This is it, and other essays on Zen and spiritual experience

In one sentence

Spiritual enlightenment is not a "thing" to be acquired or a destination to be reached; it is the sudden, non-dual recognition of the present moment as the entire universe.

Why read this (and who it's for)

Most people approach spirituality as a "problem-solving" endeavor: they believe they are broken and need a technique to become "whole." Watts argues that this very seeking is what keeps you from the truth. This book is for the seeker who feels exhausted by the "spiritual marketplace"—the endless pursuit of meditation techniques, personality shifts, and "enlightened" states. After reading, you will be able to stop treating your life as a rehearsal for a future state of peace and start experiencing the "is-ness" of the present.

The big idea

Watts argues that the primary obstacle to spiritual experience is the "egoic" belief that there is a "self" who is trying to get somewhere. We treat the present moment as a bridge to a future goal, which means we are never actually in the present. This creates a perpetual state of lack.

The central thesis is that "This is it"—the present moment is the only reality. There is no "hidden" treasure at the end of a spiritual path because the path itself is the destination. Zen is not a set of rules to follow; it is a way of seeing. When you stop trying to become something, you are finally free to be what you already are.

The logic follows a paradoxical loop: the moment you stop trying to find "enlightenment," you find it. This is because "enlightenment" is not a trophy; it is the removal of the mental filters that prevent you from seeing the reality of the "Now."

Key ideas

The Illusion of "Becoming"

• What it is — We live under the delusion that we are a "project" in progress, always moving toward a future version of ourselves.
• Why it matters — If you believe you are always "becoming," you can never "be." You become a perpetual stranger to your own life.
• In the book — Watts explains that the "self" is not a permanent entity but a process, like a river. You cannot "find" the river's source as a static object; you can only experience the flow.

The Present as the Only Reality

• What it is — The past is a memory (a thought) and the future is an anticipation (a thought). Neither exists in the physical sense.
• Why it matters — By realizing that only the "Now" is real, you stop wasting your life in a mental simulation of what was or what might be.
• In the book — He uses the analogy of a dance. You don't dance to "get" to a certain spot on the floor; the point of the dance is the dancing itself.

The "No-Self" of Zen

• What it is — The "I" that seeks enlightenment is the very thing blocking enlightenment.
• Why it matters — To see clearly, you must recognize that the "ego" is a social construct, a set of habits and labels, not a core essence.
• In the book — Watts describes the "Self" as a ghost in the machine—a linguistic convenience that we mistake for a literal inhabitant of the body.

Non-Dual Awareness

• What it is — The separation between the "observer" and the "observed" is a mental construct.
• Why it matters — When you realize there is no "inner" observer watching an "outer" world, the world becomes vibrant and immediate rather than a screen for your thoughts.
• In the book — He discusses how we usually see the world as a collection of objects, but Zen invites us to see the world as a seamless, unfolding event.

The "Is-ness" of Experience

• What it is — Truth is found in the raw, unmediated experience of the present moment, before the mind labels it.
• Why it matters — It shifts the goal from attainment to awareness. You don't need to "do" anything; you just need to stop doing the things that distract you from what is happening.
• In the book — Watts emphasizes that "This is it" refers to the sheer fact of existence—the "Suchness" of things.

Frameworks & tools

The "Dance" Model of Living

Instead of viewing life as a Project (Goal $\rightarrow$ Action $\rightarrow$ Result), view it as a Dance (Action $\rightarrow$ Experience $\rightarrow$ Presence).

1. Identify the Goal: What are you trying to "achieve" in this moment? (e.g., "I want to be calm.")
2. Recognize the Barrier: Realize that the desire to be calm is actually what prevents you from being calm in the moment.
3. Shift to the Action: Focus entirely on the immediate sensory experience of the "now" (the breath, the weight of your feet, the sound of the room).
4. Release the Result: Let go of the "why" and simply participate in the "is."

The "Unlearning" Protocol

To experience the "Now," you must systematically peel away the layers of social and mental conditioning.

1. Observe the Label: Notice when you label an experience (e.g., "This is a beautiful sunset").
2. Strip the Label: Try to experience the sunset without the word "beautiful" or the concept of "sunset."
3. Notice the "Suchness": Feel the raw data of the experience—the colors, the temperature, the movement.
4. Repeat: Do this with mundane tasks like washing dishes or walking to the car.

Memorable examples & stories

The Dancer

Watts uses the metaphor of a dancer to explain the futility of seeking a "goal" in spiritual practice. A dancer doesn't dance to reach a certain point on the stage; the dance is the point. If you are dancing to get somewhere, you aren't dancing; you're just moving toward a destination. Lesson: The "practice" of Zen is the "point" of Zen.

The River Analogy

He compares the human "Self" to a river. You cannot grab a handful of a river and say, "This is the river," because the river is a flow. The "Self" is a flow of experiences, perceptions, and thoughts. Lesson: Stop looking for a permanent "soul" or "core" and start experiencing the flow of your own consciousness.

The "Looking" of the Eye

Watts describes how we usually "look" at things as objects to be used or judged. He suggests a different way of "looking" where the eye simply opens to the world without a prior agenda. Lesson: Awareness is not a tool for manipulation; it is a state of receptivity.

Key quotes

"The present moment is always here. All that we can do is participate in it." Why it matters: It strips away the anxiety of "getting" to a better place.

"Zen is not a way of doing things; it is a way of seeing things." (Paraphrased) Why it matters: It shifts the focus from technique to perception.

"The only way to find the truth is to stop looking for it." (Paraphrased) Why it matters: It highlights the paradox that the seeker's desire is the very thing that obscures the truth.

How to apply it

This week

1. The "No-Label" Walk: Go for a 10-minute walk. Try to notice as many things as possible without naming them in your head. Just see the colors, shapes, and movements.
2. The "Just This" Anchor: Three times a day, stop what you are doing and say to yourself, "This is it." Notice the weight of your body, the air in your lungs, and the sounds around you.
3. Single-Tasking: Choose one mundane chore (like washing a cup) and do it with 100% attention. Do not think about the next thing you have to do.

Ongoing

• Practice "Non-Doing": When you feel the urge to "fix" your mood or "achieve" a state of peace, pause. Recognize that the urge itself is a mental construct.
• The "Suchness" Habit: When you see a tree, a car, or a person, try to see them as they are—not as what they mean to you (e.g., "that's a tree I need to water" or "that's a person I need to talk to").

Common pitfalls

• The "Technique" Trap: Many readers will try to turn Watts' words into a "how-to" guide for meditation. Watts is actually warning against this. If you treat his words as a set of instructions to "get" enlightened, you are repeating the very mistake he is trying to help you avoid.
• Intellectualizing the "Now": It is easy to understand the concept of the present moment intellectually while still living entirely in your head. The goal is a shift in experience, not just a shift in opinion.
• The "Zen" Label: Don't get hung up on the word "Zen." Watts is using Zen as a cultural shorthand for a specific type of non-dual awareness. The value is in the realization, not the label.

Connects to

• "The Book of Five Rings" by Miyamoto Musashi: For a different but complementary perspective on "no-mind" and the mastery of the present moment in action.
• "The Way of Zen" by Paul Reps: Provides a more structured, historical, and technical breakdown of the Zen practices Watts describes more poetically.
• "Flow" by Mihaly Csikszentmihagi: A psychological exploration of the "loss of self" in deep activity, which mirrors Watts' spiritual "loss of self" in the present moment.

If you remember only three things

• The present moment is the only reality; the past and future are mental constructs.
• The "Self" is not a thing to be found, but a process to be experienced.
• Spiritual freedom comes from the cessation of the "seeking" and the acceptance of "Suchness."

Internalize it

• Reflection questions

  • When I am "seeking" a feeling of peace, what is the actual experience of my body and mind in that moment of seeking?
  • How much of my daily life is spent in a "mental rehearsal" of things that haven't happened yet?
  • If I stopped trying to "improve" myself, what would I notice about the person I am right now?

• Flashcards Q: What is the primary obstacle to spiritual experience according to Watts? A: The belief that there is a "self" who needs to "get" somewhere or "become" something.

Q: How does Watts describe the "Self" using the river analogy? A: The Self is not a static object but a flow of experiences, perceptions, and thoughts.

Q: What is the "Dance" model of living? A: Viewing life as a continuous participation in the present (the dance) rather than a means to an end (the destination).

Q: What does "Suchness" refer to? A: The raw, unmediated reality of an experience before the mind labels or judges it.

Q: What is the paradox of "finding" enlightenment? A: The moment you stop trying to "find" it as a goal, you are finally able to experience it as a reality.

Fidelity note

This summary is grounded in Watts' core philosophical positions as presented in This is it and his broader body of work on Zen and Western philosophy. Because Watts is a poetic philosopher, his "arguments" are often experiential rather than purely logical. I have synthesized his poetic descriptions into actionable frameworks (like the "Dance" model) to make them more accessible to a modern reader, but the reader should be aware that Watts' original prose is much more fluid and less "step-by-step."