In this insightful continuation of the classic self-study course and journal series by Alan Watts, we delve deeper into the profound attitudes humans adopt toward their existence and predicament. This part two preview from the Four Ways To The Center audiobook and the accompanying Zen Journal Physical Book offers a compelling exploration of two fundamental responses—repentance and resignation—that shape our relationship with life’s complex game.
Understanding the Four Rs: Repentance and Resignation
Alan Watts introduces four fundamental attitudes found across world religions toward the human condition, cleverly framed as the “four Rs”: Repentance (the opposite of rebellion) and Resignation (the opposite of reincarnation). These are not just abstract concepts but deeply rooted psychological and spiritual postures that define how individuals engage with life’s challenges.
In part one, Watts focused on repentance—the mindset that sees something profoundly wrong with being a self-conscious, isolated individual. Here, he continues unpacking repentance, showing how its extreme leads to the realization that the self is a façade, a “big act.” This insight aligns with the ancient Upanishadic wisdom of “Tat tvam asi” or “That art thou,” revealing that the true self is not the isolated ego but the imperishable cosmic reality playing hide and seek through human experience.
The Paradox of Repentance
Watts highlights a fascinating paradox: the statement “I am a sinner” is logically equivalent to the liar’s paradox “This statement is false.” If the statement is true, it must be false, and vice versa—an endless loop that traps the repentant mind. Many religious traditions capitalize on this emotional bind by encouraging congregations to embrace guilt and self-punishment, creating a lifestyle of contrition that paradoxically assures them of their “rightness” through suffering.
But when repentance is pursued to its ultimate limit, it dismantles the illusion of the isolated self, opening the door to a transformative discovery of reality beyond phoniness.
The Aristocracy of Resignation
Moving from repentance, Watts explores resignation, a posture of quitting the game of life altogether. Resignation, unlike repentance, lacks passionate self-reproach. It is a cool, aristocratic stance—whether embodied by the Hindu sannyasin renouncing worldly attachments or the Western aristocrat who remains imperturbable and aloof from striving and desire.
Watts contrasts three social attitudes toward time and striving:
- The Aristocrat: Lives in the past, content with inherited achievements, and displays effortless superiority.
- The Bourgeois: Lives in the future, constantly striving and hoping for fulfillment but often left disappointed.
- The Proletarian: Lives in the present, indifferent to reputation, and focused on immediate experience.
In this spectrum, resignation aligns with the aristocrat and the sannyasin—both stepping away from worldly ambition and desires.
The Role of the Sannyasin in Indian Culture
Watts provides a cultural context by describing the Indian caste system and the lifecycle stages, where a man around age 45 is expected to transition from the householder role (grihastha) to that of a forest dweller (vanaprastha), renouncing possessions and social status. This renunciation is not mere escapism but a respected cultural practice acknowledging the limits of worldly engagement.
Interestingly, the sannyasin is an “upper outcast,” voluntarily rejecting status much like how Buddha’s disciples wore the robes of convicts to symbolize their renunciation. Watts even suggests that modern clothing like blue jeans could become a Western symbol of this renunciant spirit.
Games, Meta-Games, and the Impossibility of True Resignation
Watts introduces the idea that life itself is a game—one played with various layers of meta-games. For example, the game of “my game is better than your game,” or the meta-game of “I’m not playing games, but you are.” Resignation is itself a game, a claim to have transcended all games, which ironically becomes just another form of playing.
He challenges the notion of escaping the game, pointing out that even the hermit or the Buddhist monk who renounces the world cannot truly resign, because solitude only reveals a deeper connection to everything. The lonelier you become, the more you realize you are part of a vast, murmuring community of life.
The Buddhist Perspective: Arhat vs. Bodhisattva
Watts contrasts two Buddhist ideals:
- The Arhat: One who escapes the cycle of birth and death (samsara), effectively “getting out of the game.”
- The Bodhisattva: One who, having attained liberation, chooses to re-engage with the world, embracing the game fully.
This distinction underscores the final realization that you cannot truly opt out of existence because you and the universe are not separate. Playing the game is not a burden but the very essence of being.
The Zen Monks’ Mastery of Resignation
Watts paints a vivid picture of Buddhist monks in places like Kyoto, who live lives of austere luxury—resigning from worldly ambition yet enjoying the finest art, gardens, and tradition. Their resignation is a strategic, higher-level game that outcompeted feudal lords for the best lands and social influence.
He recounts a story of Zen monks confronting brigands, demonstrating courage and fearlessness that ultimately wins respect and converts warriors into disciples. This story exemplifies how resignation can be a powerful, transformative stance rather than mere withdrawal.
The Hermit’s Paradox
The idealized hermit, hidden away in the mountains, discovers that loneliness amplifies sensitivity and connection rather than isolation. The hermit learns that true resignation is impossible because being alone intensifies the awareness of interconnection.
The Ultimate Insight: You Are the Game
Watts concludes with a profound insight: the feeling of being trapped in life’s game disappears when you recognize that you are not separate from the game—you are the game itself. There is no external compulsion forcing you to play; playing is your nature.
True resignation is not about escape but about embracing this unity of self and existence. This is the essence of the Zen teaching that a true monk’s hermitage is wherever he stands, fully present and engaged.
Conclusion
This segment of Alan Watts’s Four Ways To The Center masterfully explores the complex attitudes of repentance and resignation, revealing their paradoxes and deeper spiritual meanings. From the trap of guilt to the cool detachment of renunciation, Watts guides us to a transformative understanding: that the game of life is inseparable from who we are, and only by embracing this can we find true center and freedom.
For those on a path of self-discovery, this teaching offers valuable perspectives to reflect upon and integrate, enriching both spiritual practice and everyday living.
