{"product_id":"behold-the-spirit-a-study-in-the-necessity-of-mystical-religion-paperback","title":"Behold the Spirit — Alan Watts on Zen and Christian Mysticism","description":"\u003cp\u003eAlan Watts wrote this as a former priest with a master's in theology and a doctorate of divinity, which is why it lands differently from most East-meets-West writing. He is not admiring Zen from outside Christianity; he is asking what Christianity would look like if it took its own mystics seriously.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDeepak Chopra called it “the perfect guide for a course correction in life.” F.S.C. Northrop called it the only first-rate book in recent years in the field of religion. It is a short, argued case for the place of mystical religion in a troubled present.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"color:#2c3a37;\"\u003eAt a glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaperback\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Alan W. Watts — former priest, master's in theology, doctorate of divinity\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSubject:\u003c\/strong\u003e how the intuition of Eastern religion, Zen Buddhism in particular, can be incorporated into Western Christian doctrine\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePraised by\u003c\/strong\u003e Deepak Chopra and F.S.C. Northrop\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWatts wrote some twenty books on the philosophy and psychology of religion, published in many languages\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBest known as an interpreter of Zen Buddhism and of Indian and Chinese philosophy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"color:#2c3a37;\"\u003eHow to read it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRead it slowly.\u003c\/strong\u003e Watts writes clearly, but the argument is metaphysical and rewards a second pass.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBring your own tradition with you.\u003c\/strong\u003e The book is most useful to readers with a live relationship, or a live quarrel, with Christianity.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePair it with The Way of Zen\u003c\/strong\u003e if you want Watts on the Buddhist side of the bridge.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMark it up.\u003c\/strong\u003e This is a book people return to years later and read differently.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:linear-gradient(135deg,#000D0B,#40514E); color:#f3f3f3; padding:20px 24px; border-radius:8px; margin:28px 0;\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"color:#c9a96e; margin-top:0;\"\u003e✨ Temple Tip — Watts is a bridge, not a destination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom:0;\"\u003eHe is the finest interpreter many readers will meet, and interpretation is still interpretation. Let him introduce you to Zen and to the Christian mystics, then go and read them directly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"color:#2c3a37;\"\u003eQuestions we get asked\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer; padding:10px 0; font-weight:600; color:#2c3a37;\"\u003eWhat is the book arguing?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"padding:0 0 12px 0;\"\u003eThat mystical religion is necessary, and that traditional Western doctrine can be reconciled with the intuitive religion of the East.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer; padding:10px 0; font-weight:600; color:#2c3a37;\"\u003eDo I need to be Christian to read it?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"padding:0 0 12px 0;\"\u003eNo, though readers with some relationship to Western Christian doctrine will recognise more of what Watts is responding to.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer; padding:10px 0; font-weight:600; color:#2c3a37;\"\u003eWho was Alan Watts?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"padding:0 0 12px 0;\"\u003eA writer who held a master's degree in theology and a doctorate of divinity, best remembered as an interpreter of Zen Buddhism and of Indian and Chinese philosophy. He wrote some twenty books and hosted the television series Eastern Wisdom and Modern Life.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer; padding:10px 0; font-weight:600; color:#2c3a37;\"\u003eWhat did reviewers say?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"padding:0 0 12px 0;\"\u003eF.S.C. Northrop regarded it as the only first-rate book in recent years in the field of religion. Deepak Chopra called it the perfect guide for a course correction in life.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer; padding:10px 0; font-weight:600; color:#2c3a37;\"\u003eWhat else did he write?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"padding:0 0 12px 0;\"\u003eAround twenty books on the philosophy and psychology of religion, including the bestselling The Way of Zen.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@type\": \"FAQPage\", \"mainEntity\": [{\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What is the book arguing?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"That mystical religion is necessary, and that traditional Western doctrine can be reconciled with the intuitive religion of the East.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Do I need to be Christian to read it?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"No, though readers with some relationship to Western Christian doctrine will recognise more of what Watts is responding to.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Who was Alan Watts?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"A writer who held a master's degree in theology and a doctorate of divinity, best remembered as an interpreter of Zen Buddhism and of Indian and Chinese philosophy. He wrote some twenty books and hosted the television series Eastern Wisdom and Modern Life.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What did reviewers say?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"F.S.C. Northrop regarded it as the only first-rate book in recent years in the field of religion. Deepak Chopra called it the perfect guide for a course correction in life.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What else did he write?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Around twenty books on the philosophy and psychology of religion, including the bestselling The Way of Zen.\"}}]}\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe priest who went looking, and wrote down what he found. \u003cstrong\u003e#TempleOfDesire\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54413235257681,"sku":"9780394717616","price":21.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1063\/0194\/8241\/files\/e5I6Fk5klZ9780394717616.webp?v=1785077101","url":"https:\/\/www.templeofdesire.com\/products\/behold-the-spirit-a-study-in-the-necessity-of-mystical-religion-paperback","provider":"Temple of Desire","version":"1.0","type":"link"}