The Way of Zen
by Alan Watts · first published 1957
73% recommend27% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Accessible, plain-English introduction to Zen for Westerners who want the philosophy without the religious trappings; it traces Zen's roots in Hindu, Buddhist and Taoist thought and shifts how readers see everyday life.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
An introduction to the philosophy of Zen, its Buddhist and Taoist origins, and its main principles.
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One of the most important books in my life has been The Way of Zen by Alan Watts (I listened to it as an audiobook). It changed the way I think and feel (or at least how I react to feelings). Other interesting books about philosophy/spirituality are Jonathan Livingston…
on “Ask HN: Books with a high signal to noise ratio?” ↗The Way of Zen by Alan Watts. The book is a historical analysis of the culmination of zen buddhism from its roots in hindu, buddhist, and toaist philosophies. Watts presents a perspective on how to approach your everyday…
on “Ask HN: Books on specific topics that have applied to many areas of your life?” ↗…is out[1][2], and I'd really like to know what you read this year that stuck with you. For me, in no particular order: * Tim Wainwright - "Narco-nomics: How To Run A Drug Cartel" * Alan Watts - "The Way of Zen" * Richard Carlson - "Stop Thinking, Start Living" * Andrew Whitley - "Bread Matters: How and Why to Make Your Own" * Amanda Palmer - "The Art of Asking" I'm not a fast reader, and I do have a high…
on “Ask HN: Notable books you read this year” ↗For me it was Zen, which I heard is in some ways quite similar to Stoicism. A good start is Alan Watts' "The Way of Zen": https://www.amazon.com/Way-Zen-Alan-W-Watts/dp/0375705104
on “How Worrying Can Actually Make You Sick” ↗…light. I could recognize common concepts in stories and human life in general. It also opened my mind for later Alan Watts reads on the interconnected-ness of everything. Someone already recommended "The Way of Zen" by Alan Watts, which I can only approve of! I'd also like to add "The Book - On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are", also by Watts.
on “Ask HN: Books on specific topics that have applied to many areas of your life?” ↗"The Way of Zen" by Alan Watts. In its first chapter there's the best and only compelling argument I've ever read in favour of spirituality and why people believe in God. Even an ultra-atheist like me finally got why…
on “Ask HN: Do you recall any book or course that made a topic finally click?” ↗…indicated in the last paragraph on "results tank" not "effort tank" is lust of result. There aren't as many sources discussing this topic directly, but Zen in the Art of Archery [2] is good, as is Watts' Way of Zen [3]. I highly recommend them all for anyone interested in creating things. [0] http://www.amazon.com/Tao-Watercourse-Way-Alan-Watts/dp/0394... [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_wei [2] http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Art-Archery-Eugen-Herrigel/dp/0375...…
on “Toss Your Expectations Into the Ocean” ↗Do you count happiness, contentment, enlightenment, higher states of consciousness, etc., as superpowers? Either of these two books might change your life forever. Both by Alan Watts: The Way of Zen [1], and The Book on the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are [2] [1] http://www.amazon.com/Way-Zen-Alan-W-Watts/dp/0375705104 [2] http://www.amazon.com/Book-Taboo-Against-Knowing-Who/dp/0679... [3] https://www.google.com/search?q=filetype%3Apdf+watts+book…
on “What one book could give me a new, useful superpower?” ↗The book that really got me going was The Way of Zen by Alan Watts. I felt like that was a good introduction for myself (a Westerner who didn't want the religious component of Buddhism). From there it was pretty much a lot of sitting, breath meditation,…
on “Ask HN: What's your greatest epiphany? ” ↗Buddhism (and better living): Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Siddhartha (by Hermann Hesse), The Way of Zen (by Alan Watts - I learned a lot about meditation and satori). Also: Think and Grow Rich (by Napoleon Hill, the original self-improvement book)
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite books? I'm bored” ↗Alan Watts' The Way of Zen[1] is a great, rather iconoclastic, introduction to Zen and one if his best works. Another wonderful read is D.T. Suzuki's Zen and Japanese Culture[2]. And R.H. Blyth's Zen in English Literature and…
on “Zen Buddhism and Alan Watts” ↗The Way of Zen by Alan Watts is really good. I learned a lot and it helped me view the world differently. http://www.amazon.com/The-Way-Zen-Alan-Watts/dp/0375705104
on “Ask HN: Buddhism” ↗I would like to point to this enlightening post on Zen and Free will - https://aeon.co/essays/do-i-have-free-will-in-zen-the-questi... Also the insights of Alan Watts in the book 'The Way of Zen' and others on Free will and Determinism is eye opening. I think one has to examine whether the feeling of a separate "I" who has to surf through tides of fate is real. I think in meditation, or in…
on “Heads or Tails: The Impact of a Coin Toss on Major Life Decisions and Happiness [pdf]” ↗…human mind and psyche. Being able to read and understand more literature also gave me more perspectives and deeper understanding of the world and place of mankind in it. Some other nice reads: "The Way of Zen" - Alan Watts "The Book" (On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are) - Alan Watts "Demian" - Hermann Hesse; but I wouldn't want to read it earlier. I think I read at the exact best time for me (in my…
on “Ask HN: Books you wish you had read earlier?” ↗…in general. It also opened my mind for later Alan Watts reads on the interconnected-ness of everything. Someone already recommended Alan Watts. Which I can only approve of! I'd also like to add "The Way of Zen" and "The Book - On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are", also by Watts. (self-copy from previous similar discussions)
on “Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything?” ↗