Alan Watts – Being in the way 2

Detailed summary

Introduction to the Dao and the Nature of the Universe

• The principle of relativity is the foundation of the philosophy of the Dao, which is an explication of the flow of life and the idea that the universe is an energy system, not an amalgamation of block entities called things (00:00:01).
• The concept of the Dao is central to Chinese thinking and is becoming increasingly important in modern thought, as people become more aware that the universe is an energy system, rather than a collection of separate, indivisible entities like atoms (00:00:39).
• The original idea of an atom, derived from the Greek word “atomos,” meaning indivisible, has been disproven by 20th-century physics, which shows that atoms are not uncutable, but rather made up of energy in an extraordinary way, with Sir Arthur Eddington discussing the nature of electrons in his book “The Nature of the Physical World” (00:02:13).
• The transformation in Western thought has been a shift from thinking about the universe as being composed of matter or stuff that is shaped by force and energy, to understanding it as a system of energy, where energy flows in different patterns to create the various forms and substances found in the world (00:03:07).
• This new understanding of the universe as a system of energy, where energy and pattern are inextricably linked, has led to a reevaluation of the relationship between spirit and matter, with the idea that the world is not shaped stuff, but rather a dynamic flow of energy that takes on different forms and patterns (00:04:04).

The Daoist View of Change and Interconnectedness

• The course of the world is seen as a constant flow, with each person being like a whirlpool in a stream, illustrating the idea that everything is interconnected and part of a larger energy system (00:04:59).
• The form of a whirlpool remains constant, but the water within it is constantly changing, illustrating that all things and people are in a state of perpetual change, yet following a consistent pattern, (00:05:06).
• Social institutions and conventions often lead individuals to believe that they are separate and independent entities that must be protected and preserved, rather than being part of a larger, constantly changing energy field, (00:05:49).
• The Daoist way of life aims to enable people to feel a sense of unity and transparency with the natural world, allowing them to experience themselves as a part of the total course of nature, or the energy field of the whole cosmos, (00:06:36).
• This sense of unity can be achieved by becoming “transparent” to oneself, feeling that one is just like anything else around them, and allowing life to flow through them without obstruction, (00:07:00).

Contrasting the Dao with the Western Concept of God

• The concept of the Dao is distinct from the Western idea of God, which has a history rooted in political and monarchical systems, with God often being seen as a ruler who issues laws and commands, (00:08:30).
• In contrast, the Dao is seen as a rhythmic, pulsing intelligence that is inherent in the natural world, and is not a separate, commanding entity, (00:08:13).
• The idea of God in the Western tradition is influenced by the concept of ancient Near Eastern emperors, such as the Persian emperors, who were seen as rulers and lawgivers, (00:09:10).
• The laws and commandments issued by these emperors, such as the Code of Hammurabi and the Law of Moses, have had a lasting impact on the Western concept of God as a lawgiver and commander, (00:09:52).
• The Chinese conception of the universe differs from the Western view, as they do not have a notion of the universe being created by a higher power through a command or word, as stated in the phrase “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made” (00:10:14).
• The Chinese have a word for law, “t”, which originally represented a sacrificial cauldron with a knife beside it, symbolizing the emperor’s laws being engraved on iron cauldrons where people would bring sacrifices and read the laws (00:10:20).

Daoist Philosophy and the Rejection of Central Authority

• The idea of writing down laws was considered a bad idea by the emperor’s sages, as it would lead to a liturgous spirit, where people would focus on the specifics of the law and lead to complications, whereas a good judge is one who possesses “ren”, or humanheartedness, which means being a reasonable human being (00:11:08).
• The concept of Dao is not compatible with the model of a political ruler who gives orders, as described in the Dao De Jing, where the great Dao flows everywhere, loves and nourishes all things, but does not lord over them (00:11:56).
• In contrast to the Western concept of God, the Daoist philosophy views nature as a system with no boss, where everything happens by itself, and this view is considered fundamental to the philosophy (00:12:59).
• The Daoist view of the universe is that everything happens by itself, and yet, it is orderly, which is a very democratic theory, and it is surprising that people who value republicanism and self-governance often hold a monarchical view of the universe (00:13:30).
• The idea of self-governance requires a measure of anarchy and trust in others, which is challenging for a country with a history of monarchical rule, leading to a paranoid attitude and a desire for laws to control people’s behavior (00:14:09).
• The Daoist concept of the universe, where everything happens naturally and without a central authority, is in contrast to the Western notion of a universe with a central authority, such as a monarch or a single God, and this contrast highlights the differences between Eastern and Western philosophical views (00:13:08).

Trust, Democracy, and the Daoist Principle of Letting Go

• In a democratic system, it is necessary to trust one’s neighbor, even if they may not be trustworthy, as the alternative is a police state or a monarchy, and this concept of trust is essential for the functioning of a democracy (00:14:39).
• The Dowist theory of the universe is based on the idea of letting go, where everything is allowed to happen according to its nature, and this approach is characterized by paradoxes, such as the more one lets go, the more things begin to work (00:15:06).
• The human organism is considered a totality, where no single part is in charge, and the relationship between different parts, such as the brain and stomach, is similar to the relationship between bees and flowers, which are interconnected and interdependent (00:15:49).

Mutual Arising and Interdependence in the Chinese View of the World

• The concept of mutual arising, or reciprocal relationship, is central to the Chinese way of thinking, where pairs of opposites, such as bees and flowers, or eggs and hens, arise together and are aspects of the same pattern (00:17:25).
• The world is seen as a system where all things, including individuals, arise mutually with the rest of the universe, and this understanding is essential for grasping one’s own individuality (00:18:31).
• From a physiological perspective, the world outside is a state of one’s own nervous system, and the senses and nervous organization structure determine how we perceive the world, including the colors, sounds, and vibrations that we experience (00:18:49).

Perception and the Nature of Reality

• The idea that the world is a state of one’s own nervous system is illustrated by the fact that sound only exists when vibrations in the air encounter an eardrum, and that the perception of the world is dependent on the presence of a perceiver, as highlighted by the Zen poem that says “the tree shows the bodily power of the wind” (00:19:04).
• The existence of the external world is dependent on the structure of an individual’s organism, which is made up of a particular structure of nerves that evoke what is called nature and the external world, and this relationship is reciprocal, with the universe and the individual influencing each other (00:20:31).
• The concept of nature and the external world can be described in different ways, such as through the language of physics, which uses terms like electricity and quanta, but these terms are ultimately based on mysterious forces and do not fully capture the essence of the external world (00:20:45).
• The relationship between the individual and the external world is one of mutual interdependence, where the individual as a pattern of energy evokes the external world, but is also a part of the external world, and this interdependence is a fundamental aspect of the universe (00:21:53).

The Paradox of Individual and Universe

• The idea that the universe depends on the individual may seem paradoxical, but it can be understood in the context of eternity and temporality, where the existence of the individual, even if temporary, contributes to the overall nature of the universe and its potentialities (00:23:33).
• The concept of mutual interpenetration of all things and events, known as “gig mug” in Japanese, suggests that every individual and event is connected and influences each other, much like the reflection of dew drops on a spider’s web, where each drop reflects all the others (00:25:19).
• The existence of notable individuals like Socrates, Buddha, and Jesus, who have made significant contributions to human understanding, demonstrates the potentialities within the world and highlights the interconnectedness of all things (00:24:19).
• The relationship between the individual and the universe is not one of separate entities, but rather a holistic and integrated system, where every individual is an expression of nature, and the whole universe is expressed in each individual (00:24:46).
• The universe can be viewed as a complex system where each part contains everything, as illustrated by the reflections of dew drops, and this concept is similar to the Mahayana Buddhist diagram or model of the universe, where each one contains everything (00:25:42).

Human Significance and the Structure of the Universe

• The idea that humans are insignificant in the universe, being just a tiny part of a minor planet, is a 19th-century notion that can be seen as a “put down,” but it is exciting to discover that humans can evoke the whole universe with their bodies, and according to Einstein, any place in the universe can be regarded as the center (00:26:21).
• The concept of space being curved, as described by Einstein, allows for the idea that any point in the universe can be considered the center, much like the surface of a sphere, where the center can be anywhere, and this idea can be illustrated using a mirror ball (00:26:54).
• The pathetic fallacy, which is the projection of human feelings and emotions onto non-human objects, was once seen as incorrect, but it can be argued that it is not entirely wrong, as humans are symptomatic of their environment and express their environment, and if humans are intelligent, they are in an intelligent environment (00:28:13).

Humanization of the Universe and Anthropomorphic Understanding

• The universe can be seen as humanized, as everything outside of humans is known to them by being translated into the shape of their brains, and even scientific concepts like E=MC² are human rational conceptions and therefore anthropomorphic (00:29:20).
• The relationship between humans and the universe is one of mutual existence, where the universe exists in relation to humans and humans exist in relation to the universe, and this relationship is characterized by contrasting concepts like big and small, long and short, and eternity and brevity (00:30:04).
• The Dao process is not about government, but rather about mutuality, where there is an accord to move together in harmony with the universe, much like dancers who are perfectly partnered, and this understanding allows individuals to act in concord with their environment (00:30:49).

Union with the Dao and the Nature of Existence

• The relationship between the individual and the universe is one of union, where the great and the small, the vast and the short, are interconnected and inseparable, and this understanding can be achieved by recognizing that what appears to be separate is actually part of the same energy pattern (00:32:32).
• The universe can be imagined as a dynamic system, like the ocean, which is constantly waving and moving, and individuals are like the waves, each one unique and yet connected to the larger whole, and to understand this, one must deepen their consciousness and discover the point where the individual ego ceases to be (00:33:24).
• By deepening one’s consciousness, individuals can tap into the huge force of the universe that is present within them, which is the basis of their physical energy, muscular power, and existence, and at this level, they are supra-personal, connected to the larger cosmos and the primordial explosion that created the universe (00:34:26).

The Cosmic Origin and the Individual’s Place in the Universe

• The primordial explosion that created the universe is still happening, and individuals are part of this ongoing process, connected to the central explosion and manifesting it in their own unique way, and this understanding can be applied to the physical body, which is made up of ancient materials that have been transformed over time (00:35:45).
• The physical body is connected to the universe and has a long history that stretches back billions of years, and by recognizing this, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of their place in the cosmos and their connection to the larger whole, and this understanding can be achieved by considering the ancient origins of the physical body and the materials that make it up (00:36:15).
• Everything that exists, including oneself, has an incredibly ancient history that dates back to the very beginning of time, giving a new perspective on the world and its inhabitants (00:36:50).
• When the mind awakens to this reality, it allows individuals to see their friends and those around them in a new light, perceiving them as eternal beings who have been present since the beginning of time (00:37:00).
• This newfound perception transforms the way people are viewed, shifting from a mundane perspective to one where they are seen as angelic or eternal beings, unbound by the conventional notions of age and time (00:37:07).