Tendai reflected on his most recent birthday, realizing that making wishes might attract unseen spirits, so one should be cautious with them. This thought highlights the idea that wishes could have unintended consequences if spirits are listening. He then decided that his deepest desire was for courage, suggesting he valued bravery and truthfulness highly.

He believed that with courage, a person could face reality, ask important questions, and do what is right, even if it was difficult. This reveals Tendai’s understanding of courage as a vital quality for living honestly and facing life's challenges directly.