Out of the Trap

by Alan W. Watts

A lo largo de su vida, pero especialmente en sus últimos años, Alan Watts dictó una serie de charlas y conferencias que tuvieron un inmenso impacto. Mark Watts, hijo de Alan, ha recogido en varios libros lo mejor de estas enseñanzas. Salir de la trampa pertenece a dicha serie. Tal como indica su título, el libro es una muestra de la prodigiosa habilidad de Watts para detectar las ideas que limitan nuestros horizontes y nos mantienen perpetuamente aferrados al ego. Watts se ríe de esa contradicción creada por nosotros mismos y que revela la ignorancia de la verdadera naturaleza humana. «Salir de la trampa» es, así, liberarse de nuestras falsas ideas y descubrir la divinidad da la vida cotidiana. El libro contiene, además, espléndidas reflexiones sobre la naturaleza, el yoga, el budismo y la experiencia mística. Sin olvidar un homenaje a la figura de Carl Jung.

Genres: Philosophy, Spirituality, Nonfiction

Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 1985

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

[Quinn da Matta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot get enough of his work - his wit, his insight, his knowledge!

Already going to start another one of his books tonight. And, when I'm done with that, move onto his next, and his next, and his next...

[Rubi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesante recopilación de reflexiones sobre religión, la fe occidental vs la oriental y elocuentes advertencias sobre el peligro de creer solo en los absolutos y en las dualidades, a la vez que nos invita a expandir nuestra mente.

Interesting compilation of reflections on religion, western vs. eastern faith, and eloquent warnings about the danger of believing only in absolutes and dualities, while inviting us to expand our minds.

[Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un llibre diferent als que acostumo a llegir sempre, m'ha sorprès gratament. Una barreja de filosofia oriental i filosofia occidental, que desglosa les contradiccions de la societat i les trampes que cada cultura i religió tenen per fer que la gent segueixi el camí desitjat. També parla de les trampes que ens posem a nosaltres mateixos i de com transcendir-les totes. Parla de la natura i de que tots som un.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walked around in the woods and read this. It's a pleasant experience. Got numerous ideas for a potential Clojure Conj talk.

[Cintya Casaliba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Algunas ideas que atraen pero en parte no sé si es algo para celebrarlo al escritor o al budismo/hinduísmo. Es como un rejunte de ideas orientales, si bien son interesantes, si hubiese leído un libro de hinduísmo o budismo hubiese sido un proceso menos lento y con menos vuelta. Con los ejemplos, las ideas del autor se pierden y a veces carecen de sentido. O quizá simplemente no es un libro para mí. Léanlo, saquen sus conclusiones o, lo que es mejor, busquen estás conferencias de Alan Watts en Youtube y escúchenlas en vez de leerlas... Las disfrutarán mucho más porque la retórica de Watts se luce mucho más.

[Iván · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esta lectura me ha llenado de paz, me encanta cuando tienes que dejar la lectura por momentos debido a las epifanías qué te provoca. Me evoca a la espiritualidad, a las puertas falsas en el hueso frontal de Cărtărescu, definitivamente es uno de mis favoritos, me deja con ganas de leer más de Alan Watts.

[Steven McCurdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I listen to Alan Watts I think he is a profound thinker. Later, I have a hard time articulating exactly what he was saying. Is that a bad thing or a good thing? 🤷‍♂️

[Nayzel Montañez · Rating 3 out of 5]

No hay nada que buscar, nada que lograr, nada que anhelar, nada que conciliar, nada que iluminar.
No existe nada detrás del velo.
Tenemos solo este instante.

[রাহুল_です · Rating 4 out of 5]

Demystifying!

[John Fredrickson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an eclectic group of lectures which discuss the human situation, our relationship to Nature, Buddhism, and also includes a tribute to Carl Jung. The material feels less focused than I would have hoped, and therefore more difficult to stay with.

Having said this, Watts 'is' still a terrific communicator of what it means to be in the trap of our culture's set of human conditioning forces. He uses his knowledge of Eastern religious practices and orientations to expose some of what would appear to be our culture's blind spots, always using language that is very clear and easily accessible. He has an uncanny ability to portray our habitual ways of perceiving our world, and showing how one could approach this world in different (and potentially more fruitful) ways, and he does this with what feels like an extraordinarily mischievous wit at times.

[Pineapple Pizza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another masterpiece to slowly digest and never left far from our hands.
Watts compiles a down-to-earth knowledge of Eastern philosophies with special focus on Buddhism and uses it, through amazingly easy examples, whether to set the edges of the path to enlightenment, whether to make us give a thorough second thought at the way things really are.

A good book if you own already some knowledge in this arena.