--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Alan Watts, the Buddhist scholar…" description: "\"Alan Watts, the Buddhist scholar, proposed the existence of a mental faculty he called forgettory, which is the flip side of memory. There are times, W..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/231/larry-dossey-28155_buddhism_alan-watts-the-buddhist-scholar-proposed_1179433.png" --- # Alan Watts, the Buddhist scholar, proposed the existence… ![“Alan Watts, the Buddhist scholar, proposed the existence of a mental faculty he called forgettory, which is the flip side of memory. There are times, Watts maintained, when we need to forget things, to let them slip away into the unremembered past.” quote by Larry Dossey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/231/larry-dossey-28155_buddhism_alan-watts-the-buddhist-scholar-proposed_1179433.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/231/larry-dossey-28155_buddhism_alan-watts-the-buddhist-scholar-proposed_1179433.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/231/larry-dossey-28155_buddhism_alan-watts-the-buddhist-scholar-proposed_1179433.png) > “Alan Watts, the Buddhist scholar, proposed the existence of a mental faculty he called forgettory, which is the flip side of memory. There are times, Watts maintained, when we need to forget things, to let them slip away into the unremembered past.” [Larry Dossey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-dossey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Watts suggests a mental faculty opposite memory, allowing us to release unneeded thoughts into the past. **In simple terms:** We sometimes need to let go of memories. Key Takeaway Allow thoughts to fade when they no longer serve. Themes memory forgetting mental health mindfulness Mood reflective calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - stress reduction - creative brainstorming - emotional healing - daily decision making Key Concepts psychology Buddhist philosophy cognitive flexibility Questions to Reflect On - What thoughts do you need to release? - How can you balance remembering and forgetting? A Different Perspective Forgetting can also erase useful lessons if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Buddhist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhist/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Scholar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholar/) ## Related quotes > [Then may we not fairly plead in reply that our true lover of knowledge naturally strives for truth, and is not content with common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/then-may-we-not-fairly-plead-in-reply-that-our-true-lover-of/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“it is again: that Hindu belief that all of life is maya, illusion. 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