In 1970, at the age of nineteen, Josh Baran became a Zen monk. After seven years in the monastery he was recognized as a teacher in the Soto Zen tradition and received 'Dharma transmission'. The editor of this work he adds his own commentary to the writings. After leaving the monastery he became a political activist and is now an experienced marketer and public relations professional with extensive and varied clients from the Dalai Lama to Michael Crichton and Bill Gates; Universal Pictures, Sony and Time Warner.