Buddhism exists to free all beings from suffering, and suffering is rooted in the delusion of separateness. As we engage sincerely with the Dharma, the three poisons of ignorance, attachment, and aversion begin to loosen their grip. The heart-mind is no longer so tightly occupied with defending “me” and guarding what is “mine.” It begins to feel the suffering of others as inseparable from its own, while also seeing clearly that nothing exists independently or permanently from its own side. As delusion thins, fear loses its force, self-centeredness falls away, and so dawns great compassion, radiant joy, and unconditional love for all beings.