Zen and the Beat Way

As described in Jack Kerouac's "Dharma Blues", Zen had a strong appeal to the Beat generation. In this collection of essays--based on a selection of radio talks and lectures given in the late 1950s and early 1960s--philosopher Watts explores the many aspects of Zen and Eastern thought that served as an inspiration for the Beat generation.

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Through his popular radio series "Way Beyond the West" Alan Watts brought listeners a delightful and practical side of Zen, which he prescribed as "a cure for education and culture." By the early sixties his radio programs were renowned for their synthesis of Eastern wisdom and everyday life. Several of these radio talks have been selected and edited by Mark Watts, Alan's oldest son, to introduce a new generation to Zen and the Beat Way. Through this collection we see influences of D.T. Suzuki, C.G. Jung, Gary Snyder and others. Specific chapters discuss Zen influences on traditional Japanese and Chinese arts and explores the celebrated concept of the "controlled accident" within the rich tradition of Zen aesthetics. Also included is "Return to the Forest, " an essay that explores the works of Joseph Campbell on the earliest Beat traditions.