/lit/ - Literature

Nah, read the texts by the zen patriarchs. Mumonkan, instant zen, faith in mind etc.

>>19287228
He has interesting things to say but don’t treat him the same way you would a primary source.

No, at most he can cite some actual sources and work as a launchpad but even then it’s really building on sand, you’re better off just reading the primary texts with annotations or an actual introduction text of someone who specializes in these religions. Personally I believe it’s better to approach the primary texts themselves.

He was an alcoholic and was hated by his own family. So no. He's just another false prophet that learned to public speak well

>>19287639
I thought he was a respected scholar?

>>19287639
What are the primary texts? As far back as Dhyana?

Alan Watts talks on yt are about as far as it's necessary to go with le oriental wisdom

>>19287693
He’s not even like, Suzuki tier. If authentic religious traditions are 10, new ageism is 1, he’s around 3 and in his most complex and scholarly works, 6-7, he is below the guenon and evola types, which are below genuine study of primary sources and traditions themselves. He’s at times a little better and at times a little worse than theosophy.

Since you can directly read the works of Linji, Liezi, Laozi and so forth, I see no reason why you wouldn’t just go directly to the source and see, or read scholarly introductions and commentaries.

>>19287707
Depends on the specific tradition, I’ll link a post I’ve made in another thread shilling primary sources. >>/lit/thread/S18108991#p18109089

Once more, if you want zen, I cannot think of a better source than linji.

>>19287738
Breddy good, thanks brother.

>>19287228
He’s the king of the pseuds

People don't listen to or read Alan Watts because they want "authentic" access to muh genuine traditions, they go to Watts because he's a charming and accessible speaker and writer who reveals what's useful or interesting about them.

>>19287228
The Way of Zen is unironically a decent intro into zen.

>>19287728
Frater, I wish to speak to you. Give me a way of reaching you.

>Baopuzi

>>19287948
Here is fine, if you have discord you can always send a dm to Hairy#9550, which is i. Otherwise I enjoy maintaining anonymity.

his book on Zen is great. ignore the virgins on here, he is a great writer to start to learn eastern religion and philosophy from. his lectures on youtube are also pretty good. yes, he was an imperfect human being, so /lit/ will throw stones at him, because /lit/ is filled w ubermenschen, of course

>>19287639
What is the best primary Hindu text to start with?

>>19287722
>>19287780
Watts also points out how a western perspective will have a skewed view of eastern traditions, he's quite self aware of himself in this arena.

>>19288998
The yoga sutras of patanjali and the gita with the Abhinavagupta commentary are both alright. Hinduism is a titanic field though with many sub religions, sub cults, so many myths, philosophers and mystics. Get your toes wet with what I’ve said in this thread and find what draws your mind to attention as you google and research.

>>19287728
>Since you can directly read the works of Linji, Liezi, Laozi
Lol so Frater is a hack? Damn.

>>19287228
Yes he is a good source for learning. You'll get a tour of the history and distilled ideas from the primary sources, all annotated, allowing you to dig deeper. Ignore Frater he is apparently completely lost lol.

>>19289189
By distilled you mean popularized and made suitable to western sensibilities, and reduced of course. If I am a hack for saying one should read the texts themselves or go to an actual contemporary scholar who has done the annotations, then so be it, label me a hack.

>>19289213
wore than a hack, you're insufferable. no wonder no woman would ever touch u

>>19287228
his lectures, no.
His books; good enough introductions.

>>19287228
read toshihiko izutsu

>>19287728
Who's a 10 to you?

>>19289828
Rude, I'd touch him.

>>19287728
Taoism really shouldn't get reduced to Linji, Liezi and Master Zhuanzgi. Its an entire folk religion with all kinds of gods and sects.

I recommend Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings. There's so much Zen. If you want some more interesting ones - I recommend Linji's teachings, Huangbo's Transmission of the Mind, Layman Pang's Sayings, Joshu Sayings, Huineng's Platform Sutra and Caoshan Benji Transmissions of the Lamp.
The Diamond Sutra and Platform Sutra both should read - with the Platforma Sutura being first and the Diamond Sutra being second.
But really, when going into Buddhism its best to start with the Pali Canon.

Lads, what's your opinion in pureland buddhism?

>>19287693
I have seen the chapter "the Philosophy of the Dao" in the Way of Zen cited repeatedly by scholars. Nothing else, and I've heard negative things about his scholarship elsewhere. So I guess he's reliable on Tao but sucks otherwise?

>>19290525
to me zen and pure land are both retvrns to the essence of buddhism, but different perspectives suited for different lifestyles.

>>19287228
Good and engaging introduction, just dont stick in the Demon Watts Cave

>>19290394
Ask me how i know you haven't read any of that.

>>19290525
I've been practicing it for a few years and really like it. The method is easy and I get better results with it than any other technique I've tried. It can mix well with Zen and act as a safety net too.

you guys ever look at Christianity?

>>19290866
Give me a chant, O wise bro.

>>19290881
Here is a secret method of chanting from a Buddhist and Taoist Master:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ikaogv5ZdA
More details from that teacher here:
https://seriousbuddhism.wordpress.com/2018/09/18/nan-huai-jin-discussing-the-dharma-door-of-chanting-the-buddhas-name/

Singing it like this is also very good:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B9-0sEERgI

>>19289828
I’m married so that type of complaint doesn’t work.

>>19290354
I know, however laozi, zhangzi and liezi are the three beginner texts, in my link above I give more sources focusing on magical alchemical and general religious practice both folk and ceremonial.

>>19290850
Admitting you've read all that means you haven't read any of it - you're not suppose dogmatically follow the text, in fact, some even tell you to burn them

>>19287228
Is this the guy on Deadwood who called everybody a cocksucker?

>>19290912
Thanks man.

>>19287728
Alan Watts talks have a profound phenomenological effect on me and are therefore superior to primary sources which lack this potency.

>>19291808
The term you’re looking for is rhetorical effect and emotional response. If you just want preaching I don’t really see the value in that, there are great preachers in every religion and every philosophy and every political group and so forth.