As a new member of the DEI Committee, I feel inspired to share a topic that is close to my heart: neurodiversity. The term refers to the natural variation in how human brains function and process information. It is often used when speaking about autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, learning differences, and other neurological profiles.
As a proud member of the neurodivergent community, I want to advocate for myself and for others who may face similar challenges within any organizational setting, whether in a Sangha, a workplace, a church, or even at the DMV. Understanding neurodiversity and practicing neuro-inclusion helps us create environments that support the needs of all people.
In that spirit, I would like to share a poem I wrote based on my experience showing up in shared spaces: Churchill said we shape our buildings and then they shape us. But who is this “us,” and was everyone really invited anyway?
Back then? And now?
I’ve just begun to really see this, now:
The systems, shaped so subtly and not
With a glance
Or a mask or thought
much like the ellipsis that so subtly implies, without saying…
When some dissonance occurred, and it feels like I
Am the only one that didn’t get the message about what went wrong
In these moments, the architects don’t comprehend a different lens (or didn’t wish to).
And my siblings and I are denied entry
When it was the designers who forgot
To label the unlocked door - of what is acceptable and what is not,
Yes, I too, sometimes forget my sheet music when the network connection is dropped…
But when something collective fails,
How often do we all not
Acknowledge the first word in the clearest message at the top:
“SYSTEM error”
I want to begin by sharing that, personally, I experience our Sangha as a warm and welcoming place. At the same time, I believe all communities, including ours, can continually deepen our understanding of one another. My hope is that this poem offers a window into the lived experience of some neurodivergent members and supports us in that ongoing practice.
Reflecting on J.D. Doyle’s talk last month, I find myself asking: How can our Sangha become an even more understanding and inclusive space? Each of us brings our own mud, lotus, and dharma. How might we keep emerging, again and again, as a community that feels more connected, more compassionate, and more cohesive? Like Sangha bees tending to the lotuses, supporting one another in both our shared and unique experiences.
With gratitude for the opportunity to share,
Marissa M