Alan Watts - Who Guards the Guards?

[TheBranmanification]

where can i get a copy of that picture?? ive seen it many times and its amazing.

[yinyangnature]

@TheBranmanification All my pictures are from Google Images. Good luck searching.

[585788]

im looking for Alan watts - American culture, this was a VERY good video that i had in my favorites and apparently there are three claims of fragments on their content...anyone know how i can get this video??

[ambardarlane]

This is all Vedic philosophy.

[NDW21x]

ALAN WATTS TERENCE MCKENNA MARSHALL MCLUHAN CARLOS CASTANEDA ALDOUS HUXLEY JACQUES FRESCO ROBERT ANTON WILSON JIDDU KRISHNAMURTI PAUL STAMETS GABOR MATE are some ballers

[youfallhard]

4:00 now that is a nifty lookin pebble

[khelbenrage]

I cant stop listening this clip.

I have a lot of Dr. Watts but this one man...

Really thanks!

[bobbygnosis]

3:26 - 4:12 is all about what wrong with Ayn Rand's "Objectivism."

[yinyangnature]

@bobbygnosis Indeed. I recommend a 3 part BBC documentary available on Google videos called "The Trap" by Adam Curtis.

[diogeneslaertius666]

@yinyangnature all of adams work is nice, i really like the argument about negative liberty - but i feel like curtis doesnt really understand the grand chessboard as well as say pilger or jones

[yinyangnature]

@diogeneslaertius666 Nevertheless, in isolation any one of these broadcasters can be easily dismissed as conspiracy theorists. It's only by communicating an independent yet common message, can these people get us all to see through the 'glass onion'.

[diogeneslaertius666]

@yinyangnature that is a great statement

only by breathing life into such a network ourselves, by growing the substratum of mind can we begin to draw closer to the way

[diogeneslaertius666]

@bobbygnosis ayn rand spouted the most confused subject/object phenomenology in the history of what people call philosophy, is it any wonder that giddy frat boys of the spirit and pedants of every stripe, bullies and louts and cowards throng to a philosophy which says "barrel through and take what you can get, its okay" - line up around the block to worship at the cracked sacrificial vessel of such ideas?

it is the perfect perspectivism for an age of petty kingdoms and endless serfdom

[grimmspottir]

@bobbygnosis

I disagree, unless of course you're referring to Rand's subjugation of the environment, all Rand's protagonists are characters who truly enjoy their work, and do it for no other reason besides the fact that they love doing it, while others try to bury them in every way they can. In fact the very first sentence of The Fountainhead is a man simply laughing at the joy of nature. Rand can be very zen when she wants to be :)

[bobbygnosis]

@grimmspottir I have read Ayn Rand. I have listened to many followers of her. I have seen her ideas applied in real life (Greenspan being the most obvious). At no point have I found her work or ideas to be anything other than a combination of paranoid, narcassistic and juvanile. The phrase 'ungrounded assertion' comes to mind readily when thinking on her 'philosophies.'

Yes, that's a negative - and harsh - rendering on my part. If you disagree that's fine.

[TwoPointsUp]

@bobbygnosis Yep, most likely.. She was just a materalist/conservative bitch, who no one takes seriously anymore..Alan was a true philosopher, who brought real eastern thought to our western conciousness..Many owe him for his philosophical insight, but strangley don't want to admit it..

[berkemeijer]

THE RISK OF LIFE

[yinyangnature]

@berkemeijer Indeed. Life can never ever be fully controlled. As the quantum physicists determined, there can never be certainty, only probability.

[1975buddhafish]

great stuff.

[pweek]

Thankyou for this. =)

[TaoFAQ]

@pweek Thank you for watching! (Alais YinYangNature)

[Mystrymeat]

A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves - Lao Tzu

[NDW21x]

i love this ::0 thank you

[yinyangnature]

@NDW21x Thank you. If we could only get the whole world to listen.....

[ClarkesonTheMarksman]

Suprised the hierarchy didn't take this wise man out

[PerfectDecalibration]

I'm sure many people will benefit from this. But I'm not sure the starving kids in Haiti and Africa would.

I love this philosophy of letting things be, I'd so love to be in harmony with myself and my nature and the world, but things must be done in balance.

Alan Watts talks about two opposing sides of the spectrum - 1. Total control, and 2. Letting all be..

From what I've learned in my lifetime, 'course a balance is necessary

But I feel his words may help move us inAmore harmonious direction

[yinyangnature]

@PerfectDecalibration Letting go is difficult to grasp, especially when past interferences have caused all the imbalances of the world. However, we must understand the suffering in Africa & Haiti are the result of meddling. Therefore, as you rightly say, we can't standby when their suffering is the direct result of past decisions made by Westerners. Yet the fact remains, if these people were once 'let be', their situation would be far better than the one they currently find themselves in.

[Richreeve75]

But a vulture is beautiful too is it not!

[nettledned]

i knew a girl who dreamt she was a pebble. her initials were MB.

[cveitch]

this was very wise. A most enjoyable 9 minute brain massage =)

[lspmd2]

Greetings little brothers & sisters: From my own experiences in this life, Alan Watts is someone to 'listen' to. His suggested value system is what's needed to 'adopt' The Venus Project. Don't you see, it's like indigenous philosophy & modern technology (USED INTELLIGENTLY) which can move us beyond politics, war & poverty. Science/technology left in the hands of those who 'manipulate' now is what u shud be concerned about. At 62, I say, JOIN THE MOVEMENT! (TZM/TVP) :)

Love - Mamma D

[xTommyGirlx]

just like "The Giver".......

[The4LA2Baker0]

Yes. Its great to hear my thoughts spoken so well.

[MatuArt]

conjoooooooooo

[Gettinghitonattheban]

The Venus Project and it's worshiping of magic robots is economically impossible.

[yinyangnature]

@Gettinghitonattheban The Venus Project isnt economically plausible, but thats the point. What makes us think anything about economics is plausible? After all money is created out of thin air from debt and has absolutely no reality in Nature.

Therefore we now have a world that refuses to do anything about climate change in the fear it will negatively impact on the totally artificially contrived monetary system - that only serves to perpetuate war, artificial scarcity and rampant corruption.

[natmanprime]

@yinyangnature So.  What is to be done?

[barnyakj]

@natmanprime Why are you asking someone else that's the problem!

[natmanprime]

@barnyakj really? i know whats to be done, I was only asking an opinion. It's called humility, consideration, manners, and encouragement.

by asking a question, i created a space for him to walk/enquire into, obviously he wasn't smart or curious enough to get it, so he hasn't answered.

People don't like being told what to think, or at least they shouldn't.

So i asked it as a question instead.

Asking questions does NOT mean that you will blindly follow the answer.

You take it under consideration

[Havenfall]

@Gettinghitonattheban

It's a society that doesn't use economics, nor is hindered by it's limitations. Now, you can say "worshiping of magic robots", but there's nothing magical about robots. You're using a computer right now, are you worshiping it? No, grow up a little ;)

[Richreeve75]

@Gettinghitonattheban

economically impossible!

Thats the whole POINT.

EVERYTHING is economically impossible in the long run.

[LarkaSojourn]

@Gettinghitonattheban Concise, & accurate, in complete agreement.

[almussalix]

Who watches the Watchman? :-P

[MegaBadboy50]

@fntime Dude i don't like communism, i was using it as an example in my conversation. The guy who put this video up said there is a movement called Venus Project. Im saying how do i know if its going to help, as in the past crappy ideas like communism became popular but screwed things up. LOL ok i understand what your saying but your getting angry and whats the point?

[MegaBadboy50]

@fntime my words where "The problem is, communism was a good idea but it ended up doing more harm than it did good"

This means i don't support communism, and the rest of the comment is pointless to me because it doesn't correct anything i said because its got nothing to do with what i said and it doesn't bring any answers.

[MIProductions1]

Thank you for sharing the wonderful movie. :c)

[gregjhill]

So true!

[steveloir]

Many years ago I came across "The Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are". It made a real difference to my life. Thanks for posting this and reminding me of Alan.

[yinyangnature]

I've never read that book but I'm guessing Watts' conclusion would have been "You are something the entire Universe is doing; just as a single wave is something the entire ocean is doing"?

[steveloir]

Yes. I read the book after meeting Douglas Harding in 1970. Another who had a profound influence on how I see myself - not at all as I look to others!

[MegaBadboy50]

I like this video but i have to ask you, because of law we can protect ourselves better against rape and murder in society. I can say the purpose of law is to increase happiness and survival, but its true why bother to live and survive, but the thing is i think its good we have laws but not a big brother way of thinking so its hard for me to agree with what Alan Watts says. Yes there is no god, i trust the unknown but from what i do know i write laws to protect people, but never to enslave them

[yinyangnature]

The ancient Taoists saw laws as nothing but bandaids for a society that is haemorrhaging. Laws are a belief everything can be made better with threats and punishment, without ever seeing the need to address the social conditions that gives rise to crime.

I highly recommend everyone watch the free online lectures by Jacque Fresco and Peter Joseph of  The Venus Project. Im convinced this is the only way to save the world from the escalation of fascism and environmental destruction.

[yinyangnature]

We call for a straightforward redesign of our culture, in which the age-old inadequacies of war, poverty, hunger, debt and unnecessary human suffering are viewed not only as avoidable, but also as totally unacceptable. Anything less simply results in a continuation of the same catalogue of problems inherent in the present system. The Venus Project Beyond Politics, Ideology & Economics.

[MegaBadboy50]

If someone attacks you, you defend yourself as a last resort, its really the attackers fault for creating the dangerous situation. I think law on murder and rape needs to change so we find out what causes these problem so we can avoid them, but self defense sometimes is necessary as a last resort, otherwise we could lose what little good we have in the world to fascism which enforces itself on others, so our society's philosophy needs to adapt to these situations

[yinyangnature]

I agree with you wholeheartedly. Our society needs to place far more focus on the social and psychological reasons some people commit crime. ie Poverty, addiction and debt.

Currently we try to control crime with punishment; yet this doesnt prevent someone becoming a victim of crime in the first instance. It is only by addressing the reasons for crime than it can ever be eliminated.

Im under no illusions this is a huge undertaking and requires the complete redesign of our society.

[MegaBadboy50]

The problem is, communism was a good idea but it ended up doing more harm than it did good, my worry is in this society more people may choose to murder because they don't fear the consequences, from what we know of nature our choices have consequences, without law how do we stop crime and most importantly before we can change society, have we got an idea of how we can eliminate crimes to stop them repeating themselves, because if we fail we could make society worse and that is my main concern

[yinyangnature]

Its very important to recognise The Venus Project is not communism.

Most crime stems from the monetary system on one level or another. Therefore just eliminating money from society would eliminate 95% of crime.

Yet most people find it extremely difficult to imagine a society without money because we have been so fully indoctrinated into the monetary system. Yet money has no parallel in Nature and only serves to perpetuates systems of unnecessary scarcity.

[MegaBadboy50]

I know its not communism, but its an idea, and all these political things are ideas, in the past ideas have caused more harm than good, so i ask how do we learn from history to ensure that this venus project does some good and that it wont backfire. If you don't know then, this idea needs to be put forward slowly and carefully.

[yinyangnature]

Sure. Currently all The Venus Project is concerned with is education. People need to be shown the current problems and presented with viable alternatives. It will be sometime before people will be educated enough to be able to live together peacefully.

[yinyangnature]

Many people assume the ideas for TVP (The Venus Project) come from communism, but this is highly erroneous. Communism still has social stratification, banks, corruption, military. TVP doesnt have any of these things.

The concepts for TVP come from how our own bodies operate. Our bodies operate by applying the best system known for each circumstance, without any single organ being in charge or getting preferential treatment.

[QualiaSoup]

A wonderfully insightful and engaging talk. You also put together some exquisite images. Thanks very much, Bobba. I really enjoyed this. ;^>

[yinyangnature]

Thank you Doug. I'm glad you found it so engaging.

[nuskqu]

GREAT WORKS

[yinyangnature]

Watts is certainly an inspiration.

[piwright42]

Wow this monologue set off so many little sparks in my mind, and gave me so much to digest. Brilliant. Why have I not been exposed to Watts' stream of consciousness before this moment? Thank you so much for sharing this with us yinyangnature. I will have to look for more of his work now.

[yinyangnature]

I have been listening to Watts' recorded lectures regularly for over 5 years now. I never tire of listening to his descriptions or fail to be amazed by his wondrous insights. I hope your experiences of Watts are just as rewarding and enlightening as my own my friend.

[87cyberman]

Great work!!! Out of all the philosophers that I'm currently aware of, Alan Watts and J. Krishnamurti are my favorite. Always look forward to viewing your vids. Happy day to you!!! :D

[yinyangnature]

I only recently became aware of Krishnamurti through my interest in The Zeitgeist Movement. He is featured in the opening minutes of the Zeitgeist Addendum movie.

[chuckfaststrat]

"I must trust myself to a Nature....that doesn't have a Boss..."

that is awesome...

[yinyangnature]

Simple and yet so profound isn't it?

[ambucias]

I really enjoy Alan Watts lectures, especially Zen bones and Zen tales. I never heard this one before, very good thanks for posting.

[yinyangnature]

I hadn't heard it before either. I found it as an iTunes podcast entitled "Man & Nature #4".

[alonealotta]

Great Video Trib...

[yinyangnature]

Thank you very much.

[walkingbear56]

Brilliant

Alan Watts certainly knew his stuff.

[walkingbear56]

8.23 I've done that on a "jump into being" weekend... very very interesting to put all your faith in the "unknown" and just fall backwards.

[yinyangnature]

This would be particularly difficult for me, since I weigh over 100 kilos. I would worry the people are strong enough to support my weight. :-)

[walkingbear56]

;-)

[yinyangnature]

Hi Nik!

No person has had a bigger influence on my thinking than the late Alan Watts. I believe him a philosopher of the same stature as the ancient sage Chuang Tzu.

[JasonRainwater]

Thank you very much for sharing your tribute to Alan Watts. I enjoyed the video :-)

[yinyangnature]

Thank you. You are very welcome.

[yinyangnature]

My humble apologies to everyone who previously posted a comment and were generous enough to rate this video. Unfortunately I accidentally deleted this video a few hours ago and had to repost it.

[TurquoiseLamp]

I'm gad you posted this again.

I really do think it's the best Alan Watts video.

Wonderful commentary, you really put a lot of thought and effort into your writing.

Thank you for this. I'm sure many people will benefit from this video, as we have done with your others.

You really are a Boddhisattva and a great inspiration!

[yinyangnature]

Thank you so much for your very generous and very kind words.

However, I have only but stood on the shoulders of giants, both intellectually and in my personal life.