[YUDoodat]

Impaul,

You are getting caught up in mistaking outward circumstances for inner reality. Why would you say, for instance that sitting on a beach in Hawaii is close to perfect? How is that so? What is "perfect"? Is it an outward circumstance in the world of form and sensation that your body and mind prefer? Or is "perfection" rather something else altogether?

If you were to be sitting on that beach, and on the horizon spied a tsunami heading directly at you, would you still consider your situation perfect? Based on your previous posts, I suspect not. However, there are those to whom a sun-drenched beach and a tsunami would be essentially the same. It all depends on one's perspective.

The perspective I'm trying to get across is, Where is the source of your life? Is it in having everything you think you want? OR, rather, in wanting everything you already have? That is the key to what you have referred to as "perfection". Perfection per se is not attainable in this world of form and shadow. However, surrender with contentment is the mindset one needs to begin to access the joy contained within every present moment. This is all you have. Until one can learn to be content in the present moment, no matter what his/her circumstances, happiness and joy will be as elusive as a butterfly on the wind.