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Science: Creating Knowledge or Solving Societal Problems?

  Picture from Okinawa island in Japan        I want to share my perspective on research, particularly in basic science. I’ve noticed that many renowned scientists, especially physicists, often choose research problems that fascinate and excite them. Interestingly, many of these scientists also have a deep interest in the humanities and arts. They dedicate their resources and efforts to these pursuits, ultimately publishing their findings. Along the way, they develop quantitative and analytical tools or physics-based models to better understand the problems they are investigating. For example, I recently attended a talk by a well-known physicist from the UK who was studying literature from the medieval era. I approached the talk with curiosity but found my interest waning as it progressed, likely due to my limited understanding of literature. However, what really lingered with me was the question: Is this an important problem to study? Should leaders in the fiel...
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Curiosity versus Insecurity driven learning

My working space at my Tokyo residence I think learning/growth in most individuals can originate from two sources, namely, curiosity-driven and insecurity-driven learning processes. Let me first talk about curiosity-driven learning, herein, a mind is self-directed, focused on personal goals, and uses the available knowledge to succeed in their goal. Moreover, the mindset is driven by intrinsic thoughts, with a motivation of growth and free from external pressure or comparison. Such an approach fosters originality, leading to the development of unique ideas and work. In contrast, a n insecure mind more often follows others, always seeks external validation and avoids risks, leading to a path defined by external influences rather than personal aspirations. It is mostly guided by induced thoughts, moreover, ideas are shaped by the expectations and achievements of others. With this mindset, we may have career growth, but we may lose the authenticity and the originality. Howe...

Way to Move Forward

While climbing Mt. Takao in Tokyo, Japan. A midst this life journey, an important and critical philosophical aspect that continuously haunts my mind is, "understanding oneself". This self-awareness can potentially provides the necessary vision to progress, navigate amid obstacles, and move freely.  Further, there is another important concept that comes in;  "Ignore and explore".  By this, I mean ignoring what we feel is unimportant and exploring the uncharted aspects of life.   However,  there is often a situation where we can't do anything except wait and wait until external events unfold and show us a path to move. O ften resulting in a state of hallucination where we can get lost in a cycle of thoughts, finally forcing us to embark on something completely new. Therefore,  initiating new endeavours in life and accepting the changes should be ubiquitous activities. Besides, it's also important to note that  many aspects of life lack quantifiable ...

Concept of K-I-H-L

The pursuit of excellence is often attributed to a combination of four factors: Knowledge, Intelligence, Hard Work, and Luck. However, attaining all four may not be entirely feasible, particularly given that Intelligence and Luck are beyond our control. Despite this, I firmly believe that Hard Work, a factor entirely within our purview, serves as a cornerstone for success. Furthermore, a diligent effort has the dual capacity to not only propel one's work ethic but also to actively contribute to the accumulation and enhancement of Knowledge. While certain factors may remain elusive, the steadfast commitment to hard work can empower individuals to navigate and shape their paths to excellence.

Live to improve

Pokhara Lake, Nepal   In today's society, it's common to be constantly bombarded with images and messages of people who seem to have it all together. From social media influencers with perfectly curated feeds to celebrities with seemingly perfect lives, it's easy to fall into the trap of wanting to prove ourselves to others. However, I believe it's much more important to live to improve rather than prove. Living to prove implies a constant need for external validation. We might feel like we must constantly prove ourselves to others by achieving certain milestones or reaching certain goals. While there's nothing wrong with striving for success, it can be dangerous to base our self-worth solely on the opinions of others. When we live to prove ourselves, we essentially give others control over our lives, which is never a good thing. On the other hand, living to improve means that we're constantly striving to be better versions of ourselves. We're not focused on...

Wandering from a philosophical perspective

Morning view of Trapani downtown from the hilltop of Sicily, Italy.      

Experience: A valuable possession

                                View of Kiyomizu-dera temple in Kyoto, Japan For much of our life, we pay significant efforts in  excelling in our careers,  building relationships, making good friends, having good teachers, being good students and  make good relations.  I believe having all of them is a great blessing, but unfortunately, all of us are not so lucky or well-deserved to have them all.  Working for them has always been difficult for everyone; sometimes, we may give up.  But, whether we succeed or fail, we keep accumulating an important thing during our journey, it is called an "experience". For every individual, it is different, and mine is unique too.                 As I grew old, I discovered that "experience" is my  most valuable possession . It may be filled with  happiness, sadness, struggle, or whate...