Embracing Death to Truly Live: The Paradox of Freedom

The Art of “Being Thoroughly Dead”

To “be thoroughly dead” is not a call to nihilism or resignation but an invitation to let go of the egoic self, the one that constantly strives, fears, and defines itself by rigid beliefs and identities. In “dying” to this self, we are freed from the endless cycle of resistance, judgment, and control. The paradox is that when we release our grip on life, life flows more effortlessly through us. We no longer experience a separation between “self” and “world,” but become fully integrated into the rhythm of existence.

When we cling to ideas of what we “should” be or “must” achieve, we create tension, blocking the natural flow of energy. But by relinquishing these rigid constructs, we open to the boundless, spontaneous movement of life, and in that movement, we are guided by an intelligence far greater than our limited personal will. The “dead man thoroughly dead” is one who lives without fear of death or failure, in harmony with what is, no longer constrained by what “should” be.

The Law of Paradox: Strength in Softness, Power in Yielding

Bending with the Flow of Existence

Watts introduces us to the “principle of bend and savor,” which finds its roots in Taoist wisdom—the strength found in softness, the power in yielding. Just as water flows around obstacles, adapting its shape without losing its essence, so too can we move through life without resisting, breaking, or rigidly holding onto ideals. When we “bend” in this way, we become resilient, able to navigate life’s challenges without being shattered by them.

1. Softness as Strength: True strength lies not in force but in flexibility. The more we are able to soften, the more we can absorb life’s difficulties without becoming hardened or bitter. This flexibility, this ability to “bend” without breaking, allows us to move with the natural currents of life. In doing so, we connect with a deep inner strength that does not come from control but from an intuitive response to what each moment requires.
2. Yielding as Power: Yielding is not weakness; it is a profound act of trust in the intelligence of life. By yielding, we align ourselves with forces far beyond our personal power. We learn to follow the currents of existence rather than fighting against them, allowing our actions to arise naturally from this alignment. This is why “the more dead you become, the more alive you become”—in releasing control, we become conduits for life’s vitality, capable of acting with purpose and clarity rather than through force or manipulation.

Effortlessness as Ultimate Intelligence: The Wisdom of Laziness

“Laziness is the Mother of Invention”

Watts suggests that true intelligence doesn’t lie in endless striving but in finding the path of least resistance, achieving by not forcing. This “laziness” is not sloth; it’s a deeply intuitive way of engaging with life, where we move in harmony with the natural flow of energy. Just as water always finds the most efficient route down a mountain, we too can find the easiest, most natural path to fulfillment by listening to life’s rhythms rather than imposing our own.

1. The Path of Least Resistance: Intelligence, in this sense, is about efficiency—achieving what we desire with the least amount of struggle. This involves a kind of “laziness” that trusts in life’s ability to provide, allowing actions to arise from ease and natural momentum. The highest intelligence comes not from strenuous effort but from a relaxed state of being, one that allows solutions to emerge organically.
2. Achieving by Letting Go: Letting go does not mean inaction; it means acting from a place of deep alignment rather than forceful will. When we allow ourselves to be “lazy” in the sense Watts describes, we cultivate a state of relaxation that opens us to insights, creativity, and inspiration. This is the intelligence of nature itself—efficient, spontaneous, and effortless, a wisdom that arises not from doing but from being.

The Dance of Life and Death: Surrender as Ultimate Freedom

The Height of Intelligence: Acting from the Will of the Whole

When we are no longer driven by a need to prove, achieve, or control, our actions are not dictated by the small self but emerge from a state of surrender to life itself. This is what Watts calls “acting just as you will”—a state where we no longer ask, “What should I do?” but instead let our actions flow from the harmony of the moment. In this state, we are both passive and active, allowing life to act through us while remaining fully engaged and present.

1. Non-Action and True Freedom: This freedom is what the Taoists call wu wei, or non-action, where our movements arise naturally, without struggle. The less we try to impose our will, the more our actions align with the whole, guided by a greater intelligence that knows what each moment requires. In this way, “whatever you do just as you will will be right,” because there is no longer any separation between your will and the will of existence itself.
2. Embracing Life’s Cycles: In becoming “thoroughly dead,” we are reborn into the awareness that life and death, action and stillness, creation and dissolution are all parts of the same flow. We no longer fear the unknown because we trust in the wisdom of these cycles, moving with them rather than against them. Just as each breath has a beginning and an end, each experience contains within it both life and death, growth and letting go. When we understand this, we live without clinging, fully immersed in the dance of life.

Beyond Paradox: Life as a Symphony of Simplicity and Depth

The Art of Effortless Living

The ultimate intelligence is an awareness that life’s greatest depth is found in simplicity. The more we let go of striving, the more deeply we are able to connect with each moment, savoring life in its purest form. Watts’ teaching is an invitation to embrace simplicity, not as a reduction but as a refinement, a way of moving through life that embodies depth without complexity.

1. Simplicity as Depth: When we strip away the noise, the need for achievement, the endless desire to prove ourselves, what remains is the simple awareness of being alive. This simplicity is not shallow; it is profoundly deep, resonating with the essence of existence. Living in this way, every action becomes an expression of life’s underlying harmony, and even the smallest gestures hold immense meaning.
2. Intelligence as Awareness: The height of intelligence is not in knowing all the answers but in being fully aware of each moment’s uniqueness. When we are “dead” to egoic attachments, we become deeply alive to life itself, attuned to the subtle currents that shape our experience. Intelligence becomes an act of seeing, of perceiving life with clarity, so that our actions arise not from compulsion but from true understanding.

Conclusion: The Paradox of Effortless Fulfillment

Watts’ teaching points to a liberating truth: that to live fully, we must let go of everything that binds us, including our need to control, define, and accomplish. In becoming “thoroughly dead” to our attachments, we enter a state of freedom where life flows through us, allowing us to act with grace, simplicity, and profound intelligence. This is the law of paradox, the wisdom of yielding, the strength in softness. It is the art of achieving without striving, living without clinging, and loving without fear.

In the end, the paradox Watts describes is the path to true fulfillment—a way of living where every action arises naturally, every moment is imbued with presence, and we realize that the deepest intelligence is found not in doing but in being. This is the ultimate freedom, the effortless dance of life and death, where we live as both participant and witness, engaged yet unattached, fully alive yet “thoroughly dead.”