Even though each human being is a “quintessence of dust,” a moribund and in many ways tragic creature,22 he or she remains a godlike marvel and should be accorded absolute respect. Hindus acknowledge this when they greet each other by bowing with joined hands to honor the sacred mystery they are encountering. Yet most of us fail to express this reverence for others in our daily lives. All too often we claim omniscience about other people, other nations, other cultures, and even those we claim to love, and our views about them are frequently colored by our own needs, fears, ambitions, and
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