Abstract:

"Mood of Zen - While the camera captures the beauty of Japanese gardens and temples Alan Watts explains some of the basic teachings of Zen-the role and goals of meditation, the need to flow with the current of life to release creative energy, not to oppose cosmic forces but to conquer them by going with them, and to wake up from the illusions under which we suffer. Zen and Now - The visual content of the film consists of nature shots from one garden, the idea being that one need not travel around the world to see a universe, teat we can develop our sensory awareness and learn to BE HERE NOW. Meditation is part of the structure of the film, meditation which counters the compulsion to be active, to be constantly busy and doing, has no purpose except to be here now. "Stop thinking altogether and be aware of what is. Don't name anything, allow light and sound to play with your sense. There in no past, no future, only Now." The Flow of Zen - "The waters before and the waters after, now and forever flowing, follow each other." Thus Alan Watts begins his talk on the philosophy of Zen Buddhism with the Zen poem, comparing the qualities of water with the qualities produced by following Zen. His talk prepares the viewer for meditation which is a structural part of the film."