[Column] The Silence of Zen: Drawing 'Here and Now' from the Flood of Information

We are currently living in a flood of information unlike anything we have ever experienced before.

Smartphones send constant notifications, and social media timelines continue to flow infinitely.

In the midst of this clamor, are we truly 'deciphering' the world?

Or are we merely drifting on a wave of information?

It is precisely because of this era that the perspective of 'Zen,' to which Steve Jobs was deeply devoted, shines with a quiet brilliance as a new compass for deciphering the world.

The core of Zen teachings lies in stepping back from the whirlpool of thoughts and emotions and focusing one's consciousness on the reality that exists 'here and now'.

This is cultivated through the practice of 'mindfulness,' which directs attention to one's breathing and physical sensations.

This process is a training to connect with one's inner stillness without being swayed by external information or evaluations.

It can be said that this is the work of regaining one's own central axis, which is easily lost in a society of information overload.

In Zen, there is a phrase called 'Issai Yuishinzo' (Everything is created by the mind).

This means that 'all things are merely creations of the mind,' suggesting that the world we experience is more a projection of our own state of mind than an objective entity.

If the mind is disturbed, the world appears chaotic; if the mind is calm, the world appears clear.

In other words, the key to deciphering the world lies not only in gathering external information, but first in attuning one's own mind.

Furthermore, Zen emphasizes the concept of 'Furyu Monji, Kyoge Betsuden' (No dependence on words or letters; a special transmission outside the scriptures).

This is the teaching that truth is not found in words or scriptures, but is transmitted directly from master to disciple heart-to-heart, and can only be grasped through intuitive experience that transcends logic.

In the modern age, where data, analysis, and logical thinking are at their peak, this perspective is extremely important.

This is because the richness and complexity of the world can never be captured by numbers and words alone.

The nuances of people's expressions, the atmosphere of a place, and unspoken thoughts.

The ability to perceive these non-verbal realms is what leads to the 'aesthetic sense' and 'broad perspective' that are essential for deeply deciphering the world.

Adopting a Zen perspective does not mean shutting out information and retreating to the mountains.

Rather, it is about having a mental lifebuoy to keep from drowning in the flood of information.

Calm the noise of your thoughts and observe the 'here and now' deeply with sharpened sensitivity.

It is from within that silence that we will be able to hear the essential resonance that lies beneath the superficial events of the world.