• Thusness

  • By: Alan Watts
  • Narrated by: Alan Watts
  • Length: 3 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (209 ratings)

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Thusness  By  cover art

Thusness

By: Alan Watts
Narrated by: Alan Watts
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Publisher's summary

Alan Watts discusses the word tathata, which is translated from the Sanskrit as "suchness" or "thusness." The term is used in Mahayana Buddhism to suggest how things look to a Buddha, to one who has experienced enlightenment or liberation and is, therefore, called a Tathagata - one who comes (and goes) thus. Watts shares the sense of this nonsense in Buddhist philosophy, and its practical demonstration in Zen.

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An amazing, mind opening listen.

this is a book to listen to more than once. Alan was a master and is still helping those in the quest for enlightenment

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  • JK
  • 08-04-23

WATTS!!!

As always, this is an excellent book by Allan Watts.
It certainly is a book to be listened to again, so much logical wisdom.
If you are familiar with the author, you will agree, if not, this is one of his books to explore.
My thanks to all involved for making this book available to us, JK.

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Good content. Poor audio quality.

How about fixing the obvious audio problems in the recording? That might be nice for customers.

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A very fun talk.

It is a very fun talk. Anyone could find an interest in this. two more words

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Watts ~ As Always

Watts, as always, is gifted at clarifying what some might see as complex, so showing how the simple is simple. Here, he puts into a broad context of Buddhist and Eastern thought the single theme of "Thusness, Suchness." Watts demystifies this Naturalness, as did the Buddha, the Christ, and other sages. "Thusness" can serve as a primer for Buddhist thought, also, as Watts places "Thusness, Suchness" in the religious context in which the usage arose. Yet, again, Watts shows how this Naturalness belongs to Nature itself, that Nature is this "Thusness, Suchness," not any particular path of wisdom, such as Buddhism. Indeed, Watts quotes Jesus, from the Christian New Testament, and the Tao Te Ching, as examples of this universality of Naturalness wisdom teaching. Last, Watts avoids denuding "Thusness, Suchness" of degrees of quality, recognizing while all is Natural, not all equally manifests the Natural. This provides a rejoinder to persons who wish to see equality as lacking degrees of "depth" or "quality" of Nature, or Life.

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