Let’s Expand the Mind Once (or) More!

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Hello, friends!
As I mentioned in my last post two weeks ago, I decided to take a break from sharing new posts to alleviate some pressure on myself. Unfortunately, my brief explanation about this decision led to misunderstandings among many of you, while a few friends grasped my point. So, to make it clear, I am not on holiday; I am working more than usual because my boss is still in the hospital. I appreciate your understanding!

Anyway, as you can see, I have a new post yet, though not something heavy. It’s light and deep, for sure! Simply put, as I’ve been reflecting on my experiences with WordPress over the past couple of years, I’ve realized that artists need inspiration to create art. However, that inspiration isn’t always readily available. This platform provides a wonderful opportunity for us to share our thoughts and feelings naturally rather than treating it like a mandatory series production we must complete out of obligation. Consequently, I have decided to give myself time and share my thoughts when I believe they are valuable. 🤗

I’m still experiencing a tough time because of my “Standby” position (Imagine waking up each day unsure if you can work from home or need to jump out and drive around!). I find it hard to focus on anything that could calm my restless mind, and I feel like losing my creative spark. I started working on the Egypt post, but it didn’t satisfy me, so I decided to share an instructive story and some charming videos about a great and knowledgeable thinker, Alan Watts.
I hope you will enjoy it, and I can take another break!!

Let’s examine our lives and our existence. It is not so difficult; we just need to loosen the tension in every muscle in our body, especially our brains, and surf around.

Alan Watts played a significant role in popularizing Zen Buddhism in the West, paving the way for traditional teachers like Soto priest Suzuki Roshi. However, Watts did not consider himself a Zen Buddhist. In a talk animated by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, he clarifies, “I am not a Zen Buddhist; I am not advocating Zen Buddhism or trying to convert anyone. I have nothing to sell.” He identifies himself simply as “an entertainer.” Is he joking?

Watts was ordained an Episcopal priest in 1945 and served until 1950. He was a complex character—a strict anti-dogmatist who found rigid doctrine irritating at best and profoundly oppressive and dehumanizing at worst.

Watts wasn’t a strict Zen priest but learned a lot from Japanese Buddhist concepts, which he explains in the short section of the video above. He also found similar insights about the interconnectedness of all things in Daoism. Above, you’ll see a short animation by Eddie Rosas from The Simpsons, where Watts illustrates “Daoism in perfection” through a simple parable.

In this short animated parable by Steve Agnos below, he states, “The whole process of nature is an integrated process of immense complexity.” However, instead of illustrating a lesson about unity, he suggests that nature and reality are ultimately beyond our understanding. He argues that “it is really impossible to determine whether anything that occurs within it is good or bad.” Therefore, the most reasonable approach seems to avoid judging in either direction.

And how it can be easy to open our minds, honestly, to ourselves and use our brain to think over and not take the easy way to judge:

Alan Watts critiques the human tendency to make hasty judgments, as seen in this mastery “talk-animated” below by Tim McCourt and Wesley Louis of Westminster Arts & Film London. He explores personal identity and the ego’s separation from reality, emphasizing the theme of interconnectedness. Watts asserts it is “impossible to cut ourselves off from the social and natural environments; we are that.” To discover this truth, he encourages us to become “deep listeners” and to let go of embarrassment, shyness, and anxiety.

I am not selling anything, either! 😅 (unfortunately!!?), but I send my best wishes to you all. Have a lovely time and till then.🙏💖🌹

Source: OenCulture

29 thoughts on “Let’s Expand the Mind Once (or) More!”

  3. Although I know his name, I don’t know anything about Alan Watts. So thank you so much for sharing this interesting post. I’ll watch the videos over the weekend.

    How frustrating it must be for you Aladin, not knowing if you’re working each day, and if you’re not. It must be difficult, if not impossible, to relax whilst on ‘stand by’.

    Let’s not forget it’s a very kind thing you’re doing by taking on these extra hours whilst your boss recovers in hospital. Have a lovely, restful weekend. Love and light, Deborah.

    Liked by 2 people

  4. An interesting post Aladin and one I’ll need to ponder on and watch the videos. It’s very discombobulating not knowing where you’ll be working nor when – I can relate to that from my pre therapist career where I worked on management consultancy projects that could end at any moment! I hope that you get time out to catch up with yourself and rest and relax in the coming days.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Oh yeah, I hope so! However, an operation on the hips depends on the patient’s ability to move, and as I know my boss, he is not the most moveable man! Whatsoever, as he would be able to sit in his taxi, is the greatest glory for all of us! Thank you, my dear Lin, and have a lovely season.🥰🦋🌹💖

      Liked by 2 people

  5. Hello Aladin

    A most enjoyable post, thank you! The short animated video was quite teaching.

    I wish you well, and hope you get your more regular life and full creative energy back soon!

    I too, am selling nothing. I just want to share the arta.

    🤍🕊🌹❦💓

    PS- I enjoyed the previous post A Little Princess on a Scented Bottle, a lot.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Ah, but being judgmental is such fun! It’s like poking fun of famous people we all know — they’re there like faces on Mount Rushmore, studious or silly, and equally likely to be fond targets of our (informed) ridicule.

    When we judge others, we are really saying a lot about ourselves. It is the most human thing to do, to make an opinion realized out of the thinnest of vapors. And as a human endeavor, it is best done by epicureans and autodidacts, men who know how to have a good time.

    Come visit my blog, and leave some comments, if you like

    http://www.dark.sport.blog

    Like

  8. The world needs a little more of Alan Watts these days, Aladin. I read a few of his books as a young person and his perspective was (is) just what I needed. Thanks for the links and discussion, and I hope you find more balance in your time soon. Take care.

    Liked by 2 people

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