I FAILED HIS TEST

Published April 24, 2016 by Nan Mykel
dribble.com

Watts.jpg

ALAN WATTS  (1915-1973)

Do you remember Alan Watts, who wrote The Wisdom of Insecurity, The Taboo Against  Knowing Who You Are, The Way of Zen,  and Nature, Man and Woman, plus a number I haven’t read?  I was re-reading The Wisdom of Insecurity (1951) the other night and saw his anagram on page 72:

POCATELDIMC

  Watts gave the above as an example of how to find the answer with a relaxed mind, “and in a very short time the brain will deliver the answer without the slightest effort.”    In a footnote he added:  “If you don’t succeed within one minute, read on!  Otherwise you will be annoyed either with yourself or with me, and the consequent strain will interfere with the process.”  I can’t recall whether the answer came to me when I read the book earlier, but it did not work the other night!  YOU CAN GIVE IT A TRY, but don’t go asking me for the answer.

17 comments on “I FAILED HIS TEST”

  • I’ve used that method of memorizing a lot, particularly in college when I had to remember long lists of things. Worked well for me. I still do that sometimes even for items I need to pick up at the grocery store.

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    • POCATELDIMC — an anagram
      Watts gave the above as an example of how to find the answer with a relaxed mind, “and in a very short time the brain will deliver the answer without the slightest effort.” In a footnote he added: “If you don’t succeed within one minute, read on! Otherwise you will be annoyed either with yourself or with me, and the consequent strain will interfere with the process.” I can’t recall whether the answer came to me when I read the book earlier, but it did not work the other night! YOU CAN GIVE IT A TRY, but don’t go asking me for the answer.
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