π§ When Rocket Science Meets Deep Self-Reflection
What does a world-class aerospace engineer, a former NASA researcher, and the developer of a nation’s first space launch vehicle have to do with mindfulness?
Quite a lot, it turns out! We often think of science and meditation as two completely separate worlds. However, true innovators understand that mastering the mind is just as critical as mastering the laws of physics.
Here at Santa Clara Meditation, we are thrilled to share an incredible milestone that bridges the gap between hard science and inner peace. Let’s explore how a renowned engineering professor took the principles of Mind Subtraction to a global stage! β¨
π Taking “Human Completion” Global on Coursera
Professor Lee Deok-ju (Department of Aerospace Engineering, KAIST), who also serves as the Academic Director of the Academic Society for Human Completion, successfully launched a 6-week self-reflection meditation course on Coursera.
Titled “Engineering Self-Reflection for Human Completion,” the course was conducted for members worldwide from December 7, 2015, to January 17, 2016.
Coursera is a world-class online education platform based on the MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) concept. It boasts over 1,500 courses and more than 16 million members globally. Over 100 renowned universitiesβincluding Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Johns Hopkins, Yale, and the University of Tokyoβparticipate in it. In Korea, KAIST is a proud participating institution.
π The 6-Week Curriculum
Professor Lee’s brilliantly structured course guided global students through a logical, step-by-step journey of the mind:
- Week 1: Necessity of self-reflection
- Week 2: Principle and practice of self-reflection
- Week 3: Copied world and Real world
- Week 4: Methodology of mind subtraction changes myself
- Week 5: Self-reflection and mind subtraction in ordinary life
- Week 6: Starting point of a new life, life with wisdom, and a peaceful world
π Who is Professor Lee Deok-ju?
If you are wondering why an aerospace engineer is teaching meditation, wait until you see his credentials!
Professor Lee graduated from the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Seoul National University in 1977. He went on to receive his master’s and doctoral degrees from Stanford University, and worked as a researcher at NASA for 3 years before serving as a professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at KAIST since 1988.
He is a world-class engineer who has played a major role in the development of Korea’s aerospace technology.
- He served as the head of the Task Force team for the development of civil-military helicopters.
- He participated in the development of Surion, Korea’s first helicopter.
- He contributed to Naro, Korea’s first space launch vehicle.
He also currently serves as the Vice President of the Korea Drone Industry Promotion Association and the Vice President of the American Helicopter Society.
π‘ A Pioneer for Student Well-being
Professor Lee is not only a founding member of the Academic Society for Human Completion but also a dedicated advocate for the mental health of his students.
Long before his Coursera debut, he opened meditation courses titled “Turning Point of My Life” and “Exploration and Restoration of Human Nature” for KAIST students in 2011 and 2012. These courses received a highly positive and transformative response from the students, proving that even the most analytical minds deeply crave inner peace.
If a top-tier rocket scientist relies on Mind Subtraction to find wisdom and peace, perhaps it is time we all try engineering our own minds! πΏ
