Try and be perfect in all matters of this life, strive for perfection.

 

171. Strive for perfection in our lives: The writings of the various religions tell us we need to strive after spiritual perfection in our lives here on this planet, to make us more like our creator in heaven.  Judaism: Deuteronomy 18:13 “Thou shalt be perfect with The LORD thy God.” 3 Kings 8:61 “Let your heart therefore be perfect with The LORD our God, to walk in His statutes, and to keep His commandments, as at this day.”  Christianity: Matthew 5:48 “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” 2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” 3:17 “That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Corinthians 13:11 “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”

 ISLAM: Letter 28 “Human beings have received and will receive perfection through Us.”

(Islam, Ali b. Abi Taalib, Letters from Nahjul Balaagh)

Islam: 32. “Fain would they extinguish Allah’s (God‘s) Light with their mouths, but Allah will not allow but that His Light should be perfected (in our lives), even though the unbelievers may detest (it).”

(Islam, The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   9)

Islam: “You should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded; and gain strength by worshipping in the mornings, the nights.”

(Islam, Hadith, Bukhari Vol 1, Book 2, # 38)

  ZOROASTRIANISM: 22. “Happy the man who is holy with perfect holiness!”

(The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Vendidad)

 Zoroastrianism: 4. “Blessedness the good who is closely knit with the Righteous Order to perfect and to incite us; yea, we worship.”

(The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasna 56)

 Zoroastrianism: “This I ask you, tell me aright Ahura (God). I would meditate on all that are your commandments, so that I may, through conscience understand the precepts, and also that through rectitude, I might attain the perfection of life, and there by my soul may arrive at self-balance.” “Man attains perfection by pursuing the ideal planted in him.” (ZOROASTER, Hymns of Atharvan p. 413 and 414)

 HINDUISM: “Learn now, dear Prince! how, if thy soul be set Ever on Me- still exercising Yog, Still making Me thy Refuge- thou shalt come Most surely unto perfect hold of Me.”

(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 7)

 Hinduism: “Whoso performeth- diligent, content- The work allotted him, whatever it be, Lays hold of perfectness! Hear how a man Findeth perfection, being so content: He findeth it through worship- wrought by work-Of HIM that is the Source of all which lives, Of HIM by Whom the universe was stretched.”

(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 18)

 Hinduism: 11. “A religious student who retains what he has learned, who finds pleasure in the fulfillment of the law, who keeps the rules of studentship, who is upright and forgiving, attains perfection.”

(Hindu, The Dharma Sutras, Apastamba Prasna I, Patala 2, Khanda 5)

 BUDDHISM: “The disciple incites his will to maintain the meritorious conditions that have already arisen, and not to let them disappear, but to bring them to growth, to maturity and to the full perfection of development; and he strives, puts forth his energy, strains his mind and struggles.”

((The Eightfold Path), Buddha, the Word (The Eightfold Path))

 Buddhism: “O Monks of this world; “you must become more and more perfect.” in this life to achieve what you have not yet realized, to attain complete perfection thereby ending all traces of illusions reaching the end of this cycle of births.” (Buddha, Middle Discourses)

 Buddhism: “By any striving, one will radiate its influence to infinite worlds, like a gem reflecting its variegated colors, whereby I and other Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas, will be enabled to bring all beings to the same perfection of virtue.” (Buddha Lankavatara Sutra)

 Buddhism: “The Paramitas are ideals of spiritual perfection that are to be the guide of the Bodhisattvas on the path to self-realization.” (Buddha, Lankavatara Sutra)

 SABEANISM: “Thou art He, Manda-d-Hiia! for Thou knowest About that in which the perfect man is made perfect, And about the virtuous man, in what his virtue consisteth.” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 76)

Sabeanism: “Perfected (souls) will see that The Life (Haiyi, God) existeth, and will direct their gaze to the great Place of Light and the everlasting Abode.” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 76)

Sabeanism: “If with perfections ye stand before the Outer Life And before the Eternal Abode, perfecteth our souls.” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 76)

Sabeanism: “A watch-tower for the sons of perfection I erected, in the place where they live and are without deficiency.” (Sabeanism, The way of Salvation, Adam)

 BABI RELIGION: “NO created thing shall ever attain its paradise unless it appeareth in its highest prescribed degree of perfection.” “The stage of perfection of everything is reached when its resurrection occurreth.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, pp. 88 and 107)

BAHA’I FAITH: “Only by improving spiritually as well as materially can we make any real progress, and become perfect beings. It was in order to bring this spiritual life and light into the world that all the great Teachers have appeared. They came so that the Sun of Truth might be manifested, and shine in the hearts of men, and that through its wondrous power men might attain unto Everlasting Light.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 63)

Baha’i Faith: “We must strive with energies of heart, soul and mind to develop and manifest the perfections and virtues latent within the realities of the phenomenal world, for the human reality may be compared to a seed. If we sow the seed, a mighty tree appears from it. The virtues of the seed are revealed in the tree; it puts forth branches, leaves, blossoms, and produces fruits. All these virtues were hidden and potential in the seed. Through the blessing and bounty of cultivation these virtues became apparent. Similarly the merciful God our creator has deposited within human realities certain virtues latent and potential. Through education and culture, these virtues deposited by the loving God will become apparent in the human reality even as the unfoldment of the tree from within the germinating seed.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith – Abdu’l-Baha Section, p. 267)