Ever wondered about the true meaning of existence and our interconnectedness with the universe? Do you seek true contentment, but find yourself in a vicious cycle of guilt-driven actions and failed efforts? Have you been taught to see life as a game of conquest rather than a magical illusion? Dive into this fascinating exploration of life, death, reality and the illusion of the ego, as we uncover the profound truth about our place in the cosmos.

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

What should you know to be "in the know"? Is there some hidden truth about life that parents and teachers won't tell? In Japan, young couples were once given "pillow books" with explicit wood-block prints to save parents the embarrassment of discussing sex. Today, such information is readily available, and sex is no longer a serious taboo. But what is the current taboo?

Religion is a strong taboo in many circles, even among those who attend church. Religion is often considered a private matter, and discussing it openly is seen as bad form. The Bible, filled with ancient wisdom and history, is so entangled in archaic symbols that Christianity becomes difficult to explain to modern individuals. 

What is needed is not a new religion but a fresh understanding of our place in the universe and the meaning of existence. We often feel like isolated egos confronting an external world, but science tells us we are not separate; we are part of the universe, like leaves on a tree. This realization is rarely experienced because our culture enforces the illusion of separateness.

The real secret is that you are not a separate ego but an expression of the entire universe. This idea, found in ancient philosophies like Vedanta, suggests that the universe "peoples" as the ocean "waves," and we are all part of a single, eternal flow of energy. This understanding turns our common sense upside down and has profound implications for how we live and understand each other.

Instead of conquering nature, we should learn to cooperate with it. Our current sense of self leads to a hostile attitude towards the world, which is ultimately self-destructive. A new experience of self, one that sees us as interconnected with the universe, could change this.

This understanding is not about adopting a new religion or philosophy but about experiencing a new feeling of being "I." It's a realization that our normal sensation of self is a temporary role, an illusion. The most enforced taboo is against knowing who you really are behind the mask of your ego.

The universe is a game of hide-and-seek played by God, who pretends to be everything and everyone. When the game ends, we all wake up to the realization that we are all one single Self. This story, though mythical, helps explain the interconnectedness of all things in a way that is simple and profound.

Believing that you are the Self of the universe is not insanity but a profound truth that our culture finds hard to accept. This perspective is not about inflating the ego but seeing through the illusion of separateness. It's about realizing that you are not just a drop in the ocean but the entire ocean in a drop.

Is the True Secret to Understanding Life Hidden in Ancient Philosophies?

Our senses - sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell - are all different forms of one basic sense. Our nervous system, much like binary computers using 0s and 1s, operates in a state of 'on' or 'off,' creating complex patterns from simple elements. 

This mirrors the physical world, which is fundamentally based on vibrations and interdependent opposites: light/darkness, sound/silence, solid/space, up/down, on/off. These pairs are inseparable, just like the crests and troughs of waves or a particle and the space around it.

Despite the complexity of our sensory systems, our consciousness tends to ignore the 'off' states, focusing only on the 'on' states. This selective attention leads us to a fragmented view of reality, where we perceive the world as a collection of separate things. We often miss the intervals and relationships between these 'things,' leading to a skewed understanding of existence.

Consider the analogy of motion between balls in space. With two balls, motion is relative and ambiguous. Adding more balls complicates the reference points. Similarly, in the universe, space and matter are interdependent, and the concept of motion becomes relative. The idea of space expanding with galaxies moving apart highlights the inseparability of space and matter.

This misperception extends to cause and effect. Observing life through a narrow slit, like seeing a cat's head followed by its tail, makes us think of them as separate events. But they are parts of one entity. Our narrowed perception, or attention, creates the illusion of separate events and things, ignoring their interdependence.

Attention is selective, driven by what seems advantageous for survival and social status, and by the notations (symbols and words) we've learned. Certain cultures have unique words for concepts we might not even notice, like the multiple terms Eskimos have for snow.

Our fear of death exemplifies this misperception. We view death as the ultimate defeat in the battle of life, a game where 'We must win.' This fear is rooted in cultural conditioning, like the Christian imagery of judgment and hell. But death, like birth, is a natural event. Treating it as a sickness leads to unnecessary suffering and missed opportunities for a peaceful transition.

In reality, life and death, like all opposites, are part of a single process. Recognizing this can liberate us from the illusion of separateness and the fear of death. We are not isolated entities but interconnected parts of a larger whole. Embracing this knowledge can transform our experience of existence, turning it into a harmonious dance of interdependent opposites.

Understanding Existence: Alan Watts on the Illusion of Separateness

Ever feel like you’re just a tiny, isolated "me" living in a skin bag? It's a hoax! The real you is the whole universe. This book aims to make this clear, not just in words but in feeling.

To start, let's explore how the illusion of the separate self begins. People often say "I have a body" instead of "I am a body." This "I" seems centered in the body but not truly part of it. Different cultures feel this "I" in various places—Westerners in the head, the Chinese in the chest.

Imagine an officer in your head controlling everything through dials and screens. This officer feels separate from thoughts and experiences. Yet, this officer relies on memory to feel constant, like a whirlpool that remains despite the flowing water.

Our skin, often seen as a boundary, is actually a bridge connecting us to the world. Despite this, we feel separate, like fragments in an alien world. This illusion has roots in our thinking and language, much like a hypnotist’s spell.

The world isn't made of separate parts. It's a wiggly, interconnected whole, like a net catching wiggles. Ancient myths viewed the universe in models—like a ceramic model where God shapes clay. Modern science shifted to an automatic machine model, seeing the universe as self-constructing but devoid of purpose, leading to a sense of estrangement.

Science and technology advanced by viewing nature as separate parts, but true understanding requires seeing things in context. Astrology, for example, views individuals as centers of the cosmos, not separate entities. Each person is an expression of the whole universe.

Society tricks us into believing we're separate, independent agents. This double-bind game demands spontaneous behavior, creating confusion and frustration.

Faith and trust are essential for a community. Totalitarian control, as described in the ancient Hindu treatise Arthashastra, leads to misery. The tyrant becomes a prisoner of his own web of mistrust.

Man's struggle to conquer nature is futile. We should aim to coexist within the balance of nature, recognizing our interdependence. Western civilization's obsession with success and control leads to a mirage, a constant chase for an unattainable future.

True fulfillment comes from living fully in the present, not in a future that never arrives. Our education system, focused on future success, deprives us of this capacity. Instead, we should find our work as fascinating as play, enjoying life now.

Material wealth doesn't equate to pleasure. Many products are made without joy, leading to a cycle of dissatisfaction. Real luxuries come from places where craftsmanship is valued. The world’s impermanence should lead to a new kind of man, one who collaborates with the universe, recognizing that the real "I" is the whole process.

In essence, the solution is to embrace the interconnectedness of everything, live fully in the present, and find joy in the process rather than the end goal. This way, we can break free from the illusion of separateness and truly be ourselves.

Is Your Self Just an Illusion? Discover the Universe Within!

We have discovered that many things we thought to be fundamental realities of nature are actually social fictions. These fictions include the belief that the world is made up of separate things, that organisms are controlled by independent egos, and that humans must dominate nature. These fictions help us cooperate, like agreeing on time and space measurements, but trouble arises when we mistake fictions for facts.

For example, in 1752, Britain's calendar reform led people to believe they lost eleven days of their lives, causing public outrage. This confusion of fact and fiction complicates our understanding of the world. The root problem is the self-contradictory view of humans as separate beings rather than actions of the world. This outdated view makes us see ourselves as passive objects in a deterministic universe.

We must understand that distinctions between things are not separations. In Gestalt theory, no figure is perceived without a background. For instance, a circle drawn on a blackboard is often seen as a circle, not as a hole in a wall. This illustrates that features of the world share boundaries with their surroundings.

Organisms do not act alone; their actions are influenced by their environment. For example, an ant's behavior can only be fully understood by considering factors like food sources, humidity, and temperature. This interconnectedness extends to humans, whose actions are shaped by their surroundings.

Ecology, the study of organism-environment fields, highlights this interconnectedness. However, modern technology often overlooks ecology, leading to environmental issues. The idea of governing nature is flawed because all parts of an ecosystem are interdependent, like the organs of a body.

Language complicates our understanding by making us think of actions as caused by things. In reality, everything is a process. For instance, lightning is not separate from its flashing. Understanding this helps us see that we are not separate from our actions or the world around us.

The concept of causality should be replaced with relativity. Actions and behaviors arise mutually, like the head and tail of a cat. This view challenges the myth of a Fully Automatic Universe, where human intelligence is an anomaly. Instead, it suggests that intelligence is inherent in the universe.

Our perception of the world is shaped by our sensory and neural systems. For example, the sky seen by bees differs from what we see. Our brains translate vibrations into perceptions like light and sound. Without an observer, the world would lack these features, much like a rainbow needs an observer, the sun, and moisture to exist.

This interconnectedness implies that the universe and organisms evolve together. Our knowledge of the world is self-knowledge, shaped by our bodies and brains. The idea that organisms and their environments evoke each other challenges the notion of an independent, external reality.

In essence, we are not separate from the world but integral parts of it. Our actions and the environment are interconnected processes. Recognizing this interconnectedness can lead to a more harmonious and respectful relationship with nature, moving away from the myth of human dominance over the world.

Reimagining Reality: From Social Fictions to Ecological Interconnectedness

Have you ever wondered about the point of having a new vision? It's a common question, especially among those influenced by Protestantism. Unlike Catholics, Hindus, Buddhists, Moslems, and Taoists, who see vision as the supreme good, Protestants often seek continual growth and progress, even in heaven. 

This stems from a belief in man as a separate ego, responsible for his actions but never quite measuring up, leading to chronic guilt and social endeavors like hospitals and peace movements. Yet, these efforts often create new problems, as seen in a story about a tea plantation in Darjeeling, where workers, paid double, worked less, valuing leisure over money.

The issue is that mere effort and technique cannot solve social and economic problems. Outsiders, trying to help, often come across as interfering because they lack a sense of belonging. This leads to a vicious cycle of guilt-driven actions that fail to bring true contentment or creative power.

The real challenge is to understand that our riches and way of life can only be enjoyed if we live in the present, capable of enjoyment and discipline. Without this, all social efforts will fail. The festive frenzy of Christmas, with its intense expectations and inevitable letdown, illustrates our constant pursuit of something more, only to be left wanting.

True contentment comes from recognizing the illusion of the separate ego and understanding our interconnectedness with the universe. This realization, often hindered by spiritual exercises aimed at ego-transcendence, shows that the ego is a learned mechanism, not the true center of personality. Accepting this brings a sense of harmony and interdependence, where enemies and conflicts are seen as part of the game, to be played with chivalry and recognition of mutual dependence.

Ultimately, life should be approached as a game, lived in the spirit of play rather than work. Recognizing our need for opposition and interdependence allows for humor and compassion, cooling conflicts and enabling true justice and peace. This vision of life as a magical illusion and a fabulous game offers a new perspective, where the goal is not endless progress but the joy of being and experiencing the present moment.

Is True Contentment Found in the Present, or in the Pursuit of Progress?

True humor is laughter at oneself, and true humanity is understanding oneself. Humans uniquely reflect on their own thoughts and experiences, creating a rich, resonant life. This self-awareness, however, also brings confusion and frustration, as understanding oneself is notoriously difficult. We are fascinated by our own existence but often find it hard to grasp.

Philosophers argue that everyone is inherently a philosopher because we all hold basic beliefs about life, beauty, and pleasure. Even those who dismiss philosophy are themselves unwitting philosophers. The real challenge lies in the metaphysical wonder—questions that seem profound but elude verbal answers. The quest for understanding often leads us to experience rather than a definitive answer.

The human mind is divided between "prickly" individuals who favor precision and "gooey" ones who embrace unity. Both perspectives are necessary for a balanced understanding of the world. Extreme positions tend to transform into their opposites, revealing that explicit opposites are implicit allies.

Despite the limitations of language, discussing what lies beyond opposites requires dualistic terms. The problem is that "IT", the fundamental essence of existence, is so intrinsic to us that we cannot objectify it. IT understands understanding, beyond our capacity to grasp fully. Humorously, IT is simply ourselves, making the cosmic joke that we are both the observer and the observed.

Death, the ultimate trick, often obscures our understanding. Yet, the cycle of life suggests continuity, as every baby born embodies the same central experience of existence. We intuitively know that life repeats itself, and each new "I" is a re-emergence of the same consciousness.

Ultimately, realizing that the universe looks at itself through our eyes is a profound understanding. Despite cultural teachings that separate us from the universe, recognizing our integral connection to it reveals that we are, indeed, IT. This realization often takes time to sink in, but it underscores the interconnectedness of all things, capturing the essence of true self-awareness and humor.

Alan Watts' Cosmic Joke: Embrace Self-Awareness and Humor

Understanding the nature of self and its connection to the universe can profoundly alter our perception of existence. The idea that we are not isolated egos but expressions of the entire universe is a transformative insight. This perspective suggests that just as a tree has leaves, the universe manifests through us, and this interconnectedness is often obscured by cultural illusions of separateness. 

Our current worldview, driven by a sense of individual conquest over nature, is self-destructive. Embracing a new experience of self, seeing ourselves as integral parts of the universe, can lead to cooperation rather than conflict with our environment.

This shift in understanding challenges the conventional notion of self as a separate entity. Instead, it proposes that our sense of individuality is an illusion maintained by selective attention and cultural conditioning. Recognizing the interdependence of all things, including life and death, can dispel fears and foster a harmonious existence. Our consciousness tends to focus on isolated 'on' states, ignoring the 'off' states that complete the picture of reality, leading to a fragmented view of the world.

The realization that we are part of a larger, unified process offers a more holistic view of existence. This vision is not about adopting new religious beliefs but experiencing a new way of being that acknowledges our interconnectedness. 

By viewing life as a game, we can approach it with a sense of playfulness and humor, allowing us to live fully in the present moment and appreciate the joy of existence. This understanding underscores the human capacity for self-awareness and reflection, revealing a profound truth about our place in the cosmos.

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The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

Alan W. Watts

7 Key ideas

21 MINS

4.8 (2k)

Ever wondered about the true meaning of existence and our interconnectedness with the universe?

Do you seek true contentment, but find yourself in a vicious cycle of guilt-driven actions and failed efforts?

Have you been taught to see life as a game of conquest rather than a magical illusion?

Dive into this fascinating exploration of life, death, reality and the illusion of the ego, as we uncover the profound truth about our place in the cosmos.

Key Ideas

#1