Cover of This is It & Other Essays on Zen & Spiritual Experience

This is It & Other Essays on Zen & Spiritual Experience

by Alan W. Watts · 1960

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The six essays in this volume all deal with the relationship of mystical experience to ordinary life. The title essay on "cosmic consciousness" includes the author's account of his own ventures into this inward realm. "Instinct, Intelligence & Anxiety" is a study of the paradoxes of self-consciousness; "Spiritually & Sensuality," a lively discussion of the false opposition of spirit & matter, & "The New Alchemy," a balanced account of states of consciousness akin to spiritual experience induced by the aid of lysergic acid. The collection also includes the text of Watts' celebrated pamphlet, "Beat Zen, Square Zen & Zen."

Subject
philosophyphilosophyMore like thisLess of thisself-helpself-helpMore like thisLess of thispsychologypsychologyMore like thisLess of this
Themes
spiritualityspiritualityMore like thisLess of thisBuddhismBuddhismMore like thisLess of thisreligionreligionMore like thisLess of thisphilosophyphilosophyMore like thisLess of this
Setting
JapanJapanMore like thisLess of this
Audience
adult
Length
short · 158 pages
Form
essaysessaysMore like thisLess of this

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Liked This is It & Other Essays on Zen & Spiritual Experience? Here’s where I’d start.

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