Alan Watts introduces America to meditation & eastern philosophy (1960)

[Video Link] A great find from Open Culture.

Alan Watts moved from his native London to New York in 1938, then eventually headed west, to San Francisco in the early 1950s. On the left coast, he started teaching at the Academy of Asian Studies, wrote his bestseller Way of Zen (among many other books), and began delivering a long-running series of talks about eastern philosophy on KPFA radio in Berkeley (listen to some sample audio here). During these years, Watts became one of the foremost popularizers of Zen Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoisim, which made him something of a celebrity, especially when the 60s counterculture movement kicked into gear.

Now, almost 40 years after his death, you can find no shortage of vintage Watts’ media online. And today we’re featuring an episode from a TV series called Eastern Wisdom and Modern Life, which aired in San Francisco circa 1960. “The Silent Mind” runs 28 minutes, and it offered American viewers an introduction to the philosophy and practice of meditation, something still considered exotic at the time. History in the making. You’re watching right here.

Alan Watts Introduces America to Meditation & Eastern Philosophy

• [Matthew Wood]

  Mark Watts (Alan’s son) and a band of filmmakers and artists (myself included) are making a film about the life of Alan. You can check it out over here: http://www.facebook.com/alanwattsfilm .
  Alan’s life as a “philosophical entertainer” makes for an amazing story. Check it out!

  • [therealalanwatts]

    Will you at all be investigating the cause of his death? It is rumored that Alan Watts struggled with alcohol addiction that drove him to commit suicide [Alan Watts Suicide] but the true cause of his death has been covered up. Can you please comment on this.

• [Ambiguity]

  Also, it should be noted that Mark Watts (Alan’s son), is quite agressive with take-down notices, so unless he’s approved of this (or has no claim to it), watch it while you can.

  • [therealalanwatts]

    Mark also is very aggressive and quickly have removed any allegations of suicide  from Wiki and other sites but he has failed to date to provide any evidence of the cause of his father’s death.  

• [wrybread]

  This is so great, thanks for posting it.

• [jparkuntz]

  “Introduces” is perhaps a bit strong and sounds dismissive of earlier pioneers. The 1893 World’s Fair Parliament of Religions was one early landmark event in exposing large numbers of Americans to Eastern traditions (though the organizers did not have that intent).

• [Eric Hunting]

  Brings back memories of so many nights in NJ listening to WFMU’s re-broadcast of the KPFA tapes. Such wit matched to wisdom. For those Jersey Road Trip Sagas it was like having one’s own Yoda in the radio to guide you through the darkened suburbs.