# Perfection hunger {{@628}}
How do we distinguish perfection hunger from perfectionism?
**CLASSIFICATION**
**R****P** **M** **1**
**JURISDICTION**
- [x] **soil** - [x] **Land** - [ ] **Sea** - [ ] **AIR**
**SOURCE:** tmtranscripts teamcircuits email archive June 6, 1998. Teacher Daniel, Aaron T/R Bill, Cathy
The desire for perfection is the work of God in your hearts. It is the job of your Indweller to foster such yearning, such stretching, such growth, for indeed it is the goal of the evolutionary universes to achieve perfected status as each individual member works for that overall culmination through their individual journey on the Road to Perfection as mortal ascenders. Much of the confusion between perfectionism as you have termed it and perfection hunger is due to inadequate teaching over centuries of time, so that these notions are attributed, generation upon generation to the overall mix of cultural error. Many religions have recognized the impossibility of perfection in one short lifetime, at least for most mortals (the exception being the incarnation of Jesus in which he did achieve mortal perfection status in his lifetime) - the perfection of a mortal's fullest possible completion of potential. But these religions have often postulated reincarnation as inevitable and in this aspect, they are partially correct, not in reincarnation mechanics but in the recognition of incompleteness attendant upon completion of one mortal lifetime career. The notion that perfection is instantaneous upon passing through the door of death has been misunderstood by many religions. And indeed it is one of the main goals of the Fifth Epochal Revelation to enlarge this perspective so that it is clearly understood that perfection status is the result of a long process of growth. Therefore, perfectionism is an error in thinking that postulates the possibility of achieving such status in a mortal lifetime and has been the harbinger of much sorrow and discomfort. It is our desire that you fully liberate your perfection hunger while at the same time, realistically recognize your limitations while giving due recognition to progress. Virginia: I think perfectionism and the desire for perfection is something that we deal with all the time; and I have often said I have to be better today than I was yesterday. But it is very difficult to evaluate ourselves in terms of spiritual progression. I'm wondering if I'm correct in separating the fact that perfectionism is a much more material concept or attempt on this plane whereas the desire for perfection is obviously a much more spiritual goal. I'm not sure I can separate it that way. I'd like your comments. Daniel: As we differentiate perfection hunger from your term "perfectionism" we focus on the erroneous concept of its possibility within a mortal time frame. However, if this planet were in an advanced state of Light and Life, many mortals would experience the fulfillment of all mortal potential, resulting in perfect union with their Thought Adjusters and consequent fusion. So when I say "nearly impossible" I cannot rule out there have been a few who have achieved this perfection status as mortals. In addition to our Creator Son Jesus who had achieved this perfection by the time of his baptism by John, there have been others, two recorded in the scriptures of the Hebrews (Enoch and Elijah), but others unknown to you. And the essence of this perfection has been in what you might term "spiritual progress." Perfectionism as it is practiced on this planet does not focus on spiritual growth, but rather on aspects of mortality such as intellectual certainty in a "know it all" attitude or "wishing to know it all" or physical perfection in some manner or another. And the impossibility of this attainment does lead to a lack of satisfaction and enjoyment. Aaron: Virginia, my dear, perfectionism is different in the material realm and the spiritual realm. For in the material realm, perfection is synonymous with achieving a goal. In the spiritual realm, it is the process of achieving a goal that is of even more importance than the goal itself. For nothing can substitute for individual experience.
Your motivation is what becomes perfected
**CLASSIFICATION**
**R****P** **M** **1**
**JURISDICTION**
- [x] **soil** - [x] **Land** - [ ] **Sea** - [ ] **AIR**
**SOURCE:** tmtranscripts teamcircuits email archive September 27, 1998. Teacher Welmek
You are given this concept of being perfect. What does it mean to be perfect? What would it take to do everything right? Our expectations are often unrealistic. You will never, never know everything. You will never be perfect in all ways. You will become perfected in one way, and that way will be to always seek the will of God, the way of God. Your motivation is what becomes perfected. That is the only thing in us humans that becomes perfected. Now, let me ask you, do you have some control over this idea of seeking to find the divine way, seeking to follow the divine path, and to find this love and peace? Is it a choice you can make to pursue this? And so, in your own way you are becoming perfected because you are making choices and you are choosing this path to follow. And so you are on the only path that is available to you. In no other way can you be perfect. You must eliminate this thinking from your mind. Following God's way is the only way you in which you can achieve perfection. It does not mean that you can know everything. Take this into stillness with you, take this concept when you are still, bring up this concept of perfection in your mind's eye and at that time ask the Father to clearly help you understand this idea, this concept of perfection. And while it is there in your mind's eye, allow the thoughts to enter to help you see perfection in a new way. Have you ever experienced any one who is perfect in any way on this world? But until you understand perfection from a spiritual level, it causes great confusion, because when you look at the level of the material world, then you think that other humans should be perfect in the way they act or think, in knowing all there is to know about something. You see, you apply this concept of perfection at levels that it cannot manifest. But when you apply perfection to the spiritual level, then there is a way, there is an opportunity for it to be, and that is for you to pursue this path in doing God's will. It does not mean that in every situation you will always know what is right, but it means that you will pause and you will seek the right way to relate to others. What did the Master do? He said, "Father, not my will, but yours be done." He sought God's will in each of the things he did. That does not mean that you will always have a clear or perfect answer or know the perfect way. It only means that your motivation to seek the best way is real and genuine. And gradually it will become perfected in the sense that it is what you will always seek. All humans seek love. When they do not know to seek it from within, they must seek it from without. They seek it through acceptance from their parents, brothers and sisters, their loved ones, their spouses. But you see, all of these people are human and fickle and imperfect. And no matter how much you do, how much you attempt to please them, it may never be enough. There may be some other reason they withhold their love from you and you cannot find that reason, so you constantly seek to find why. This inner innate desire to find love was given to you intentionally, because you must find love in your life. But the mystery is that you cannot find it only in other people, you must find it in God. You find this unconditionally loving parent who says to you "I love you, you are my child. I only ask that you share your love with me. I don't expect you to be perfect. I expect you to make mistakes. I accept you and all of your imperfections and I accept you as long as we share this relationship, this love."
Striving toward perfection
**CLASSIFICATION**
**R****P** **M** **1**
**JURISDICTION**
- [x] **soil** - [x] **Land** - [ ] **Sea** - [ ] **AIR**
**SOURCE:** tmtranscripts teamcircuits email archive April 14, 2002. Teacher Abraham
Abraham: Striving for a spiritual life while in the flesh can lead to an over striving to become perfect. Many seekers of spirituality believe that each day they are becoming more and more perfected. While this is true to a point, there are natural setbacks, there are mistakes. This is perfectly natural. However, we find that there is some serious self-disappointed individuals that become quite discouraged in striving to live a spiritual life. This is in part why everyday organized religion is not lasting. The churches set the standards of perfection and there many times is little room for mistakes. Some organized religions would have you go against your natural human tendencies for the sake of grasping at salvation. Most of these standards are erroneous and tend to lead individuals to hopelessness, that they will never be worthy of God's love or a place in the Kingdom. There is more self-chastisement than self-understanding or allowance for mistakes. The desire to strive toward perfection is inherent in most mortals, no doubt, but when the bar seems to be set a bit too high there is disappointment, leading to hopelessness and an attitude of 'why try.' This is verging into the territory of the ego. The ego wants to view itself as perfect, even superior to others. It does not make room or understand mistakes or fallibility. The ego in part would have you hide or deny any wrongdoing, even though it may appear to be innocent. Why do we strive for perfection? Said Jesus, "Be you perfect even as my Father in Heaven is." This was not said to guilt individuals into doing right, no. This was not to be a constant reminder of how you are imperfect, no. The Master spoke to the individuals of that day and age in a language they could understand. The Master does ask us to strive toward perfection, but you are not there now, but there is allowance for mistakes and this most all the time leads to growth. You may make mistakes. You may even feel some self-disappointment, but the child of God realizes their Father is a loving God and does not seek to condemn you for your wrongdoing, no. He seeks to aid you in your growth. He seeks to lovingly correct. He seeks for you to turn to Him to build that bond between Parent and child. In all your imperfection be not discouraged, as if you cannot be taught or are hopeless and allow that ego to cover over mistakes with denial. The Father and His universe is completely safe to make mistakes. Do not feel your self-disappointments through the ego, but through that child of God self. The ego brings guilt that pushes you from God, that makes you hide from Him, as if He will certainly punish you harshly. The child of God fears not facing His Father face to face in hopes of receiving loving correction and encouragement that he is still worthy, he is still loved, he is still the Father's child. Many of you as children were harshly condemned for even the most simple mistakes and naturally you did not like the repercussion therefrom. Harsh punishment only leads to hiding or keeping mistakes secret. This harsh punishment made the child feel a sense of love loss. Would this lead to encouraging the child to strive toward being enlightened, to make correction, to attain growth? Would the Father in whom you have dedicated your lives to lead you down a negative path to self-correction? No. Father is like a loving friend who stands side-by-side with you as an ally, not to condemn or even keep you humble so that you may better listen to Him. Are you free enough to strive for this or are you bound by feelings of a hopeless inadequate self? Contemplate the power of the Spirit of Truth. In all His power He definitely works gently to naturally bring light into the darkness.