So remember: Your protection lies in your goodness, in the skillfulness of your intentions and the discernment with which you carry those intentions out. Those are the things that will see you through no matter what happens.

"Your goodwill [mettā] and your generosity will help you survive no matter where you go. If you go into a new society where you don’t know anybody, goodwill and generosity are the things that will carry you through. When things begin to break down, goodwill and generosity will carry you through.

So remember: Your protection lies in your goodness, in the skillfulness of your intentions and the discernment with which you carry those intentions out. Those are the things that will see you through no matter what happens. That’s why the Buddha taught them as the Dhamma, because they’ve been true all the time, as civilizations rise and fall and then rise again. These are the qualities that make human life worth living, make it the kind of life that we can get the most out of it, regardless of how things arise and fall outside."

~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu "Your Goodness Is Your Protection"

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