Is it hard?' Not if you have the right attitudes. Its having the right attitudes thats hard.
Robert M. PirsigLaws of nature are human inventions, like ghosts. Laws of logic, or mathematics are also human inventions, like ghosts. The whole blessed thing is a human invention, including the idea that it isn't a human invention.
Robert M. PirsigA person filled with gumption doesnโt sit about stewing about things. Heโs at the front of the train of his own awareness, watching to see whatโs up the track and meeting it when it comes. Thatโs gumption. If youโre going to repair a motorcycle, an adequate supply of gumption is the first and most important tool. If you havenโt got that you might as well gather up all the other tools and put them away, because they wonโt do you any good.
Robert M. PirsigThis inner peace of mind occurs on three levels of understanding. Physical quietness seems the easiest to achieve, although there are levels and levels of this too, as attested by the ability of Hindu mystics to live buried alive for many days. Mental quietness, in which one has no wandering thoughts at all, seems more difficult, but can be achieved. But value quietness, in which one has no wandering desires at all but simply performs the acts of his life without desire, that seems the hardest.
Robert M. PirsigIt's normal at this point for the fear-anger syndrome to take over and make you want to hammer on that side plate with a chisel, to pound it off with a sledge if necessary. You think about it, and the more you think about it the more you're inclined to take the whole machine to a high bridge and drop it off. It's just outrageous that a tiny little slot of a screw can defeat you so totally.
Robert M. Pirsig