Every human being has consciousness, but not every human being has the same amount. The potential for each one of us human beings is infinite consciousness. This is called supreme enlightenment, and it just needs unfolding by transcending each day. The more consciousness we have, the better life is.

I always loved smokestack industry, and I love towns or cities that have grown up around factories.

Stories hold conflict and contrast, highs and lows, life and death, and the human struggle and all kinds of things.

Everybody's got creativity. You just get more of it [when you meditate].

I don't think it was pain that made [Vincent Van Gogh] great - I think his painting brought him whatever happiness he had.

Being in darkness and confusion is interesting to me.

I love mysteries. To fall into a mystery and its danger ... everything becomes so intense in those moments. When most mysteries are solved, I feel tremendously let down. So I want things to feel solved up to a point, but there's got to be a certain percentage left over to keep the dream going. It's like at the end of Chinatown: The guy says, 'Forget it, Jake, it's Chinatown.' You understand it, but you don't understand it, and it keeps that mystery alive. That's the most beautiful thing.