Zen Computer

Few people think of computers as tools for spiritual enlightenment, but Philip Toshio Sudo has discovered that they can indeed open a window on a more mindful approach to life. Like the classic Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and Sudo's own Zen Guitar, Zen Computer offers an eye-opening way of looking at life's contradictions and of dealing with a world that is in a constant state of change. Focusing on the qualities that underlie our interactions with our machines, Sudo reveals the Seven Rules of Zen Computer: -- Expect the unexpected -- It always takes longer than you think -- Do not waste time -- Learn and teach, teach and learn -- Warm heart, cool head -- Do good work -- Know when to turn the machine off From details as small as when to use the delete key to how to cope with such shattering events as system crashes and viruses, Sudo explains how to harness the power of computers to upgrade our spiritual lives.

Shhh. Quiet. I'm meditating on my computer. You can too. In Zen Computer, Philip Toshio Sudo takes the age-old tradition of meditating on objects from everyday life and upgrades it for the cyberworker. For many people, what is more everyday than a computer? From boot to shutdown, Sudo goes inside the computer and out, utilizing every nuance of computer work as an occasion for meditation. If you feel you're too caught up in the hectic life of the Information Age to do any serious contemplative work, fret no more. Breathe. Ten times. Following the number keys from 1 to 0. At the "%" sign, ask yourself if you're giving 100%. At the "&" symbol, dwell on all things that link us. From economic tool to spiritual tool, Sudo transforms the computer into a constant aid for mindful living. After reading Zen Computer, you'll never look at that plastic box the same way again. --Brian Bruya