Perfection is the goal, but it often doesn't mean what people think it does. Self-cultivation is the answer, the path, to perfection, in my view. I practice Falun Dafa (aka Falun Gong), and it is a path I've travelled for 26 years. I know that I will never stop, until I reach the goal--even if I believe I am failing--because it's that good. I would rather fail at it than ever stop trying. :)