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