IEEE is one of the largest engineering and technology organizations in the world. Every day, it generates new papers, new theories, new algorithms, and new technologies. It is an extraordinary engine for producing knowledge. Yet I often ask myself a different question: Among this vast amount of knowledge, how much
Throughout my career, I have come to believe that the value of knowledge is never measured by how much we accumulate, but by how much we enable others to use it. Many people treat knowledge as something to collect—like fine watches, works of art, or rare books. The collection
English The Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti once offered a profound insight: We rarely see things as they are. More often, we see them through the lens of our memories, knowledge, experiences, and psychological projections. This reveals one of humanity's greatest cognitive blind spots. We believe we are observing
The legendary Japanese tea master Sen no Rikyū is often associated with a profound idea: “Excessive possessions are a form of violence against our awareness.” The more I reflect on it, the more meaningful it becomes. Every object we own demands a portion of our attention. We have to organize
Recently, I watched several videos discussing China’s economic slowdown. Once again, I was reminded of how profoundly our environment shapes us. Our jobs, relationships, social circles, and even the information we consume every day influence how we think, feel, and view the future. Many people are not defeated by
Recently, I had an interesting realization. Language is fundamentally an encoding system. Our thoughts, emotions, experiences, and observations exist within our inner world. The purpose of language is to encode these internal experiences into symbols that others can understand, allowing ideas to be shared and transmitted. From this perspective, language
The Twilight Samurai is a deeply moving film. The character of Iguchi Seibei, portrayed by Hiroyuki Sanada, left a strong impression on me. He is an exceptionally skilled swordsman, yet remarkably humble. He does not seek status or recognition, and he endures ridicule, disrespect, and misunderstanding with extraordinary patience. To
Many people admire Miyamoto Musashi because he eventually became one of the greatest swordsmen in history. But I believe what makes him truly remarkable is not how strong he became. It is the fact that he had the courage to walk his own path long before he became strong. At
Our preferences are shaped by our past experiences. The real question is not whether we are limited by experience. The real question is whether we continue to expand it. When experience stops expanding, awareness stops growing. And every new possibility in life exists beyond the edge of what we already
Many people believe success is built on willpower. But the more I observe myself and others, the more I feel that willpower is fundamentally the act of using one part of yourself to suppress another. It is an inner civil war. One part of you wants to wake up early.
I’ve often felt that people tend to talk most about what they lack. That’s why I’m usually skeptical when I see organizations constantly talking about their culture, values, and principles. I’ve noticed something rather ironic: When principles and interests are aligned, everyone seems to have strong
Recently, while learning more about the history and philosophy of both IEEE and IET, I came to an interesting realization. Many engineers are familiar with both organizations, but few take the time to reflect on the different cultures and values they represent. IEEE is one of the world's
Modern Ronin Reflections
After finishing Vagabond, I found myself reflecting on a fascinating question. Miyamoto Musashi lived during a unique transition in Japanese history—from the chaos of the Warring States period to the long peace of the Edo era. During the age of war, strength had a clear purpose. Strength meant survival.
Modern Ronin Reflections
One of the things I admire most about Japanese culture is its extraordinary level of resolution. As an engineer, I often use the word resolution to describe how finely a system can observe and distinguish details. The higher the resolution, the more information becomes visible. The world itself does not
Notes
Today, I finally finished reading Takehiko Inoue's Vagabond. Although the series remains unfinished at thirty-seven volumes, it already feels complete in the questions it asks and the insights it offers. For readers looking for an action-packed manga, Vagabond may not be what they expect. Its greatest
Notes
This photo was taken when the Chinese edition of my book, AC Motor Control Loop Design, was published. The stacks of books on the table were not inventory for bookstores. They were signed copies prepared for students who enrolled in my online courses. At that time, I organized a special
Modern Ronin Reflections
While reading Vagabond, I often found myself experiencing a strange sense of familiarity. Not because Musashi’s life resembles my own. But because many of the truths he gradually discovers resonate deeply with lessons I have encountered throughout my own journey. In the later chapters of Vagabond, water appears repeatedly
Modern Ronin Reflections
After the Battle of Sekigahara, Tokugawa Ieyasu unified Japan, ushering in more than 260 years of peace under the Tokugawa shogunate. But before that, Japan was in the Sengoku era — a true age of war. In that world, the role of the samurai was simple: * to fight, * to survive, * to
Modern Ronin Reflections
I used to think growth came from effort alone. But over time, I realized that true breakthroughs do not come merely from working harder. They come from finally seeing your own weaknesses clearly. That is what I saw in Vagabond. Every time Musashi truly evolved, it was not because he
Modern Ronin Reflections
From my own experience, I have gradually realized that what truly exhausts a person is often not the external world itself. But rather: * internal conflict * fragmentation * anxiety * excessive concern about others’ opinions * living constantly through a persona When energy continuously leaks outward, the mind becomes unstable, scattered, and psychologically weak.
Notes
《浪人劍客》中宮本武藏早期的執念與轉變 最近看到《浪人劍客》前期， 尤其是寶藏院那一段時， 我突然理解了一件很深的事情： 宮本武藏早期對「變強」的執念， 其實並不是真正的強。 而是一種來自內在匱乏與外部評價的渴望。 年輕時的武藏， 腦中只有一件事： 「我要變強。」 「我要天下無雙。」 因此他的邏輯非常簡單粗暴： 只要打倒所有強者， 只要把所有人都擊敗， 那麼自己就應該是最強的人。 這是一種非常原始、 非常野獸性的強。 但從心理學的角度來看， 這其實隱藏著一個巨大的問題： 他的評價機制是外部的。 他並沒有真正建立自己的內在價值系統。 因此， 當別人問他： 「那你覺得你自己強嗎？」 武藏竟然回答不出來。 這一幕其實非常震撼。 因為這代表： 他根本不理解什麼叫做真正的強。 他只能透過： • 別人的恐懼 • 別人的稱讚 • 別人的敬畏 • 別人的認可 來確認自己的存在。 所以哪怕他真的殺光所有強者， 成為天下第一， 他依然是奴隸。 因為他的內心， 仍然被「外部評價」所控制。 只要一個人的價值感， 建立在他人的眼光之上， 那麼他就永遠無法自由。
Modern Ronin Reflections
Each of us is born into a culture by accident. Nationality, ethnicity, religion, and identity are often not conscious choices, but conditions assigned at birth. Therefore, the healthiest relationship between human beings and culture should not be one of obedience or psychological captivity. Instead: Human beings should have the freedom
Modern Ronin Reflections
What resonates with me most about Miyamoto Musashi is not merely his solitude. It is this: He once seriously considered becoming part of the world. As a young man, Musashi also desired: * recognition, * honor, * status, * achievement, * and the possibility of serving a lord. He was not born detached from society.
Notes
In 2022, I walked away from a stable job in Taipei, Taiwan. At the time, I was working as a PM for Rockwell Automation products at Solomon Technology. From the outside, it looked like a safe and respectable career path. But deep inside, I kept hearing a quiet voice: “This