The way to see what looks good and understand the reasons it looks good, and to be at one with this goodness as the work proceeds, is to cultivate an inner quietness, a peace of mind so that goodness can shine through.
Robert M. PirsigRead
This inner peace of mind occurs on three levels of understanding. Physical quietness seems the easiest to achieve, although there are levels and levels of this too, as attested by the ability of Hindu mystics to live buried alive for many days. Mental quietness, in which one has no wandering thoughts at all, seems more difficult, but can be achieved. But value quietness, in which one has no wandering desires at all but simply performs the acts of his life without desire, that seems the hardest.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Inner peace is a multi-layered concept involving physical, mental, and value quietness.
In this quote, Robert M. Pirsig describes the journey toward achieving inner peace, which unfolds across three levels: physical quietness, mental quietness, and value quietness. He suggests that while physical quietness may be the simplest to attain, true inner peace involves deeper and more challenging levels where one must quiet not only their surroundings and thoughts but also their desires, ultimately leading to a state of action without craving.
Themes
Inner PeaceQuietnessMental ClarityDesireMindfulness
In practice
Example use cases
During a meditation retreat, I reminded participants of the importance of inner peace.
More from Robert M. Pirsig
All quotes →When analytic thought, the knife, is applied to experience, something is always killed in the process.
Robert M. PirsigRead
The Buddha resides as comfortably in the circuits of a digital computer or the gears of a cycle transmission as he does at the top of a mountain.
Robert M. PirsigRead
It's better not to see than to see wrongly.
Robert M. PirsigRead
The truth knocks on the door and you say, go away, I'm looking for the truth, and it goes away. Puzzling.
Robert M. PirsigRead
You want to know how to paint a perfect painting? It's easy. Make yourself perfect and then just paint naturally.
Robert M. PirsigRead
Similar quotes
All things began in Order, so shall they end, and so shall they begin again, according to the Ordainer of Order, and the mystical mathematicks of the City of Heaven.
Thomas BrowneRead
…gender is not sane. It's not sane to call a rainbow black and white.
Kate BornsteinRead
It’s just like when you’ve got some coffee that’s too black, which means it’s too strong. What you do? You integrate it with cream; you make it weak. If you pour too much cream in, you won’t even know you ever had coffee. It used to be hot, it becomes cool. It used to be strong, it becomes weak. It used to wake you up, now it’ll put you to sleep.
Malcolm XRead
The joke of it all is that you are looking from your true nature right now without knowing it. If you would stop being fascinated with the contents of your mind, you would experience what I am saying. Feel your way into what I am saying rather than thinking about it. Only a self-concept looks and longs for God. Drop your self-concept and there is only God meeting God. Enlightenment is the restoration of cosmic humor.
AdyashantiRead
If you want to prove that God is not dead, first prove that man is alive.
Rod SerlingRead
Perhaps the enemies of liberty are such only because they judge it by its loud voice.
Jose MartiRead