this quote sound so good, so smart but its not working, its

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>>35692659
Alans a good guy and says some cool things but a vast majority of his advice isnt worth taking. It sounds good on paper but its not going to make you a different person. That kind of change isnt something most people can just pull out of a hat and if youve been living your life in fear and anger changing that isnt a 12 week easy step program. Im sorry anon.

>>35692719
>It sounds good on paper but its not going to make you a different person.
It will if you follow it.

A big part of zen teachings is confusing, it doesn't make sense right away, and that's sort of the point. It's by no means an instant fix but learning to let go of anything is incredibly useful for anybody.

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>>35692842
In understanding zen you un-do it. And im not saying zen doesnt work, but switching fear with curiosity as Op mentioned, is not something so trivial as alan makes it out to be. Nor so wonderful.

Alan Watts was an alcoholic. He didn't know shit, he just rehashed a bunch of Eastern thought, and badly at that.

>>35692947
It is precisely as easy and precisely as wonderful, the only perceived difficulty is in what you make it to be.

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>>35692968
I say not as wonderful because while your world may change anothers wont. Leaving yourself means leaving the ones you care about. What pain is greater then that?

>>35693058
Mahayana vs Vajrayana.
It doesn't make it any less difficult on a personal level.

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>>35693108
Wishful thinking. I dont think anons struggles will be solved by some quotes by alan watts. And truelly if he had the time and patience to take up true zen I dont see how hed be having the problem he has to begin with.

>>35693266
Nobody's struggles will ever be solve by a quote
It doesnt make it useless.

Koans are used for a reason.

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>>35693284
Not useless but possibly harmful. And perhaps it is my bias but I dont think zen or alans teachings will help someone through fear or pain. Im of the personal opinion that complete detachment from reality isnt a healthy way to deal with pain. So our disagreement is entirely on me. In any case I can only hope that whatever OP's struggle, he makes it to a better time.

some things can't be taught

i thought i had learned how to be the way i was from books. i thought i had my shit together and i could help people here. i was like a housecat on the balcony, who thought he could go feral again.

its another "white man waters down eastern philosophy to make it more accesible to dumb westerners" episode.

>>35693344
Zen is not about detachment from reality.

>>35692659
Self-imposed exposure therapy saved my life. "Comfort zone" sounds like coaching bullshit, but it's not.