The Wisdom of Insecurity

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But, still, his point remains valid - because most faiths, firmly held, can help you finally overcome your anxiety.

We are forced to wrestle with the demon of nothingness, until that day when, through thought, prayer and meditation, we - or rather the Being of God - melts it in a Fire of Attention, Love and Peace. This suggests that not only is there no method for achieving resolution, but wanting to achieve a resolution is a symptom of the initial problem! I used to be a Christian; I used to be an atheist; I used to be an agnostic; and then I couldn't even commit to not committing to anything. Doesn't mean, though, that there aren't in practical terms better or worse decisions for a beneficial future.If you are the type of reader that highlights the important parts, i would suggest just dipping this entire book in yellow dye. I don't think it would do the book justice to summarize but I will do my best to give you an idea of whether or not you should read this book. This is important, Watts’ notes because much of our anxieties and unhappiness stems from trying to find security for the self, to protect it from change. That is the truth of the inter-pervasion of opposites, the inner mutual alliance of all opposing forces, ideas, concepts.

If happiness always depends on something expected in the future, we are chasing a will-o'-the-wisp that ever eludes our grasp, until the future, and ourselves, vanish into the abyss of death. Even though this book is well over 60 years old, it remains an extremely timely read, and it is surprisingly fresh in both its approach and thinking. He pokes holes in the dark side of some traditional understandings that in reality can be driven by one’s ego-self. It argues, among other things, that insecurity, indeterminacy, is the truth of existence, and that to cling to particular things as if they were eternal is to waste your time and strength. Showing the path forward by pointing out that words are symbolic representations of reality, in the same sense that money is representative of value and not value itself.This 1951 classic is probably an excellent starting point for anyone wanting an introduction to Watts' writing.