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The Joker
Audio Cassette
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 12, 2019
Interesting book.
Actually, interesting lectures, because the book is actually a series of recorded lectures given by Alan Watts to a group of people to which he was showing and teaching more about Zen.
As was the case with some other books on the topic, I'm having a hard time describing my feelings and my gathered knowledge from this audiobook. How can you encompass that which you cannot write about?
So, for instance, if you get tickled with a feather can you fully describe the experience and the state it evokes? Sure, you can say it tingles but, can you make me feel the tingle and all that comes with it? So is the nature of Zen: if you think you can talk about it than you have not understood it.
However, the topic that I can articulate some words on, is the clarity that Alan Watts has when talking about the nature of the world. I've listened to some people on the topic before and I've even read some of Dalai Lama's teachings, but it's hard to compare the flow of Alan Watts to anyone's.
Not to mention the hard subjects he treats in his lectures, such as the nature of the universe, of man and of the whole structure of existence. I find this hard to bring into words, even by the most literate people on the planet.
However, what got me thinking most, was the piece about Karma. Karma, you see, is nothing but the actions we take and that become us eventually.
So, for instance if you choose every day to:
- take a certain route to work
- wash your teeth with a certain hand
- were a certain type of clothes
- drink some brand of juice over others
- act a certain way when offended
- type a certain way at the keyboard
- etc
Well then, soon that becomes..YOU. And then, when you decide to change something, it might not be so easy, as ingrained habits always are difficult to twist and turn. As a result of that, you might get some things out of life, over others.
And that, in my narrow and shallow explanation is what we call...Karma.
And, when you finally decide to change (assuming you want more from yourself), you serve notice to the devil and he comes in and stops you one way or another. Because, to quote alan Watts, "who do you think the devil is?" :) It's still you, that primitive part that is trying to preserve you for your own sake, because that's how your brain actually work.
But enough spoilers. "The Joker" is a very interesting book narrated by the author with a very charming and soothing english accent.
Njoy!
Actually, interesting lectures, because the book is actually a series of recorded lectures given by Alan Watts to a group of people to which he was showing and teaching more about Zen.
As was the case with some other books on the topic, I'm having a hard time describing my feelings and my gathered knowledge from this audiobook. How can you encompass that which you cannot write about?
So, for instance, if you get tickled with a feather can you fully describe the experience and the state it evokes? Sure, you can say it tingles but, can you make me feel the tingle and all that comes with it? So is the nature of Zen: if you think you can talk about it than you have not understood it.
However, the topic that I can articulate some words on, is the clarity that Alan Watts has when talking about the nature of the world. I've listened to some people on the topic before and I've even read some of Dalai Lama's teachings, but it's hard to compare the flow of Alan Watts to anyone's.
Not to mention the hard subjects he treats in his lectures, such as the nature of the universe, of man and of the whole structure of existence. I find this hard to bring into words, even by the most literate people on the planet.
However, what got me thinking most, was the piece about Karma. Karma, you see, is nothing but the actions we take and that become us eventually.
So, for instance if you choose every day to:
- take a certain route to work
- wash your teeth with a certain hand
- were a certain type of clothes
- drink some brand of juice over others
- act a certain way when offended
- type a certain way at the keyboard
- etc
Well then, soon that becomes..YOU. And then, when you decide to change something, it might not be so easy, as ingrained habits always are difficult to twist and turn. As a result of that, you might get some things out of life, over others.
And that, in my narrow and shallow explanation is what we call...Karma.
And, when you finally decide to change (assuming you want more from yourself), you serve notice to the devil and he comes in and stops you one way or another. Because, to quote alan Watts, "who do you think the devil is?" :) It's still you, that primitive part that is trying to preserve you for your own sake, because that's how your brain actually work.
But enough spoilers. "The Joker" is a very interesting book narrated by the author with a very charming and soothing english accent.
Njoy!
September 25, 2021
The book in one sentence:
Alan Watts explains the work of "the Joker" aka God or the creator or Brahman
Impressions?
This is obviously a biased view as I am a big time Alan Watts fan/student but this lecture has been another mind-bending endeavor. It was way too short. I wish it went on forever. Loved every second of it.
Who should read it?
Die hard Alan Watts fans who have consumed his previous lectures. This is definitely a more "advanced" lecture. Newbies to Alan's work would probably find it a bit cryptic. Please read some of his previous works and/or be familiar with eastern traditions before engaging with this lecture.
Favorite quote(s)?
"The real joker is Brahman (the big joker) - those who realize life is a joke become the small joker"
"If we knew the outcome of our future, we wouldn't want to go on living it"
"The mere reason why all of this exists means that non-existence must also exists"
"YOU CAN TRY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF SUFFERING BY:
○ By immersing yourself in pleasure (hedonism), only leads to a hangover
○ By asceticism, brings no liberation but a sort of masochism where you take pleasure in pain
○ There is a middle way is between hedonism on one hand and asceticism on the other"
"You must get really close to your inner self and accept yourself completely that is the only way to liberate yourself"
Alan Watts explains the work of "the Joker" aka God or the creator or Brahman
Impressions?
This is obviously a biased view as I am a big time Alan Watts fan/student but this lecture has been another mind-bending endeavor. It was way too short. I wish it went on forever. Loved every second of it.
Who should read it?
Die hard Alan Watts fans who have consumed his previous lectures. This is definitely a more "advanced" lecture. Newbies to Alan's work would probably find it a bit cryptic. Please read some of his previous works and/or be familiar with eastern traditions before engaging with this lecture.
Favorite quote(s)?
"The real joker is Brahman (the big joker) - those who realize life is a joke become the small joker"
"If we knew the outcome of our future, we wouldn't want to go on living it"
"The mere reason why all of this exists means that non-existence must also exists"
"YOU CAN TRY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF SUFFERING BY:
○ By immersing yourself in pleasure (hedonism), only leads to a hangover
○ By asceticism, brings no liberation but a sort of masochism where you take pleasure in pain
○ There is a middle way is between hedonism on one hand and asceticism on the other"
"You must get really close to your inner self and accept yourself completely that is the only way to liberate yourself"
Readability: Hard ----o Easy
Practicality: Low ----o High
Insights: Few ----o Many
Length: Long ----o Short
Overall: Bad ----o Amazing
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews