METTA

"A kind heart is one of the principal things we are
trying to develop. If we run around childishly telling
others, 'I'm this religion, and you're that religion. But,
mine is better,' it is like turning chocolate frosting
into garbage: what was delicious becomes useless.

Instead, we would be much wiser to look inside
ourselves and apply the antidotes to intolerance, pride,
and attachment. The true criterion of whether we area
religious or spiritual person is whether we have a kind
heart toward others and a wise approach to life.

These qualities are internal and cannot be seen with our
eyes. They are gained by honestly looking at our own
thoughts, words and actions, discriminating which ones
to encourage and which ones to abandon, and then
engaging in the practices to develop compassion
and wisdom in order to transform ourselves."

~Venerable Thubten Chodron