Mark Watts
Alan Watts’ Son
Previously Aired On: July 1, 2007 – Listen to this Show!
Alan Watts held a Master’s Degree in Theology from Sudbury-Western Theological Seminary and an Honorary DD from the University of Vermont in recognition of his work in the field of comparative religions. For more than forty years, Alan Watts earned a reputation as a foremost interpreter of Eastern philosophies for the West. Beginning at age sixteen, when he wrote essay for the journal of the Buddhist Lodge in London, he developed an audience of millions who were enriched through his books, tape recordings, radio, television, and public lectures. In all, Watts wrote more than twenty-five books and recorded hundreds of lectures and seminars, all building toward a personal philosophy that he shared in complete candor and joy with his readers and listeners throughout the world. His overall works have presented a model of individuality and self-expression that can be matched by few philosophers.
Alan Watts held fellowships from Harvard University and the Bollingen Foundation, and was Episcopal Chaplain at Northwestern University during the Second World War. He became professor and dean of the American Academy of Asian Studies in San Francisco, made the television series “Eastern Wisdom and Modern Life” for National Educational Television, and served as a visiting consultant for psychiatric institutions and hospitals, and for the United States Air Force. In the mid-sixties he traveled widely with his students in Japan, and visited Burma, Ceylon, and India.
Mark Watts, the eldest son of Alan, continues to preserve the legacy of his father through maintaining a library of writing and recordings – both visual and audio at the Alan Watts Mountian Center. In addition to online publishing, the Center’s goal is to continue make the Alan Watts archive accessible for education and creative productions by providing materials to libraries, educators, producers, writers, musicians, editors, animators, and others.
Visit: AlanWatts.com
Dear Mark Watts;
Your father’s work changed my life and is part of my day to day philosophy.
In a dream the other day, I dreamt that there would be a new City, maybe called Tibet City, in Tibet where the language and culture would be preserved and the Dalai Lama could live and teach…but of course that is not likely to happen and neither side would think it a good idea.
What might be a good idea is if the Alan Watts Mountain House and surrounding area become a sort of Little Tibet and a place where monks could live and sing and where the Dalai Lama could great guests and speak and teach, etc.
I just thought I’d share this idea with you today. If you think you’d like to consider something like this, please contact Rinchen Dhondrub at rinchen@dalailama.com
Best wishes to you.
Sincerely, Matthew Watts
Comment by Matthew Watts | July 4, 2008
Dear Mark Watts,
I have come across an article in which your father (who I admire greatly) is quoted as such: “You have to admire the animals – they suffer and die yet make so little fuss of it.”
I wonder if this is an authentic quote? The quote doesn’t make sense to me from a Buddhist perspective. If your father has really said this, I wonder in what context?
Sorry to bother you with this and if it is a hassle, don’t worry about it.
Many thanks and best wishes
Stefan Mager
Comment by Stefan Mager | December 2, 2008
I read “This is IT” a few times before it hit me when I was 19, in 1971. I wanted so bad to thank Alan Watts, but it also occurred to me that it wasn’t necessary, I WAS him. In the first comment on this page, the writer mentions the Dalai Lama. But this Dalai Lama guy might not “know” what’s up, what some of us “know” (for lack of a better word) since he was “appointed” — Capice?
Comment by Bill "Non-Compassionate Liberal" Paci | August 16, 2010
Alan Watts has no equal. NONE. Completely unique and ahead of his time. His talk about ‘Drugs’ was so ahead of it’s time it is amazing how much one man can know about the reality of what is really going on.
Just wanted to say thank you. I have been enlightened and continue to be so each and everyday. In other words I learn something new everyday it seems, that blows my mind.
Finally, I have not found anyone else that has explained Philosophy mixed with science (the scientific method of thinking and problem solving). Truly grateful for his audio and writings.
Thank you Alan Watts.
Comment by Matt Kukowski | December 9, 2010
Nice one! Great post you have written!!!
Comment by Reyna Ellebracht | December 15, 2010
You made some decent points there. I did a search on the issue and found most persons will agree with your blog.
Comment by Tle Flex Belt | January 6, 2011
This is to tell Mark (who must now be around my own age, since I was 23 when his father died) what a great admirer of AW I have been, quoting him and his story in my own talks and experiential learning programs.
I am especially grateful for the concept of “the wiggly world” presented in “Conversation with Myself-Part One” on You Tube, which I note has received over 300,000 hits. I have not found any other references to this “Wiggliness” concept (not even in Zen) so have been assuming this was HIS thing– does anyone please know if I am right about this? Certainly it helps confirm AW’s role as an environmental pioneer…….long before GREEN became fashionable!
So keep up the good work, Mark et al., of keeping your father’s memory alive as –in a very small way– I have also been doing in my own work.
Charles Rycroft,
Senior Consultant.
“I Will Not Complain” (www.iwnc.com)
Beijing, China.
Comment by Charles Rycroft | April 17, 2011
yes, indeed, every day something new & profound knocks at my door … this time it was Mr. Alan Wilson Watts … “Since opposed principles, or ideologies, are irreconcilable, wars fought over principle will we wars of MUTUAL ANNIHILATION …” Most of us ‘look up’ but isn’t there anybody listening?
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Comment by Marlin Bacchus | August 15, 2011