Still the Mind

Alan Watts. New World Library.

Still the Mind.

So when you set someone up as an authority, never forget that the belief that you have in this authority is just your opinion.

… you must learn to distinguish between a living Buddha and a stone Buddha, because if a Buddha was simply one who was not affected by anything, then lumps of wood and pieces of stone would be Buddhas.

There are two kinds of games - the game you play to win and the game you play to play.

… there is no why, and in a way that is rather splendid.

… a person who is looking for peace is obviously in turmoil.

If you can only realize that the purpose of life is not in the future.

The water never uses any effort, however, only its weight and gravity, and following its level it finds the path of least resistance.

“Just wait,”… “and you will find the way to get through.”

This is the principle called judo in Japanese, which means the gentle way. Go along with it, go along with it - and then you can redirect the energy to go your own way.

Simply watch everything going on without attempting to change it in any way, without judging it, without calling it good or bad. Just watch it. That is the essential process of meditation.

… preaching is a kind of moral violence…

That is part of the ritual: just listen.