Emergence Magazine Podcast On Time, Mystery, and Kinship – A Conversation with Jane Hirshfield
Nov 4, 2025
Acclaimed poet Jane Hirshfield, with a rich background in Zen practice, dives deep into the mysteries of time and kinship. She beautifully recites her poem "Time Thinks of Time" and shares insights on how Zen has reshaped her perception of time. Topics of spaciousness in intimacy, the importance of attention in poetry, and the interplay of empathy and imagination are explored. Jane emphasizes compassion in the face of climate challenges and discusses how grief can inspire love and action, all while reflecting on the interconnectedness of life.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Time As An Independent Presence
- Time has agency in poetry: it thinks itself without needing our witness or imagination.
- This perspective invites humility toward time's unknowability and reduces human-centric arrogance.
Monastic Nights That Recalibrated Time
- Jane lived in Tassajara monastery and slept without glass windows, learning to live by natural light and seasonal rhythms.
- She heard an earthquake and says she literally heard the earth, a rare unmediated experience that shaped her sense of time.
Cultivate Attention Through Practice
- Train your attention through meditation to notice mind-wandering and return to the present.
- Use attention as the instrument for deepening connection and doing anything well, including writing and parenting.