Faith is the first essential virtue to cultivate. With it, one does not abandon the Way and lose faith no matter how many obstacles cross the Path. The beginning is always difficult because there are so many things that one does not fully understand and there are too many changes to one’s life. But this is to be so because to develop a stronger character and to gain further insight into religion, one must practise and be engaged in relentless efforts so as to gain true understanding. (D-820109-1)