This is it: And Other Essays on Zen and Spiritual Experience (original 1958; edition 1973)

by Alan Watts (Author)

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522	6	46,607	(4.02)	None
This inspiring audiobook contains six revolutionary essays exploring the relationship between spiritual experience and ordinary life-and the need for them to coexist within each of us. With essays on "cosmic consciousness" (including Alan Watts' account of his own ventures into this inward realm); the paradoxes of self-consciousness; LSD and consciousness; and the false opposition of spirit and matter, This Is It: and Other Essays on Zen and Spiritual Experience is a truly mind-opening audiobook collection.… (more)

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Member:	mkIIs
Title:	This is it: And Other Essays on Zen and Spiritual Experience
Authors:	Alan Watts (Author)
Info:	Random House USA Inc (1973), 158 pages
Collections:	Your library
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This Is It: and Other Essays on Zen and Spiritual Experience by Alan W. Watts (1958)

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I have to say, I'm quite a fan of Alan Watts, but this was absolutely painful to get through. I found this book to be 95% of random rambling about spirituality, Zen and religion and only about 5% actually interesting to read. There is zero structure here, and I often felt he got lost in his own arguments and forgot what he actually wanted to say or transmit.
THIS IS IT, it definitely is, but what is it? Unfortunately, one of the worst books I've ever read. Sorry, Alan, but I still like you! ;) (

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syssneck | Jun 30, 2022 |

Six essays in this book all deal with the relationship of mystical experience to everyday life.

PendleHillLibrary | Feb 10, 2016 |

Remarkable for his commentary on Kerouac and "Dharma Bums" (

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blake.rosser | Jul 28, 2013 |

The first book I ever picked up solely because of its cover, which reminded me of an incredible experience I had had. And reading this book definitely elucidated that experience. Alan Watts is wonderful medicine. (

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YvonneK7 | Feb 2, 2011 |

I confess to an affection for this book -- which hints at how very long ago I read it. In it, yet again, Watts writes about that which need only be written about once. Or not at all, as one isn't to do anything but suspend thought and stare blankly at "reality" without "interpreting" it. Umm . . . that's all there is to it.

Trust me. Or him.

JNagarya | Apr 19, 2008 |

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1958

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This inspiring audiobook contains six revolutionary essays exploring the relationship between spiritual experience and ordinary life-and the need for them to coexist within each of us. With essays on "cosmic consciousness" (including Alan Watts' account of his own ventures into this inward realm); the paradoxes of self-consciousness; LSD and consciousness; and the false opposition of spirit and matter, This Is It: and Other Essays on Zen and Spiritual Experience is a truly mind-opening audiobook collection.

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