The Dream Of Life - Alan Watts 

“Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead. Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.” - Albert Camus

I could listen to this guy talk for days on end

We played this at my son's funeral. I still come back here from time to time; to help me remember and to also try to understand. It never stops hurting, but it does become more manageable. I love you Ethan, sleep tight. 😢❤

This is best thing that the internet has ever given me

His voice and concepts make it really difficult to consider listening to any other philosopher.

I wonder how many times I’ve gone back to watch this video over the past decade. And every single time it brings me to tears.

"Only you're pretending you're not" Damn.

as someone who struggles at night with the question of why I am here and what I should do with my short life I say this. Thank you.

I want this played during my funeral.

i always cry watching these and I dunno why

I love this video and the people who comment here.

2020 quarantine got me here and this video makes so much sense now...

Alan Watts changed my life. I got accepted to my new university and get to stay with the love of my life because of this man. I wish he was still alive to thank him.

He feels like he's talking to you personally, to your heart. I think that's why he's such a brilliant orator.

"Finally you would dream where you are now..."

10 years ago, I listened to this. One of my best friends told me to look up Alan Watts when I was going through a terrible time in my life and this was the first video that popped up. A decade before that i hadn’t shed a tear. I’ve came back to this speech every single year for the last 10 years to ground myself. I can confidently say this one simple video change my life, and I don’t care who believes it.

Reality is a dream a God would have.

I see only peace and love in this comment section. I like to think of death as a soul returning from the distant shores of the universe and experiencing it in all its infinite glory. Whether we go back to the void, an afterlife, or another chance at life, I think there is eternal comfort in knowing that we at least got the chance to feel our own existence. If you're reading this, I hope you find the solace, happiness, answers, or whatever it may be that you're looking for. Every time I look at the stars I will send good energy your way. RIP Alan Watts.

I think this is my favorite thing he ever discussed.

If you awaken from this illusion and you understand that black implies white, self implies other, life implies death (or shall I say death implies life?), you can feel yourself - not as a stranger in the world, not as something here unprobational, not as something that has arrived here by fluke - but you can begin to feel your own existence as absolutely fundamental. I am not trying to sell you on this idea in the sense of converting you to it, I want you to play with it. I want you to think of its possibilities, I am not trying to prove it. I am just putting it forward as a possibility of life to think about. So then, let’s suppose that you were able every night to dream any dream you wanted to dream, and that you could for example have the power within one night to dream 75 years of time, or any length of time you wanted to have. And you would, naturally, as you began on this adventure of dreams, you would fulfill all your wishes. You would have every kind of pleasure during your sleep. And after several nights of 75 years of total pleasure each you would say “Well that was pretty great”. But now let’s have a surprise, let’s have a dream which isn’t under control, where something is gonna happen to me that I don’t know what it's gonna be. And you would dig that and would come out of that and you would say “Wow that was a close shave, wasn’t it?”. Then you would get more and more adventurous and you would make further- and further-out gambles what you would dream. And finally, you would dream where you are now. You would dream the dream of living the life that you are actually living today. That would be within the infinite multiplicity of choices you would have. Of playing that you weren't god, because the whole nature of the godhead, according to this idea, is to play that he is not. So in this idea then, everybody is fundamentally the ultimate reality, not god in a politically kingly sense, but god in the sense of being the self, the deep-down basic whatever there is. And you are all that, only you are pretending you are not.

Alan watts saved me from the darkest times of my life. I will always be so very grateful…

Sitting in school listening to these kind of videos is the best lesson I could ever experience.

"I searched for God and found only myself. I searched for myself and found only God."

Alan Watts made it okay to have "faith beyond faiths," and that's a true blessing that frees the soul.🙏🙏🙏

"The mark of an educated mind is to be able to entertain an idea without necessarily accepting it."

I have been studying Alan Watts for an infinite present it seems. After many years I can finally feel his wisdom blossoming inside me. What a feeling!

In times of adversity, I find solace in revisiting this cherished piece. Always a refreshing renewed perspective.

It’s okay person scrolling through the comments we can get through this difficult times together, if we all just group as one.

My grandfather passed away yesterday. I saw him the day before. He loved me, and I loved him. He sent me this through my son's Google Home speaker tonight as he slept through it, silently, listening to what used to be white noise. I love you, Grandfather Clock.

Still strikes me after all these years🤍

The eloquence of this is so profound. I can’t believe that philosophy isn’t a more fundamental part of education, it makes things so much easier to understand and appreciate.

So, this Universe is our playground, and when we play our games we for a moment in time forget who we really are.....this truth will set you free, it is the key to the door of our divinity....love one another.

I come back to this video over and over.

I have wasted 15 years of my life being a closed minded Christian and I hate it, I will not put my kids through that

Alan Watts has opened up a realm in my brain I never knew existed. My mindset has changed completely and I don't remember the last time I let someone else determine what choices I made in life. Alan Watts has taught me to think for myself. Because that's all you have at the end of the day.

Found this in 2019 during some of the darkest days of my life. 2022 and things are hard but better. Means a lot to me. Thanks.

I cannot work out whether this is simply what I want to hear or whether it's the truth that makes me love this idea.

He is a master of describing the practically undescribable

“Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead. Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.” - Albert Camus.

Alan Watts delivers wisdom like nobody else can.

I came here from Palaye Royale ("The Boom"), and I can say that I'm not unsatisfied. I've been listening to Watts' speeches for hours. I'm in class. I'm wasting time, but I really don't care. These are the thoughts that go through my mind that I don't know how to put into words, but he's put them into words perfectly. And I love it so much.

This is the most amazing..touching...godly emanation of words gracefully woven together l ve ever heard☘️🙏☀️🤍l only cry cause l didnt get to meet Alan Watts..but...surely he s Alive.. as Eternal as Godd is...

I just watched this three times in a row. Alan Watts, damn. He has awakened thoughts, ideas and emotions in me I didn't even know I had. This particular video (and a few others of his) made me cry.

I would say more, the most genius things that you have heard or will ever hear are not the things from other realities or other highly unreachable levels of consciousness. They are from your own thoughts, from the things that you already have inside your head, that is the real reason you accept them with pleasure and gratitude and happiness. You feel complete, because finally you understand that the beauty expressed by a genius has been living inside you for as long as you exist :)

Every few years, I come back to this video, and every time I feel it just as strongly as the first time around.

For those who are interested I have just put up a brand new website which will feature weekly posts about many different topics. There is also a massive forums section of I created so that like mind people can all get together and chat. Thanks again for all those who follow my work :) www.tragedyandhopechannel.com/

Who else is here from the Xbox X announcement? Love that they used Alan Watts in it

i watched this video for the first time almost 10 years ago. this video and this channel has changed my life.

For anyone looking for the audio source of the speech: Alan Watts - Out Of Your Mind Track 2-03 "Captivated By The Drama"

I want to cry

I lost my job today. This video made me re-think everything I know. Thank you for this video. Love you.

After loosing my father last year this video helped me beyond what I thought any words could.

the deep meaning: you are dreaming of being a God, capable of doing anything you want. But maybe YOU ARE A GOD dreaming of being just a man and having a life full of surprises. i buy that.

His voice is soo nice😭

Hearing Alan Watts voice is like reading the bible for a religious man or talking to god. Every word takes me further out of the infinite black hole that I constantly fall down. If only you could see what your words have done for us.

This brought me to tears. Truly incredible

I could listen to his voice all day. Intelligence and humanity in a perfect vehicle

I keep coming back to this video over and over again. It never ceases to stir some latent awe and amazement within me. So grateful for this ....

I achieved "Heaven" after watching this...

I have watched, listened, and felt this video too many times to remember now. Truly wonderful ideas from the amazing Alan Watts. Thank you Tragedy and Hope for creating this for us all.

Those words resonate with my soul. I'm grateful for this video.

"Nothing like being in a dream, then waking up to a nightmare."

This is one of my favorite Alan Watts thoughts. That eventually we'd come to dream of exactly the life we're living now. And we're all that, only we're pretending we're not. How inspiring.

Best quote you will ever see..."live life..."

So soothing. Love Alan. He is one of those rare few, that truly had the courage to stand alone.

If anyone is wondering where the audio comes from: Alan Watts - Out of Your Mind: 2 -03 "Captivated by the Drama" I can't recommend the Out of Your Mind Lecture series enough, go listen to it! With love.

I voted for you. thanks so much for the beautiful and inspirational videos... I am waking up... I just wish I could fly like a bird and to discover the wonders of this beautiful world,,, soon I will.

This one message of Mr. Watts changed my life forever. It made me realize I'm not alone with a certain feeling I feel now present day , in the past felt and will continue to feel such way tomorrow. Life, there are no words to describe it. It's more than words it's everything.

What an incredibly thought provoking three minutes. Absolutely incredible. He speaks about things that hit us to the core.

Thank You Allan Watts, For everything you've done for this world, So inspiring, so eye opening and beautiful

Thank you Xbox for taking me here!

Alan watts guru extraordinaire

I don't know if anyone can relate, but I watch this video every night I can't sleep and start thinking about things that make me feel that strong feeling of loneliness. These words help me coping with all the shit I'm going through at the moment. Btw, hope you stay safe and have a nice day! c:

The circus has us all hypnotised and confused. Only when we listen to each other, do we start to realise nobody is wrong for their misgivings. Love each other with empty pockets. Soon as you feel that love, share it straight back, own nothing be complete x

Wow.. for a 'scientific hippie' i never thought id ever feel so at peace for what he has to say.. hmmm.. Idk.. i like what this man has to say.

Skull from Adventure Time brought me here, felt like I need to hear this, wasn’t disappointed at all

Life saving information, 4 years ago came across Alan Watts his teachings gave me my mind back, & a dream so powerful it manifested 🙂👍🏽🙏🏽

I am in a state of confusion and sadness. College makes me feel so lost sometimes, I wanna overcome it

I watched this video years ago and it was hard to understand. Now it feels like he was saying my thoughts. It really just starts with playing with the idea, that maybe real isn't as real as you think it is.

I lost my father a week ago, trying to bring everything in perspective as I keep myself together.

As usual Alan Watts blows my mind.

Mindblown! Btw some ppl didn't get it about "God in the sense of being self" Where we have the potential of achieving anything we dream of...

This the only explanation that makes complete sense to me.

CONGRADULATIONS Isaac for winning 1st place for this video in the My Hero Film Festival! You thoroughly deserve it, since you are very talented at merging powerful visuals with ambient music and powerful speeches. I voted first place for you. My second vote would have gone to "A Declaration of Interdependance" which I am happy to see also won an award. Both video I have saved to my playlist where they will be getting more exposure than you realize right now. Your "Message to all of Humanity" video, which is my second favorite video on RU-vid after "Gratitude" by Louie Schwartzberg, should have also been entered into that competition, since in my opinion that speech of Charlie Chaplin is the most profound speech ever written. I am happy you did it justice by merging it with powerful visuals and music. You should enter that video next year into this competition. It should win hands down. I have big plans for that video...

These people should have way more subscribers.

The first time I saw this many years ago, I literally CRIED like a baby. NOT because I was sad, but because I realized right then, that I was capable of anything and everything that the system and the world has always taught us since birth we are NOT or NOT capable of doing/having/being. This is life changing for those who truly get this message and run with it!

Xbox series X trailer... + Alan Watts = Dream.

Beautiful friend. Thank you very much for your video and words.

Thank you T&H for expertly editing and producing this content. The library of Alan watts’ lectures is expansive, and you demonstrate superlative skill in pulling out the most clarifying segments, and connecting to compelling visual content with an incomparable artistry.

Alan Watts was an singular voice, extraordinary, and who was as much a contradiction as was his westernized zen to the secular purists. He lived on a serene houseboat in Sausalito California, yet drove a gas guzzling Cadillac to his talks where he spoke often of giving up materialism and money to free one's true consciousness. He preached the body as the temple of being, yet downed vodka by the bottles ( no hangover with vodka to impede his Tibetan thoughts). He truly lived the yin and yang which makes him no less profound.

I like to think that this dream he describes at the end is real life. You’re god (you dont know it) and you’re just playing that you’re not. It allowed me to see the beauty in life and love everything beyond form. Love things for what they are because the point of life is no more than to be experienced. Take care my friends

It took me about 10 replays of that video to understand it and it Finally hit me

1:58 That’s what is on the Xbox series X trailer

I don't know much about him to be honest with you all. I know, growing up in the 60's and 70's, he was highly regarded and his books dominated the shelves. But, I always considered him to be sort of a hippy philosopher and not of the caliber of a cave-dwelling, highly disciplined and realized yogi or master. But, after hearing this, his teachings are quit profound. I inherited a huge stash of his audio tapes from my mom and I gave them to a very kind man with very poor health, but very calm and sort of constantly crossing over from this world and realizing "not quite yet," and coming back. Very sad what doctors did to him. (But that's another story.) Anyway, I knew that he adored Alan Watts' teachings and when he received these tapes he enjoyed the teachings immensely. My friend was a wonderful saintly man and taught me much. Thank you. Peace.

So fascinating, truly eye opening.

Imagine if You Could Dream 75 Years of Time in One Night?

Ever so often I come back to this even though it's been so long but boy does this help.

truly amazing

Sonya Esman brought me here 💗

I remember coming across this video on march at the start of lockdown. Opened my mind in many ways and helped me in my journey. I hope its helped you too.