“I remember a story about a conversation at a dinner party, where it was in England, and all the people were discussing what they thought was going to happen after death, whether they would simply be extinguished, or whether they'd be reincarnated, or whatever kind of thing. And present at the dinner, there was a very respectable country squire, who was on the vestry of the local church, very pious. And finally, the hostess said to him, ‘Sir Roger, you haven’t said anything in the conversation this evening. What do you think is going to happen to you when you die?’ He said, ‘I'm perfectly sure that I shall go to heaven and enjoy everlasting bliss, but I wish you wouldn't raise such a depressing subject.”

— Alan Watts, On GK Chesterton

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That’s a classic Alan Watts moment—highlighting both the humor and the deep irony in how people approach topics like death and the afterlife. The country squire's response shows a certain detachment, perhaps even a bit of discomfort with contemplating mortality in such an open way. It's a reminder that sometimes, even the most pious or assured individuals shy away from deep, uncomfortable questions, preferring to stick to comforting certainties. It's fascinating how different people navigate these existential topics.

Love Alan Watts, a big part of my learning