Make working on your computer into a mindful art. "The next time you hit ENTER ask yourself: What am I entering? Is it a command? A piece of data? Or can it be the gates of enlightenment?" Nod to your computer in a gesture of respect when you shut it down for the day. These suggestions are presented by Philip Toshio Sudo in this wonderfully practical and wise manual on Zen Computer. The author has lived for twelve years in Japan and done an extensive study of Eastern philosophy.
Sudo creatively applies the ancient insights of zen to the modern technology of bits and bytes. He notes at the outset, "You need not belong to the church of Microsoft, worship at the altar of Apple, or convert to Buddhism to reap the benefits." Sudo sees the computer as a means of elevating our humanity. By integrating our computer work with our spiritual life we can deepen our communication skills, turn our use of technology into an art, and raise our consciousness.
Woven through his examination of hardware and software and his tips on responding to bugs and system crashes are "the seven rules of Zen Computer," which include (1) it always takes longer than you think, (2) expect the unexpected, and (3) know when to turn the machine off. Sudo has skillfully peppered the text with computer haikus, zen stories, and aphorisms. This user-friendly resource is a gem — the perfect gift book for anyone who is computer literate and an essential guide to the craft of everyday spirituality.
