In his definitive introduction to Zen Buddhism, Alan Watts explains the
principles and practices of this ancient religion to Western readers.
With a rare combination of freshness and lucidity, he delves into the
origins and history of Zen to explain what it means for the world today
with incredible clarity. Watts saw Zen as “one of the most precious
gifts of Asia to the world,” and in The Way of Zen he gives this gift to readers everywhere.
"After D.T. Suzuki, Alan Watts stands as the godfather of
Zen in America. Often taken to task for inspiring the flimsy
spontaneity of Beat Zen, Watts had an undeniably keen understanding of
his subject. Nowhere is this more evident than in his 1957 classic The Way of Zen,
which has been reissued. Watts takes the reader back to the
philosophical foundations of Zen in the conceptual world of Hinduism,
follows Buddhism's course through the development of the early Mahayana
school, the birth of Zen from Buddhism's marriage with Chinese Taoism,
and on to Zen's unique expression in Japanese art and life. As a
Westerner, Watts anticipates the stumbling blocks encountered with such
concepts as emptiness and no-mind, then illustrates with flawlessly apt
examples. Many popular books have been written on Zen since Watts' time,
but few have been able to muster the rare combination of erudition and
clarity that have kept The Way of Zen in readers' hands decade after decade." --Brian Bruya
Alan W. Watts, who held both a master’s degree in
theology and a doctorate of divinity, is best remembered as an
interpreter of Zen Buddhism in particular, and of Indian and Chinese
philosophy in general. Standing apart, however, from sectarian
membership, he has earned the reputation of being one of the most
original and “unrutted” philosophers of the twentieth century. Watts was
the author of some twenty books on the philosophy and psychology of
religion that have been published in many languages throughout the
world, including the bestselling The Way of Zen. An avid lecturer, Watts appeared regularly on the radio and hosted the popular television series, Eastern Wisdom and Modern Life,in the 1960s. He died in 1973.
In his definitive introduction to Zen Buddhism, Alan Watts explains the principles and practices of this ancient religion to Western readers. With a rare combination of freshness and lucidity, he delves into the origins and history of Zen to explain what it means for the world today with incredible clarity. Watts saw Zen as “one of the most precious gifts of Asia to the world,” and in The Way of Zen he gives this gift to readers everywhere.
"After D.T. Suzuki, Alan Watts stands as the godfather of Zen in America. Often taken to task for inspiring the flimsy spontaneity of Beat Zen, Watts had an undeniably keen understanding of his subject. Nowhere is this more evident than in his 1957 classic The Way of Zen, which has been reissued. Watts takes the reader back to the philosophical foundations of Zen in the conceptual world of Hinduism, follows Buddhism's course through the development of the early Mahayana school, the birth of Zen from Buddhism's marriage with Chinese Taoism, and on to Zen's unique expression in Japanese art and life. As a Westerner, Watts anticipates the stumbling blocks encountered with such concepts as emptiness and no-mind, then illustrates with flawlessly apt examples. Many popular books have been written on Zen since Watts' time, but few have been able to muster the rare combination of erudition and clarity that have kept The Way of Zen in readers' hands decade after decade." --Brian Bruya
Alan W. Watts, who held both a master’s degree in theology and a doctorate of divinity, is best remembered as an interpreter of Zen Buddhism in particular, and of Indian and Chinese philosophy in general. Standing apart, however, from sectarian membership, he has earned the reputation of being one of the most original and “unrutted” philosophers of the twentieth century. Watts was the author of some twenty books on the philosophy and psychology of religion that have been published in many languages throughout the world, including the bestselling The Way of Zen. An avid lecturer, Watts appeared regularly on the radio and hosted the popular television series, Eastern Wisdom and Modern Life,in the 1960s. He died in 1973.