Equality among people presupposes that all have the same rights and accordingly the same responsibilities. People know very well how to claim their rights, but how many are willing to commit themselves equally to their responsibilities? We must learn to do so because no one can enjoy a right unless someone else has a corresponding responsibility and if I don't fulfil my responsibilities what authority do I have to claim my rights?

Conditions of injustice and inequality still exist in many places on earth today, whether between man and woman, between social classes, between religious groups or between nations. People have come to identify with physical circumstances and conditions, or social positions, seeking to derive from them a sense of superiority, or allowing them to be the reason for a sense of inferiority. In this way, people have lost sight of the humanity of others and themselves, their self-respect and respect for their fellow human beings. However, everything has its unavoidable consequences and sooner or later a shortfall in giving will lead to a shortfall in receiving. We get as good as we give; in this there is absolute equality. The attitude of equality in a group or society gives us a feeling of belonging, of being one large family. In a family there are different personalities but all are members of that same family. Does one deserve less respect, less love than another? Is one less capable of honesty, love or happiness than another? All people deep down have the same needs, the same desires and potential for peace of mind and to give and receive selfless love, respect and happiness.

Equality is naturally created when we are internally content with ourselves and our lives and when we no longer need or seek external demonstrations or approval of our worth. Contentment shuns greed, arrogance and a lack of self-worth, the parents of inequality.

We must learn to seek out our true selves, to see the heart and spirit, hopes and feelings in each one of us; at this inner level we are all truly equal and on this foundation we can bring self-esteem, respect and equality into the outer level of our words and actions.