Perfection problems

Ezra Bayda and Frederic Nietzsche have writings that emphasize that our lives have disappointments and troubles.  Bayda and Elizabeth Hamilton were both followers of Charlotte Beck.  Beck died in her 90’s in 2011.  She was a teacher of Zen.  

Bayda’s book “At Home in the Muddy Water” and some of the writing of Nietzsche point to learning to think of a satisfying life without imagining no troubles of any kind, with just steady ongoing bliss.  We have nervous systems built for troubles and disappointments and both men saw that disappointments and troubles and genuine “messes” are part of being alive.  When we think of moving to our favorite scenic canyon or seaside in the hope of zero messes and failures, we tend to under-appreciate our need for challenges and bringers of despair and tears.  Admittedly, it can be temporarily impossible to be thankful for troubles and pains.  But if we stay aware and open, we can come to appreciate falls, errors and bothers while striving to avoid or minimize them.  We are built to handle downers and benefit from the handling.