Alan Wilson Watts (6 January 1915 ? 16 November 1973) was a British-American philosopher who interpreted and popularised Eastern philosophy for a Western audience. Born in Chislehurst, England, he moved to the United States in 1938 and began Zen training in New York. Pursuing a career, he attended Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, where he received a master's degree in theology. Watts became an Episcopal priest in 1945, then left the ministry in 1950 and moved to California, where he joined the faculty of the American Academy of Asian Studies.
The problem is that many put Watts on this impossible pedestal. They think he was this enlightened, untouchable spiritual light that we were blessed to have.
However, his own daughter Ann said he was an absentee father. It's known he was an alcoholic, cheated on his wives, and called himself an entertainer. The last part makes many wonder if he meant what he said or if he was just a good actor. He may have been clergy, but he was defrocked a few years after that.
I can't put him on a pedestal because he was no more special than anyone else with a few crazy ideas.
I like his accent and how he delved deep into philosophy in his talks. Deep thinker. His talks on Taoism, Zen, etc., are fascinating.
Alan Watts is a great choice. Think of him as the more intellectual face of the Dude. His talks give a good explanation of why Dudeism is the operational principle of the universe. And, he looked extremely Dudish. As for his imperfections, those probably make him more Dude-like, rather than less. But that's just my opinion, man.
Awesome, dude, yes, I love listening to Alan Watts. For some very straightforward Advaita Vedanta, I like Yes Vedanta on YouTube.
Him being a avid vodka drinker, a bottle a day, cheating his wifes to satisfy sexual pleasures, absentee father, actually made me like him more, guess he really followed his teachings one hundred percent. He remind me Frank Gallagher from Shamless in a less narcissistic way.
The problem is not in Alan Watts is in people, like me, that captures his teachings in a nihilistic way, he somehow comfort our lack of ambition and general laziness, somehow being unsuccessful is not longer a bad thing. I'm a searcher, I'm searching from something I don't have, I searching for whatever the opposite of bullshit is, and Alan Watts is the nearest I've ever came in my search. I dug probably 10-15% of Alan Watts materials available, I stopped there. I think this younger generation have to be careful with Alan Watts, might have reverse effects.
Alan Watts was a dude for sure.