same house, however, there was also a snake that was physically healthy, but since the tail was proud, it would not cooperate with the head. In the end, the snake was burned to death in the fire. Though shapes and sizes are different, the essential nature of all sentient beings is the same. Though our shapes and sizes may be different, if we place ourselves in others' positions and benefit them accordingly, then we can succeed in promoting equality and in helping others as we help ourselves. If we cultivate this thought in a flash, our lives will be greatly changed, because we will treat others with equality and respect at all times. Peace will certainly follow. Equality comes out of causes and conditions. Everything in the universe is a phenomenon created out of mutually interconnected and interdependent causes and conditions. If causes and conditions are not present, nothing exists. For example, a person becomes a person because of the actions and the consciousness of the parents. Once the person is born, he or she depends on the learned people for education, farmers to grow food for sustenance, workers to make everyday goods, and businessmen to sell the goods. Another example is a flower, which needs sunlight, air, water, and earth in order to grow, mature, and blossom. A building requires metal, wood, cement, bricks, and engineers for it to be completed. A manufacturing industry first requires capital, market survey, quality improvement, and promoting before the final product can be sold in the store. Nothing comes into being by itself, and nothing exists by itself or is independent of other things. Our parents raise us because they feel their connection to us; our teachers teach us because they understand our need to have an education; the things we use in our daily lives exist
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