Bryant McGill's article explores the intersection of Zen philosophy, design, and technology, particularly in the context of Apple's products. The text argues that early Apple systems embodied Zen principles, fostering a path of learning through user interface and design that has been lost in modern iterations. The core concepts of Ensō (the Zen brush circle) and the Yin-Yang of pixelation-to-vector transitions represent the design philosophies that allowed users to become masters, now disrupted by abstraction and corporate control. The text also points to Apple's use of a symbolic UI to control feature exposure and access through a tiered hierarchy, comparing the graduated exposure to ancient master-apprentice models. The article further argues that Apple has a deep commitment to using icons, symbols, and gestural elements in UX design that are both logical and beautiful, but often chooses not to implement them. Ultimately, the piece serves as both an elegy for what's been lost and a call to restore the path to mastery through symbolic design.

https://xentities.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-lost-zen-path-of-apprenticeship-zen.html



The Lost Zen Path of Apprenticeship: The Zen Brush Ensō (円相) and Steve Jobs' Vision

Dj set recorded for the Pop Up Show on @couleur3 on April 9th 2025.

with tracks from:
Telepopmusik feat Angela McCluskey - Breathe  (Nismo.exe rmx)
Jaguar Jaguar, Chambord - Born in blue
Dear Jade - Jukurpa
New Jackson - I wanna be adored
Dave Leck - Opal
Liva K - You can dance now
Juan Yarin - Never met a girl like you
LAZARE, Addam - Muhuuuuu
Sahar - Where we'd be now
Super Flu - Where are u now
ARYMÉ, Osfur - Alegria
Osfur, UVITA, The Scripture - Pieces
Empire Of The Sun - We are the people (Adam Sellouk rmx)
Safar - Love Parade
Sparrow & Barbossa - Fired up (you got me so)
Pavel Petrov feat VALL - Back to black
Secret Echoes - Particles
Monkey Safari - Voices
Marie Madeleine - Swimming Pool (Indie Elephant & Vlad Starque rmx)
Sllash & Doppe - Cruel Summer 
Welker - Element
Marshall Jefferson, Solardo - Move your body
Maceo Plex, AVNU - Clickbait (this ain't Hollywood)
Champion, Ahadadream, Logan_olm - Big boy tracks
Trance Wax - Rhythm of the night
Nile Rodgers, Oliver Heldens, House Gospel - I was made for lovin' you (James Hype rmx)
Telepopmusik feat Jo Wedin - It Hurts (Tone Depth rmx)


A hour of babies crying Mix

Ex Machina (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Bunsen Burner

Bryant McGill is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling author, and speaker in the fields of human potential, personal empowerment, and social entrepreneurship. His prolific writings and small aphorisms have been published in hundreds of books and thousands of works by other authors and thought leaders.

The Lost Zen Path of Apprenticeship: The Zen Brush Ensō (円相) and Steve Jobs' Vision

Bryant McGill

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