Time Sensitive

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Pico Iyer on the Pleasure and Profundity of Silence

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Mar 26, 2025

Guest

Pico Iyer

Pico Iyer, an esteemed English-born essayist and novelist noted for his travel writing, discusses the profound impact of solitude and silence. He shares transformative experiences from his frequent visits to a Benedictine hermitage, revealing how these retreats have shaped his understanding of joy and presence. Iyer reflects on the complex relationship between time, identity, and travel, emphasizing the importance of quiet contemplation in our fast-paced lives. His insights bridge cultural reflections with personal journeys, highlighting how stillness can lead to deeper self-discovery.

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insights

INSIGHT

Japan Embraces Time's Flow

Japan embraces the passage of time through seasonal change, providing comfort and acceptance of life's cycles.
California tends to resist time’s flow, fixating on eternal summer and struggling with change.

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ANECDOTE

Finding Solace at a Hermitage

After losing his mother's home in a wildfire, Pico found refuge at the New Camaldoli Benedictine Hermitage in Big Sur.
Entering the hermitage, he experienced a release from time and self, stepping into a palpable, positive silence.

insights

INSIGHT

Embracing 'Monastery Time'

"Monastery time" feels outside regular clock time, creating a spaciousness akin to eternity.
Spending time in this sacred space offers a refuge from the harried, clock-driven world of airports and travel.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Exploring Time and Silence: A Dialogue on Cultural Reflections

03:45 • 2min

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Reflections on Time and Existence

05:28 • 5min

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Finding Solace in Silence

10:22 • 14min

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The Dual Nature of Time and Fire: Navigating Life's Uncertainties

23:53 • 4min

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The Timelessness and Humility of Nature's Grandeur

28:01 • 1min

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Navigating Time and Identity Through Travel

29:31 • 22min

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The Essence of Exceptional Hotels

52:00 • 3min

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Journeys of the Soul: From Antarctica to Japan

55:18 • 15min

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Contemplating Loss and the Value of Time

01:09:50 • 4min

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The lady and the monk

Pico Iyer

The Half Known Life

Pico Iyer

In *The Half-Known Life: In Search of Paradise*, Pico Iyer embarks on a quest to understand and find 'paradise' as conceived by various cultures and religions. His journey takes him to places like Iran, North Korea, Jerusalem, and Japan, where he encounters the intersection of faith, conflict, and the human search for peace. Iyer reflects on the inconsistencies and discord in these 'troubled places' and grapples with the idea that paradise might be more of an internal state than a physical location. The book is a blend of travel narrative, philosophical musings, and personal introspection, exploring the nature of life and its many meanings.

Video night in Kathmandu

Pico Iyer

While details about "Video Night in Kathmandu" are limited, it's understood to be one of Pico Iyer's earlier works, likely focusing on his travels and experiences in Kathmandu. The book likely explores cultural observations, personal reflections, and the author's unique perspective on the intersection of global cultures. Further information about the book's specific content and themes would require additional research. It's likely a work of travel writing, reflecting Iyer's early career focus on global exploration.

The Open Road

The Global Journey of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama

Pico Iyer

The Open Road is a detailed and insightful book that delves into the life and global journey of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. Pico Iyer, who has been friends with the Dalai Lama for over three decades, provides an exceptionally intimate portrait of this singular figure. The book explores the Dalai Lama's thoughts on politics, science, technology, and religion, as well as his daily challenges and the complexities of the Chinese relationship with Tibet. It also touches on the Dalai Lama's role as a spiritual leader, a political figure, and an ordinary human being, highlighting his humility, self-effacing character, and ability to communicate basic human and religious values to people of all backgrounds.

Walden

Henry David Thoreau

Published in 1854, 'Walden; Or, Life in the Woods' is a series of 18 essays that reflect Thoreau's experiences living in a small cabin near Walden Pond from July 1845 to September 1847. The book is a personal declaration of independence, a social experiment, and a voyage of spiritual discovery. Thoreau details his life in the woods, discussing the construction of his cabin, his daily activities, and his philosophical reflections on economy, social relations, and the importance of living in harmony with nature. The work is considered a cornerstone of American literature and a foundational text in the Transcendentalist movement, emphasizing the benefits of a simplified lifestyle and the importance of individual freedom and self-reliance.

Autumn Light

Season of Fire and Farewells

Pico Iyer

In this memoir, Pico Iyer reflects on the themes of impermanence, mortality, and grief as he navigates the death of his father-in-law in Japan. The book delves into Japanese culture and traditions, particularly during the autumn season, and explores how Iyer and his wife Hiroko cope with loss. It also touches on family dynamics, including Hiroko's estranged brother and her ailing mother, and the author's interactions with his ping-pong club, which consists of older Japanese individuals. The narrative is a moving meditation on how to hold onto the things we love despite the inevitability of loss and change.

A Flame: Learning from Silence

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Pico Iyer

Pico Iyer's "Aflame: Learning from Silence" offers a reflective journey into the heart of a silent Benedictine monastery on the Northern California coast. Iyer, a seasoned travel writer, shares his experiences and observations from decades of visits to this tranquil retreat. The book delves into the transformative power of silence and solitude, exploring themes of mindfulness, spiritual growth, and the search for inner peace. Through vivid descriptions and insightful reflections, Iyer invites readers to contemplate the importance of disconnecting from the modern world and embracing moments of quiet contemplation. The book is a testament to the enduring appeal of monastic life and its potential for personal transformation.

A Beginner's Guide to Japan

Observations and Provocations

Pico Iyer

In 'A Beginner's Guide to Japan', Pico Iyer draws on his years of experience living in Japan to craft a book that provides insightful and provocative observations about Japanese culture. Iyer recounts his adventures and observations as he travels from various locations, including a meditation hall, a love hotel, West Point, Kyoto Station, and even a dinner with Meryl Streep. The book is designed to pique the interest and curiosity of those who don’t know Japan and to remind those who do of its myriad fascinations.

The Global Soul

Pico Iyer

Details about "The Global Soul" by Pico Iyer are limited, but it's likely a work exploring themes of globalization and interconnectedness. The book probably examines the impact of global forces on individual lives and cultures. It likely offers Iyer's unique perspective on the complexities of a shrinking world. Further information would require additional research. It's likely a work of non-fiction, reflecting Iyer's interest in global affairs and cultural exchange.

Since publishing his debut essay collection—Video Night in Kathmandu, featuring far-flung reportage from 10 Asian countries—in 1988, the prolific travel writer Pico Iyer has gone on to write more than a dozen books exploring themes ranging from displacement and identity to globalization and technology, as well as contribute to publications such as The New York Times, Time, and Condé Nast Traveler. Over the years, Iyer’s travels have taken him to some of the world’s most remote destinations—North Korea, Bhutan, and Iceland, to name a few—but it’s his hundred-plus visits to a Benedictine hermitage in Big Sur, California, that form the heart of his latest book, Aflame: Learning From Silence. Connecting with his inner stillness during these various sojourns in solitude has left him wholly transformed, opening him up to discover the thrumming, ineffable joy of being truly awake to the world and wonderfully alive.

On this episode of Time Sensitive, Iyer explores the purpose and joy of travel, and shares deeply moving reflections about what he finds most essential in life.

Special thanks to our Season 11 presenting sponsor, L’École, School of Jewelry Arts.

Show notes:

Pico Iyer

[4:25] “Aflame”

[4:25] “Autumn Light”

[4:25] Philip Larkin

[4:25] “The Art of Poetry No. 30”

[7:18] Bashō

[7:18] Leonard Cohen

[10:21] New Camaldoli Hermitage

[10:21] Post Ranch Inn

[16:25] “Postmodern Tourism: A Conversation with Pico Iyer”