Who Am I? | The Philosophy of Alan Watts

Who am I? Am I the mind? Am I the body that contains the mind? Am I a descendant of an alien race that, long ago, set foot on Earth? Am I created by God?

The English philosopher, writer, and speaker Alan Watts believed that the most important question a human could ask is this: “who am I?” During his long career as an interpreter of Eastern philosophies like Zen Buddhism and Taoism, he tried to solve the riddles of human existence.

Because it seems difficult for us to see ‘who we are’ and ‘who we aren’t’, which Watts compared to the inability to bite our own teeth, he uses similes and metaphors to bring his points across.

In his lectures, he emphasizes that we are much more intertwined with the universe around us than we think and that the separateness between us and the outer world that our minds perceive is, in fact, an illusion.

So, we could ask: “what is this illusion? And if I’m living in an illusion, then, who am I?”

This video contains reflections on the thoughts and philosophy of Alan Watts in regards to who we really are, and who we are not.

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[QuestionEverythingButWHY]

“Trying to define yourself is like trying to bite your own teeth.”
― Alan Watts

[jaronloar]

Why does everything seem so meaningful and meaningless at the same time?

[QuestionEverythingButWHY]

“Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.”
― Carl Gustav Jung

[QuestionEverythingButWHY]

“We seldom realize, for example that our most private thoughts and emotions are not actually our own. For we think in terms of languages and images which we did not invent, but which were given to us by our society.”
― Alan Watts

[threethrushes]

Who am I?

I`m a joker, I`m a smoker, I`m a midnight toker.

[ICEcoldJT]

When you CAN’T CONTROL what’s happening, challenge yourself to CONTROL HOW YOU RESPOND to what’s happening. That’s where YOUR POWER is. 💜💫

[TheDhammaHub]

Alan Watts is such a nice man... one of the first that established some Eastern Wisdom in the West!

[MediaSock]

I've always wondered the same thing since I was kid, I have laid awake at nights pondering these questions, why am I inside this body?, why do I see from behind these eyes & not through somebody else's eyes?, why am I trapped inside this body?, is this body a prison for my mind?, is my mind a prison for my soul?, am I being punished?, is this life a reward?, did I choose this life? what will happen to this entity inside my body when I die? will I be reincarnated as somebody else or will I comeback as an insect or an alien? will I come back to this planet, this universe, this dimension?, will I go to heaven or will I go to hell?, will my spirit live on forever or will I cease to exist?, will I become a ghost and be condemned to wonder the earth forever?, will I be sent to purgatory?, why do I feel like I am the only one that experiences the world like this?, why do I feel like I'm the only one that's truly alive?, why do I feel special?, am I special?, who am I?, who have I been?, have I always been me?, will I always be me?, who or what decided I should be me?, will I ever be somebody else?, who or what created me?, what makes me, me?, do I have a soul?, does my consciousness reside inside my body or does it reside inside my mind?, am I dreaming all this?, am I in a simulation?, is this reality an illusion?, am I even real?, what am I?, what was I before this life?, why am I here?, do I even matter?, does my life have meaning?, what is my purpose?, am I suppose to do or not do something?, will I ever find out what all this is about?, and if I had all the answers to all these questions would I be satisfied then?.

[Itz_KLONOPIN]

This channel wouldn't be nearly as popular without your accent Ez 😉👌

[minnigmanmad]

This is such a bittersweet video for me.
My ex girlfriend broke our relationship and all our future plans because she took inspiration on alan watts.. She wanted to live a life as an open spirit. Being Independent and non monogamous, meeting new people every day, and if the vibe is great, she would a sexual connection with them.. This has caused me so much pain because we felt deeply connected. Soul mates if you will. Its been only a month since it happened and i still struggle with the loss, brought me deeper into depression. She wanted to remain friends i couldn't remain her friend because it would just hurt me too much seeing a future without her by my side..
Maybe its my perspective on life and monogamy that is wrong, or its hers, or both..
I would love other peoples opinions about this if you really don't mind answering a fellow internet stranger.

Thank you for the video. I have a lot to learn about life and our emotions Maybe one day i will understand the bigger picture.

[Dasckolar]

“I have realized that the past and future are real illusions, that they exist in the present, which is what there is and all there is.”
- Alan Watts

[Vacuumhead]

Descartes: I think, therefore I am.
Watts: You should think again, man ...

[Diabeteslovewithdee]

Einzelganger, you’re amazing human being! Thank you for sharing your arts and philosophy! So grateful to have found you.

[carrancho]

This video really resonated with me because of an experience I had a couple of weeks ago. My mom was doing putting nail polish in my nails while she was grabbing my hands, while she was doing that I was just there appreciating the moment. While I was appreciating the moment for a slight second I felt this sensation of whatever I am or who I am was not my body but something else. I dont know how to describe the feeling or put it into words but it was a very quick moment and it has changed how I see many things now. Curious if anybody here has ever experienced something like that. Good day everyone!

[theunraveler]

Luminous beings we are, not this crude matter - Yoda

[SY-spuo]

The life is not about finding yourself, life is about creating yourself! 🥂

[memesmojo]

we are spiritual beings having a human experience

[SanderJanssenBSc]

About to finish my 5th Alan watts book this man is a genius 💥

[folliesofmen]

When humanity takes beauties as beauties, that's ugliness in itself; when they take virtues as virtues, that's vice already.
-Tao Te Ching Chapter 2

[DaveTan]

I'm a dude (SELF) playing a dude (EGO) disguised as another dude (PERSONA).