The Holy Man's Trials 11

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11. An annoyance and despair at the unconscionable acts of fellow individuals who cause harm and upset to others thoughtlessly. 

It is quite immediate that we react disfavorably to difficult people who cause harm to others without care. More than citing specific instances, it becomes in us yet another burden borne unconsciously - the fact that we have been sadly affected on account of another for the sake of another, many times over. This helps of course to caution our own activities in the world, but it nonetheless lives with us as a fact of being.

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The Holy Man's Trials 10

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10. An annoyance and despair at the perpetuation of shortcomings as are apparent in fellow individuals which afflict the personal wellbeing of oneself.

Often we are well qualified in discerning when another has interrupted our own sense of wellbeing and should not have done so; and in consequence to this complaint we suppress ourselves further in order to reconcile their actions as they affect us. So there is a dual-edged insult from the difficulties which sometimes afflict us from others. That firstly they have caused a grievance and then secondly they require that he (in the spiritual fellow) suppresses himself in order for him to let it pass or repeatedly happen. 

Overall however, we do react at least inwardly to afflictions most naturally and know exactly what effect others bear upon us, either consciously or unconsciously. It is advisable to excuse yourself from their company or their life if the problem becomes as death to yourself. How often a sensitive individual will, for example, scar himself at the suggestion of the offending 'martyr'. 

It is best to avoid unruly people - those who display crude or lesser natures or willful angry outbursts. Whilst we may pray for their lives to find some equilibrium we do not need to incur the cost upon our own selves in the disruption it causes. This passage best serves to alleviate the guilt which protests our right to experience disquiet when we are affected sorely. Isn't it a conundrum that this is so difficult to the developing man?

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The Holy Man's Trials 9

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9. An annoyance and despair at supreme shortcomings (physicality for example, as opposed to immortality) consciously or unconsciously experienced by the individual. 

Supreme shortcomings are those things which are much larger than one's own immediate effectings…They engage debates about fundamental good and evil. They realize imperfection in the greater arena and are perplexed because of it.

This is a sadness known to all beings as well; although some happenings may be explained to be as 'mysteries' beyond our comprehension - but such explanations do not relieve the pain caused by the misunderstanding. The fact that there is a small proportion of infants born with disfigurement, that Nature herself cannot guarantee or safeguard against untoward outcome for lesser creatures at times; the reality that truth itself can be distorted so very easily and or mistaken; that we should ever contemplate our Christ crucified and it having happened! - These supreme shortcomings we cannot ever be content in or would want to be. 

The fact that we live and survive however, with the innate knowledge of these matters and more, tells us of a greater and corresponding strength we have been given to counter the confusion presented to our soul.

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The Holy Man's Trials 8

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8. An annoyance and despair at personal shortcomings consciously recognized.

No individual is comfortable at being less than what he aspires to or begins to think he should be. The ego which is striving consciously to become improved, senses deeply, not only the obvious faults and flaws but also the ones for which there is little or no control over. Even the implications of aging (as the world would have it nowadays - yes, even for us) are a grievance taken personally, when there is no conceivable way of abating it indefinitely. 

Added to this we find frustrations with minor shortcomings as they manifest during the contest of our consciousness. There is a process of thinking which implies that we are never quick enough, precise enough and so forth (which of course is true enough). 

However, the merit lies in the actuality as is, rather than in some relatively unreachable or obscure perfection. The truth we come to experience here is that we are suffering from our shortcomings (as others might also) and we begin to wish it were otherwise. The objective is to be content regardless, yet not smug in our failings.

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