Comparative Philosophy is the final album of the Essential Lectures Collection. It was originally compiled by Mark Watts in the summer of 1972 while staying in the pilot house atop Alan’s Sausalito ferryboat, the SS Vallejo. In 1975 it was one of the original audio courses offered by the Alan Watts Electronic University and was updated to include new material when the talks were digitally remastered in 1995.
1.5.12. – Spiritual Alchemy
Now today, we are living in an age which is quite peculiar, because in the world of science, there are no longer any secrets. Because the method of science requires that all scientists be in communication with each other. And therefore, that every scientist, as soon...
1.5.11. – The Smell of Burnt Almonds
Some time ago, I received a visit from a woman who as a result of listening to these talks, was wondering if I could help her to regain and experience what she had had while undergoing a surgical operation. As is generally known, anaesthetics sometimes induce,...
1.5.10. – Game of Yes and No – Pt. 2
So, yang and yin go together. But, through not seeing that, our life is, as I said geared to the thought that we might be able to make the yang side win. And so, in every thought of human enterprise, we are trying to have white without black. And this connects with...
1.5.9. – Game of Yes and No – Pt. 1
Now it has been announced that I would speak this evening about the I Ching. I should just say then briefly, that the Book of Changes, is thought to be the oldest of the great Chinese classics , and to date from perhaps as early as thirteen hundred B.C. Although...
1.5.8. – Love of Waters
Do you mind if I talk for a while about something I love? About water and the ocean. Ever since I can remember anything at all. The light, the smell. The sound and motion of the sea has been pure magic. Even the mere intimation of its presence, gulls flying a little...
1.5.7. – Spectrum of Love
We know that from time to time there arise among human beings people who seem to exude love as naturally as the sun gives out heat. These people, usually of enormous creative power, are the envy of us all, and, by and large, man’s religions are attempts to cultivate...
1.5.6. – The Cosmic Drama – Pt. 2
In this brief life of four score years and ten, you have set before you the choice, once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide, and the strife quicks true from false, or for the good or evil side that it is the brave man to run the coward stands aside....
1.5.5. – The Cosmic Drama – Pt. 1
After long consideration I have come to the conclusion that there are four fundamental philosophical questions which have been debated for as long as we know anything about intellectual history. The first one is ‘Who started it?’ The second is ‘Are we going to make...
1.5.4. – Philosophy of Nature – Pt. 2
I was in the morning seminar making a rather outrageous suggestion. Instead of the attitude that we are either objects of fate which are puppets manipulated by natural forces. And instead also of the attitude if you can't lick ‘em, join them. That is to say, as it...
1.5.3. – Philosophy of Nature – Pt. 1
Compare a physical globe and a political globe. The physical globe is a pretty thing with all kinds of green and brown and wiggly patterns on it. The political globe on the other hand has still got the wiggly outlines of the land, but they are all crossed over with...
1.5.2. – Mind Over Mind – Pt. 2
Lao Tzu, the Chinese philosopher, said “the highest virtue is not virtue and therefore really is virtue.” But inferior virtue cannot let go of being virtuous and therefore is not virtue. Translated in more of a paraphrastic way, the highest virtue is not conscious of...
1.5.1. – Mind Over Mind – Pt. 1
The general title of these talks that I'm giving here is mind over mind. And I'm going into all the various problems which have to do with the control of the mind. And so I might introduce what I'm going to say by saying it from different points of view. For example,...