The Zen of Language

I am a lover of Zen, though my notion of Zen is quite specific to a certain perspective, as most peoples' interpretations of that word seem to be. To me, Zen is about a conceptual purity and simplicity but also a high level of appropriateness or correctness for a context. I have thought quite a lot about what this means for design but I am not ready to share that now. 

In any case, recently I have been exposed to another kind of Zen in a vaguely unexpected environment. During my masters here in korea, one of the fundamental things I am learning is the value of a Zen like approach to language. In this case, english, from my professor, who speaks english as a second language. What I mean by this Zen is a kind of ideal use of language to describe exactly what is meant, despite arbitrary complexity and the possibility of various interpretations of words. I think this kind of english is favoured in Korea, because of the way people learn english, as a kind of exact science, and also, favoured at my university, KAIST, because of the kind of publications expected here. Personally, my english is still far from Zen-like, and I think, though I am learning to improve it to participate here, it is probably never going to be as exact as many academics here make it. I believe this because I think native english speakers simply do not tend to treat words with such subtlety of application. Some poets and authors seem to be able to do it, however, most seem to use words like the USA uses oil.

I have never really liked reading, because I am slow at it and distracted easily, however, all my life I have enjoyed learning and acquiring knowledge, especially on mass. I have, on many occasions complained that books are aggravating because they act as a jail for knowledge, hiding it among numerous useless pages of imprecise words. Zen language is thus when every word counts and contributes fully to the meaning, not only of the sentence but to the whole work.

This view of Zen seems to act as a good framing example of what I think the general concept of Zen implies. What do you think? (I am sure my notion of Zen is not in accordance with more formal definitions, let me know if you have a more informed perspective)

Also, does anyone have suggestions about how to become able to write with Zen language? 

The images are a little bit random, just three shots of a lotus farm in Chungdu in SiChuan China. It seems that lotuses are often depicted in relation to Zen. 

See the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Mark Whiting's posterous

USB + TSR + Bidirectional Grip + Power Switch

This is just an adaptation of the Zen Data device I was thinking about earlier. I have added a TSR socket, AKA headphone jack, so that it can have audio output. (in looking for a documentation of the standard I found out they seem to be technically named TSR) I also added a Switch but I am not sure if that is really necessary. No sign of controls yet. I think buttons are too hard to design well (I agree with Apple on that one) so for now we should just assume that it know what music you want to listen to, or you can give me a better idea in the comments.

Update: Thanks to Nick Kemp Greenhood for pointing out that it is really TRS not TSR. Woops - Dyslexic.

Permanent Sleeping Bag

An example of a bed involving a balance between the blanket and the mattress and few distractions or complications. 

The other day I was thinking about this issue in life which is that I really like beds that are just 2 parts. A mattress or futon and a heavy blanket. This is how I like to sleep 100% of the time and it is a form factor that I think looks quite neat of done in the right way. 

An example of a bed with rollup blanket. Click for a larger image.

So I was sitting considering life and blankets when it dawned on me that one of the reasons I really like this schema is because it is so easy to clean and aesthetically balanced, however one problem with it is that it is hard for tall people like me to not end up with cold feet. So I suddenly realised the perfect (not really) solution. Have a single roll up blanket at the end of the bed. This way my feet would be locked in and not get cold (this is really a big problem for people like me) and it would be sort of a self cleaning bed. A friend of mine also brought up that it could be used as a padded seat when rolled up but I am not sure if that something I am eager to take advantage of. I was also considering making it with the roll under the end of the bed but Zen told me no. 

Google Sites and Zen Products

Today I think I have started actually using google sites a little bit which is good fun. I am using it to help manage a project I am on with some people in australia, for now it is private but there may be some stuff for public view in a bit. 

Also, I have recently begun to realise I really like some aspects of Zen, especially when they are represented in products and systems. I think a big part of my interest in these systems is the sense of really robust simplicity, not ephemeral or short sighted simplicity. There are a number of things I think fall into this category nicely so I was thinking of starting a list of Zen products and systems and services. I think the first thing to go on the list will be Sakura Systems because they are just so Zen. Does anyone have any good things to add on? 

I will just add that I think [good] one page sites could be added to this list. I will see what I can find.