Time Sensitive

Pico Iyer on the Pleasure and Profundity of Silence

Mar 26, 2025

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.

01:14:13

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Pico Iyer

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Quick takeaways

Pico Iyer emphasizes the importance of understanding time as a non-renewable resource that shapes personal growth and appreciation for life.

Through his experiences at the Benedictine hermitage, Iyer reveals that silence can be a transformative presence fostering clarity and inner peace.

Ayer discusses the paradox of modern life, advocating for 'slow living' to counteract distractions and enhance meaningful engagement with our mortality.

Deep dives

The Role of Time in Shaping Perception

Pico Ayer reflects on the relationship between time and personal growth, emphasizing that he has always been cautious with time, perceiving it as a non-renewable resource. He describes contrasting perceptions of time in California and Japan, where California's endless summer feels disconnected from historical depth, whereas Japan aligns more with the changing seasons and the natural progression of life. This understanding of time influences Ayer's holistic view of existence, suggesting that embracing life’s transience allows for deeper appreciation and engagement with the world around us. By recognizing that every moment is fleeting, individuals can cultivate a sense of gratitude rather than despair.

Intro

4min

Exploring Time and Silence: A Dialogue on Cultural Reflections

2min

Reflections on Time and Existence

5min

Finding Solace in Silence

14min

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

4min

The Timelessness and Humility of Nature's Grandeur

1min

Navigating Time and Identity Through Travel

22min

The Essence of Exceptional Hotels

3min

Journeys of the Soul: From Antarctica to Japan

15min

10.

Contemplating Loss and the Value of Time

4min

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”