Alan Watts' Spiritual Solution to the Environmental Crisis

For those unsure, Alan Watts was a leading writer, speaker, and philosopher of the 20th century who focused on spreading Eastern ideologies to the West. His extensive collection of lectures and written pieces covered various spiritual-based topics such as ego, consciousness, the Universe, and the experience of life itself. At times, he also extended his spiritual teachings into the public sector by using them in discussion of current social issues.

In a 1971 television recording, Watts conveyed his thoughts on the already established environmental crisis. His solution to the issue involved completely reshaping the way we think about the true nature of the Universe and our relationship to it.

To explain the reality of the world we live in, Watts highlights the disconnect between our "non-complex", "linear" way of thinking and the truly complex nature of the Earth:

"...we are really too simple minded to understand what we are doing when we interfere with the natural world strongly and on a vast scale. We are understanding it in terms of logic, which is too simple, too crude for the job."

Here Watts suggests that we have not been successful in maintaining a healthy status of our planet because we have been trying to solve a crisis of nature using human logic. He goes on to say that we are wrongfully acknowledging our own logic as a complete set of universal laws and even confusing it as being the world itself. Watts explains that in reality our logic is simply a "system of language and calculations" created by our brains.

So, if the world is too complex for humans to understand with their own logic, what does Alan Watts suppose we do?

"the human race has to learn how to leave the world alone" and "hand over the direction of nature to nature"

By halting the actions destroying our planet and giving the Earth time to reset, Watts believes that nature will be able to heal itself. This sounds peachy, but definitely not easy since humans would have to sacrifice a lot for this to work.

To summarize, the first part of the solution to the environmental crisis Watts proposes is to acknowledge the vast complexity of the Universe (of which our planet is included) and allow nature to take matter into its own hands.

The noble philosopher makes it clear that in order to do this we must all come to an understanding of our true identity and its relation to the planet.

"If we are going to hand over the direction of nature to nature... it is absolutely necessary that we let go of ourselves..." and "realize the completely illusory nature of the beings we think we are and get back again to the beings that we really are."

Watts was known for spreading the idea that we are products of the Universe, and therefore part of the Universe itself. According to this belief, the Earth is also a product of the Universe. This makes us and the Earth essentially both fragments of the Universe. Under this idea, there cannot be a distinction between us and any other part of this planet.

"When you look out of your eyes at nature happening out there, you are looking at you."

If in fact we are made up of the same materials as the rest of the Earth and Universe, would we not be any different to the land, oceans, animals, stars and beyond?

I think this principle would actually help to solve a lump-sum of our world's current issues. Not just the idea that we are one with the Universe, but that we are one with everything on this planet itself, including each other and all other elements of nature. This would allow for a greater sense of unity and compassion amongst all beings on Earth.

But, I do have a further question I would like to discuss regarding Watts' idea. If he maintains that we are indeed one in the same with nature and the Universe itself, then in "handing over the direction of nature to nature" wouldn't we technically be able to take the problem into our own hands? It only seems fair that as the race responsible for the current destruction of the Earth, we aid in the restoration of its health.

Now, I am not suggesting that Watts' proposal is wrong. I truly believe the first step to solving the climate crisis is realizing our limitations as humans in taking the matter completely into our own hands. Watts is right in saying we must first remember who we really are, physical manifestations of the Universe living on planet Earth.

Once we collectively become awakened to our true identities, I am confident that we will be able to harness the pieces of the Universe inside of us containing its complex wisdom and use it towards making the right decisions for our planet. The more we connect with nature, the Earth, and the Universe, the higher our level of intuition and insight becomes, and the easier it will be for the planet to heal itself through us.

It is high time we consider spirituality as well as hard science when solving issues. This is the only way to salvage the environmental crisis and restore the health of our planet. I trust that the Earth will be able to heal itself given the chance, along with help from a spiritually-awakened human race. I have faith in the kind-hearted people of this planet, the scientists, spiritualists, teachers, shamans, mathematicians, and so on to create a better future for this planet.

All quotes sourced from (Alan Watts: A Conversation with Myself):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LXiSPpfM54

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ8WeLrtFnY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RcjATFcbq4&t=335s