The Art of Contemplation: A Facsimile Manuscript with Doodles

by Alan W. Watts

A manuscript with doodles, handwritten by Alan Watts. First published as a limited edition by the Society of Comparative Philosophy in 1972, this is a facsimile reprint. From the final page: "Egoless people have very strong characters."

Genres: Philosophy

34 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Alan Wilson Watts was a British philosopher, writer and speaker, who held both a Master's in Theology and a Doctorate of Divinity. Famous for his research on comparative religion, he was best known as an interpreter and popularizer of Asian philosophies for a Western audience. He wrote over 25 books and numerous articles on subjects such as personal identity, the true nature of reality, higher consciousness, the meaning of life, concepts and images of God and the non-material pursuit of happiness. In his books he relates his experience to scientific knowledge and to the teachings of Eastern and Western religion and philosophy.

Reviews

[Sai Prasanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lifework of Alan Watts in 8 pages.
http://justpaste.it/TheArtOfContempla...

[Elke de Echte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This facsimile 1972 manuscript with doodles by the master himself reads almost like a handbook into mastering the art of meditation or contemplation, as Alan Watts prefers to call it. In his typical clear-sighted rhythm and style, he manages to break through any taboos in which such a theme is often wrapped. “A competent guru will suggest techniques so clever that their absurdity will be difficult to discover without resolute attempts to follow them through.” Exactly. As always, the message is the following: it is the ego keeping us from engaging in contemplation, without any expectations or guarantees, but for the simple act of enjoying this wholesome activity.

[haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alan Watts has pretty much figured out life. I recommend his writing to everyone. He takes most of his cues from Eastern Religions, and while I'm no buddhist, I believe they've got a stranglehold on the great ideas of what life is really about. The two most important things I've gleaned are that 1). life is about change and 2). awareness( of youself, of life, of the things happening around you) is key.

Check him out.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written (and drawn) in the visual sense. The content presented some interesting philosophies and some unusual perspectives of a modern Buddhist meditation philosopher. However, it improved my ability to let go and focus not through its philosophy, but through its art.

[Kenneth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally printed privately, this is a facsimile of a manuscript handwritten by Watts himself, in which he muses and discusses the practices of contemplation and meditation in their various forms.

[Robert Lei]

8 pages of doodles and 8 pages of Watts prose. More so memorabilia than book.