World Changing Projects from Singularity University

It has literally been nearly a month and I am still experiencing some fractions of the Post SU stress syndrome on a good day like today. I miss them so here is my attempt to capture and relive these memories. Being able to unite around the same goal of changing the world through our ideas and actions is truly what makes our friendship so special. I am creating that kind of friendship locally here at MIT and I hope to be able to inspire others through my own actions for peace and prosperity of all living beings. 

Let's together change a billion lives! Let's live out the drama of our lives and enjoy the most fulfilling existence! 

This is my team! Matternet: Lifting the Rising Billion. We have a plan to revolutionize transportation in places without usable roads. Using a network of autonomous aerial vehicles to transport medical supplies in places without roads in developing countries and creating economic opportunities for people living under extreme poverty to lift themselves out of poverty! 

During our early morning break (5am), we dance. 

Ignisolar: emPOWERing people. It aims to create affordable energy harnessing from the sun for people in developing countries. 

Our Global Story: learning about life across culture and languages. It aims to redefine conventional education through global documentaries. 

There are many more projects that are world-changing. For example, the Corruption Tracker project. Using the Ushahidi platform to tackle de-centralized corruption leveraging exponentially growing trends of information crowdsourcing. 

Or Project Instance that helps you encrypt your data when they are up in the cloud! Or PlayEnergy that allows you to redistribute the abundance of energy and resources in developed countries to developing countries via gamification and social networks! 

One Day of Peace. Peace One Day

One Day of Peace: Jeremy Gilley

What if we have one day of peace..what would it be like? What would you do? What would the world look like?

How timely. At the SGI meeting last night, we were talking about peace and violence. What happened when everything is destroyed in an instant? What is the point of living? or even creating anything at all?

Is there a starting day of peace? Is there one? Maybe. But what if we begin now, what if we do it for a day...just one day of peace.

an effort of one single individual who is stubborn enough. no matter what people say. can change the world. even just for one day. one day. is enough. isn't it? if we all take charge of one day. to create a day of peace. we don't need many people. right?

A letter from Taliban was received, saying that they would observe the day of peace. Humanitarian works wouldn't be kidnapped. 1.6 Million children was vaccinated against polio as a consequence of everyone stopping. 70% of violence was reduced in Afghanistan in one day. can you imagine? Future isn't something you can fathom. You have to dream the future. Invent the future. Then do everything, give up everything to realize that dream. It is the only way to live the most meaningful and fulfilling existence.

It's all about individuals. The power of one individual empowering people to unite.

Dialogue and Individuals. Determination and Consistency.

"By working together, we can create peace one day." -- Jeremy Gilley

An exciting day at SU

Guess what? It's not surprising. But yesterday was another exciting day at SU.

Obama's Chief Technology Officer, Aneesh Chopra, gave a talk here about the government's efforts to innovate. One of the biggest trend is data liberation. I love how they use the word, liberation...very fitting.

They put out 3 challenges related to energy, open healthcare, and education. The government is seeing collaboration and crowd sourcing as a new trend, which is very in rhythm of what we are doing here. I like this guy a lot. So I asked him, how the government can ensure that these wonderful initiatives will continue after this election term. And he didn't answer but said he would look into that. I was expecting that he would talk about engaging private sector to help take these initiatives beyond the election term.

Another talk was by Stewart Brand about leveraging technology to benefit humanity and environment. I asked him a very hard question with respect to the risk of a country (i.e. Pakistan and India) developing nuclear weapons after it adopted Atoms for Peace project purported by Eisenhower.

Read more here.

Oh and we went to Intuitive Surgical. I couldn't believe that almost everything was assembled by hands.....It's so outdated. Anyways, it was not impressive for me. And they use pigs for testing their devices. I hate it. What can I do now? unethical. How can we justify taking away a life that's not even our own? hurr....I hate how we are using animals in our research and education.

The half-way point

So a few days ago, I had to give my very first ignite presentation. 20 slides in 5 mins. I presented my PhD research. It went really well.

It's been about 5 weeks since I came here. 5 more weeks to go. Again, being the kind of person who is extremely attached to people as I am, I can foresee myself missing these people so much. I am continuing to learn from those around me. They complete me. Somehow, I feel that way.

Team project is going quite well. We have a very good team packed with many passionate people. I think because of this, many more people would love to join our team. I have to chant for everyone's victories and happiness. No matter how different our personalities may be, we will all have to be able to work well together and enjoy ourselves in the process. I take it as my mission to create an environment where people can enjoy themselves at ease and feel equally precious.

We are looking at the problem of transportation in places where there is no road infrastructure. We are thinking of using the flying drones to deliver medicine, supplies, etc. to places like Africa. Isn't it a radical idea? Well, it has to be. Otherwise, why are we even doing this.

Talking about being a radical. Yesterday was such an amazing day! We had a call regarding Our New Clear Future campaign for nuclear abolition. I realized the profundity of my role in the organization.

It amazes me when I chant how much impact I can create through my determinations. It takes a lot of courage to even dream of what kind of causes we are creating. There are so many governmental institutes, United Nations, many prestigious schools in the east coast. If just one person stands up, just one, what kind of impact can he/she make? Imagine there is another Pres. Ikeda in the east coast and he/she is then awakened to her mission. What kind of world he/she can create? It gives me so much joy to even attempt to fathom that. What a great mission I have!!

Towards the 55th founding of the Student Division in 2012, let's create Sensei's Student Division.

Win battles of speech through invincible bravery, faith and wisdom!!! "A sword is useless in the hands of a coward. The mighty sword of the Lotus Sutra must be wielded by one courageous in faith." -- Nichiren Daishonin

Reflection

Waiting in San Francisco International Airport,  I am contemplating what it'd be like leaving SU. It's not easy I'd have to admit. Why is SU so special? When will I find myself among these many crazy people ever again in my life? The chance is highly unlikely.

I have never met so many people who share the same life philosophies that are not practicing Nichiren Buddhism with the SGI. No wonder that's what got us all here. We all want to help people. We are constantly asking ourselves if this is something that will feed those who are hungry around the world. How wonderful it is to be among these people! I only have 6 weeks left and I have to make the best out of it. My plan is to really immerse myself in learning and talking to these people as much as I can building a long lasting relationship through our shared vow throughout eternity.

I was particularly moved today when a friend of mine in the program showed me what he has written on his wall, literally on countless sheets of paper that he put up on the wall. It tells the story of how wonderful this person is. How fortunate I am to be able to encounter this wonderful person! I will not forget you, no matter what. Our hearts are always together when we walk the same path.

He turns his frustration into creation of something much greater than himself. I am amazed by the level of creativity and sincerity.  What a blessing for me to come across this kind of people! Anyways, it deeply touches my heart. It inspires me to dig even deeper than what I believe to be myself. He teaches me through his own actions how to be creative, to be oneself, and to explore the infinite possibilities of creation.

Many people have touched my life in the most profound way.  I have so many great girlfriends there that I am going to truly miss when I am gone. Olga, Miyeon, Justine, Monica, and many more. I remember how Olga asked me to do my nails for me just because I was going away. Or how Monica and I redetermined together while walking back from learning that bodies of soldiers just landed in NASA Ames, 3 mins walk away from our classroom. I would remember how respectful and loving my friend, Mi Yeon, is. She is my life. Justine, my little koala bear. How cute and sweet, and most of all truly humble person she is! She has taught me how to live with great respect and humility for every person. I love her! How lucky I am as a person who can encounter so many wonderful people! I am going to cry!

OK! Determination! I will come back and make sure we create wonderful memories that will last more than this single lifetime! I love you all! GSP11!!!

History of nuclear energy

It's truly shocking for me to learn about this. How the project Atom for Peace came about was not an extreme surprise for me. Here is an excerpt from the article from Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

After the two bombs were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, there is an aggressive movement to push forth the peaceful use of atomic energy through the Atomic Energy Commission, which was controlled by the military. How interesting. Anyways, the number of US nuclear stockpile increased from 1,000 to 22,000 by the end of Eisenhower's administration. If you think it is because of nuclear race, see the graph below. And to the nuclear deterrence argument, the US has always had more nuclear stockpile during the cold war.

And the nuclear weapons capability of India and Pakistan from their nuclear energy technology is truly worrisome. There is no justification to use nuclear energy over the renewable energy such as wind, water and solar considering how much CO2 emission was produced and the waste from nuclear energy.

Source: http://stanford.edu/group/efmh/jacobson/Articles/I/susenergy2030.html

Declaration Calling for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons

By Josei Toda, second president of the Soka Gakkai
September 8, 1957

I would now like to share with you what I hope you will regard as the foremost of my instructions for the future.
As I have long said, the responsibility for the coming era must be shouldered by the youth. ... Today I would like to state clearly my feelings and attitude regarding the testing of nuclear weapons, a topic that is currently being debated heatedly throughout society. I hope that, as my disciples, you will inherit the declaration I am about to make today and, to the best of your ability, spread its intent throughout the world.
Although a movement calling for a ban on the testing of atomic or nuclear weapons has arisen around the world, it is my wish to go further, to attack the problem at its root. I want to expose and rip out the claws that lie hidden in the very depths of such weapons. I wish to declare that anyone who ventures to use nuclear weapons, irrespective of their nationality or whether their country is victorious or defeated, should be sentenced to death without exception.

Why do I say this? Because we, the citizens of the world, have an inviolable right to live. Anyone who jeopardizes that right is a devil incarnate, a fiend, a monster. I propose that humankind applies, in every case, the death penalty to anyone responsible for using nuclear weapons, even if that person is on the winning side.
Even if a country should conquer the world through the use of nuclear weapons, the conquerors must be viewed as devils, as evil incarnate. I believe that it is the mission of every member of the youth division in Japan to disseminate this idea throughout the globe.

I'd give my life to pursue the dream of my mentor. To abolish all nuclear weapons from the face of this earth by 2030!!!!!! 

Light activated neurons

This is so cool! Today, we had 3 speakers to come talk about the current groundbreaking technologies in medicine and one of the speakers is working on Optogenetics, the field voted as the Method of the Year in 2010 by Nature Methods. It's a crazy and fun concept. Listen to Ed here. 

I can't believe I work next door to this guy for 2 years and never really had an in-depth conversation with him. He's amazing. Anyways, cool stuffs. We also saw things about medical robotics which I think are extremely outdated and not scalable. So meh. Another one was the real-time fMRI. I think this one also has the potential for exponential growth as well.  Exciting!!! I love hearing all these things. So fascinating.

An article on spatial pattern recognition

In the future, I think we are going to be able to control and enhance our brain! wooahhh

crazy.

Lightning Session @ SU

We had this lightning session for brainstorming ideas for different global challenges such as poverty, global health, security, education, energy, and space.

There were so many ideas. omg. it was so much fun to think about these different possibilities. One thing I truly appreciate about this place is that you are never told wrong. You might be told to take initiative, give it a try, again and again until you succeed. And then you repeat the same thing over and over again, creating one great cause after another.

This weekend I had a blast, riding on the bike to downtown mountain view, through google, and around. :) It was nice to be outside and be so in touch with the world. I am so glad to be alive.

Another thing I truly appreciate is the fruits that Alaina brought from the Farmers market today. They were so beautiful and well crafted. To create something so beautiful and complex, someone must have to spend a lot of time and effort raising it, collecting it, cleaning it, cutting it and placing it in such nice containers. Many thoughts went into every little thing that made this meal so wonderful. I am filled with appreciation. Oh, and I got a special gift from our hero, Dan Barry. :) It's a beautiful sunflower. The cheerful sun of happiness. ^________^ Ikeda-kayokai. 

Leadership -- the essential lesson I learned in the SGI

Again, I can't be anymore thankful for having the opportunity to be a leader in the SGI. The training that I was able to receive is tremendous and most valuable of all.

We learned, again, about the quality of leaders and what it takes to create a successful team.

"Perpetrators, collaborators, bystanders, victims: we can be clear about three of these categories. The bystanders, however, is the fulcrum."

The message is that those who are the game changers are ones who is watching from behind. A great leader empowers those bystanders to take action by initiating it. 

David Roberts also talked about courage. It takes a courage of just one person. And courage stems from compassion. Just like what Sensei said, courage and compassion are two sides of the same coin. Sensei writes, "Courage and compassion are two sides of the same coin. Compassion without courage is not genuine.  You may have a compassionate thought or impulse, but if you don't do or say anything, it's not real compassion." I realized how similar these philosophies are to what I learn in the SGI practicing together with Sensei. I cannot be anymore grateful. I will continue to strive to repay this debt of gratitude I owe to him, my mom and the SGI by exerting myself for social goods until the last moment of my life and unto the future.

Nothing contradicts Buddhism.

I am who I am today because of Sensei.

Innovation...predefined

omg. I think I just heard the most intellectually stimulating talk since I came here. Astro Teller, the Director of Google Labs, talked about how to innovate. I think he's an insane person. I love it though. 

• 100*Innovation(1) >> 1*Innovation(100)
• !Understand Details + !Delegate -> !Innovation
• Innovation(someone) >> Innovation(everyone) >> Innovation(no one)
• !Story -> !Innovation
• Effort(Innovation_V2.0) < Effort(Innovation_V1.2)
• ∆(Assumptions) -> Innovation
• P(Innovation I Bob) > P(Innovation I Idea_Z)
• Innovation(story) = Benerfit(vision) + Product(vision) + How(vision) + WhyNow(vision)
• Idea transplant -> Innovation
• New tools + New Metrics -> Innovation
• CleanUp(painful work arounds + rule breaking) -> Innovation
• Innovation(speed) ~ 1/MediocreProjects(half life)
• Rebuild = Innovate
• Technology Judo >> Technology Kung Fu
• ∆(Assumptions) 10% > Innovation > ∆(Assumption) 1%

ok I am a nerd, ok? well i love it because his presentation challenges me to THINK. outside. the. BOX. outside the framework that we are comfortable with. outside of what we were taught to believe. or what we have come up with to ensure the significance of our existence. which is nothing. because. we live by living. we live together with everyone. so the constant demand to be recognized, to be satisfied through the compensation, rewards and fame, is challenged. I love his concept. 

He tries to make people remove the superficiality of things that we possess, uphold and live by. We should live to create. just for the sake of creating. for others. for something greater than us. Paul Tillich said, "To what ends do we as human beings live?" It is to actualize the power to create beyond oneself without losing oneself.

when it is about me and MY idea, I am no longer innovative.

Tell me a problem.
Tell me a product or service that will release that problem.
Tell me what’s hard about it.
Tell me how we’re gonna make this.
Tell me why it didn’t happen three or four years ago.  what’s the secret weapon?

Get ready, Astro. I will bombard you with 100 of my stupid ideas.

Why am I here?

What's my mission in life? It is to use my strength to empower people. It is to realize that through my own struggles the world where everyone live together in harmony is possible. 


"Happiness is not a life without problems, but rather the strength to overcome the problems that came our way. There is no such thing as problem-life free; difficulties are unavoidable. But how we experience and react to our problems depends on us. Buddhism teaches that we are each responsible for our own happiness or unhappiness. Our vitality - the amount of energy or "life-force" we have - is in fact the single most important factor in determining whether or not we are happy." Daisaku Ikeda


To read more, click here

My Mentor

Nothing is impossible. Be a radical optimist.

There is this one guy. one inspiring man. by the name of Peter Diamandis. He is passionate about creating a paradigm shift in the human minds that nothing is impossible. That human potentials are unlimited when they are given the incentives to win and in the process winning over oneself. So he came up with the X Prize foundation that gives prize for teams that wins a crazy challenge such as building the first private spacecraft that can fly in the suborbital, build a robot that roams on the moon, build something that reaps up the oil spill, or the most recent challenge: the tricoder, the device that can diagnose you better than a group of 10 board certified physicians! He's a crazy man. (saying with pride and admiration).

Grand Challenges of Education

Child-centered education

It's truly inspiring to be listening to so many wonderful endeavors that are happening around the world. I was driven to tears hearing the story about the inequality in education between boys and girls.  Joy derived from a sense of accomplishments through learning is irreplaceable. To be able to give someone that opportunity is such a profound cause one can make. The human potential is limitless.  Education enables everyone to tap into that potential and manifest it for social transformation. I am deeply moved today to hear about the concept of SOKA education being presented by Lian who is from Malaysia. I am truly truly moved hearing many stories. Many lives that can be changed or have been changed through education....including my own. 

Please also, if you have not already, watch this inspiring and yet humble method of inducing sustainable learning. Let the youth soar into the sky of the peaceful future! 

Do you believe in Capitalism?

It has been interesting since I came to Singularity U.  I think I am undergoing lots of personal transformations. 

Over the past two days, there were three talks on economics, finances and entrepreneurship.  The undercurrent of those talks, to me, is at best about personal gratification. the challenge. the exhilarating feeling of triumph over oneself.  

but eventually it just comes down to....$$$

So do I believe in Capitalism?  I think money is necessary, but it is not why we are living this very existence. It is the people. People make us who we are. It is every being in this entire universe.

So the usual contention is that of Friedman and he would say, without competition that inherent within a capitalist society, it is difficult for people to grow and develop themselves.  And of course, I disagree. I believe the motivation from which one draws determines the direction of our lives. Andrew Carnegie said, "There is little success where there is little laughter."

I appreciate these opportunities to learn about myself and transform my life. There is noting more important than  personal transformation. That's the only way we can change the world.

I was thinking a lot how to enhance means of communication. How people's hearts can connect. empathy (compassion). sincerity. mutual respect. wisdom. strive.

Have a great day/night!

Nothing is impossible.

WOW. My 3 days experience here went by as fast as a blink of an eye. It's crazy. One of the many things I have learned here is that no matter what happens, you must not give up on your dream. And the most important is that the dream would only be sustainable if it encompasses something that is much larger than our self--the one that is trapped within this perishable body. A friend of mine said, "Dream as big as you can. Isn't that the only way to live?"  


If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now, when?
--Hillel


So I heard Dan Barry spoke about his 13 years attempt to apply to become an astronaut. His wife's life of overcoming obstacles to become a scientist. These are ordinary people. How glad am I to have the opportunity to listen to many of these experiences in SGI meetings. 


Day 1 and 2: I talked to about 60 people. It was exhausting. period. but at the same time, amazing learning about people's life stories. Everyone is here to change the world. 


Day 3: We had an opening ceremony. Again, the message across has always been, dream big, and believe in yourself. No matter what happens, you are born in this world to shine. Oh, and I had a good conversation with Ray Kurzweil. It was interesting because my training as an SGI member has tremendously helped me become such a warm person. It's embarrassing to say that but I think there is some truth in that. Oh well, I actually should not be embarrassed. I am able to learn this great teaching of Nichiren Buddhism because of Daisaku Ikeda. I am who I am today because of him. Sensei, you have made me so happy.


On the way back from picking up my package at the main building, I got an exclusive ride back to the classroom with Ray Kurzweil. He saw my MIT class ring and we just stared talking. Next thing I asked him the question: how do you stay creative? 


During the reception at the opening ceremony, he told me about his mental technique of transcending the state of consciousness and that of unconsciousness through dreams. Pretty interesting. It's not far off from what I learn in Nichiren Buddhism. Certainly coming here has only confirmed my fortune of being able to encounter the teaching of Nichiren Buddhism. When we finished talking, Ray shook my hand, and kissed my cheeks. I mean, compared to the beginning when I handed him a glass of water, he was scared of taking it. But he looked at me, and said, ok I will hold it. :) I thought he had been talking for a long time so he must want some water. :) These are all trainings I have had in SGI. What a wonderful place!


Peter Diamandis is a great inspiration. What a wonderful person! The one thing here I noticed is that, no one tells you what you want to do is crazy and impossible. They tell you, here let me find you some resources, why don't you talk to these people? here it's yours. give it a try. Just like that. creation and knowledge. for humanity. 


Day 4: The most interesting part of today's activities is not during lectures but it is in the team building activities. Learning to deal with someone who likes to project his/her thoughts before listening to someone else becomes my next challenge. Like Sensei, I am going win over myself and transform the situation. Please watch me! I was at the end elected as a team leader. I was not expecting that. All I care was that everyone's opinion is heard and considered in the planning process. It doesn't matter if we win or not, all that is important is that everyone enjoys themselves. That's the sole purpose of doing anything in life. Joy. I guess, these things you can't just tell people. It has to come from within. People's hearts are always changing. All we need is the sincerity. Sincerity touches people's hearts. deeply. I owe everything to my mentor. Sensei, I will actualize all of your dreams! Please watch me!


With deep respect to everyone who has read my entry. I appreciate your seeking spirit. 

What makes this place wonderful....

It is the people. People from around the world who came to this program with one goal:change the world, empower the people, live the most meaningful existence. I can't tell you how much I am overwhelmed by this program having been here for 4 hours. People here are just filled with passion, love for humanity, humility and most of all compassion.

I am very grateful to be here and hope to contribute to the best of my ability!!

Value-Creating Education at MIT

I had the fortune to meet and discuss with the Dean at MIT about the core values and practical implementations of value-creating (Soka) education.  It was truly exhilarating just to even picture humanistic philosophies of Nichiren Buddhism integrated into society.  The empowerment that society and each individual needs to cultivate a sense of mission and bring into full flower the infinite capacity of a human being to nurture one another. To me, that is my dream of peace.

Another wonderful encounter I had today was with a Emeritus Professor in Physics who I admire dearly. He has given talks on nuclear abolition during our symposium From a Culture of Violence to a Culture of Peace: Transforming the Human Spirit. I think this must have been our 6th encounter but we have formed bonds of friendship that I think transcends anything. I continue to learn from his passion and he seeks to understand my life as a human being trying to respond to my mentor's call for peace.

I wrote to my mentor (Sensei), Daisaku Ikeda, about the experiences I had today. I will strive even more to realize all his dreams including abolishing all nuclear weapons by 2030. Sensei, please watch me!!

The Six Grand Challenges

This summer, the GSP participants will be racking their brains trying to solve some of the world's grand challenges. I am particularly excited about these because more than half of them are my passion.

We are going to be looking at the issue of education, global security, healthcare, energy, poverty and space exploration. Two questions/challenges I've proposed were related to the distribution of healthcare and global security particularly the issue of corruption. I cannot wait to meet my colleagues there to discuss our ideas and get to know each other!

Here is some more info on the 6 grand challenges. 

Singularity University

I got accepted to the Graduate Studies Program (GSP) at Singularity University (SU) and will be going there this June. The experience there, I hope, will be life-changing and allow me to visualize my dream of peace closer to me in space and time. I will share as much as I can during my time (June 18 - Aug 27) there. I can only say, I am soooooo excited!!!

Here on SU