If I "try" to play, I fail; if I force the play, I crush it; if I race, I trip. Any time I stiffen or brace myself against some error or problem, the very act of bracing would cause the problem to occur. The only road to strength is vulnerability.

Writing, playing, composing, painting, reading, listening, looking-all require that we submit to being swept away by Eros, to a transformation of self of the kind that happens when we fall in love.

With too little judgement, we get trash. With too much judgement, we get blockage.

The Western Idea of practice is to acquire a skill. It is very much related to your work ethic, which enjoins us to endure struggle or boredom now in return for future rewards. The Eastern idea of practice, on the other hand, is to create the person, or rather to actualize or reveal the complete person who is already there.... Not only is practice necessary to art, it is art.

Looking at the creative process is like looking into a crystal: no matter which facet we gaze into, we see all the others reflected.

We provide both irritation and inspiration for each other- the grist for each other's pearl making.

To do anything artistically you have to acquire technique, but create through your technique and not with it.