Alan Watts

Muddy water

Lectures

Muddy water is best cleared by leaving it alone. The mind that tries to force itself clear only stirs the silt. This is cousin to Baba’s instruction: do not fight the disturbing thought; let it die of neglect. Cousin also to Nichtern’s spaciousness. You are not corked and you are not a project. Sit. The sediment knows how to fall.

Alan Watts, after the Taoist image