Hope and optimism are the vibrant forces for living, driving us to strive on and bring forth great strength for successful progress towards bright, noble ideals.

Plagued by sicknesses and disasters, our sorrowful and miserable world is in dire need of warmth and happiness.  Invaluable treasures lie latent in an optimistic mind, which can radiate sunshine like warmth everywhere and emanate strength for regeneration. 

Hope enables our lives to be continually uplifted,  enabling us to open up our hearts, to be more considerate of others and serve others, thus enriching our lives. However, in order to achieve this, hope must be generated out of optimism.

Therefore, optimism is indispensable to living. Moreover, our hopes should be "wholesome desires", which steer our lives towards self-improvement, goodness and liberation from suffering. Our hopes should not be for gaining sensual pleasures, fame or wealth. These are "unwholesome desires", which result in foolish conduct plunging one into the abyss of evil.

-- Venerable Yen Pei