There are two paths to practice. One is to place oneself under the guidance of a virtuous and wise teacher, enduring the severity of the restrictions and bearing the accompanying pain and difficulty.
The other is to practice in solitude in a quiet place. I realize that there are many people here in this mountain temple, and that there are many obstacles to practice. It would seem as though practice by oneself should be easier. However, there is always danger that one will become lazier due to the relaxation in one’s schedule.

Myōe (1173 CE-1232 CE), Myōe was a Japanese Buddhist monk active during the Kamakura period who also went by the name Kōben (Japanese: 高弁). He was a contemporary of Jōkei and Hōnen.