Word 071
On the western edge of Nara city stands Saidaiji, an ancient temple founded during the Nara period by Empress Shotoku. Once counted among the great Seven Great Temples of Nara, it has gone through cycles of decline and revival over the centuries, settling now into its present, quiet form.
Stepping into the grounds, the main hall and the Shiodo face each other across the stone-paved path. A single fallen leaf drifted slowly across the stones, pushed by the breeze — stopping, then moving again.
A small bird landed on the wooden eaves of the roof. It looked around for a while, then flew off without warning. Stillness returned to the grounds, and only the sound of the wind remained.
'One thing that happens when you try something new'
Try something new, even if it's small.
→ Unfamiliar inconveniences and failures arise.
→ This becomes great stimulation for the brain — you work to resolve the inconvenience,
and use failure as a springboard for creativity.
→ As a result, you grow beyond where you were before you started.
A small first step always brings something unexpected with it. And somehow, that feels just right.