From HyperCard to AI: A Monk’s Journey Through the Digital Frontier

How early tech wonder sparked a lifelong passion for purpose-driven innovation

I recall 1994, when I first learned about the World Wide Web. The concept wasn’t entirely foreign to me. As a monk, I had already been using a Mac computer since 1986, when Apple introduced a curious little program called HyperCard.

What Was HyperCard?

Long before the internet became the lifeblood of modern communication, HyperCard gave me my first taste of interactive technology. It was around 1987 when I encountered this revolutionary software — an unassuming but deeply inspiring application that quietly redefined what computing could be.

HyperCard wasn’t just a program; it was a canvas where you could build stories, tools, games — anything — using a stack of “cards.” Each card could hold text, images, and clickable buttons. With its simple scripting language, HyperTalk, you could link cards together, trigger actions, and create interactivity. It was my first encounter with a clickable interface, and it felt magical.

At the time, I didn’t realize it, but HyperCard was a precursor to the Internet. It introduced the idea of hyperlinks, the ability to jump between ideas in a nonlinear, intuitive way. You could even extend its power using XCMDs to connect with databases or local networks. It was primitive — but profoundly empowering. For someone like me, deeply curious and purpose-driven, it opened a whole new dimension of digital storytelling and self-expression.

The Birth of the Web and My First Website

Then came 1994, and with it, my first real glimpse of the World Wide Web. I remember the screeching of the dial-up modem as it connected me to what felt like a living, breathing organism — a new universe of information and connection.

What HyperCard had hinted at — interconnected knowledge, instant access, and creative freedom — was suddenly manifesting on a global scale. HyperCard stacks were private and offline; the web was communal, alive, and expanding faster than anyone could predict.

That same year, driven by an urge to contribute and create, I became obsessed with learning how to build a website. That’s when I discovered a web editor called HotDog, created by a fellow Australian, Steve Outtrim of Sausage Software. It was simple, colorful, and fun — exactly what I needed to dive into the wild west of HTML.

Using HotDog, I built the first website for my charity, Food for Life Global, in 1995. It was basic by today’s standards — just a few pages, some images, and links — but it was a digital home for our mission, a beacon to the world. At the time, even many Fortune 500 companies didn’t have websites. In our own quiet way, we were pioneers.

There is no record of that original website I built in 1995, for even the Web Archive did not exist. There is a record of a 1998 version of the site here.

Not your average monk

I was never the stereotypical monk. While many of my peers were immersed in deep meditation or tending to temple duties, I often found myself drawn to a different kind of devotion — one focused on learning, creating, and serving humanity through modern tools. My spiritual path was rooted in compassion, but my expression of it was anything but traditional.

Instead of collecting alms or chanting for hours on end, I was collecting books on communications, writing, public relations, graphic design, and web development — anything that could help me better share our mission with the world. Where others saw technology as a distraction, I saw it as a sacred instrument for amplifying good.

For most of the 14 years I was a monk, I spent hours learning how to use desktop publishing software, writing press releases for our food relief projects, and sketching out ideas for newsletters and early websites. I wasn’t interested in profit — I was an entrepreneur of purpose. My drive wasn’t to accumulate wealth, but to maximize impact. Every skill I acquired, every tool I mastered, was another step toward expanding the reach of our humanitarian work.

In many ways, I was building a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern innovation — living proof that spirituality and technology weren’t opposites, but powerful allies when aligned with the right intention.

My guru taught me that anything could be “spiritualized” if used in the service of God. He gave the example of an iron rod placed in fire. The rod is initially cold and hard, but after being exposed to fire, it becomes like fire.

From the Web to AI: A Full Circle Moment

Now, with the emergence of AI, I feel we’re experiencing a new 1994 moment — another great leap in human creativity and technological potential. And just like back then, I feel like a kid in a candy store again.

There are so many tools. So many possibilities. So many ideas.

AI can write, design, code, heal, coach, learn, and even reflect. Every day, new platforms emerge that let us build apps without code, launch products in hours, and automate what used to take months of work. My entrepreneurial spirit is alive and buzzing, but I sometimes find myself asking the same question I did back in 1994:

Where do I start?

What I do know is that this wave — like the ones before it — must be ridden with purpose. AI is not here to replace us. It’s here to amplify our humanity. To help us scale compassion, accelerate impact, and translate inspiration into action at the speed of thought.

Closing Thoughts

Looking back, I feel grateful to have lived through these revolutionary moments — from HyperCard, to HotDog, to GPT-4 and beyond. Each era gave me new tools, new languages, and new ways to serve. But the mission has always remained the same:

Use technology not just to build, but to uplift.

Not just to inform, but to inspire.

And now, with AI as our next great tool, the canvas is wide open again. I am a social entrepreneur — I move and act with purpose.

One of my most recent AI creations is NumeroWellness.com I will talk more about that in another blog.

Are you feeling this new wave too?

I’d love to hear how AI is shaping your work, your creativity, or your purpose. Leave a comment below or reach out — let’s build the future with intention.

Originally published on Substack

FAQ

Q: What was HyperCard?
A: HyperCard was a revolutionary Mac application from 1987 that allowed users to create interactive “stacks” of cards with clickable buttons and links. It was a precursor to the web, introducing the concept of hyperlinks and non-linear navigation.

Q: When did you build your first website?
A: I built my first website for Food for Life Global in 1995 using a web editor called HotDog, created by Steve Outtrim of Sausage Software.

Q: How does AI compare to the early web era?
A: Just like 1994 was a revolutionary moment for the web, AI represents a similar leap in creativity and technological potential – offering tools to amplify humanity and scale compassion.

Q: What is NumeroWellness.com?
A: NumeroWellness.com is one of my recent AI creations – a platform that combines numerology with wellness insights to help people discover their potential.