We should believe that all living things are equal. The Gita will teach us that. Whether it is an elephant, a cow, a dog, an educated or uneducated person, rich or poor, black or white, beautiful or otherwise. We all are equal. The only difference is the outward appearance of each. It's as if all of you put on a mask, but the mask doesn't make you different. You are still a unique individual. Similarly, this body, mind, and intellect constitute a mask. We must think of everybody and everything as equal in the sense that all beings come from the same source.

We do destroy the homes and environment of other creatures out of our greed, lust, pride, or foolish understanding of religion. Most people are ignorant and the teachers are ignorant. Therefore we see lots of distracted people in the world --  not only the physical world, but also the moral and intellectual world. There is very little morality and very little true intellectualism that helps us distinguish between right and wrong and lead us towards God.

All we learn in the colleges and universities is about physical world and physical pleasures. That leads us to nothing but distraction, loss of peace, depression, despondency, and helplessness. This is what is becoming of modern education and modern teaching in religion. There is very little true spirituality. Out of ignorance people destroy other people and take advantage of their strength, money, knowledge, wealth and power.

--Swami Radhanandaji