"The most important thing is to find out what is the most important thing." Shunryu Suzuki. If we could answer that, then what else do we need? For most of us, the most important thing is to succeed in life and make the most out of career and other opportunities that life presents us. In this breathless race to come first, we often overlook what is the most important thing in life. Zen does not have all the answers. The answer is within you. Zen only opens your eyes and makes you aware. It helps make the reality more vivid and sharp-edged and you realize that this quest for the most important thing in life, is just that. A quest.

K. Narssimhan, has delved into the teachings of Zen with a lot of enthusiasm, energy and focus. His understanding of Zen led to his well-known presentation on Zen and the Art of Technical Writing. He first gave this lecture in 2004 at an STC learning session in Mumbai. Since then, the Zen lectures have gained a lot of momentum and he has given these lectures in various cities. The Zen lecture as they have now come to be known helps us understand how we can relate Zen to what we do. In Zen and the Art of Technical Writing, Narssimhan gives us insights on how we can make our lives richer and more meaningful while concomitantly becoming better writers. If life is about weighing priorities and choosing the best options, Zen is one of the ways in which you can achieve clarity, where you can step back and view the larger picture.

Through these lectures, Narssimhan explains how Zen and technical writing represent life’s greatest paradoxes. Zen is a wordless ‘experience’ whereas technical writing is an experience of ‘words’. The challenge is to live the paradox and discover the truth within it. He gives a beautiful analogy of how living a life dipped in Zen is similar to a bowl filled with water and stones. Still water represents tranquility, peace and composure. It also represents lucidity, transparency and simplicity, since through the water you are able to see the stones. The stones represent stoicism, restraint and reliability. As a technical writer, you are continually facing challenges at the workplace. Zen does not attempt to teach you how to meet or overcome those challenges; it’s just a method of awareness, awakening or a way of living.

If the very word ‘lecture’ evokes a feeling of dread in you, your fears are completely unfounded. These lectures are interactive and are interspersed with Zen stories. Stories of Zen masters and their disciples have always held interest and here they help unfold the enigma called life. Narssimhan constantly draws analogies from the Zen stories to situations in life, as well as the innate capabilities that are present in every writer. While every person feels moved depending on their individual capability to feel and respond to various stimuli, you can be assured that you will leave the lecture, thinking.

The Zen lectures are available for software developers and for people from any walk of life. Companies who wish to sponsor the Zen program for their employees can get in touch with us. Proceeds from the program will be sent to charitable organizations.

Contact Mr. K. Narssimhan for more details.
email: k.narssimhan@commit.in
Phone: +91-9820026636.