From Mars to Heaven 2.0

Speaker: Dr. Chia-Yen Peter Peng

Current Roles:

• Chief Engineer, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)

• Dianchuanshi (Tao Transmitting Master), Los Angeles Fa-Yi Chong-De Tao Society

Education:

• Ph.D. in Applied Mechanics, California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

• B.S. in Civil Engineering, National Taiwan University

Experience:

• Key participant in multiple NASA/JPL Mars missions: Pathfinder, Opportunity, Spirit, Curiosity, and Perseverance Rovers

Date: July 3 (Thursday) | 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Location: Linde Lecture Hall
6F, No. 291, Chang'an St., Luzhou District, New Taipei City

Dr. Chia-Yen Peter Peng graduated top of his class from the Department of Civil Engineering at National Taiwan University and earned his Ph.D. in Applied Mechanics at Caltech in the United States. He then joined NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), dedicating over 30 years to aerospace engineering and successfully leading numerous Mars rover landing missions.

By day, Dr. Peng serves as a Chief Engineer at JPL, studies how to safely land Mars rovers; while in the evenings and on weekends, he fulfills his mission as a Dianchuanshi at the Fa-Yi Chong-De Tao Center in Los Angeles, practices and spreads the Tao, dedicating himself to guiding souls back to Heaven. He seamlessly integrates his sacred Tao mission with the practical challenges of space engineering, contributing to the success of four Mars rover missions, inspiring wisdom in the principle of “Heaven and humanity united, all things governed by one truth.”

He once shared:

“Every Mars mission is extremely challenging. If we don’t persist, nothing else will happen.”

“As long as there is a 99% chance of success, it is worth doing. The rest is up to Heaven.”

“Human effort can reach up to 99%; the remaining 1% depends on Heaven.”

These words reflect Dr. Peng’s humble dedication and his realization of working in harmony with Heaven.

Key Takeaways

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a place where miracles happen, achieving a “miraculous” 100% success rate in four Mars missions.

The Key to Success:

Building robust systems, attracting top talent from around the world, and forming high-quality teams that work together toward a shared vision.

What is a “High-Quality Team”?

• A diverse team of talents

• A team with both leaders and team players, where each member can lead (Team Leader) and serve (Team Player) as needed

• A team united by a common ideal and collective effort

• A team that works together in harmony and with shared commitment

How to Build a “High-Quality Team”?

• Establish systems that attract, retain, develop, and empower talents

• Collective leadership and unified momentum (e.g., the Five-Year Advanced Class, Three Realms in One)

• Leaders who uphold and implement systems

• Senior practitioners who bridge the past and future, fulfilling their duties loyally and diligently

• “Striving not for worldly fame and wealth, but for a better future for humanity.”

All Things in the Universe Are Connected Through One Principle

The four Mars rover missions reflect humanity’s spirit of curiosity and exploration while mirroring the qualities practitioners should embody:

• Pathfinder (1996) reminds us that it is a cultivator’s mission to pioneer and spread the positive energy of the Tao wherever they go.

• Opportunity (2003) and Spirit (2003) teach us to seize every chance to serve and to emulate the Bodhisattva’s tireless dedication in cultivation and service.

• Curiosity (2011) inspires us to follow our innate curiosity, seek knowledge continuously, and maintain a passion for learning to deeply understand the mysteries of the Tao.

• Perseverance (2020) shows us that to succeed in both spiritual and worldly endeavors, we must learn the Bodhisattva’s spirit of sincerity, perseverance, and resilience. We must believe: “There is no obstacle we cannot overcome, no problem we cannot solve, and no trial we cannot pass through.”

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I-Kuan Tao Temple: SHIH
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