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Notes on counselling

Conscious perfection — dignity of the inner being

Dr. Soumitra Basu

Abstract
The perfect archetypal representation of each idea in the global cognitive field facilitates a progressive
movement towards perfection. In the process, the pursuit of perfection through the cultivation of virtues
becomes a sort of personal aasana in one’s spiritual sojourn.

Perfection in all our activities, movements, not be perfect tomorrow. If something has
gestures has been a eulogised mark of been done perfectly now, it has to be repeated
culture, an expression of finesse and a goal with a new denouement of perfection later.
of civilisation. Nobody contests its utility, Perfection is an ever-progressive attempt to
for both the yogi and the scientist strive for get to the Truth.
it with equal zeal. The Mother adds another
dimension when she stresses that every effort One might say, especially in the milieu of the
towards perfection has to be ‘conscious’. psychiatric clinic, that the perfectionist trait
Even in each physical activity, it is not the has its pathological perspective too. After all,
mechanical technique but the consciousness the individual with obsessive compulsive
infused that brings the result: “This amounts personality harbours perfectionist traits
to saying that it is the conscious will which acts while someone with an obsessive compulsive
on matter, not the material fact (1).” Every act disorder strives and suffers continually in the
of perfection has to be executed consciously, labyrinthine alleys of repetitive attempts to
with full awareness and with an investiture of counter a perceived imperfection.
appropriate energy, aspiration and goodwill.
There is however an important qualitative
The very moment every act of perfection is difference in the striving for perfection as part
infused with consciousness, another dimension of personal growth and the ruminations of
opens up. Perfection no longer remains static, fighting against imperfection in the obsessive
it becomes dynamic and progressive. What is compulsive subject. The obsessive compulsive
perfect at one point of time may not hold its fort subject suffers from pathological anxiety,
at another point; what is perfect today may exaggerated guilt, frustration and morbid

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