Mettà is the most common Pàëi word for love and is derived from the word mitta meaning `a friend'. The Culla Niddesa, defines mettà like this. `Love means having a friendly nature and behaving with friendliness' (Mitte vā bhavā mittassa vā esā pavattī ti pi mettā, Culla Niddesa 117). The Visuddhimagga explains mettà this way: `Love is characterized as promoting the welfare of others and its function is to focus on their welfare. It manifests as the removal of annoyance and its proximate cause is seeing the loveable nature of beings. It succeeds when it makes ill-will subside and it fails when it gives rise to clinging attachment' (Vism.318). The Jàtaka often says one should act `having made mettà one's guide'(mettam purecàrikan katvà, Ja.I,176; III,273), and mettà is said to be a protective mantra, along with generosity, truthfulness and good works (Ja.I,200). Mettà is equivalent to maitrã in Jainism and Hinduism, agape in Christianity and Greek philosophy and gen ai in the teaching of the Chinese sage Motzu. See Mettà Sutta.