No One is Alone! I. The Illusion of Separation <Better living condition is achieved but....>           Due to advancements in industrialized civilization and the democratization of political systems (especially in developed countries), people in modern society have achieved ever-higher standards of living and enjoy more individual freedoms than ever before. Yet, in spite of better living conditions and increased material wealth, many people still feel that something is missing in their lives.           People are trying to find that "missing" something in different ways. Some may think they need even greater wealth or social recognition, while others are looking more within themselves to find their "peace of mind."           In any case, in the quest to achieve a "perfect world," the character of civilization to date has been to make whatever improvements it can with regard to the external conditions of human beings. But, as most of us have experienced, there are things that simply cannot be achieved by external improvement only. Just as no amount of wealth can satisfy a mind-set of greed, no amount of external improvement can ultimately be satisfactory unless we also improve our internal condition. That means we must improve the condition of our mind.