All tagged Diversity and Inclusion (D&I)

Diversity and Inclusion From the Buddhist Perspective by Julie Taeko

At its essence, Nichiren Buddhism is a philosophy that places the utmost importance on respecting the dignity and worthiness of each individual. Nichiren Buddhism’s core teachings are to respect each individual’s inherent humanity. Moreover, just as each individual has a unique character, a unique experience of life, a unique culture, etc., it can be understood as a manifestation of cosmic creativity and wisdom.

When we fundamentally believe that each individual is worthy of respect and possesses infinite potential, we can celebrate the creativity and diversity that each individual brings to the table, as well as celebrate the unique expressions of life that lead to such a wealth of human diversity.

Celebrating Diversity and Difference at Copenhagen Business School (CBS) in Denmark — A Poem About Challenging My Identities, Norms, and Stereotypes by Julie Taeko

This past February 2019, I was very fortunate to attend a conference on International Women’s Day at Copenhagen Business School (CBS) in Denmark called “Fight the myths about gender at International Women's Day 2019.” Not only were there fantastic speakers such as Nima Sophia Tisdall of Blue Lobster App, who was recently featured by the Obama Foundation, but also we all participated in a GenderLAB experiment, where we were asked to identify our various, unique identities and the stereotypes that surround them. For example, I distinctly remember writing down that “I am a woman, but I cannot cook, and I don’t want to be a housewife.” This innovative and compelling exercise, stimulated my creative juices and got me thinking about other areas where norms, identities, and stereotypes all collide.