Zen Computer

by Philip Toshio Sudo

Anyone who has ever cursed a computer will benefit from Zen Computer, with its soothing approach to living calmly amid the constant upheavals of new technology. In a simple, easy-to-read style, Philip Toshio Sudo shows how the ancient principles of Zen philosophy apply to the modern science of bits and bytes, helping computer novices and the techno-savvy alike deal with everything from computer crashes to major life changes. Divided into short, concise chapters, the book includes a user's guide to mindful computing, and features "The Seven Rules of Zen Computer." Quotes from thinkers such as Blaise Pascal, Albert Einstein, and Bill Gates illustrate the links between Western science and Eastern philosophy, making Zen Computer accessible to all readers, regardless of their familiarity with Zen. Filled with Zen stories, samurai maxims, and beautiful artwork that combines Japanese brush painting with digital imagery, Zen Computer shows us how the interface between the traditional and technological can be found right here, right now.

Genres: Nonfiction, Philosophy, Zen

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Mark Lacy · Rating 1 out of 5]

[July 1, 2000] I didn't like "Zen Computer" at all. This, coming from someone who found Sudo's "Zen Guitar" a very interesting and enlightening book. I have read a lot of books on Zen and have worked with computers extensively for many years. After reading this book, I feel like I haven't learned anything new about either Zen or computers. Or about not letting the occasional difficulties caused by computers to get to me. It seemed like this book couldn't make up its mind: was it a book on Zen set in a computer context, or was it a book on computers set in a Zen context? Perhaps the appropriate answer is "yes". I had anticipated something as least as informative and profound as "Zen Guitar", but that was not the case. Much of what I read seemed trite, even so silly at times I wondered if Sudo was trying to be humorous and I was taking it all too seriously. I strongly recommend "Zen Guitar" instead of "Zen Computer". At least in "Zen Guitar" the principles of Zen more naturally come forth because playing a guitar or any musical instrument is an art, and touches us in deep ways. I believe there can be mystery behind technology and its use, but that didn't come out in "Zen Computer". For anyone wanting to read about *that*, I recommend "Techgnosis" by Erik Davis.

[s jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read && genuinely dope premise.

WINTER GUILD ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES LLC. 4/5 GUILDSTARS AWARDED.

[Grady Ormsby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zen Computer by Philip Toshio Sudo is a nifty little volume. The world of computer science is the framework for a series of essays on Zen Buddhism. The Table of Contents looks like the User’s Guide for a standard computer manual including such items as Hardware, Software, Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Programming and Operating Systems. For each section there are stories, koans, mondos and lessons. This balancing between Western science and Eastern philosophy is accentuated by brush paintings, calligraphy and pertinent quotes from literature and history as well as computer science and information technology. Some of the quotes are in the form of graffiti Haiku. I read the book straight through but it would be interesting to savor by reading one section a day.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been returning to this book for over a decade, and still find it's messages relevant today, even if some of the references to technology are a little dated.

[Gaelan D'costa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is probably a decent primer to mindfulness for a computer nerd, but even with that, I found the computer metaphors cloying and the advice too specific and prescriptive; I can see a lot of people getting discouraged because the advice they give isn't working for them.

[Ralph Zoontjens · Rating 3 out of 5]

The computer can be a great source of stress, as it is quite a direct reflection of the human constellation of thoughts. Philip Sudo proposes that even using this stress-inducing machine can be done with the piece of mind that Zen teachers advocate.

[Kelly]

ACP borrowed.

[Paul Ivanov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this one a long time ago, it's a bit fluff-filled, but also kind of calm. I really like the deliberate practice and mindfulness approach to using machines back then.