Zen Guitar

Zen Guitar, Philip Toshio Sudo, Fireside Books, 1998

This book doesn't teach any specific guitar playing technique. Rather, it looks at the spiritual side of making music; if you will, the zen of playing guitar.

Everyone carries a song inside themselves, it's what makes us human. This book offers a key to letting out that song. Once you have picked up a guitar and properly tuned it, don't worry if you don't know any songs. Play just one note on one string and give it every bit of your heart and soul. Then repeat the process.

When you start regular practice, start with one new habit: Do one thing the right way one time. In the next moment, make the same commitment. On the other hand, there are potholes along the way that must be avoided at all costs. It's easy to skip practice "just once," a year later, the guitar is covered with dust and cobwebs.

Some feel that learning a certain technique is the most important thing in guitar playing. It's certainly important, but the more complicated the technique, the more brainpower that must be devoted to it. The aim is to play with the proper spirit, to play without having to consider technique. A person must have something to say, first.

To progress down the path of Zen Guitar, you need to love guitar playing and commit your heart to training. If it isn't fun for you, then there is a big problem. Don't be halfhearted about it. Overearnestness is just as bad. Some guitarists force themselves on an audience through excess volume or pyrotechnics. Learn self-control. A measure of mastery is through what you hold back, not what you show.

Another important part of guitar playing is responsibility. You must develop your talent to the fullest capacity, with no excuses. You must respect those who come to you with open ears and foster a feeling of community. Also, act as teacher to those who are seeking their own way along the path of Zen Guitar.

If there is a single rule to Zen Guitar, it might be this: Do what has to be done, when it has to be done, as well as it can be done, and do it that way every time.

This is a fine piece of writing. It certainly gives a new perspective to guitar playing, whether it's folk music or heavy metal. I'm sure much of this book could apply to any instrument. For musicians and music lovers, this is very much worth reading.

Zen Computer

Zen Computer, Philip Toshio Sudo, Fireside Books, 1999

It might be difficult to come up with two more disparate parts of daily life than computers and Zen. The author shows how the two actually go together really well, and how using a computer is very zen-like.

When sitting at the computer, take some time and meditate while looking at the number keys at the top of the keybaord. Proper breathing is essential. Those ten keys span the entire range of the digital and Zen universes, from 1 to 0.

Among the Seven Rules of Zen Computer are: Expect the Unexpected, Do Not Waste Time, Do Good Work and Know When to Turn the Machine Off.

Sometimes, using the Escape key won't get us out of a computer function we don't want to continue. Life is the same way. No matter what we do to hide from our problem, it is still with us. The problem is not in the machine, it is in us.

No matter where the arrow is on the screen, it always points in the same direction. Why? because the way to the truth never varies; it lies in faith, love, self-discipline and integrity. Easier said than done.

To give a file a name gives it an identity; it is no longer anonymous. People in pain are encouraged to name their feelings to begin healing. The failure to name, or acknowledge a name, is what makes us less human. To close a file is equated to the need for closure in our lives. From closure comes a new beginning.

Icons on a screen are graphic representations of files, programs or commands. It's nothing to move them around the screen or delete them. Zen thinks of religious icons the same way. Any sort of attachment, including material attachment, is a bad idea.

Searching the Web for information is not like searching for Enlightment. We can spend our lives looking for that undefinable It, but we'll never be successful. Each person is part of It, and ultimately is It.

In this frenetic, fast-paced world, everyone can use a little Zen in their lives. This book does a very good job at putting Zen and computers together. It also works as a basic introduction to computers. This is really recommended.