Allan Watts Zen

Author Alan Watts enlightens readers through his interpretation of Zen in his book Zen The Supreme Experience. Watts simplifies Zen, a religion already focused on simplicity, to a point of utter understanding. Zen is expressed as a simple do nothing approach. An approach in which one may be at one with themselves and then experiences will find them. Watts encourages the reader to be satisfied with the now of life. Only when a pure satisfaction with no thing is attained do we have power over ourselves.

Zen becomes a point of view or a lifestyle. Watts presents the idea that words are only meaningful in contrast to their antonyms. When one is hurt by a word one defines it as the opposite of something positive. The only reason this action has occurred is because the person has put the power within the word, defining itself and it's opposite. The opposite has more power within the situation. The Zen path would be to be intellectually mature and disciplined, to see the now of the situation.

People need to learn lessons in patience, Zen teaches people to pay attention to this present moment. The past and the future have no place within Zen, only the now. We must all learn to trust ourselves and the world will follow right along with us. We affect every action every thing around us, therefore we affect the universe unbeknownst to ourselves. Only when we quit seeking will we truly be enlightened as to what's happening to us.

People of eastern cultures keep high values in tradition and respect. Zen is a way for people of Asian cultures to let down their guard and entertain humor. Zen teaches proper

breathing techniques as well as ways to approach laughter within life. Watts informs us that space is the most valuable commodity in Japan; if we need space in a tactile way I would assume we need mental space as well. To air out ones mind is a huge achievement one may excel at within meditation.

As people Watts encourages us to dissolve our illusions of the world. We need to cleanse ourselves of hang-ups and no-things. People seem to be searching for everything today. Only when one discovers the more you try the more ones desire evades them will we finally achieve Nirvana. Watts explains Nirvana as the relieved state. Nirvana is reached by the middle way.