Part three of the classic audiobook Four Ways to the Center by Alan Watts, presented by BetterListen, delves deep into one of the fundamental attitudes toward the human predicament: the yoga of egocentricity. Building on the previous discussions of repentance and resignation, this segment illuminates the intricate game we play with existence, our sense of self, and the profound paradox of ego.
The Game of Existence: Understanding Our Illusion of Separateness
Watts begins by reminding us that existence itself is a grand game—a dance of appearing and disappearing, akin to hide and seek or lost and found. In Western culture, we often play this game by imagining ourselves as isolated individuals, strangers entering the world alone. Yet, this is a clever illusion. Each individual life is actually a facet of ultimate reality pretending to be lost, undergoing the full adventure of pain, death, and moral decision-making.
This illusion of separateness is what many spiritual traditions refer to as Maya, the world illusion. Watts emphasizes that the division of nature into separate things and events is a convention, much like the mathematical calculus that breaks a curve into points to measure it. In reality, the world is a continuous process, and our perception of discrete things is merely a useful but limited perspective.
Hypnosis of Attention and Cosmic Consciousness
Why do we not ordinarily perceive this unified reality? Watts compares our state to being hypnotized by a stage magician’s misdirection. We have become so specialized in focusing conscious attention on isolated objects that we identify ourselves solely with this faculty, ignoring the vast underlying awareness that connects us to everything.
Moments of cosmic consciousness or mystical vision occur when, through spiritual practices or spontaneous shifts, we “slip switches” and become aware of a broader reality. In these moments, the inside of our skin and the outside world are seen as inseparable, like the relationship between our head and feet. This realization hints at a unified field of being that is usually veiled by our habitual focus on separateness.
The Yoga of Egocentricity: Embracing the Ego Fully
Having explored repentance (rejecting the ego) and resignation (accepting ego passively), Watts introduces the third path: rebellion or the yoga of egocentricity. This approach involves embracing the ego completely and playing the game of separateness to its extreme.
He points out that the ego, though an illusion, is very real in its effects. Like a complex ornamental pattern on the edge of life, the ego is a natural expression. To be a consistent egotist—someone who acknowledges and acts on their true wishes without pretense—requires courage and honesty. Philosophers like Nietzsche exemplify this path.
Watts stresses the importance of emotional honesty in this approach. Pretending to be unselfish or cooperative when one is not leads to confusion and broken trust. Instead, being transparent about one’s feelings and desires fosters more genuine human relationships. For example, a friend who honestly says, “I don’t feel like it,” is more trustworthy than one who feigns enthusiasm.
Authenticity Over Abstract Principles
While ideals and abstract principles have their place in guiding behavior, Watts argues that acting according to what you truly want is a safer and more authentic approach to life. Acts that appear self-sacrificial often stem from genuine desires to see positive outcomes or experience joy, rather than masochism.
He also critiques society’s tendency to manufacture artificial desires through consumerism, which leads to disappointment and misunderstanding of what we genuinely want. The repetitive cycle of shopping sprees and the letdown after receiving toys or gifts serve as poignant examples of this phenomenon.
The Challenge of Following the Ego to Its Limit
Fully embracing the ego is not without its difficulties. Watts uses powerful myths and metaphors to illustrate the inevitable stalemate one encounters when ego confronts itself:
- The Tar Baby: The more you struggle against it, the more stuck you become.
- The Giant with Sticky Hair (from Jataka tales): Every attack or effort to dominate results in being trapped.
- The Crucifixion: Symbolizing ultimate surrender and realization.
When ego clashes against ego, it leads to paralysis—a stalemate where each side anticipates the other’s move, creating a deadlock. This moment of impasse reveals the truth that the ego is not truly separate and that the game of egocentricity has limits.
The Way Forward: No Turning Back, Only Through
Drawing on the symbolism from Dante’s Divine Comedy, Watts explains that once you enter the path of ego, you cannot go back; you must go forward. The journey may feel like descending into hell, but the way out lies beyond the bottom, through transformation and awakening to a larger truth. Passing the “active door” or critical initiation requires courage and decisiveness—hesitation leads to destruction.
In life, this translates to embracing your choices fully—”If you’re going to sin, make it a good one,” as Luther put it. Whatever path you take, do it with determination and clarity, without wavering or half-measures.
Conclusion: The Dance of Existence and the Path of the Ego
Part three of Four Ways to the Center offers a profound exploration of the ego’s role in human experience. Alan Watts invites us to see the ego not as a villain to be rejected or a burden to resign from, but as a complex aspect of the cosmic dance. By honestly embracing our egocentric nature, understanding its limits, and moving forward with courage, we edge closer to the center of being.
This teaching encourages a fresh perspective on selfhood—one that balances authenticity, awareness, and acceptance of the game we are all playing. It reminds us that the journey of existence is not about escaping the ego but understanding and integrating it fully in the dance of life.
