What is the Difference Between Perfection and Enlightenment?

When we talk about perfection we’re often speaking of fantasies we have about what we should do and be.

For example, the fantasies might sound something like:

“I would be a better person if…”

• “…my butt was tighter.”
• “…I earned more money.”
• “…I was taller/shorter.”
• “…I was smarter.”
• “…I had a bigger house.”
• “…I had a more desirable partner.”
• “…I was younger/older.”
• “…I didn’t worry so much about what people thought of me.”
• “…I was more sensitive to others’ feelings.”

Do you have fantasies like this? I sure do. It’s part of being human.

But where does this word “better” come from? In who’s eyes is it better? Our ideas of perfection are often socially and culturally driven. It’s a glamorous version of shame, and shame specializes in keeping us paralyzed, small-minded, disconnected, and unsatisfied.

Enlightenment is a realization that we are just who we are, no more, no less, and at the same time profoundly connected with all that is. So connected, in fact, that when one is asked a question like, “Are you the tea or the cup?”, the honest answer is, “I am the tea and the cup and I am me.” It defies logic, because logic doesn’t do pure being.

Enlightenment is devoid of any process such as logic, feeling, touch, taste, smell, and so on. It just is. But what naturally arises from such an experience is bliss.

To summarize: enlightenment involves dropping all ideas about anything in order to experience pure being. It has been said that enlightenment is also true perfection, which involves dropping all ideas of perfection.

Does this mean we should drop all pursuits and just sit there? Naw. Just let your doing be informed by your being. Otherwise you’re putting the cart before the horse.