The essence of true religious teaching is that one should serve and befriend all.

This quote suggests that the core principle of authentic religious teaching is the service and companionship extended to all individuals, regardless of their background or beliefs. It emphasizes universal love, compassion, and acceptance as fundamental values that every religion should ideally promote.

The concept is not just about tolerating others but actively serving them and seeking friendship with them. Serving here can be understood as helping others in their times of need without expecting anything in return. Befriending implies forming relationships based on mutual respect and understanding.

In today’s world, this idea could be applied in various ways to bridge the gaps between different religious communities or cultural groups. It encourages us to step out of our comfort zone, reach out to people who are different from us – either by faith, culture or race – serve them selflessly and form friendships.

From a personal development perspective, embodying this principle can lead to spiritual growth and emotional maturity. By serving others selflessly we learn empathy and humility; by befriending those who are different from us we broaden our perspectives thereby fostering tolerance and open-mindedness.

Moreover, it might inspire individuals to become more active within their communities: volunteering at local shelters or food banks; advocating for social justice issues; promoting interfaith dialog etc., which not only benefits society as a whole but also enriches one’s own life experience.

So while this quote has roots in religious teaching its application extends far beyond that – it’s about how we interact with the world around us on a daily basis; how we treat our fellow human beings irrespective of their backgrounds; how we contribute towards making our societies more inclusive – ultimately leading towards personal growth & societal harmony.