In our bustling world, filled with constant chatter and noise, the words of philosopher Alan Watts ring true with a refreshing clarity. He suggests a radical idea: before we decide to save or destroy our planet, let’s pause for a moment of silence. But this isn’t the somber silence we observe in times of mourning. Watts invites us to experience real silence, where we stop our internal chatter and connect with reality as it truly is.
You see, if we’re always talking, we can’t listen to what others have to say. If we’re always thinking, trapped in an endless loop of thoughts, we lose touch with the real world. Watts challenges our conventional views of reality, suggesting that it’s not just physical or spiritual, but something beyond words and concepts.
By embracing silence, we can strip away illusions. Take money, for example. It’s a useful tool for measuring wealth, but it’s not wealth itself. We often confuse having money with having real wealth, like food, shelter, and companionship. Similarly, we confuse our sense of self with our personalities or egos, which are just limited ideas of who we are.
Watts also touches on our relationship with time. We often feel like we don’t have enough time, but that’s because we’re not truly present in the moment. The present is all we have, yet we treat it as a mere point where the future turns into the past.
Ultimately, Watts suggests that we are all creators of our reality, but we shy away from this responsibility. He reminds us that, like Jesus, we are all divine, but we’re afraid to acknowledge it. Instead of seeing life as a mundane journey from birth to death, Watts invites us to see it as a wondrous adventure, full of mystery and beauty.
Alan Watts’s teachings on silence offer a profound way to reconnect with the essence of our being and the world around us. By pausing to embrace the stillness, we can discover the harmony that exists beneath the surface of our busy lives.
Quote: “In the stillness of silence, we discover the music of existence.” – Alan Watts
“If I talk all the time I can’t hear what anyone else has to say, and if I think all the time… I have nothing to think about except thoughts. So I’m never in touch with the real world.” – Alan Watts
Spiritual Reference: “Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10
“Be still. Stillness reveals the secrets of eternity.” – Lao Tzu