Some of those experiences can be a lot of fun, too. My own mind is like a playground. Unfortunately, some of this time spent in the “reality” of thoughts takes away from time spent in the “reality” of the “real world.” You have to balance the two, otherwise when you come back down to the real world it smacks you hard in the face.

Also, you have to spend time in the real world to gather material for thoughts and dreams. Otherwise you chase your own trail down an endless spiral of symbol-systems.

Having said that, I do like Watts’s premise of living in the now all the time. It’s very Buddhist. It’s hard to get that concept to coexist with the Western way of doing things, which is very narrative. E.g, I am the way I am because of the past, which constrains who I am now, and incidentally in this now I’d better do a, b, and c to become who I want to be in the future.

Moment-by-moment existence is rapturous. It is also, I believe, mainly reserved for those beings without “narrative” conscsiousness. To live that way all the time is the way of wild animals.

I don’t know if you saw the latest quote on my blog, from The Mystical Qabalah about perfection and attainment, and how the Universe gives you as many chances as you need to get it right. There’s a notion of refining a pure self which seems completely at odds with Watt’s notion that there is no “self.” Both are equally appealing to me, and I’m kind of in a spin as to which one to adopt. The thing I liked about the idea from the Mystical Qabalah is that it made me think of infinite time in which to play in, toying with the strings of narrative until you are utterly satisfied and ready to go home. Watts’s idea of time is eternal rather than infinite, and states that “here,” “now,” is the only home we have.

I’m glad you’re reading that book! I liked it a lot. I’m hoping to get my hands on “The Book” next.*

*The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are by Alan Watts.