Alan Watts figures ifs school The sense of wrong is simply failure to see where something fits into a pattern, to be confused as to the hierarchical level upon which an event belongs. Alan Watts confused events inspiring ... nets, grids, and other types of calculus. Alan Watts grids type mathematics Any systems approaching perfect self-control also approaches perfect self-frustration. Alan Watts frustration self perfect The self-styled practical man of affairs who pooh-poohs philosophy as a lot of windy notions is himself a pragmatist or a positivist, and a bad one at that, since he has given no thought to his position. Alan Watts positive-thinking business philosophy The sound of the rain needs no translation. In music one doesn't make the end of the composition the point of the composition... Same way in dancing, you don't aim at one particular spot in the room... The whole point of dancing is the dance. Alan Watts dancing sound rain That society is strong and viable which recognizes its own provisionality. Alan Watts strong Society is our extended mind and body. Alan Watts mind-and-body body mind ...for thousands of years human history has been a magnificently futile conflict, a wonderfully staged panorama of triumphs and tragedies based on the resolute taboo against admitting that black goes with white. Alan Watts black white years Just as the ocean is waving so each one of us is a waving of the whole cosmos, the entire works, all there is. Alan Watts cosmos ocean whole The myths underlying our culture and underlying our common sense have not taught us to feel identical with the universe, but only parts of it, only in it, only confronting it - aliens... within I don't know how many years, but in not too long a time, it's going to become basic common sense that you are not some alien being who confronts an external world that is not you, but that almost every intelligent person will have the feeling of being an activity of the entire universe. Alan Watts taught-us intelligent years Hospitals should be arranged in such a way as to make being sick an interesting experience. One learns a great deal sometimes from being sick. Alan Watts sick way interesting People often say to me, 'I understand what you are talking about intellectually, but I don't really feel it, I don't realize it,' and I am apt to reply, 'I wonder whether you do understand it intellectually, because if you did you would also feel it.' Alan Watts wonder talking people Beyond positive and negative, what is Reality? Alan Watts reality negative What are plants doing? What are plants all about? They serve human beings by being decorative, but what is it from its own point of view? It's using up air; it's using up energy. It's really not doing anything except being ornamental. And yet here's this whole vegetable world, cactus plants, trees, roses, tulips, and edible vegetables, like cabbages, celery, lettuce - they're all doing this dance. Alan Watts vegetables views life
