Alan Watts Explains What Awakening Means

Summary

In this thought-provoking discussion, the speaker explores the concept of order versus disorder, drawing parallels between human life and natural systems. The argument contrasts science's approach of conquering nature with Buddhism's view of embracing both order and chaos as inseparable, fundamental parts of existence. Using the illustration of the figure-ground relationship, the speaker emphasizes the mutual dependency of opposing forces, like life and death or good and evil. Ultimately, the video suggests that life is not a battle but a harmonious dance, where all aspects, even negative ones, are necessary for the whole to exist and thrive.

Takeaways

• 😀 Life’s systems of communication and control are ever-expanding, like a plant absorbing minerals and sunlight to grow and organize.
• 😀 The human drive to conquer nature is often framed as a warfare, a contest of making order prevail over chaos, good over evil, and life over death.
• 😀 Buddhism challenges the idea of life as a battle, suggesting that viewing the world in terms of order versus disorder leaves out a deeper truth.
• 😀 A key Buddhist concept is 'avidya' (ignorance), which refers to the tendency to leave out certain important aspects of life and knowledge.
• 😀 A visual example illustrates how perception alternates between two conflicting images (a cup and two faces), highlighting how we can only focus on one at a time, not both simultaneously.
• 😀 Just as the figure and the ground (black and white) are interdependent, so too are the knower (subject) and the known (object) inseparable in our experience.
• 😀 In Buddhism, this interdependence of opposites is called the 'void', where one cannot exist without the other (e.g., the inside cannot exist without the outside).
• 😀 The Taoist symbol of yin and yang represents the continuous, balanced flow of opposites, constantly interacting and complementing each other.
• 😀 The conflict between good (order) and evil (chaos) is not a battle for dominance but a cooperative dance where both are essential for balance.
• 😀 Realizing that order and disorder are inseparable leads to a profound shift in attitude, where life becomes a joyous, flowing dance instead of a grim contest.
• 😀 Instead of viewing nature’s forms as methods of attack or defense, they can be seen as parts of a harmonious cosmology, where opposites coexist and support each other.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the script?

The main theme of the script explores the idea that life is not a contest between opposing forces like order vs. chaos, good vs. evil, or life vs. death, but rather a harmonious interplay between these forces. This perspective is influenced by Buddhist teachings and the concept of interdependence between opposites.

How does the speaker relate the organization of human life to the growth of a plant?

The speaker compares the organization of human life to the growth of a plant, like a fern, which grows and extends by assimilating minerals and sunlight. This analogy emphasizes how systems of control and communication in human life, similar to plants, grow and expand in a natural, organized way.

What role does the concept of 'order vs. chaos' play in the script?

The concept of 'order vs. chaos' is central to the script as it illustrates how many people view life as a battle to make order (or good) triumph over chaos (or evil). The script challenges this notion, suggesting that order and chaos are interconnected and that one cannot exist without the other.

What does the optical illusion of the two faces and a cup represent in the context of the script?

The optical illusion of two faces in profile and a cup represents the idea that our perception of the world is limited by the concepts we hold. We can only focus on one interpretation at a time, but both interpretations (the faces and the cup) exist simultaneously. This illustrates how opposing concepts, like subject and object, are interdependent and not mutually exclusive.

How does the concept of 'non-knowing' relate to the script's ideas?

The concept of 'non-knowing' (or ignorance) in the script refers to the idea that we often overlook or ignore important aspects of reality by focusing too narrowly on one side of an opposition, such as order or chaos. This 'ignorance' is a form of limitation in our understanding, and the script encourages expanding our view to recognize the interdependence of opposites.

What is the significance of the Yin-Yang symbol in the script?

The Yin-Yang symbol, with its two circulating fishes, represents the interdependence of opposites. The script uses this symbol to show that forces like order and chaos, good and evil, or life and death are not in conflict but are mutually necessary and constantly interacting. The symbol highlights the idea of balance rather than opposition.

What does the speaker mean by the 'fight' between opposites in life?

The 'fight' between opposites refers to the view that life is a constant battle between opposing forces (such as good vs. evil or order vs. chaos). The script challenges this perspective, suggesting that such a 'fight' is a limited way of understanding the world, as opposites are not enemies but parts of a whole.

How does the speaker propose we shift our perspective on life?

The speaker proposes that instead of viewing life as a contest or conflict, we should view it as a dance—a harmonious, joyful interplay of opposites. This shift in perspective aligns with Buddhist teachings, where awakening comes from recognizing the interdependence of opposing forces rather than their opposition.

What is the Buddhist concept of 'awakening' or 'satori' mentioned in the script?

In Buddhism, 'awakening' or 'satori' refers to the realization that opposites, like good and evil or order and chaos, are inseparable and interdependent. It is an insight into the nature of reality, where one sees beyond dualistic thinking and understands the interconnectedness of all things.

Why does the speaker ask if we can see nature as a dance rather than a battlefield?

The speaker asks this question to challenge the conventional view of life as a struggle or battle. By suggesting that nature can be seen as a dance, the speaker encourages a more harmonious and balanced view of existence, where opposing forces are not in conflict but are part of a larger, interconnected whole.