The Early Writings of Alan Watts. The British Years 1931-1938

281 Pages·1931·14.05 MB·English

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THEE ARLWYR ITINOGFS
THEB RITYIESAHR 1S9:3 1-1938
WRITIINNG S
BUDDHIISNME NGLAND
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EditbeyJd o hSnn elling,
witMha rWka ttasn dD ennTi.Ss i bley
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CELESTIAARTSL � BERKELCEAYL,I FORNIA
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Copyri©g 1h9t8by 7 E lectronic University.
Alrli ghts respearrovtfIe bdboi.os k m Naoybe
reproduIcnea dn fyo nn,exc epfto brr ief reviews,
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withtobuet wperrsimtitsesoni fto bne publisher.
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CelesAtritasl
P.OB.ox 7 327
Beerlkey,Ca liforn9i4a7 07
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Publissihmeudl tanIeontu bsUeln yi tKeidn gdbyo m
CentHuuryt chiPnusbolniG srohuiLpni gm iLtoendd,o n.
Covdeers byi gKne Scno tt
Texdte sbyi gKne Snco tt
1ypograpbyby H MS1y pograpby,I nc.
LibroafCry o ngreCssa taloging-InD-aptau blication
WatAtlsa,1n 9,1 5-1973.
Tbee arly worfAi ltaWinan tgtss .
1.B uddhisIm.S. n elJlobinn1,g,9 43-
11S.i bDleey,n nT.i sI lWla.t Mtasr,k .I V.T itle.
BQ40W5356. 1987 294.3 87-161 75
ISB0N89- 087-480-8
ManufacItntu bere dU nSittaeotdfAe mse rica
FirsPrti nti1n9g,8 7
1 2 3 4 91590 89 888 7
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C NO TENT S
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Acknowle.dg .e m.e n.t .s... .. .. .. . .v .i i.. .. .. .. . . .
Introduc.t.i.o.n. .............I. ...............
PART ONE:
A BUDD HISTI N TH E P RECINCT.S. ..1.7.
UltimRaetael (i1t9y3 :.1 .)... ...•..•2•6. •.••.
TheI nflueonfcB eu ddhiUspmo n
JapanAerste( 19.3.1.). .......••3.1. ...••.
1\vo Lett(e1rs9 3&1 1 93.2.). .....•••3•6• .••.
AnO utloinfe ZBeund dhi(s1m9 .3.2.). •.•3.8 ..
TheE ssenocfZe e n( 19.3.3.). ......•5•5. ....
Shambh(aploae mb)y', ' Ron(i1n9'.3'.2 •). .5.6. .
PARTT W O :
YOUNG BRA HMINA B OUTT O WN. ...5.9.
TheB uddhPaat'hst oR eal(i1t9y.3 .3•). ••7•9• ..
TheS utoraf W eiL an(g1 9.3.3.). ......8.3 ....
Buddhiisntm h Meo derWno rl(d1 933/.1.98.39 4 )
Buddhi&s Hmu mou(r1 9.3.3.)• •••••8•9• •..
Buddhi&s Pmo li(t1i9c.3s•3 •)• .•••..9.5 •••.
Buddhi&s Sme x( 19.3.4•)• ••.•..•1•0•0• ••.
Buddhi&s Wma r( 19.3.4.). .•••••I•0 •7• ••.
IsB uddhiSsemr io(u1s9?.3 .5.). .•••.•1•15. •..
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___ ...... � •• • ..... ..1.2.3.
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!!.1111'-=-�
:ve-nSymbolosfL if(e1,9 .3•6.). ••.•.1.5.9. ..
TheL ot.u s. ..........••••5•9• ••.•...•.. I
Watearn dt hWei nd. ...•.....•.1.6•3. •...
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Fi.re. ................1.66. .............
ManW,o man Cahnid.l .d. .......1.6•9•. ...
LettIRe ersc eTihve'e ':W haatn'dt' h e
''How('1'9 .3.6.). ...........l7. S. ..•....
LettIRe ersc elailvkei:on fgW ar( 19.3.6•). 1.8.0
TheT rutThh aItsM orteh an
Teachi(n1g9 36) ....................... 187
LettIRe ersc eIisTv hee:rea Sel(f?1 9.3.6.)1. .9 1
LettIRe ersc eKiavrem:oa r,
''YHoauv Weh aYto uW ant('1'9 .3.6•)• •1.9.7
LettIRe ersc eEidvuec:a tfioPorron g ress
witahC api't'aPl(' 1'9 .3.7•). .•...2•0.4• ...
NotO nlByu tA ls(o1 9.3.7.). ...•...2.1.0• ...
LettIRe ersc eSiivmep:Ll aen gu(a1g9e.3 •7.)2. 1 6
LettIRe ersc eTihveEe x:pe rieonfc e
Myste(r1y9 .3.7.). ...........2.2•1. .•••..
LettIRe ersc eTihveMe a:na ndt he
Mean(s1 9.3.7.). ...........2.2.6. •••.•..
TheM onkey-iMniR nedl ig(i1o9n.3 .8.)• .2•3•1.
TheU nimportoafWn acr(e 1 9.3.8.). .•.2•4.1. .
TheO rigiFnaacle (.1.9.3.8.). .....2.4•8. ....
CanW eH elOpu rselv(e1s9?.3 .8.). ...•2•5.0• .
AppendI ix
BuddhiAsdmv ocaatte dC hristian Religious
Conefre nc(c1 9 33 .) . . . . . . . • . • . . . . . . . . . . 265
AppendIiIx
BookRse viebwyeA dl aWna titns
BuddhiIsnEm n gla(n1d9 3t4o1 93.8.)• 2•7. 0
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INTRODUCTION
by Jobn Snelling
Thisfi rstvol umoef t heea rwlryi tionfAg lsaWal nt sc oven
thpeer iodf rom1 93w1h.eh ne was stai lsclh ooltboyo,1 938,
whehne d epanferodm B rit1fiontr h Uen itSetadt ewsi th
hiyso unbgr iEdleea noBre.s itdhetesa ilo-feh nisdsc hool­
dayst,h peirsi oda lsoe ncompasses thaextc itph2sci ngw hen
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hewas a younmagn aboutt ownga,i nian gs omewhat
unusbuutare lm arkabilnyt eresteidnugc aftoihroi nm seilnf
thees otaenrdio cc cuclitr colfLe osn downh,i cohfc ourse
oftraennc oncurwreintsethct ionosft hboeh emiadne mi­
mondoef dtahyeI. tw asa lsapeo r iodw hehne was work­
inhga rdt od evehliotspa lebontthass war itaendre ditor­
andt og reate ffect.
Thepe riodc oubel da pdcya llW..etdt sG'o ldenD a,s
orh iDsa ,so fPro misfeo,tr h etreh esene metdobe hardly
ac loiundt hbel usek oyf h ibsr illiant pohtaevne,t ial. We
howevecrh,o steosn u bttihtivlsoe l uTbmeeB rltlsbD a,s,
fotrh is asnpeecet&e mphasisbeicnagu.seo n account of
hifsa me-sommigehs tah yi Isn faasm yla u minaorfty h e
CalifoCrnoiuannt erculmatnuyreh ,a ve ctooregm aerd Alan
Wattass a nesse ntialAlmye ripchane noa1CKenrotna.hi en ly
spentth leas tth inyy-efaiorsvfh e i lsi ifnte h Uen itSeatdt es
anda ttainedg reaftaiernr fl ueanncdepo pulartihteyre .
Indeiendh ,ia su tobiograhpelh aym,e tnhtasdet s,p itthee
effoorfht isps u blishheiboorssk, s neverso ldas welli nB rit·
I
Introduction
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ain asd itodhn tey h oet hero fst ihAdete l anYteitwc as.i t
inB raiittnh ahtewas born,g rewu pan,d re ceivheids first
fornwivien fluenAcstes h.ani ts holcolgeayr dlcymo nstmcs.
manoyf t hoisnefl uenwceerels a stoinnegs ,m aannoydf
thteh e1t1h1aeest1 11crged in wtrhieset wieaenrregtl sorey c ur
throughhiolsui tfI nef .a ctth,ei ress troenvgi dehnecrete o
suppotnh vei etwh 2mto sotfW attmsa'jsop rh ilosophical
themaerosse i nt heseea ryleya arsn dt hahtel atmeerre ly
developed. anredfp ilnaeyvedad r iautpoinot nhse m.
1915
AlaWnil soWna twtass born onJ anua6r,y at
ChisleihnKu ersnttt h,oe n lsyo onf L aurenWciles oWna tts
(1880-1974) (1876?-1961).
andE milMya ryB uchan Hifast her
wasb y aaclclo uanq tusia enttd h oughmtafnwu,il t mha ny
intereHsewt asps.a rticfuolnaodrfre l ayd i(ntghw eo rkosf
RudyaKrdi plwienrega l ifelloovnaegnd) ,g ifwtietdahv ery
retentmievmeo r112yd,a cquialre adr fgueno dfk nowledge.
Hewas alsago re altov eorfn atuaren gadr deniHniwgso. r k­
inlgi wfase s penitn t hCei toyfL ondowno,r kifnotgrh e
Michelylrei Cno mpaannyd l atase raf undraifscotrrh e
MetropolHiotasnp iStauln dFauyn Lda.u renacneAd l agno t
onfa moustloyg eatnhder shmareadni yn tereisnct osm mon•.
incluevdeinntgu aalnil nyt eirensE ta streelring iAolna.n 's
feelfionrg sm hotihse or,nt he other hand, were not so
happSyh.ew asasc hoolmisatnredres psre,s sirevel igious
influednucreisean rgll yi hfaeid n culacc aetretdsa tirani ght­
lacedtnhcagstras t eodnh esorn .N cvenhelcLassu,re ncaen d
Emiwleyre a l ovicnogu palnewd i thaos uhta doofwad oubt
wantteodd o tvheerybe stt heyc oulwdi.t htihnel iirm ited
meanfso.tr h epirerc ioounslc yh ild.
A coupolfye ea rsa gIop aiadv istioCt h ieshlursitn
searcohfA laWna t'tross o tIsc .a ugthhtte ra ifnro mW ater­
looE asrati lwsatya toinoa gn re yE nglwiisnht meorr ning
andh.a vitnragv erstehdae m orphuorubssa pnra wolfs outh
Londosoonn, c amteot he suburwbesre.ra tThhemeorrere
treehse re tihnLa onn dporonpe ra,n idn s ummert haere a
could probeb daebslcyr asi lbeeda bfyu.nt o wt htere ewse re
2
Tbe EarlyWr itinofg Asl aWant ts
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lcatlcss, their bsratnrcihtpeshpe idn macntd2a lglaiictns hte
whistkey N.o fta arwa yl urktehdre o llcihnagdl okw nland
oft hKee ntciosuhn trytshiGeda erd:oe fnE nglaansid it,s
someticmaelslTh eed h.a rrassebdu sinesasnmdoe fnfi ce­
workeofrsL ondhoanbed e nre treattiotn hgai res af omro re
thaanc entiunrs eayr cohfs c111seic-urruiaratnldyt ranquil­
litHeyre.t hehya bd uiltb rtihacenkisd rt ucvciol slhasr:i nes
tos olEindg lMiisdhd Cllea vssa lues. Ftrohme hyha edre
daireltyu rnteotd h e workadaLyo nfdraoysn h,ou ft ttloe d
anfdro o nre gulBarri tRiasihl wcaoymmsu tetrra inFsa.m il­
iawri tshu csht ultirfyhiyntghf mrosm a ni mpressionable
ageA,l aWant ts deecairdtlehydat th ilisf eswatsy lnfeoo tr
him-ainndd eheed succienfe odregdai v negrd yi fferent
onef ohri mself.
Walkiunpfg ro mt hlei tretdlb er iracikl wasyt ation
atC hisleIhre uarslti,ts heatdth a ere awa sn owm ucmho re
builtt-huaipnth a dbe eni nW attyso'ust yhe,at m ontgh e
facelmeosdse drevne lopmtehnetsrest irelmla inetdh seu b­
stantsiuablu rvbialntl hasaas t y ao unmagn hen od ouhbatd
passiendn umeratbilmoeen s his waayf tahef oram sec inat­
ing evientn hieseno gt esrailco onfLs o ndohnih,se abdu zz­
inwgi tnehw ideasT.h ehne,w oulbed oftweanl kiinnt gh e
darhki,ws a y sometimesl ibpetyra hp aaplmseoo n,t he
winwdh isperiintn hgte re es.
Ieve ntualmlayn agteold oc atHeo lbrooLkan ew,h ere
heh abed enbo rn and brouguhptT. h iisas l swoh ereh eh ad
livuendth iewl as twenty-otrtw woe nty-yteahrsore leds ,o
thbeu lokft hiet ecmso lleicntt hevidos luwmeere w ritten
whitlheiw sa ss tihlils hAo romwe ofs emi-detaccohte­d
tagperesse nttehdc 111tsome elt,vh eleso wsetro reoyfe ach
buiolft greoodd b ritchkue,p pesrt orepeybb le-dashEeadc.h
alshoa dat ripomc ket-handfkroenrcgtha iredsefec nl uded
fromt hroea db ya w oodefne ncTeh.e wye ren eaatn d
respectabbulvtee ,r sym altli,ni ynf acatn,de asidlwya rfed
byt hemiorre imposinnegi ghbours.
• 3
Introduction
HolbrooLka neh ada lsobe enb uiulpts inWcaet 'tss
boyhooadn dth heo usheasdbe enre numbereds,oI f ound
idti ffitcou lltoc atues ewtdhobe a Ntu mber3 :Ro wan Tree
CottaIkg neo.c koendv a ridooourss anaskde idfa nyone
knewt hpere cise hiousenw hicAhl aWinl ttsh,wee l l-known
writoenr relisguibojuesh catdls i,v eEadc.th i mIew as
greetewdi tah b lanekx pressiaonnd' 'Nehveearrd o f
hi.m. .". re Ifl ectoentd h iero noyft hihsa;dIme ntioned
thnea mien t haep proprpiaantosefS anF rancisscaoiy,,t
woulhda vee licaif taemrdo repo sitreisvepo nse.
EventuIda ilmdla yn atgoew oroku wth icwhas the
formeNru mber3 .T hero want reei nt hfero ngatr dehna d
gonaen,td h ewreu n o waIyc ouslecdt hleo nbga cgka r­
detnh ahatbed enL auren�ctet sp'rsia den jdo ayn,dw hich
Alawnh,o as boay hadf rolicbkyte hdhe o uirni thse rba­
ceouasb undadensccer,i ibend ahuitso biogasra ·p·hflyu ­
tantw itbhi rdnsgo.I'ut'se dt ob acokn taog irslcsh'oo( lan d
stidoclslI, fa ncy).
FromC hihsurslteI,ca ughtal ocablu tson earBbroym ­
leyw,h ereIh ad aapnpo intmteomn etetA lanc'osu sainnd
boyhoopdl aymJaotyBe u chaBnro.m leiyso neo f those
suburdboarnm ittoorwynt sha lta caklc lo loaunrdc harac­
teras, t houignhi ,ti sns atihaubnlgete hern ,e arbaync tropolis
hasspy honoefdaf li ltpo st entailaolwn igt thh een erogfy
thbeu lokfi tisn habiItista npatl sa.oc nee pastshesro ugh;
notth seo no fp laocneev isits.
AlaWna tatnsdh i psa renhtasdi n fabecetno bliged
tom ovteo B romlewyh efno ars hotni mteh ehya df allen
intfion ancdiiaflfi cuHlatriBryeu sc.h an'.fasJ toheyro,w ned
sompero pcnya,n hde l etth eh1a1vt1eh uese o fah ouhse ere,
soR owaTrene Cottawgaes t emporarlielatyn, dE midliyd
embroidweorrytk os uppotnh teh reoeft heDmu. ritnhgi s
perioadre ,g ulSaurn draiyt wuasa alv isiJto yft'oas m ily
homef otre aan ds uppeThre.re wouladl sbeo s inging­
bothh ymns ansedcu lasro np-wihni cohn aend a lwlo uld
takpea n.
4
TN EarlyWr itiofn Aglsa Wtint ts
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''Bolhm yu ncalnehd i sso hna dfi ne voaincIdces a n
heatrh enmo ws ingRienjg oIintc bLeeo rdA lwaanydm y
uncslien gKiinpgl sionnggas s w ellJ,o"yh asw rititnea n
memoiorfL aurenWcaet ts.
Itwa s duritnhge sse oiretebJsaoy tB ucbagno tto
ltnobwe cro uAslainn. remSebmeb ebrsl asm aq uibeoyt
tit firsbtuf,tu n-lovionftg r-iafcnuksdal llw areysa dy
toe ntertain.
''Hevery wcasl ewverl lbd raw'i'nJtg,oyo m lde. ' 'He
could baaveboo k wlbtlbam nd be 'dJ ussto ortsf tartd raw­
Inagn imoarals l solr tosf mpeinnH.e c oumaldk et bem
really acloiHmveee.d ld'cnto pya nytbldnigId;at l ble
outb isobe fa dI.j ussatt t befreas cin..a.tA.ednd b eused
tob ev eryke eonnJ u-jittoosH.ue u sedt ot rytb lngs out
onm e,t ryitnogma kem ec omplpeotweelryle ssI- but
managedo utotoft bgveei tsc oem etimes/''
Evenas cab lelndj,oy moefln iftwe as a p riofroirty
Ala'n'ca:/n s ebel Imnt bceo ttaatCg bel slJeublsuetrst t­,
tionfgsf te aHme.'ds iqnugi otftefb c eu faf;lso lr tosfd it­
tiaenstd b lAnl gosot.nf o nsrenbymsees ,re alTbeyl ywe.re
realfluynH .em adet hefmu .n. ..' '
Alawna sa lsaol wavyesrk yi ntdoJ oyO.ne dayf,o r
instasnhcseeu ,f fearenad c cidHeent to.lh de tro re laoxn
thseo faan dn otto w orry�w·ahsvc e ryv,e rgyoo d. ...' '
Sheex perientchekidis ndnaegssa wihne snh dei sde cretar­
iawlo rfko hri mi nL ondon haifmsta errr itaoEg lee anor
Evereitn1t 9 3a8n,dy eatg awihne snh weas thegiure isnt
the UnSitatteeadstt htei mweh en Awlasa Cnh aplaati n
NonhwcsUtncirvenrs iitnEy v anston.
Joayl sreoc alled osreieeiannntog ab lj eicnRt osw an
1i'cc Cottawghei,cw hek nowwe rei nfluenutpoinAa lla n's
develop·m·ehinattda :l ootfE asthearnn gianndg csh ina.
Int hsei ttrioonmgt hegyo tth obsievasg e s-somoeft hem
wereC hineasnedJ apanAensdet .h eyh ada litttilney
dressingt-hrooammty u ncalnde Aluasnet dou sean,d t here
5
Introduction
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was al itBtulded ohnat hmaen tlepiinet cheeT reh.e ayl so
usedt oh avjeo ss-satnidic nkcse nseIt, h i.n k. .' '.
JoByu chwasa na k inadn hdo spitpearsbolnae,n idt
wasabe nigponn l'2ito fA laWna ttthsas thp ea intTehdere.
wass omethail nigti tnlceo ngrhuoowuesv,ae boru,tt he
memorabitlhiasath be roughotu tt:h Aem eriecdaint ions
ofh iboso ks-atnhdge ra mophorenceo rdtsh ahteh ad
madet,h es leevoefss omeo ft hedme siginned da ted
psychegdraeplhiitcch sae tv okaesds ocioafCt ailoinfso rnia
andt hfea st-fhaidpipcniugel touftre h sei xt(ieecsh ooefs
JimHie ndrainxtd h Gera tefDuelad H)o.wf aarwa ya ltlh at
wasf romJ oyc'osm forbtuatb levE enrgyla insdrehs pecta­
bldera winrogo mi ns uburBbroamnl ebyu;it na w ayia tl so
spoke eloquoeftn htcelo yn tratshtast Allieafmneb' rasc ed
andd emonsthraotwefa drhe travelflroemhd is o rigins.
Alaend'usc abetgiaonatn kai ndergasritteuaqntu eidt e
neatrh fea mihloym ea tC hihsulrsetT.h eni,n1 92h2e,
becamaebo ardaetr HSutg.h B'isc,k Hliedyse. v elopment,
howevuenrd,o ubtedlwye natu g nredaeltae afpo rward
wheni,nt haeu tuomfn1 92h9e,w enttoK ingS'csh ool,
Canterobnua sry c holaKrsihnigpi'.sres c konebed tthoe
oldeasnotdn oef t hmeo spt� tigipouubsls icch ooilnts h e
lanadn,de v erytahboiunitgst m acokfqs u alaintdty ra di­
tioIntve.sr ys ituaitasrei maornk abolneei ;st t anwdist hin
thhea llopwreecdi nocfCt asn terCbautrhye dtralh,e very
heaonf e stablreilsihgeiidnoE nn glaAnldal.r outnhde re
isso arGiontgha ircch iteatc ittmusore s itm pttSSivct:o wers,
pinnaflcyliebnsug,t tresvasuelstc,er dy apntcd l oiasntde r;
thvee rys tone gaim vuessta nyot fifaroq muae t hatta kheasn
centutroi ecsu Nlots ucreh.oo l is morei nhs iasttuorartye.d
Nowt,h mey thha asr isientn h poep ulamri ntdh at
Englipsuhb lsicch oowlist,th h eibru lilnyga ll-boy
atmosphseporensi,no gb sessainosdnp sa rrteagni maercs ,
awfupll acfeso:rc ing-devhootuesetdsot hmeas s-production
ofa uthoribtruatresai nadn c truos hitnhsgep iorfit thscsen -
6
Tl# EarlyWr ltlnof,s A laIJtrnt ts