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Still the Mind: An Introduction to Meditation
Mark Watts compiled this book from his father’s extensive journals and audiotapes of famous lectures he delivered across the country. In three parts, Alan Watts -- the author of The Way of Zen and The Joyous Cosmology -- explains the basic philosophy of meditation, how individuals can practice a variety of meditations, and how inner wisdom grows naturally.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
About the author
Alan W. Watts
249 books8,291 followersAlan Wilson Watts was a British philosopher, writer and speaker, who held both a Master's in Theology and a Doctorate of Divinity. Famous for his research on comparative religion, he was best known as an interpreter and popularizer of Asian philosophies for a Western audience. He wrote over 25 books and numerous articles on subjects such as personal identity, the true nature of reality, higher consciousness, the meaning of life, concepts and images of God and the non-material pursuit of happiness. In his books he relates his experience to scientific knowledge and to the teachings of Eastern and Western religion and philosophy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews
June 23, 2017
"You must understand that in meditation, we are concerned only with what is, with reality, nothing else. The past is a memory. The future, an expectation. Neither past nor future actually exist. There is simply eternal now. So don't seek or expect a result from what you are doing. That wouldn't be true meditation. There is no hurry. Just now you're not going anywhere. Simply be here. Live in the world of sound. Let it play. That's all."
Oddly enough, I can distinctly hear the rustling of trees outside as I'm writing this. This vividness of sensation—this old familiar feeling when a moment suddenly seems to linger there, lasting longer than a moment, the stillness of it. That moment of heightened sensibility, when the senses are sharpened and everything, just about everything, seems remarkably clear.
I guess it's pointless if you listen or read this book without observing a change in your state of consciousness—a vividness, a lucidity that must ensue and cannot escape you.
Another strange thing, I kind of stumbled upon this book right after finishing The Time Machine by H. G. Wells!
The goosebumps are totally worth it in this lighthearted talk on the premises of meditation. Recommended.
Oddly enough, I can distinctly hear the rustling of trees outside as I'm writing this. This vividness of sensation—this old familiar feeling when a moment suddenly seems to linger there, lasting longer than a moment, the stillness of it. That moment of heightened sensibility, when the senses are sharpened and everything, just about everything, seems remarkably clear.
I guess it's pointless if you listen or read this book without observing a change in your state of consciousness—a vividness, a lucidity that must ensue and cannot escape you.
Another strange thing, I kind of stumbled upon this book right after finishing The Time Machine by H. G. Wells!
The goosebumps are totally worth it in this lighthearted talk on the premises of meditation. Recommended.
January 23, 2008
Very enjoyable and lighthearted and insightful/deep at the same time. Alan Watts sounds like he was a great guy. I wanted to quote a lot of this book, but it seriously would have been like every line in the book. I think my lilbro would like this.
October 21, 2013
I love Alan Watts. This book is more of an edited collection of bits of lectures and writing compiled not by Alan. As such it's not as focused and doesn't have the thorough digestion of topic that his other true books possess which explains my average rating. I would suggest, for a Watts newcomer, to start with Wisdom of Insecurity or The Book on the Taboo of Knowing Who You Are.
September 19, 2011
Excellent read. Alan Watts has incredible talent presenting his ideas with great lucidity. I am a big fan. Enjoy how he can take difficult concepts, especially for the western mind, and make them seem if not obvious at least intelligible.
September 28, 2007
This book was the first Alan Watts book I read. Its more like a daily reminder book. Its bits and pieces of his lectures put into a book. Its good to carry around with you if you are having a confusing day. Something to go to and just get lost in.
Its not really a HOW TO book per say, but it is A HOW TO HOW TO Book.
Thats the best way I can describe it.
Read other books by him first.
Once again,
Positive Reading.
Its not really a HOW TO book per say, but it is A HOW TO HOW TO Book.
Thats the best way I can describe it.
Read other books by him first.
Once again,
Positive Reading.
October 6, 2024
Basically, quit dwelling on the past and future. Live in the present.
"Simply watch everything going on without attempting to change it in anyway, without judging it, without calling it good or bad. Just watch it. That is the essential process of meditation."
A book I will most definitely revisit.
"Simply watch everything going on without attempting to change it in anyway, without judging it, without calling it good or bad. Just watch it. That is the essential process of meditation."
A book I will most definitely revisit.
January 29, 2013
A lovely and amusing lecture by Mr. Watts, but I don't know why this is titled as an introduction to meditation. I doubt a beginner would find much useful here, but it's an enjoyable deconstruction of self and effort.
April 30, 2019
This has been one of the few audiobooks where I get to the end and I really have no clue what the book is about. I remember there being some interesting comments, but they were fairly disconnected from other comments.
February 18, 2010
A wonderful introduction to the philosophy of Alan Watts, which seamlessly brings Eastern ideas to a Western audience.
"Alan Watts is able to use words to take us beyond them."
"Alan Watts is able to use words to take us beyond them."
June 22, 2014
An enjoyable perspective on Zen, existence, wholeness, the illusion of separateness, mindfulness, and enjoyment. Oh he good.
April 5, 2016
Unpretentious and illuminating.
Read
February 20, 2026Listening to this while doing pottery made me feel like I ascended.
July 7, 2016
There are some things on which I agree with Watts and others on which I don't. But perhaps the biggest question I have is, since what Watts is advocating seems to be a kind of radical non-interference, does it make any difference to anything? Is it meant to? One might even be forgiven for thinking you could summarise Watts's entire oeuvre as, "Keep calm and carry on. Or don't. It's up to you, really. And, by you, I mean, the universe."
But we are in the realm of paradox here. As the title suggests, the intended effect is to produce stillness. "Don't worry about worrying", or "Don't feel guilty for feeling guilty" - that kind of thing. I get a sense that maybe, if one could stop the meta-worrying, the core worrying might, of itself, ease, since it no longer has the self-perpetuating aspect. And this is a paradox because to produce such an effect, we must cease to care whether we produce such an effect.
And, as I intimated, this might all be a lot of nothing. But Watts has very positive views of nothing; he speaks of it quite warmly.
And he speaks well, generally. I've come to the conclusion that Watts is a very good speaker. It was only after re-reading this book that I realised that it was transcribed from him speaking. I listened to a talk that part of the book is taken from on YouTube recently, and saw that that section of the book has been transcribed almost word for word, and yet it comes out as very polished, rhythmic, felicitous prose, pithy and aphoristic. I wonder if he ad-libbed?
Watts describes himself as a spiritual entertainer. If nothing else, he is certainly that. I find myself returning to his work, and I don't think I would do so if his brand of nothing were merely nothing, or if it were boring.
But we are in the realm of paradox here. As the title suggests, the intended effect is to produce stillness. "Don't worry about worrying", or "Don't feel guilty for feeling guilty" - that kind of thing. I get a sense that maybe, if one could stop the meta-worrying, the core worrying might, of itself, ease, since it no longer has the self-perpetuating aspect. And this is a paradox because to produce such an effect, we must cease to care whether we produce such an effect.
And, as I intimated, this might all be a lot of nothing. But Watts has very positive views of nothing; he speaks of it quite warmly.
And he speaks well, generally. I've come to the conclusion that Watts is a very good speaker. It was only after re-reading this book that I realised that it was transcribed from him speaking. I listened to a talk that part of the book is taken from on YouTube recently, and saw that that section of the book has been transcribed almost word for word, and yet it comes out as very polished, rhythmic, felicitous prose, pithy and aphoristic. I wonder if he ad-libbed?
Watts describes himself as a spiritual entertainer. If nothing else, he is certainly that. I find myself returning to his work, and I don't think I would do so if his brand of nothing were merely nothing, or if it were boring.
March 21, 2021
analysing the modern fear of nothingness through the frame work of meditation. Watts in his quintessential new-age lyricism opens with a gentle affront on organised religion and proceeds to illustrate his re-framing of adopted social norms while maintaining an awareness of the impossibility of a complete severance from our social and natural environments.
When regarding nature in our process to obtaining a level of Darmah, Watts speaks of how we have become frugal in our displays of exuberance which is contra to our natural surroundings -
"We are always scrimping and saving because our economic models are based on scarcity rather than exuberance. But notice that the economics of nature are allegedly wasteful by out standards and they are based on exuberance. Many more seeds than are nesessary for trees and there are galaxies galore. Nature is a fast celebration of energy."
This is then followed by a meditation process that can be employed and revisited after completing the book.
Though brief it is insightful and well worth a read.
Perhaps one of my favourite sections is from the chapter 'Higher Orders of Being' where Watts asks us to regard the emotional intelligence of a potato in his classic tongue-in-cheek, take life with a pinch of salt quality that lands at a satisfyingly profound conclusion.
When regarding nature in our process to obtaining a level of Darmah, Watts speaks of how we have become frugal in our displays of exuberance which is contra to our natural surroundings -
"We are always scrimping and saving because our economic models are based on scarcity rather than exuberance. But notice that the economics of nature are allegedly wasteful by out standards and they are based on exuberance. Many more seeds than are nesessary for trees and there are galaxies galore. Nature is a fast celebration of energy."
This is then followed by a meditation process that can be employed and revisited after completing the book.
Though brief it is insightful and well worth a read.
Perhaps one of my favourite sections is from the chapter 'Higher Orders of Being' where Watts asks us to regard the emotional intelligence of a potato in his classic tongue-in-cheek, take life with a pinch of salt quality that lands at a satisfyingly profound conclusion.
August 19, 2016
Oh boy...checked this out on recommendation from a friend. So weird. Now...I did the audio version...and, honestly, it sounded like something that escaped from Guyana from the Jim Jones days. While, I'm totally down with meditation...maybe this was a bit too remedial, and woo-woo for me?
October 25, 2017
This was my second attempt to appreciate Watts. This one was like listening to a beatnik professor ramble on in front of a class of college freshman. Not a lot of rubber hitting the road here, which is fine if that is your thing.
February 15, 2013
Easy and simple in words and quite enlightening, without going too much into terminology. Many one-liners that sum up Zen concepts succinctly.
February 27, 2015
I thought this book was total gibberish. The author was able to speak for a surprisingly long time and say absolutely nothing.
March 26, 2017
This isn't Watts at his best. Rambling, new age junk.
June 5, 2019
A great audiobook experience, and great insights about meditation.
May 30, 2025
The man's got a vibe that just works. I very much appreciate any comparison of ideal human nature to the adaptability and tranquility of water. It's always resonated with me. The part about us being our own universe and not being more than we are in our greatest moments is where I have to really unpack the language, because I believe I agree, yet can't quite place why. I think I just like the way it sounds when someone tells me there is no past and no future, only eternal now. Got a nice ring to it, boyo.
Read
February 6, 2025Book bingo: recommended by tailored titles
I had no idea “a person who thinks all the time has nothing to think about except thoughts” was Alan watts! Super new age-y hippie shtuff, and felt more like a podcast than an audiobook? Personally I find Alan watts kind of off putting, but I know too many people he’s had a ton of influence on to not have any exposure to his work
I had no idea “a person who thinks all the time has nothing to think about except thoughts” was Alan watts! Super new age-y hippie shtuff, and felt more like a podcast than an audiobook? Personally I find Alan watts kind of off putting, but I know too many people he’s had a ton of influence on to not have any exposure to his work
October 20, 2024
The audio tape is the best version, just because the way Alan Watts presents things is incredibly dynamic and he carries a lot with his tone and playful spirit.
It’s an excellent small text introduction to the ānāpāna technique for meditation
It’s an excellent small text introduction to the ānāpāna technique for meditation
January 27, 2020
I liked his introduction to breathing. Just notice, don't modify.
June 26, 2024
Short read/listen, but more important than most pieces of literature about peace, reality, and one's existence.
October 25, 2024
[AUDIOBOOK]
A series of tapes and lectures from one of the greatest. nothing greater to elaborate on.
A series of tapes and lectures from one of the greatest. nothing greater to elaborate on.
December 30, 2024
Comforting 🧚🏼🧘🏻♀️
June 10, 2025
Oh Alan Watts the man that you are… reading this filled me with love and light and laughter. A sweet straightforward and lighthearted perspective on meditation.
November 16, 2025
Liked this!! Chef’s kiss. Love you, Watt-sy!!!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews