The Beauty of Diversity

Positing infinity, the rest is easy.

Roger Zelazny, Creatures of Light and Darkness

I’ve been sitting on this post for a while, trying to grapple with recent attacks on diversity and inclusion.

In the Star Trek episode, The Savage Curtain, Surak of Vulcan upon meeting humans for the first time (Kirk and Abe Lincoln) says a line that’s easily overlooked, but I think is also very beautiful:

I am pleased to see that we have differences.  May we together become greater than the sum of both of us.

Surak of Vulcan, “The Savage Curtain” (s3ep22), stardate 5906.4

The Vulcan philosophy in Star Trek is based upon a recognition of diversity: IDIC, or “Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations”. That is to say, each of us exists as combination of such elements and thus take on a greater significance together than separate:

KIRK: We’ve each learned to be delighted with what we are. The Vulcans learned that centuries before we did.
SPOCK: It is basic to the Vulcan philosophy, sir. The combination of a number of things to make existence worthwhile.

Star Trek, “The Savage Curtain” (s3ep22), stardate 5906.4

This is of course at the heart of Buddhist doctrine as well. Because all phenomena arise from various causes and conditions, given the right causes and conditions, anything is possible. And, given the scale of the universe, one can safely assume that practically everything exists, has existed, or will exist.

My head hurts just thinking about the implications.

Thus, I think, it is very helpful to consider and accept just how varied and weird existence is, and appreciate its sheer diversity. This isn’t just some political slogan: diversity, change, and infinity are the very nature of existence whether people want to accept that or not. Might as well embrace it, and save yourself the undue stress.

Namu Amida Butsu