Скачать или смотреть Alan Watts - Are You Addicted To Thoughts?

Alan Watts - Are You Addicted To Thoughts?

Alan Watts talks about what is a mind in the grip of vicious circles.

Well one of the most obvious instances that we all know is the phenomenon of worry. The doctor tells you that you have to have an operation. And that has been set up so that automatically everybody worries about it. But since worrying takes away your appetite and your sleep, it’s not good for you. So the doctor tells you not to worry because he wants you on the operating table in a state of good health. But you can’t stop worrying, and therefore you get additionally worried that you are worrying. And then furthermore, because that is quite absurd and you are mad at yourself because you do it you are worried because you worry because you worry. That is a vicious circle.

So now, Can you allow your mind to be quiet? Isn’t it difficult? Because the mind seems to be like a monkey jumping up and down and jabbering all the time once you’ve learned to think you can’t stop. And an enormous number of people. Devote their lives to keeping their minds busy. And feel extremely uncomfortable with silence. When you’re alone. Nobody saying anything, there’s nothing to do. This is good this worry this lack of distraction I’m left alone with myself and I want to get away from myself I’m always wanting to get away from myself that’s why I go to the movies that’s why I read mystery stories, that’s why I go after the girls or anything that you do or get drunk or whatever I don’t want to be with myself.

So well, why do you want to run away from yourself? What’s so bad about it? Why do you want to get this, why you want to become absorbed? Because you are addicted to thoughts. This is a drug. Compulsive thinking going on and on and on all the time. It’s a habit. So there’s a difficulty about stopping. That activity and you really have to stop it if you want to be sane. Because, if I talk all the time, I don’t hear what anyone else has to say. And then I’ll end up in the situation of having nothing to talk about that my own talking. Or so, in exactly the same way, if I think all the time, I won’t have anything to think about except thoughts.

So in order to have something to think about, there are times when you simply must stop thinking. Well how do you do that? The first rule is don’t try to, because if you do, you will be like someone trying to make rough water smooth with a flat iron. And all that will do will stir it up. So, in the same way as a muddy turbulent pool quiets itself when left alone. You have to know how to leave your mind alone. It will quiet itself.

I highly recommend you to watch my other video about addiction:
   • What Causes Addiction And How To Overcome It  

Lecture: Alan Watts' audio lecture from "The Eastern Wisdom Collection"
Background music: Song of Sadhana by Jesse Gallagher

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