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
The past exists only in our memories, the future only in our plans. The present is our only reality. The tree that you are aware of intellectually, because of that small time lag, is always in the past and therefore is always unreal. Any intellectually conceived object is always in the past and therefore unreal. Reality is always the moment of vision before the intellectualization takes place. There is no other reality.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment, as both the past and future are constructs of our mind.
Robert M. Pirsig reflects on the nature of reality, suggesting that our experiences are confined to the present moment. He argues that the past and future are merely conceptual frameworks formed in our minds, thus the only true reality exists in the now. The delay in our perception makes us aware of things only after they have happened, meaning our understanding always lags behind actual experiences, highlighting the significance of mindful awareness in our lives.
Themes
PresentRealityAwarenessPastFutureIntellectualizationMoment
In practice
Example use cases
In a mindfulness workshop, to encourage participants to focus on the here and now.
More from Robert M. Pirsig
All quotes →When analytic thought, the knife, is applied to experience, something is always killed in the process.
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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.
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It's better not to see than to see wrongly.
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The truth knocks on the door and you say, go away, I'm looking for the truth, and it goes away. Puzzling.
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You want to know how to paint a perfect painting? It's easy. Make yourself perfect and then just paint naturally.
Robert M. PirsigRead
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