“We may believe them to be the most important elements of this life, but in reality we are all just a tiny part of the universe. Each of us is a combination of causes and conditions, a product of the evolution of life and the earth. I, for example, am made up of things that are not 'me'. The food I eat, the air I breathe and the water I drink are not 'me', yet I cannot live without all these things. In fact, all the things that keep us alive, and even life itself, are gifts we receive from the universe. If we reflect on human life, it is easy to realise that even the basic elements of our existence are given to us. For example, at birth, human beings are not at all self-sufficient, and in order to survive, children must be cared for over a long period of time. Before the age of one, infants cannot even stand up and are totally helpless, and later, children, unable to earn a living, must be fed and cared for at least until adolescence. To become truly independent members of society, human beings must study for perhaps twenty years or more. Until we are able to think for ourselves, we are essentially supported and cared for by society. Even language, the essential tool of thought, is a gift from society, and the education that society gives us teaches us to think and behave well. Since I was born and raised in Japan, I think in Japanese and act mostly in accordance with Japanese values. The Japanese language and value system derive from the culture created by all the people who have lived in Japan throughout history, so my way of speaking, thinking, and behaving is the result of all their lives. Each of us is connected to all beings past, present and future in the entire universe. This is not some mysterious truth that can only be understood through special spiritual insight, trance or some other extraordinary mental state. It is a very simple, obvious reality that we can understand rationally, yet we lose sight of it because we cling to words and concepts, separating ourselves from it with discriminating thoughts.”
