man seems to be unable to live without myth, without the belief that the routine and drudgery, the pain and fear of this life have some meaning and g… - Alan Watts

"It is open to all of us in so far as "the mastery of life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced." It is given to many to be seers, but few to be prophets. Many can listen to music, but few can perform and compose."

Wanting to get out of pain is the pain; it is not the “reaction” of an “I” distinct from the pain. When you discover this, the desire to escape “merges” into the pain itself and vanishes. Discounting aspirin for the moment, you cannot remove your head from a headache as you can remove your hand from a flame. “You” equals “head” equals “ache.” When you actually see that you are the pain, pain ceases to be a motive, for there is no one to be moved. It becomes, in the true sense, of no consequence. It hurts — period.

For we have never actually understood the revolutionary sense beneath them – the incredible truth that what religion calls the vision of God is found in giving up any belief in the idea of God.