An earlier version of this article was published on 1 November 2011.

What can a Zen outlook teach us about educational ICT and Computing? Nothing obvious, perhaps. However, whilst perusing a book of Zen anecdotes I found some authority for my views on Choosing the right education technology conference. In that article I queried why anyone would go to an educational technology conference that is distinguished by having no speaker who was actually qualified to speak on the subject.

A Japanese poet, Matsuo Basho, lived from 1644 to 1694. He was not a Zen monk, but certainly had a Zen outlook. He said:

Go to the pine if you want to learn about the pine, or go to the bamboo if you want to learn about the bamboo.

Sounds about right to me.