The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
Alan W. Watts · ★★★★☆ · 163 pages · 1966
I guess Watts is describing the Hindu philosophy of the Atman and Brahman in this book to a western audience that is more familiar with the Abrahamic religions with their father based creator God though he doesn't use the Hindu terms really. Essential, Atman is the soul and Brahman is God. In Hinduism and Buddhism the soul is part of the grander universe that we observe and are actors in. We are both observing the universe which we also describe through the lens of the mind that is part of the universe. So in reality, true reality, we are not separated at all when we think our actions have no recourse because it affects the world and we deem ourselves as separate from the universe. In fact by being a part of the universe and its change we are affecting it. Interesting book but a little long winded if you already know about Hindu/Buddhist/Taoist philosophy.
I also unwittingly realized why Trump might have appealed to people as he is a father figure that is stern and "tells it like it is." This is especially true if you come from a conservative church going area where the only true father figure you have is God as the men in the areas are out of work and no longer give the father like power. This was covered in the last part of the book...