The Pure Land Foundation joins forces with Kodo Nishimura, Buddhist monk, makeup artist, and LGBTQ+ advocate to spotlight powerful reflections on self-acceptance, challenging societal expectations, and celebrating authentic beauty.
Key Message
Self-acceptance begins when we stop letting external judgments and internal doubts define our worth. Despite personal insecurities or societal expectations — about sexuality, appearance, language, or age — we each have the power to choose belief in ourselves. Affirming our own value, no matter the circumstance, is the first step toward living authentically.
Transcript
Kodo Nishimura: Hello, my name is Kodo Nishimura, I’m a Buddhist monk and artist. Do you ever find yourself looking for reasons of why you can’t achieve your goals? For example, in my case, I used to think that oh I’m homosexual so people are not going to accept me.
I’m Japanese and I don’t have that typical beauty so I don’t feel powerful nor feel beautiful of myself. I don’t speak English like native speaker so I can’t succeed globally and I felt myself ageing.
But later in life, I found so many role models who are making so many things happen, achieving many goals despite all the excuses that I made.
For example, Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, he’s an openly gay man leading a huge company. Marie Kondo being a global inspiration despite her language. And Michelle Yeoh, who achieved an Oscar at the age of 60.
So when I felt that because of these excuses or reasons that I was not making, these do not make sense anymore. So I felt that it’s important to find how I can make it instead of why I’m not making it.
I know that people come from different circumstances. People might have it easier or more difficult, but we have to be the one to believe in ourselves. If we find reasons of why we can’t make it, we will never make it. So let’s be the one to believe in ourselves, because that belief is the beginning of everything.
So now let’s do a little affirmation with me. Take a deep breath in, breathe out. Repeat after me. No matter what people say, I choose to believe in myself. Next one, nobody knows what I can be or what I can do. Success is not in the outcome, but being able to believe in myself.
Let’s take another deep breath in. Breathe out.
Thank you so much and see you next time.
Bruno Wang: If this message speaks to you, we would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. And if you know someone who could benefit from this, please share it with them.