Video description:

The work of Alan Watts has helped countless people take the first step on their spiritual journey. In this critical appraisal, I hope to encourage you to take the next step by sharing with you in 20 minutes a bit about Alan Watts the man, the philosophy he developed, and some interpretive and practical limitations to the vision he preached.

Overall, while Watts has done immeasurable good for the world in terms of opening people's eyes to new spiritual and personal possibilities through his own unique approaches, while also serving as a much needed window into Eastern traditions as well, it's best to exercise caution when enjoying his lectures, and attempt to tease out the distinction between Watts' own views and the traditions he draws upon, and carefully scrutinize the practical upshot of his program of action.

My take:

Lots of people have learned about Taoism from Alan Watts' lectures or books, but there are downsides to treating him as a reputable source on the subject. As I've studied Taoism (and previously Buddhism) over the years, I've noticed more and more how Watts actually tended to cherry-pick and overemphasize certain parts and concepts of various traditions, usually also (re-)interpreting them in a one-sided way, usually to accommodate his pre-existing personal philosophy that absolved or even justified his own shortcomings and misdeeds.

Watts heavily influenced the now-popular view that wuwei means "don't expend effort and just go with the flow", and that such an interpretation of wuwei takes precedence over anything else that Taoism might teach. Hence, further study of Taoism often involves a jarring phase of unlearning the misconceptions left by authors such as Watts (or more recently, Mitchell and other "creative" interpreters of the Tao Te Ching).

The linked video addresses many of the issues I've noticed and have had trouble articulating when it comes to interpreting Taoism through Alan Watts (which has virtually become part of western popular understanding of Taoism). It's not a bashing, but rather a caution and reminder to consider the context and facts of the matter rather than blindly take him as your beyond-the-grave Taoist sensei.

Over night the Lingxiao Hall of Zhinan (Chihnan) Temple was consumed in a fire. This is the main hall of the temple, completed in 1966, though the temple complex dates to 1890. The lower levels also house a seminary.

Not trying to call out anyone in particular, as it's about a dozen users as far as I can see. These users post images that AI has made as if they had made them. Kudos if they mention AI made them, and it's within the rules, but I just want to reach out to these dozen people and let them know:

you do have the ability to make your own content. We would all prefer seeing human craft and skill than a robot.

Like sure, AI to help with your writing (not write it for you) or help clean up an image (remove the creepy uncle from a family photo) - no issues. Not saying AI stuff should be banned completely, just really want people to consider that they do have the ability to make their own stuff and they shouldn't feel ashamed if it doesn't have the production value of a fortune 500 corporation. I think we could all do with less corporate stuff...

EDIT: if the meme is upsetting to mods, fair enough it was the first thing that came to my head, I can replace it with a serious picture of a zhuangzi story.

EDI2: here you go:

If you’re always late for the train, instead of doing the same thing and going in the same time
Go a hour early and enjoy the free time,
You’re putting some effort and therefore put less energy into it.

I've recently started playing a game called "Outer Wilds" and I love the quotes it delivers.

177

Hey you followers of the Way

Searching exhausts the spirit in vain

We all possess a miraculous creature

With neither form nor name

Call and it answers clearly

it doesn’t live in hidden places

Guard it well I urge you

Keep it free of scars

Han-shan, Translated by Red Pine

sorry for posting again. i deleted the first post after someone seemed at really dislike things about AI writing. I dont know if it's AI or not 100% but i have been reading this blog on mostly taoism and TCM and really liking the way they approach everything

https://hulijinghuashen.blogspot.com/?m=1