Alan Watts _ True Peace Begins When the Mind Stops Pretending Problems Exist

Alan Watts (1915–1973) was a British philosopher, writer, and speaker who popularized Eastern philosophy in the West. Born in Chislehurst, England, he developed an early fascination with Asian culture and later moved to the United States, where he studied theology and briefly served as an Episcopal priest before leaving the ministry to pursue a more independent spiritual path. Watts authored more than 25 books and gave hundreds of talks, drawing heavily from Zen Buddhism, Taoism, and Advaita Vedanta. He emphasized that the self is not a separate entity but an expression of the universe, encouraging living in the present moment and embracing uncertainty. His most influential works include The Way of Zen, The Wisdom of Insecurity, and The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are.