Is there a Purpose to Living? - Alan Watts 

I have just discovered Mr Alan Watts And I'm strucked by the fact that all the things this sir says rings in me... Practically all he says is what i've always felt about the world, nature, and the mystery of all of this.. I've always been asking myself what's the deal with our life ? What's the purpose ? And i have come to the conclusion that maybe it just have no purpose. Nature is here. Life is here beauty is here and that is all. No one let a paper saying what to do with life. It's just here. And all you have to do is feel and contemplate the beauty of this unpurposeness. We human tend to get frustrated by this unpurposeness we fear the nothingness. We always have to explain to give meaning to all of this. While nature is just so simple. Life is so simple. But human is such a fragile and fearfull creature.. I am happy to have stumpled upon this marvelous man.

The human mind wants a purpose. Being needs nothing more than itself.

i listen to Alan Watts every morning before starting my day, his voice is so soothing.

The meaning of life is simple...it is to live. Think about that . Repeat it to yourself.

I truly believe we are inferior to animals and nature, because we as humans always are trying to reach something, find knowledge and meaning but life and animals are always just happy and enjoy life and it's cycle

“I must trust myself to the totally unknown. I must trust myself to a nature which doesn’t have a boss.”

The simple answer is no. As Humans we are smart enough to believe that we're here for a greater purpose, but too ignorant to realize that we're not.

I like to watch my dogs sometimes to remember what life is about. They can be still all day long in the house and not get stressed about it. They feel joy when it’s time to eat or be walked, or when they see someone they care about. The simplest things. They exist, just like the pebble on the beach.

"I must trust myself to a nature which doesn't have a boss." That is a great line. Not scary to me like it might be to others either.

A couple years ago I found this video when I was going through an existential crisis. It helped.

"The meaning of life is to be alive" -Alan Watts. It's so simple that so many people miss it, and so many people don't get it because it's so frustratingly uncomplicated. Take risks, you only have this one life. Take care of yourself, you aren't any less important than any other human being in this world. We all come from the same place. And depending on your religion, we all go to the same place after this is over. Life is purposeless, but living this life as a good, happy human being is not meaningless. There is probably a reason why life exists. And we'll never know why. But regardless of all of that, you gotta live before you die. "The meaning of life is to be alive."

Most days I work so much.. at the end of the night, I can't fall asleep thinking about things that need to be done, work, life etc... Purposelessness feels peaceful... My mind stops racing.... This video helped me go to sleep. Thank you...

Purpose can have so many definitions. A problem we face is that we want to live up to society's expectations,and definitions of what life should be and what our lives should become. Purpose can be anything that leads to ones happiness, no matter what it is and how you obtain it.

I've listened to Mr Alan Watts for almost 10 yrs. He had helped me grieve through losing my husband in a car wreck and both of my grandsons. Losing the last one, he was only 17 months old, healthy. Him and I were inseparable and my heart is forever broken. He just never woke up. I've never felt such pain as I do for losing Hudson. He was the little love of my life.

This is why retirement is so wonderful. I don't understand how anyone can warn you about the danger of being idle! I love the wide margin on my day, and can fritter hours away in solitude and contentment. Peace to all.

Everyone in the world should listen to this guy I’m 45 I never knew he existed sure glad I didn’t miss his words Changed my life in the best way

Watts was a class act. He will ring to anybody who has risen from the slumber. Not many unarisen will find his thoughts and they won't understand it until they have woken up.

May our dancing, our singing, our laughter and all our other actions be an expression of the joy of living a life that though has no purpose, has a wealth of meaning of that which we Give it.

That was like a warm blanket when your falling slowly asleep

Damn I love Alan Watts as if he were my own family. More profound words than you will find in any of the major religious texts. Alan Watts teaches us what real faith is all about.

Our purpose has no point we should just enjoy whatever and be grateful we r even alive in the first place.

"We must have purpose. We must not be purposeless. We must not have purposelessness. We must be purposelessnessless."-Rowan Atkinson

Ive been feeling hella lost lately i feel like im living my life in auto pilot like im just here psychically but mentally im gone. Literary man i zoned out all the time just getting lost in my mind endless thoughts abt life and why we do what we do and whey any of this matters

‘I must learn to trust myself to a Nature that doesn’t have a boss’. Thanks.

I'm actually struggling with my depression right now and somewhere down the road someone's made me feel that I'm dump spoiled bratt and i deserved nothing. watching this vid made me realized something that life is not what we want to be is how we live our life and how we believe ourself.

The only purpose of life is to die in the End. From nothing we came and to nothing will become.

"Those that have a WHY IN LIFE, can bare almost any how" l had to have a WHY, a purpose, a reason, a meaning to go on. For me its - to grow emotionally, to evolve, to be, to be enlightened, to accept, like very much exactly who l am, thus l could project that acceptance out to others, life and its opposites. To be aimless without a WHY, has no meaningful life for me. Trust yourself - but find your WHY, cause life will challenge you - what will sustain you when all else fails? Find YOUR sustainer. I am the sustainer of my life, cause l have a why!!!

Knowing what the purpose of life is a question I ask myself every single day. Not even kidding every day I have thought to myself is what I'm doing my purpose? Sigh

The search for the purpose of life has puzzled people for thousands of years. That’s because we typically begin at the wrong starting point-ourselves. We ask self-centered questions like What do I want to be? What should I do with my life? What are my goals, my ambitions, my dreams for my future? But focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life’s purpose. you won’t discover your life’s meaning by looking within yourself. You’ve probably tried that already. You didn’t create yourself, so there is no way you can tell yourself what you were created for!

One of the voices that has a music of peace

Nature has no purpose of course, but we humans shall create some purpose in order to enjoy life without worrying and getting sad. Everyone can choose the purpose he expect from his own life according to his values and personal story. For me, the purpose of my life is to reduce the suffering in the world and add value to my life and to my surrounding. If I succeed in that, I can die in joy, proud of myself.

Were not here for a purpose, and that's amazing theres no set structure to what we all should do with life it's just about us what we want to do what purpose we want to find and that's why life is amazing

How beautiful just to be here without a purpose ...

When you look at the masses of how many people think this in their heads the simply conclusions no there's no main purpose for one set individual other than to have kids and they have kids and so on. I accpeted there's no purpose to life way too young, but in light of that I have also accepted that just because I have no god like purpose nor am I immortal, I can still create ideas, create in a whole, I have already lived my purpose I brought three beautiful amazing daughters into this world. Now i'm souly living on survival and being their for them.

The closest to a purpose we can achieve is finding peace and helping others to find peace. Live is much richer when we are at peace.

"you don't HAVE TO learn". how true this is with most things.

I love how he caught himself say we have to and immediately corrected himself. Love Watts 🙌🏾

I would not exist anymore if it wasn't for my mother

Alan Watts truly makes u question the things you take for granted

Follow what makes you happy, and keep following what you feel is right and trust yourself and the feeling. Thats the purpose. Life has no purpose but it becomes a purpose without expecting it once you follow a path that makes you happy.

I've thought about that and something struck me and it might be the reason that many people feel depressed about this world view of purpose. He mentiones the goose flying through the air or the waves crashing into the shore. True, there might be no purpose intendet or "constructed" by a higher force - But what many seem to forget is that there is something happening deep inside us when we encounter the world. Dancing doesn't get us anywhere, but at the same time our experience is beautiful beyond words. We are limited by death, therefore each moment is extremly precious. Seeing Goose flying by is objectively purposeless, but subjectivly worth while. Being on this journey of life is a gift and yet we need some kind of adventure to live it to its full extend - And you can only have an adventure when there is meaning in your life and responsability. I guess it is a paradox after all - Purposelessness gives life it's meaning.

life has so much to offer. every single day you can fin joy in the little things, you just gotta apreciate it, get a perspective and have fun. Thkx to Alan and the world, you opened my eyes years ago

The purpose of dancing, music, nature walks, and so on is pleasure. At least for me.

I love the way Alan Watts conveys his views and he is among those whose teachings stir me up inside ... opens up a lot of windows and doors ... and the air is rarified. If I had funds, I would support this site.

We have and are evolving into computers, computers analyse and interpret etc, this organism observes this phenomenon and does not judge it, but rather just smiles and has wonder and gratitude 😀

I love the walks in the forest !

A purposeless life is absolute freedom. A self-generated purpose is just to pass the time by. A purpose ascribed to life itself implies a creator, for what else ascribes purpose other than a manufacturer? Whatever the case, life is extraordinary, with all of its joys and suffering, with all of its beauty and ugliness.

Humanity has a need to have a reason. We aren't content that we are just here. It is the epitemy of selfishness. Something existing, exists because it does, it isn't apart of some grand "skeem" or "plan." This is a necessity in order to become a mature, healthy human being.

This video is purposless. . and that's just great.

Existence is because it can. It can without purpose which gives it a purposeless nature. Understanding this fundamental idea gives you a slightly different outlook of nature. In my opinion, it is a rather enticing view, even more beautiful in a sense than a nature with a purpose. There is a saying that goes like this. "Science is for the how. Philosophy is for the why."

Tears of joy when you come to this realization

I have no purpose to live. I don't know why. living these days seems so pointless, I am not insecure or never accomplished anything. I am a successful business man,I have children and a loving wife. I am not depressed but there is one thing missing, I have had loads of friends but now I have none, not because I can't go and have that chat with one or another but because these days there's know connection with people, it's all gone. soon I hope I will be to. I hope for my next life. thank you.

The Purpose of Life is to Love people! Spread kindness and Help the weak. From there everything from there is Vanity upon Vanity

I discovered this man last night, and now I'm sad I haven't been here my whole life.

Never have I heard anyone compare to this man....never ever.

We all feel the same bit there God and he loves us all , just keep moving find something that will make us happy

The realities that surrounds us is not an accident. It appears to me that we are each given a role to play and our purpose is to be the piece of the puzzle we were meant to be.

Your purpose is to love and learn. Jesus showed us the ideal way to live but it’s only through his death and our faith in him that we can transcend this life

I went job hunting today and after listening to this ... I can apply to learn to trust ..

The purpose for dance is to express your body, express your beauty, the purpose for music is to express the beautiful sounds in it’s symphony. How can Music not have a purpose. Some use it as malignant and others as peaceful. Some create chaos with their music others create peace and love. To me that’s definitely a purpose. If I strangle myself like this then let me be. I shall, but I have faith so strong that I know The Lord, will never let me go. The unknown is scary, but for a fact I know faith is all you need to step into the unknown. The unknown that only the Lord Almighty can help you.

I really enjoy this perspective. This is a great optimistic approach to nihilism. Personally, for every unanswered philosophical question, I believe in a paradoxical duality. The world has no purpose but also does. The universe is so complex and divine even. It’s a higher dimensional concept that we can barely grasp as humans. Alan watts’ perspective on purposelessness is very liberating and enlightening. The way I understand purpose is through ripple effects, karma, and the multiverse theory. There’s still some sense of law and balance in nature as well. There’s another theory that’s interesting to note, which is that divinity, source, or just nature itself manifests its karmic purpose through humanity. However, that’s more on the mystical side.

We come and we go. That’s all that I know. Welcome to, the planet earth show...

My dream of life is wandering to everywhere in my country or the world , along with my Bamboo flutes and my ghuzeng Enjoy a beautiful life , without lies , lover , feeling of sadness , . Don't care what world is just go and go and go , try every thing i cant eat , washing in every stream or waterfall i see , playing some muzik when im tired That's great

Alan watts the legacy will never die!

I truly think we are having the most mystical experience.. And I also think we do have a purpose.. We just let it go over our head and under our feet.. 11:11

Purpose of Living - Alan Watts Great and beautiful video! Thank you.

Purposeless means fearless and less resistant

I'm no t religious but Jesus said it best...'Love thy neigbor as your brother. ' unconditional love is the greatest purpose one can have. It's the source of goodness in the world and joy. Without it; we are lost.

I'm drunk and sad as shit and this. Whoever made this thank you

It’s really funny how ironic this message is. Generally, people associate nihilism with depression or a sense of lack of belonging when in reality it’s quiet the contrary. We are here in an arbitrary point in time in an infinite point in space. Essentially, we don’t have a purpose, no pre determined path, no destiny, no clear goal. We’re just here. It’s not so bad to think about but instead quiet nice. It’s just me and my free will. I don’t have to do anything. It’s in my power to give myself purpose, unaffected by other sources so why should I bother stressing about them. Why not just... live.

Alan Watts, you give me hope.

Great happiness lies in purposelessness. What a truth and what a paradox or is it

Purposeless is inherently a purpose.

What I've realized is how humans paint pictures full of purpose for others to follow and a message to live by meanwhile we are being lied to actually been lied to for years through separation and ideas of people who wish to only live on the mountains above us all whilst neglecting others below... We have created our own problems out of nothing.. Something we adopted along the way to conform to how the world is and it has to stop

I like the video and the sentiments of it, just enjoy life!

Here's a transcript I wrote of what he said, since the auto-generated one is wonky. We have to learn, we don't have to, you don't have to do anything, you don't have to go on living. But it's a great idea, it's great thing, if you can learn what the Chinese call purposelessness, they think nature is purposeless. When we say something is purposeless that's put down, there's no future in it, it's a wash out. But when they hear the word purposeless they think that's just great. When Chinese say nature is purposeless, this is a compliment. It's like watching wild geese fly and be hidden in the clouds, as watching a ship vanish behind the distant island, as wandering on and on in a great forest with no thought of return. Haven't you done this, haven't you gone on a walk with no particular purpose in mind, carry a stick with you and you occasionally hit at old stumps, wander along sometimes and sometimes twiddle your thumbs, it's at that moment that you learn purposelessness. All music is purposeless, is music getting somewhere? If it were, I mean if the aim of music were of a symphony where to get to the final bar, the best conductor would be the one who got there fastest. See dancing, when you dance do you aim to arrive at a particular place on the floor. Is that the idea of dancing? No. Well it's exactly the same with our life, we think life has a purpose. Now it's like the waves washing against the shore going on and on and on forever with no meaning. Like the birds in the trees go twee twee twee twee twee, what's it all about? Everybody tries to say is ahh it's just the mating call, it's purposeful, they're trying to get their mate, you know, attract them with a song. That's why they have colors and butterflies have eyes on them, self-protection, engineering view of the universe. Why do that? They say “well it's because they need to survive”. But why survive, what's that for? “Well to survive” and they say “well that's terribly serious, that's awfully important, we've got to keep on doing this”. You pick up a pebble on the beach, look at it beautiful, don't try to get a sermon out of it, just enjoy it , enjoy the pebble. If you do that you become healthy, you become able to be a loving helpful human being. Here's the choice: are you going to trust it or not? If you do trust it you may get let down and this “it” is yourself your own nature and all nature around you. There's going to be mistakes but if you don't trust it at all you're going to strangle yourself. To live I must have faith. I must trust myself to the totally unknown, I must trust myself to a nature which doesn't have a boss.

Life has no purpose but we have to trust. Trust what? Trust comes with a motive of wishing something. That may be your own purpose that you wish to achieve.

“I must trust myself to a nature which doesn’t have the boss.” So if we don’t have a purpose so why must we trust Alan instead of nature. The boss? I like how he acknowledged the creator by simply trying to denied him!!!!

I think that we have to overcome the temptations in life. Our egos cause us to hurt others for our own gain. When we finally overcome our egos, then we ascend higher and don't have to come here anymore. That's what I think anyway.

What a great man. What a persuasive voice. 😍

There is no point it is just to die. To go through so much pain and have a little bit of happiness to just do it all over again blind.

This is how I like to live. I don't have to try to be anything, I already am.

I was burdened from the start my whole life was for a single thing i.e. no to let down the hopes of others on me while doing that I realised I don't want any of those I have I want now its all for others. I watched this video pls help me anyone . I am trembling who am I really.

If it was possible for the universe to express itself through the art of language.. this would be in the form of Allen Whatts!!

Everything is pointless, therefore everything has a point.

They should call this video...."How to be homeless." You have a purpose and Watts knows this. You have a specific gift that is for your purpose.

All that matters are purpose, love and becoming over time a better hominid. Finally, of all the pure orators thru the years like Terrence McKenna Ram Dass Houston Smith on n on only Ram Das ever spoke of Joseph Campbell n he alone was the most brilliant - Mr. Campbell. Anyway HOKA HEY folks! It’s always a good day to die but today I choose life. So I live. A’ho

"Life is not that complicated. You get up, you go to work, you eat three meals, you take one good shit, and it's back to bed. What's the fucking mystery?" - George Carlin

Yes. Life purposes to survive.

Learn to be a Creator and learn to connect to the Golden threads of Life...if you smell the field of Flowers 🌺

i suffer from insomnia/over/deep thinking ,i think about eternity who caused us to be here why did god wait till 2019 years ago before he sent jesus and what about the humans before christ dating back milllions of years???????? i think about the chicken and egg scenario ,which came first? im going crazy but it comforts me to see there are people like me in these comments section please contact me,jim 42 yrs old from scotland awake and alone! bless u all.

The point of life is to have fun and do stuff you haven’t done before You die

It's not the meaning OF life, but the meaning IN life. We're here by an immense cosmic accident, and we should be pleased and take advantage of being sentient.

"I must trust myself to a Nature, that doesn't have a Boss." And when you recognize this, then dance while enveloped within the music of all that is. ;-) John~ American Net'Zen

Thank you. I like this a lot. It resonates. I like Alan Watts a lot. His voice is so engaging and so familiar. I’m grateful to you for sharing this 💜💙🙏🏾💚💛 Love, Joy, Happiness, Peace, Unity, Faith, Hope and Light Everyone 💜💙🙏🏾💚💛

There is absolutely no necessity to add such sentimental music

I love it,when Alan mimics a bird.😂❤

I belive there is a purpose because after all this time , all this suffering and for all those who suffer and then die alone. i belive there will be relief, there will be a perfect day.

to live, i must have faith

I believe this is from the lecture: Who Guards the Guards?, I don't normally ask for this, but vote up so that people can see this, or at least to see if I'm wrong/right