Vedanta says that life is interdependent, not independent. Our individual life is sustained by receiving support from others. Our body is reproduced from the parental cells. Our food is gathered from the vegetable and animal worlds. Our individual mind-stuff is derived from the cosmic source. Many have to suffer and many have to die to keep us alive.
The human, superhuman, and sub-human worlds are bound together by a tie of spiritual unity. Therefore we have duties to others, duties to God the Creator and the sages, to fellow human beings, to the vegetable and animal worlds, to parents, and to departed ancestors. By doing our duties we recognize that bond of unity and overcome our selfishness and greed, and attain to peace and tranquillity.
Receiving and giving are the two aspects of living. When we were born, we received help from others for our growth, support, and development. When we grow up, we are expected to repay our indebtedness to others by doing our duties to the best of our ability. Those who do not or cannot repay are forced to live a miserable and demeaning life, and their old age is haunted by feelings of self-defeat and unworthiness.
