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A review by rsr143
Out of Your Mind: Tricksters, Interdependence, and the Cosmic Game of Hide and Seek by Alan Watts
5.0
I don't pass along 5-star reviews lightly. This is the second Watts book (the other being "The Book") to garner a full rating. Watts is commonly referred to as a "spiritual entertainer" is steeped in Western and Eastern religious traditions. He was an Anglican Minister for a time, but also was one of the foremost Western experts on Zen. His knowledge of Vedanta (the basis of Hindu religion and culture) is also vast.
The premise of the book is that there is a bigger game being played around us. This game is hidden, through illusion "maya", a set of tricks being played by our own minds and the universe. The purpose of the game isn't to stop playing, but to know that it is a game, so that we can approach with a sense of play and fun, not seriousness and struggle. Given the number of people who seem to struggle their way through life, this book is an important one.
What if you were the universe, a vast sea of conscious, the "works", but simply forgot it to have the fun experience of playing the role of a human being for a while? This is the question that Watts dares to answer, in a humorous fashion.
The premise of the book is that there is a bigger game being played around us. This game is hidden, through illusion "maya", a set of tricks being played by our own minds and the universe. The purpose of the game isn't to stop playing, but to know that it is a game, so that we can approach with a sense of play and fun, not seriousness and struggle. Given the number of people who seem to struggle their way through life, this book is an important one.
What if you were the universe, a vast sea of conscious, the "works", but simply forgot it to have the fun experience of playing the role of a human being for a while? This is the question that Watts dares to answer, in a humorous fashion.