Vision In Action Board of Directors

Yasuhiko Genku Kimura
Founder and Chairman, Vision In Action

My commitment, in essence, is to the lasting transformation of the ecology of the ideosphere—the global sphere of ideas and ideation.  I am an ideospheric environmentalist.  And my approach to the ideospheric transformation is not primarily through the propagation of a particular idea but through provoking authentic thinking.

My work is about transforming the structural configuration of the ideospheric environment from that of concentricity, formed by legions of followers flocking around leaders and promoters of a pre-established set of ideas, to that of omnicentricity, formed when a critical mass of humanity each becomes a vortex of original idea-generation, that is, an independent producer of ideas, through the development of authentic thinking, self-responsibility, and self-integrity.

Yasuhiko Genku Kimura, Founder and Chairman of Vision In Action, applies values of integrity and wholeness to engender individual, organizational, and social transformation. He is considered one of the foremost thinkers in the field of integral and evolutionary philosophy.

Called “a philosopher of change,” Mr. Kimura is recognized for his ability to integrate advanced Western scientific thought with the intuitive wisdom of Eastern spiritual traditions to bring about radical change in the way people think. 

As an author, lecturer and consultant, he assists thought leaders in business, science and cultural organizations to evolve beyond the paradigm-bound thinking that often inhibits development and success.  He aims to provoke authentic, integral thinking in others through his Zen-like, Socratic methods, awakening the latent creative potential in both individuals and organizations, and thereby creating a path for people to transform their creative vision into effective action.

An Invitation to Think

Mr. Kimura has spent almost thirty years studying both advanced Western scientific thought and inner-directed Eastern philosophies with his formal education centering on Buddhist philosophy.  He was born in Japan and ordained in the Soto School of Zen Buddhism, then studied contemporary and ancient systems of Eastern philosophy in India for three years.  In 1983, he moved to the United States where he developed an original approach to individual and organizational transformation.

Unlike system-building theorists who focus on building structural models as a frame of reference for their students, Mr. Kimura focuses on awakening the capacity for genuine creativity and original thinking within individuals so that they can attain ongoing self-realization through self-transcendence. As he explains:

    The ancient Japanese word for “to think” is kamikaeru, with “kami” signifying the “invisible” divine ground of being and “kaeru” meaning “to return.” The process of thinking, therefore, originally embodied the spiritual act of returning to the Divine, to the Ground, to the Self residing within each person, and then creatively manifesting that Self-knowing and divine inspiration in and as the world.

In this regard, Mr. Kimura has developed a distinctive approach that embodies Zen-like inquiry and Socratic dialogue. His writings and seminars are an invitation to “think” along with him as he seeks to awaken the potential for kamikaeru within.

Applying these creative techniques to business and social organizations, Mr. Kimura established The MetaConsulting Institute in 1996. This consulting firm continues to develop strategic business seminars and customized programs under his leadership for both entrepreneurs and multinational corporations. 

In 1999, he was recruited by the University of Science and Philosophy, also known as the Walter Russell Foundation, to serve as Executive Director of The Twilight Club founded in the late 1870s by British integral philosopher Herbert Spencer and intellectual champions of the American Transcendentalist and New Thought Movements including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Walt Whitman, Mark Twain, and Edwin Markham. The Twilight Club originally looked to enrich society and culture through the personal action of its members based on the principle that Mr. Kimura characterizes as “alignment beyond agreement.”

Four years after assuming the organization’s leadership role, Mr. Kimura “re-envisioned” The Twilight Club and established Vision In Action in 2003 as a more effective structure to continue the rich legacy of the founders’ intention in the 21st century. Vision In Action focuses on empowering individuals and organizations to develop personal integrity, business accountability, scientific advances, artistic expression and social action.

Through VIA, Mr. Kimura strives to encourage a creative and comprehensive approach to social and personal challenges that can restore integrity and wholeness to a divided world. A comprehensive description of Vision In Action is outlined in his article “The Four Pillars of the Work of Vision In Action.”

Prolific Writer and Lecturer

Mr. Kimura has authored, since 1998, well over 50 articles, essays and translations in the fields of spiritual philosophy, integral science, evolutionary theory, transformational ethics and visionary business. He also has developed interactive programs that serve to awaken creative vision. His work includes:

  • The Book of Balance, an acclaimed modern translation of Lao Tzu’s Tao Teh Ching
     
  • Think Kosmically Act Globally, a collection of original essays on spirituality, ethics and metascience
     
  • The Twilight Manifesto, a history of The Twilight Club
     
  • THINK: The First Principle of Business based on Walter Russell’s lectures at IBM in the 1920s to 1930s and co-edited with Laara Lindo
     
  • Editor In Chief of VIA: The Journal of Integral Thinking for Visionary Action, a biannual anthology of thought-provoking articles on integrating spirituality into philosophy, science, business, and social issues
     
  • Personal and business interactive seminars focusing on:
     
    • Awakening the Genius WithinTM
       
    • The Passion WorkshopTM
       
    • Alignment Beyond AgreementTM
       
    • Leadership Intensive Based on The Book of TaoTM
       
    • Strategic Thinking for Global LeadershipTM
       
    • Evolutionary Ethics for Corporate DevelopmentTM
       
  • Invited guest lecturer at:
     
    • USC international MBA program, the MIT Sloan Leadership Conference and to a Presidential Key Executive Alumni class at Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management
       
    • Cypress College
       
    • What Is Enlightenment? Voices from the Edge -- U.S. and Europe
       
    • Agape Institute, Los Angeles