“Decades have a delusive edge to them. They are not, of course, really periods at all, except as any other ten years may be. But we, looking at them, are caught by the different name each bears, and give them different attributes, and tie labels on them, as if they were flowers in a border.” IfsGivingYearsMayDifferentPastTimeCoursesNamesFlowerBearsPeriodsTenEdgesCaughtDecadesLabelsBordersTiesAttributesDifferent Names Book:Told by an Idiot Source: Told by an Idiot
“So for a period of time each day, try to sit, without moving, without expecting anything, as if you were in your last moment. Moment after moment you feel your last instant. In each inhalation and each exhalation there are countless instants of time. Your intention is to live in each instant.” IfsFeelsTryingMomentsLastsMovingTimePeriodsIntentionInstantEach DayExpecting Author:Shunryu Suzuki
“[On filling out a grant application:] I seek an extended period of time, free from all distractions, so that I might be free to be distracted.” MightTimePeriodsGrantsApplicationDistractionFillingIdlenessDistracted Book:Madness, Rack, and Honey: Collected Lectures Source: Madness, Rack, and Honey: Collected Lectures
“Intellectual work is an act of creation. It is as if the mental image that is studied over a period of time were to sprout appendages like an ameba—outgrowths that extend in all directions while avoiding one obstacle after another—before interdigitating with related ideas.” IfsIdeasTimeWorkCreationPeriodsIntellectualObstaclesIntellectRelatedAvoidingSprouts Book:Advice for a Young Investigator Source: Advice for a Young Investigator